part of the Pickens Genealogy Information Group
FINDING MIMA PICKENS
(1763 - 1868)
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and 1880 Federal Census records however, we were able to confirm the identity of who Norris' parents were and by deduction, Carey's. For example, the 1870 Census records for Anderson County show a young adult bearing the name Norris Pickens married to a Janie or Jeanie Smith Pickens - Cousin Ruth's grandmother. Ten years later, however, the 1880 Census records for Liberty Township, Pickens County, show Norris as a 40 year old divorcee living with his parents Abraham and Mariah Pickens literally, right next door to Carey and Mary Pickens.3/ This same Census also shows Jeanie Pickens still living in Anderson county with her children, mother and nephew. Thus, because of Norris' apparent divorce from his wife between 1870 and 1880 and his taking up of residence with his parents, Abraham and Mariah sometime between 1870 and 1880, by deduction, we could also identify who his brother Carey's parents were -- Abraham and Mariah Pickens.4/
_____ Because of The close proximity of a white Robert Pickens (1795 - 1871) to Carey and Abraham on the 1870 Census and other factors, we had suspected suggests that this Robert Pickens could have been a former slave master of Carey and the other
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3/_____Cousin Maude Coleman had told the author during their first meeting in 1978, that Carey and Mary first lived in Anderson County before moving to Pickens County. The 1870 and 1880 Census records indicate that Carey's parents, Abraham and Mariah, moved along with Carey and his family.
4/_____According to the Pickens County Probate records, Abraham died in 1889. Various documents suggest this year of birth as follows: 1850 and 1860 U.S. Census Slave Schedules for Robert Pickens and 1870 U.S. Census - 1800; and 1880 U.W. Census - 1896. Other than the Census records alluded to, were are lacking more specific information regarding Mariah's birth or death. |
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African-American Pickens family members. However, we had no documentation or other information which would confirm that suspicion.
______On April 9, 1988 however, we came upon a very significant discovery. It was on that date that we first obtained access to a copy of the 1823 Will of one Robert Pickens (1747 - 1830). This Robert Pickens proved to be the father of the Robert Pickens whom Carey and Abraham were living very close to in 1870 according to the 1870 Census. In pertinent part, that the Will provided:
"Item First. My two old Negro women, Rachel and Mima, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Dorcas Pickens, and to be disposed of by her at her death as she thinks proper..."
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"Item third. I do devise that my wife shall choose two Negroes from among all the Negroes... After my wife Dorcas shall have chosen two Negroes... my son Andrew Pickens shall chose one, after my son Andrew Pickens shall have chosen one, my son Robert Pickens shall have chosen one.. And after the above mentioned choices, the balance of my Negroes... shall be chosen by lot among the balance of my children..."(a)
By examining the looking at this Will, once could not tell just who "Mima" was; however, since Dorcas (formerly Dorcas Hallum), the wife of Robert Pickens died on February 5, 1828, Robert Pickens made an amendment or Codicil to his will which made Mima's identity perfectly clear.
_____On April 9, 1828, Robert Pickens added made the following amendment or codicil to his 1823 will. It That Codicil provided in pertinent part:
"...My wife Dorcas Pickens... has since departed this life... And as I did by my said will give to my said wife Dorcas, one Negro, that she might choose.. and as my Negro man Abraham was the Negro that she intended choosing... I now give and bequeath him, and his mother, Mima, to my son Robert Pickens..."(b) (emphasis added) |
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_____Thus, the link was clear. The same Robert Pickens living in close proximity to we saw Carey and Abraham to on the 1870 Census, is likely the same "son Robert" who was given Abraham and Abraham's 'Old" mother Mima, by the 1828 Codicil of his father, Robert Pickens Because of This discovery identified we then knew the identity of Carey's fraternal grandmother, as well as the person who held Carey's father, fraternal grandmother and probably Carey himself in bondage for generations.
_____As has become a custom, at our August, 1991 Pickens family reunion banquet, I presented my 'historical update" to the attendees and mentioned some of my goals, plans and wishes for the next twelve months. Among my wish list items was a plea to the family to help me locate the soil (i.e. property, farm, plantation or estate etc.) where the family's slave ancestors once labored. That same evening, one of my very polite and shy middle-aged cousins, Bobby Davis, approached me to follow up on the request. Cousin Bobby has lived in the local area all of his life, and he and his brother Joseph have both been intricately involved in the local planning for the annual reunion for some time. While Bobby can be somewhat of a quiet and non-assuming person, he has provided me with much helpful and interesting tidbits of information over the years. Well, Bobby approached me on the evening of the August, 1991 reunion banquet and said "I think I know where the old Pickens homestead is... There's a plaque on the side of the road marking it... The next time you come down I'll take you there." Perhaps out of a sense of caution or modesty, Bobby didn't tell me that he knew that particular area very well, that he often worked in the area building fences for property owners, that he currently had in-laws living in that area, and that he had received a wealth of information over the |
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years about the white and African-American Pickens families from a very knowledgeable now deceased member of that connection the white Pickens family. Bobby's comments registered like a bombshell; but as has been the case on so many prior occasions, the reunion's tight schedule soon took us off in separate directions. Too soon thereafter, the reunion's weekend events were over and it was time to depart go. Of course, I told my perennial reunion hosts and good friends, Cousin Pete (the Chair of the Family Reunion Planning Committee) periodically reminded Bobby to follow up with me about the Pickens "homestead" during the succeeding twelve months. While I didn't hear from Bobby between reunions; Cousin Pete had badgered Bobby so much that he Bobby was truly waiting for me when I arrived in Greenville the third week-end of August, 1992.
_____As the annual reef laying ceremony in honor of Carey Pickens and Mary Hallums was about to commence on Sunday afternoon, August 16, 1992 (at the Fairfield United Methodist Church Cemetery in Anderson County)5/, Cousin Bobby approached me and said "I can take you over to the old Pickens homestead immediately after we get finished here." Little did I know how significant this trip would be and I am certain that Cousin Bobby didn't know either.
_____After winding through the paved and scenic country roads out from the Fairfield Untied Methodist Church Cemetery for about ten minutes in my rental car, (with Cousin
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5/_____Numerous of the African-American Pickens family members are buried at the Fairfield. I was told that for decades, Fairfield was the (or one of the) burial locations for Black Methodist in the area. |
