CHILDREN:
(1) Martha (m) John L. Tyson
(2) Leonard (m) Georgia Ann Arnold
(3) Frederick (m) Eliza Murray
(4) Mary (1846-1856)
(5) Harriet (m) R.E. Stephens
(6) Sarah (m) Cook Smith
(7) Charlotte (m) William Parker
(8) Rebecca (m) Millender Music
(9) Mariah D. (m) James Carver
(10) John Wesley (m) Mary Ann Dedge
(11) James Monroe (m) Ida Arnold
(12) Joseph E. (m) Mollie Sweat
(13) George W. -- single
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Descendants of William Ricketson

87.JOHN6 RICKETSON (JOSEPH5, TIMOTHY4, TIMOTHY3, JONATHAN2, WILLIAM1) was born May 11, 1819 in Telfair Co. (now Coffee), Ga., and died August 05, 1891 in Coffee County Ga..He married REBECCA MILLS 1841, daughter of FREDERICK MILLS and MARTHA DYKES.She was born October 20, 1821 in Pulaski, Georgia, and died May 06, 1901 in around Axson, Georgia.
Notes for JOHN RICKETSON:
BIOGRAPHY
In the1850 census of Ware County, Georgia,89th Sub Division, John Ricketson was listed as being age 31 (born 1819), farmer, and married to Rebecca, age 29 (born about 1821).Listed with them were 7 children:Martha, daughter, age 8;Leonard, son, age 7;Frederick, son, age 6;Mary, daughter, age 4;Harriet, daughter, age 3;Sarah, daughter, age 2; and Charlotte, daughter, age 5 months.John and Rebecca Ricketson were recorded in the census as living right next to Jackson and Shadrack Mills, the two brothers of Rececca and her parents Frederick and Martha Mills, leading us to believe that they lived in the general area of the Union Hill Church, just south of the present day Axson, Georgia.
In the 1860 Census, John Ricketson, was recorded as living in Coffee County, Georgia, 4th District, Birds Mills, 1030 GM.He was listed as being age 41, born in Georgia, and married to Rebecca, age 28 (should be 38), born in Georgia.Children listed as living in the household were:Marcha, daughter, age 18;Leonard, son, age 16;Frederich, son, age 15;Harriet, daughter, age 13; Sarah, daughter, age 11;Charlotte, daughter, age 10;Rebecca, daughter, age 7;Mariah, daughter, age 5;James, son age 2.We note that another son, John Wesley Ricketson, who was born in 1858 was not listed as living in the household.In addition to the Ricketson children living at home,also listed as living in the household was Burrell Sears, Male, age 25 (born about 1845).While further research is necessary, we consider the possibility that Burrell Sears may be a sonor grandson of David Sears Sr.
In the 1870 Census of Coffee County Georgia, Homerville-Clinch County 31st Div., Tape 144, Sheet 11, Line 15, John Ricketson was listed as being a farmer, age 50 and having his wife Rebecca, age 48, and 5 sons and 3 daughters living at home with them.Children listed were Fredrich, son, age 25 (born 1844); Harriet, daughter age 23 (born 1847;Rebecca, daughter, age 17 (born about 1852); Mariah, daughter, age 15 (born 1855);John W., son, age 13 (born 1857);James M., son, age 12 (born 1858); Joseph E., son, age 8 (born 1861); and George W., son, age 6 (born 1863).
In the 1880 census of Coffee County, Georgia, 1130 District,John Ricketson was recorded as being age 61, a farmer, and married to Rebecca, age 59, a housekeeper.Children recorded as living in the household were:Frederick, age 35, son, and a farmer;Rebecca, daughter, age 27, and occupation was assist in farming;John W., son, age 23, occupation was assist in farming;James M., son, age 22, and occupation was assist in farming;Joseph E., son, age 18, occupation was assist in farming; and George W., son, age 16, occupation was assist in farming.
John Ricketson was born in the portion of Telfair County Georgia that was later changed to Coffee County.His father Joseph Ricketson died in Montgomery County somewhere between 1818 and 1820, either justbefore or just after John was born.At some time in the 1820's John's mother, Serena Ricketson,moved to the area now known as Axson and Pearson, Georgia,that was then Ware County, and later was Coffee County,then in 1918 was changed toAtkinson County.John Ricketson as well as the nine other children of his mother Serena Ricketsonapparently settled over a very large portion of the area now known as Atkinson County, Georgia, andin Ware County along Red Bluff Creek between Millwood and Axson, Georgia. As well as being a farmer and large land owner, John Ricketson also served on the first petit jury in Coffee County Superior Court, June Term, 1854 which was the year Coffee County was formed.
In Grace Edes Genealogy of William Ricketson and his descendantsshe came to the conclusion that John Ricketson was actually the son of David Sears instead of Joseph Ricketson.It was her belief that
Joseph Ricketson died in 1817 and that the last three children of Serena Ricketson was fathered by David Sears but the children assumed the name of Ricketson.Further consideration must be given to the fact that genealogist Grace Edes did personally communicate with Elizia Ricketson, the youngest daughter of Serena Ricketson and based on information Grace Edes obtained from Elizia and other living Ricketson family members,Grace Edes concluded that the youngest three children were fathered by David Sears, not Joseph Ricketson, which gives credence to her conclusion that John Ricketson was the son of David Sears instead of Joseph Ricketson.
Folk's Huxford's Genealogy records Joseph Ricketson's death as about October 1820which would indicate that Joseph Ricketson was still alive when John Ricketson was born.Through further research, we have been able to positively confirm that Joseph and Serena Ricketson were witnesses on a deed recorded October 25, 1818 in Montgomery County, Georgia so Joseph was still alive at that time the deed was signed, however, we don't know if the deed was recorded immediately after it was signed or if there may have been a delay.Based on John Ricketson's birth date of May 11, 1819,Serena Ricketson would have been pregnant with John in October 1818 when the deed was recorded.Based on these factsitappears reasonable to conclude that JohnRicketson is truly a Ricketson and not a Sears as had been concluded by genealogist Grace Edes.However, there is a court document in Montgomery County, Georgia, which I do not have in my possession yet,in which Serena Ricketson and David Sears were charged with adultery.Family stories are prolific that David Sears admitted that he was the father of Serena Ricketson's three youngest children, including John Ricketson. If that is true, then there is a large population of Ricketson's with roots in Coffee, Atkinson, and Ware Counties in Georgia that rightfully should be Sears instead of Ricketsons.We do know that the Sears and Ricketsons had very close ties and lived in the same area of South Georgia.We are very interested in making contact with anyone having documented evidence to support either the Ricketson or Sears name as being correct.
John Ricketson and his family were a highly respected family in South Georgia.His and Rebecca's grave sites are in the Union Hill Church Cemetery, about four miles south of Axson, Georgia, and are marked with one unique headstone for the two of them.