Michael Rickards

  Notes:

30 Mar 1651 Northampton Co, Virginia He took the oath of allegiance to hereby engage and promise to be true and faithful to the Commonwealth of England as it is now established without King or House of Lords.

Land patented 25 Mar 1655 Northampton Co, Virginia Michaell Ricketts was granted 300 acres in N'hamp, adjoining lands of John Wise & John Rogers. Granted to Geo. Truett & by him sold to sd. Ricketts. (NOTE: This same patent was renewed on 20 Oct 1661 by Francis Morrison Esq, Governor & Capt. General of Virginia, to Micaell Rickards for 300 acres at Nandui Creek and bounded on the South by said creek, on the ___ (torn page) by land of John Wise and on the North by a great swamp and on the ___ (torn page) by land of John Rogers, said land being formerly granted to George Truett by patent dated 24 March 1655 and by said Truett assigned to said Rickards and now renewed in his Majesties name.)

Court - namd in act 18 Aug 1663 Accomack Co, Virginia A jury convicted John Rogers of mismarking a heifer belonging to John Jenkins, and the "court taking into their serious consideration the bad consequence of such evil practices and to deter others from the like" ordered John Rogers be committed to the sheriff's custody and to stand one hour with his head in the pillory with his fault posted over his head, "For mismarking a heifer which was none of his own." Rogers was to return the heifer to Jenkins and pay court costs.
The names of the jury: Alex. Addison, Nath. Bradford, Cristopher Calvert, Timothy Coe, Ralph Dow, Thomas Foolkes, Geo. Johnson, James Price, Charles Rackleff, John Renny, John Smith, George Watson.
Deposition of Richard Buckland, 17 August 1663: John Rogers came to Buckland's house and asked if John Jenkins' heifer was there. Buckland said it was. Rogers claimed to have purchased the heifer and wished to take possession of her. Buckland asked Rogers to stay, for the heifer would come home with Buckland's cattle. Rogers did this and took delivery of the heifer. Signed, Rich. Buckland.
Richard Buckland's wife was able to testify the same. Signed, Charity (C) Buckland.
Deposition of Alphonsoe Balles, 17 July 1663: Balles viewed a "beast" claimed by John Jenkins and judged her to be about three years old next March. She had Jenkins' mark, was coal black except for white markings from her udder to her forelegs and on the tip of her tail. She was branded with I on the hip. Signed, Alphonsoe Balles.
Deposition of Richard Hill, 17 August 1663: Hill and Thomas Osbourne went to William Taylor's house where Osbourne said, "Old man, here is the beast that you do look for, and I hope you will not be worse than your word with me." Taylor replied, "Did not John Jenkins give the order the last court for to deliver me the beast that was at your pen?" Then Osbourne got a rope and helped brand the beast. Signed, Richard (RH) Hill.
Deposition of William Onoughton, 16 July 1663: Said that the cow John Jenkins sold to John Rogers was coal black except a little white at the end of the tail. Signed, William (X) Onoughton.
Deposition of William Anderson, aged about 18 years, 16 July 1663: Said the heifer that John Rogers accepted was coal black with only a little white on the udder and the tail. Signed, Will. Anderson.
Deposition of William Anderson, 17 August 1663: Said that the heifer John Rogers bought from John Jenkins was about three years old or more last March or April. Signed, Will. Anderson.
Deposition of John Cropper, aged about 18 years, 17 August 1663: Said that he never heard Thomas Osbourne say that he was ordered by John Jenkins to deliver any beast to John Rogers. When John Rogers had branded the heifer, she broke her rope and ran into the woods, and he said that he didn't care where she went now that he had branded her. Then Cropper heard Osbourne say to Rogers, "Oldman, ye had best have a care that ye go not abroad and say that I, Thomas Osbourne, deliver to you another man's beast, for I will not do any such thing." Signed, John Cropper. Deposition of John Kirk, 17 August 1663: Kirk lived at Mrs. Jordan's house, where he saw a three year old heifer branded on the left hip with John Jenkins' mark. The heifer was black with white under the belly from the udder to the brisket and on the end of the tail. Signed by John Kirke.
Deposition of Thomas Bentall, 17 August 1663: About last June 22, John Rogers was at Bentall's house and was asked why he was out so late. Rogers said he was going to his "Countryman John Jenkins" for a bill of sale for a beast he was buying. Bentall asked if the beast was weaned, and Rogers answered, no, but there were two belonging to John Jenkins at Mrs. Jordan's, and as soon as he had his bill of sale he would go and take the one he liked best. Signed, Thomas Benthall.
Deposition of Edward Hazard, 17 August 1663: When Hazard lived with Mihill Ricketts last year, there was a heifer that John Rogers claimed to have purchased fromJohn Jenkins. The heifer was black with a little white under her belly on her udder and at the end of her tail. Signed, Edward Hazard.
Deposition of Mihill Ricketts, 17 August 1663: Said that when John Rogers was at Ricketts' house, "I asked John Rogers why he told the court that the heifer at my Uncle Taylor's was the beast he accepted of John Jenkins at first." Rogers said that he knew it was not the heifer that he first accepted from John Jenkins. Signed by Mihill (MR) Ricketts.

Will - Father-in-law 26 Jul 1669 Northampton Co, Virginia It was on this date that Capt. William Jones, wife Anne, named "grandchildren belonging to Michael Ricketts."

Will - Mother-in-law 4 May 1674 Northampton Co, Virginia He was shown as my son (meaning son-in-law) Michael Rickards in the will of Ann Michael.

Will 4 Jan 1687/88 Northampton Co, written by Michael Rickards: To my two sons John and Joseph Rickards 300 A. which I bought of my son Michael Rickards joyning Hungers Creek to be eq. div. when my son John is at age. To my dau. Joyce Rickards (not of age) cow and calf. To my grandson Michael Godwin one heifer. To William Benthall one heifer, to be received by his father if he thinks fit. To my son Jones Rickards a chest. To my son William Rickards 12p. To my son Michael Rickards 12p. To my dau. Ann Godwin 12p. To dau. Elizabeth Dunton 12p. To dau. Mary Robinson 12p. Loving wife Ann resid. legatee and extrx. My three sons Jones, John and Joseph to remain with my wife until 21 if she remains a widow. If she marries then to div. eq. all that is left her between herself, Jones, John, Joseph and Joyce. Sons Jones, John and Joseph to be at age at 18. My friends and neighbors William Brookes and Thomas Powell to assist my wife and children. Witt: Thomas 'D' Dunton, Thomas 'T' Wood, Robert Clarke.
Death Bef 28 May 1688 Northampton Co, Virginia It was on this date that his will was probated. Will partly proved by the affirmation of Thomas Dunton, Sr.

Michael married Ann Jones, daughter of Capt. William Jones and Ann (?). (Ann Jones was born about 1640 in VA.)