Will of John Puckett, 1806, Chesterfield County, Virginia

Chesterfield Co, VA Will Book 6, p.386-7

In the name of God, Amen, I John Puckett of the parish of Dale and county of Chesterfield, being weak in body but sound in mind and memory thanks be to God for the same, but knowing the uncertainty of human life, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in form and manner following, hereby renouncing and revoking all former wills by me made . 

Item, to my beloved wife Dolley Puckett I give and bequeath the use, profit, and benefit of my whole estate real and personal, during her life or widowhood, except such parts thereof as are specially disposed of hereafter. and at her decease to be divided equally betwixt my children Francis Puckett, Simon Puckett, William Puckett, and the one which my said wife is teeming with, be it a girl or a boy: but in case my said wife Dolley Puckett should marry, she shall be dispossessed of every part thereof by the executor, and the estate kept together for the benefit of the above children, untill the said executor shall see cause for a division, and in case any of the above legatees should die before the death of their mother  or before any division should take place, or after, their portion is to fall to the surviving part of them. 

Item, to my son Lewis Puckett I give and bequeath the sum of Twenty pounds, to be paid at his mother's death, to him and his heirs forever . 

Item. it is my will and desire that my son Lewis Puckett be dispossessed from the house he is now dwelling in, on or before the Twenty fifth day of December next - and that my man Hampton be kindly treated for his faithful services during the time I have had him in possession.

Lastly , I constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife Dolley Puckett and my friend William Ferguson Senr executrix and executor of this my last will and testament . In witness hereof I have at my hand and real this Tenth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and six . 

In presence of Thomas Whitworth  James Snellings, Eldridge Smith John Smith (his X mark)

John Puckett (his X mark) {seal}

At a Court held for Chesterfield County the 8th day of December 1806, this last will and testament of John Puckett deceased was proven by the oath of James Snellings and Eldridge Smith subscribing witnesses , and ordered to be recorded . And on the motion of Dolley Puckett and William Ferguson, executrix and executor therein named, who took the oath prescribed by law, and entered into bonds with security, conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted them of having obtained probate thereof in due form.

Teste Thomas Watkins Clerk .

Some notes on this will:

1) John Puckett's grandfather was John Puckett, who I call "John Puckett of Third Branch" to distinguish from the other John Pucketts in Chesterfield Co, VA at the same time.  See More Puckett Research, section "John Puckett of Third Branch".  Note that John Puckett's 1772 will gave to his grandson John Puckett 150 acres and the slave boy Hampton.  The John Puckett in the 1806 will mentions "my man Hampton", proving the link back to his grandfather.

2) John Puckett who wrote the 1806 will was still a minor (under 21) in Aug 1781 - Chesterfield Co, VA OB 6:323 Aug 1781 - Edward Reams guardian of "John Puckett Orphan of Lewis Puckett".  This record gives John's father's name as Lewis Puckett.  Edward Reams was likely John Puckett's uncle, married to Frances (Puckett) Reams, mentioned as a daughter of John Puckett of the 1772 will.

3) In the 1783 Virginia State Census for Chesterfield County (Census Bureau link, p.50, column 4), John Puckett is shown as a head of a household with 2 white people and 1 black person (John, his wife Dorothy, slave man Hampton).

4) John's wife was Dorothy L LNU (last/maiden name unknown).  Sometimes appears as Dorotha.  Often appears by nickname Dolley or Dolly, common nicknames for Dorothy.

5) Note that in 1783, John and Dorothy had no children (see above).  The notion that their son Lewis was born in 1764 comes from the fact his wife was Rhoda (Newby), and researchers found another Puckett married to a Rhoda, Revolution War Vet John Puckett whose widow was Rhoda Lidia/Lydia; this John Puckett was born in 1764.  Because both Lewis Puckett and John Puckett (born 1764) were married to women named Rhoda they have been combined and conflated.

6) There are multiple other ways to prove that Lewis Puckett, son of John & Dorothy L Puckett was born circa 1784 or slightly later.  When Lewis Puckett married Rhoda Newby in 1803 in Chesterfield Co, VA, he was under 21, and thus considered a minor at the time; Virginia law required people under 21 to have parental consent to marry, which is why John Puckett gave consent for Lewis to marry.  On the 1820 census of Amelia Co, VA, Lewis Puckett was the male in his household aged 26-44, indicating he was born after 1775.  Lewis Puckett was missed in the 1830 census, though tax lists place him in Amelia Co, VA.  In 1840, he is listed as "Louis Puckett" in Hickman Co, KY and he was the male in his household aged 50-59, placing his birth between 1780 and 1790.  Lastly, records clearly indicate that Dorothy was the mother of Lewis, and the 1806 will of John Puckett indicates Dorothy was pregnant at the time - if Lewis was born in 1764, then his mother was pregnant again 42 years later, which is a biological impossibility.

7) The 1802 land tax list of Chesterfield Co, VA, John Puckett was listed with 147 acres.  He inherited half of his grandfather's 300 acre land patent.  It may have been slightly less than 150 acres due to a more accurate survey, or sometimes land was taken by the county for roads, etc.

8) There may have been a falling out between John Puckett and his son Lewis, because John's will does not give any land to Lewis, and in fact, evicts him from his father's land.  Lewis Puckett was to get 20 pounds money, but only after the death of his mother.  In a Chesterfield Co, VA deed, Lewis Puckett of Amelia Co gave to his daughter Edna Puckett any legacy coming to him from his father, John Puckett deceased, and his mother, Dorothy L Puckett (Chesterfield Co, VA DB 27:644, 21 Aug 1829).

9) John Puckett's land was to be divided between four children - Francis, Simon [sic, this was mistake for 'Simeon'], William and the child Dorothy was pregnant with, whether a boy or girl.  This is the only known mention of Francis and the child Dorothy was pregnant with in 1806; they both must have died without children of their own.  In 1823, Simeon Puckett and his wife Stacia sold to Dorothy L Puckett Simeon's interest in the land of his father - "containing by estimation Seventy acres be the same more or less ( it being the moiety of my fathers land, lying & being in the Chesterfield County, which I fell heir to from my fathers last Will & Testament" (Chesterfield Co, VA DB 25:95).  Simeon mentioned 70 acres, about half the 147 acres John Puckett was taxed with in 1802.  Simeon also mentioned a 'moiety', an old word meaning roughly a half.  One of the witnesses to the deed was William M Puckett, Simeon's brother, who would inherit the other half of John Puckett's land.  Given that John Puckett's land was split in half, the other two children he willed the land must have died young.

10) Simeon Puckett was dead by 13 Nov 1826, when Stacia remarried William C Wilson.  On 11 Feb 1833, Dorothy L Puckett was appointed guardian of "John Puckett and Augustus Cox Puckett orphans of Simeon Puckett" (Chesterfield Co, VA OB 27:655).  The boys may have still lived with their mother, and Dorothy was a guardian of their financial affairs.

11) Augustus Cox Puckett went to Kentucky with his grandmother Dorothy L Puckett and uncles Lewis and William M Puckett.  Augustus is often counted as a child of Lewis in online trees, but was his nephew.  Census records indicate Augustus Cox Puckett had a son named Simeon after his father.

12) John Puckett, son of Simeon, was the John Henry Puckett who married Obedience Susan Archer in Chesterfield Co, VA in 1847; they had a daughter named Dorothy.  John H Puckett's middle name 'Henry' from his marriage record, Obedience Archer's middle name 'Susan' from the death certificate of one of her children.  John H Puckett may have gone to Kentucky, there was a John H Puckett on the Hickman Co, KY 1844 tax list, but returned to Virginia.  In 1847, John H Puckett was in debt and had to sign over land to the Sheriff of Chesterfield Co, VA, the land was described as land 'charged to Simion Puckett', no acreage given (Chesterfield Co, VA DB 37:399).

13) Simeon Puckett may have had other children I am trying to connect.

14) William M Puckett was born circa 1805, and thus very young when his father John Puckett died in 1806.  He inherited half his father's land which he and wife Nancy (Hood) sold before moving to Hickman Co, KY.  The area they moved to later became Ballard Co, KY, and in an 1867 deed, William M Puckett describes a piece of land he inherited from his mother, "Dorothy L. Puckett mother of said Wm M. Puckett by last Will and Testament bequeathed to said Wm Puckett Sen , her son..." (Ballard Co, KY DB A:71).  Note that Dorothy L Puckett left a will in Ballard Co, KY but it was lost along with the other early wills of that county.

15) More on this family later.  :)

Lewis Puckett & Rhoda Newby family, Part 1

 This is the first of a series of posts involving the family of Lewis Puckett and his wife Rhoda Newby.

Daughters who married in Virginia

Update: marriage records of Amelia Co, VA

• 15 Sep 1830, Ethol Pitchford & Edney Puckett, James H Southall security
• 24 Dec 1832, Thomas Perdue & Martha Puckett, Ethol Pitchford security, Lewis Puckett bride's father
• 24 Dec 1835, Asa Perdue & Frances Puckett, Joseph Waltrip security, Lewis Puckett bride's father

Edney Puckett to Ethrol Pitchford, Amelia Co, VA - 15 Sep 1830 - marriage record does not state parentage of either.  In Chesterfield Co, VA OB 29:4, 13 Mar 1837, a road crew order lists the following men in a row "Asa Perdue , Thomas Perdue, Ethrall Pitchfort".  All three were married to daughters of Lewis Puckett and Rhoda Newby.  By 1840, "Etheal Pitchfort" was on the 1840 Federal Census (FC) of White Co, TN.  In 1850, Ethel Pitchfort is on the FC of White Co, TN; he is 45, born in VA, with 'Emily' 35, VA and children born in VA and TN.  In 1860 FC of White Co, TN, again we find Etherel & Emily Pitchfort, but he must must have died before 1870, as the 1870 and 1880 censuses list just Edney Pitchfort.  In White Co, TN Probate Deed Book E:40, Ethel Pitchfort and his wife Edney, on 11 Apr 1853, gave Power of Attorney to William M Puckett (who was Edney's uncle).  Unknown why Edney listed as Emily in the 1850 and 1860 censuses, perhaps a middle name.

Edney was probably a nickname for Edna.  In Chesterfield Co, VA DB 27:644, Lewis Puckett, on 1 Aug 1829, gave to "my daughter Edna Puckett" for love and affection and one dollar, his inheritance he was due from "the estate of my father John Puckett deceased" as well as his interest in the estate of "my mother Dorothy L Puckett at her decease".

Martha Puckett married Thomas Perdue in Amelia Co, VA on 24 Dec 1832; the marriage record says she was the daughter of Lewis Puckett.  Exactly 3 years later, on 24 Dec 1835, Frances Puckett married Asa Perdue in Amelia Co, VA; the marriage record does not list parentage of either.  

Martha was buried at Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, VA, which has very good records.  The record of her burial states she died 24 Sep 1862 at age 50 of typhoid fever, that she was the wife of Thomas S Perdue, and she was born in Chesterfield Co, the daughter of Lewis and Rhonda [sic] Puckett.

Virginia Death Records state that Frances Perdue died 5 Sep 1893 at age 80 in Matoaca, Chesterfield, VA; that she was born in Chesterfield; that she was the widow of Asa Perdue and the daughter of Lewis and Rhoda Puckett.

Asa and Frances Perdue were in Chesterfield Co, VA for the 1850 census after which Asa must have died, since Frances is listed without a husband, living with her children, in the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses.  Thomas and Martha Perdue were in Chesterfield Co, VA for the 1850 census, and in Petersburg, VA for the 1860 census.

Martha Puckett and Frances Puckett have been conflated, confused and combined into "Martha Frances Puckett" in multiple online genealogies, but they were two separate women, sisters who were both daughters of Lewis Puckett and Rhoda Newby.

Ancestry of Samuel O Puckett

 Samuel O Puckett - born 1820 in Laurens Co, SC; died 1893 in Sevier Co, AR.  - https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/about/L7BT-N4R

On 1850 Census of Laurens Co, SC with wife Elizabeth C (Hairston) age 25; also in the household is William Puckett age 19.

Laurens Co, SC Will Book A:69 - Will of George Dillard, dated 1846, wife Martha, mentions several heirs including grandson Samuel Puckett - Samuel's parents not given.

Union Co, SC Will Book C:233 - Will of Martha Dillard, dated 1861, mentions several heirs including grandson Samuel Puckett - Samuel's parents not given.

From this, we know that Samuel O Puckett's parents were a Mr Puckett and a Miss Dillard.

There were three sets of Puckett families in Laurens Co, SC - see here.

In Rankin Co, MS, Dr Samuel M Puckett administered the estate of James Puckett, and probate records there reveal that Samuel O Puckett was the son of James Puckett.  Dr Samuel M Puckett was the son of John Puckett, son of Charles Puckett, son of the 'original' Douglass Puckett (first person by that name in America).  

Charles Puckett left Prince Edward Co, VA before the Revolutionary War and moved to South Carolina, settling near Duncans Creek of Enoree River in what became Ninety-Six District, then Laurens District, renamed to Laurens County.  Charles Puckett had four sons - James D Puckett, Chatham [or Cheatham] Puckett, John Puckett [whose name was often preceded with 'Esquire'],  and Douglass Josiah/Josephus Puckett [he appears to have changed his middle name after becoming an attorney].

James D Puckett spent a few years in Knox Co, TN and Anderson Co, TN in the late 1790s, early 1800s, before moving to western KY, then finally to Claiborne Co, MS where he died; the name of his wife is unknown.  John Puckett's first wife was Ann, nicknamed 'Nancy', her maiden name unknown; they sold their land in Laurens Co, SC and moved to western KY, where John Puckett remarried after his first wife's death; John Puckett was a justice of the Livingston Co, KY court.  Later, John Puckett moved to Hinds Co, MS where he left a will in 1825 naming several heirs, including his son Samuel M Puckett, who was named executor of John's will.

I mention James D Puckett and his brother John Puckett because their children were in Mississippi, a place where several Puckett lines get confused, because sometimes Pucketts who were distantly related lived in the same counties.  Also, Dr Samuel M Puckett, son of John Puckett, administered the estate of James Puckett, father of Samuel O Puckett.  

In 1845, James Puckett bought land in Rankin Co, MS - a lot in the town of Brandon.  This lot had been sold by Samuel M Puckett to his sister and brother-in-law, who defaulted on a loan, and the bank then sold it to James Puckett - all of this detail in the deed.  Rankin Co, MS DB 9:10.

The Pucketts of Rankin Co, MS are very confusing.  Samuel M Puckett was there, as well as his sons.  There are also records of Samuel M Puckett's brothers, and his Puckett first cousins (sons of James D Puckett).  Also, there was the extended family of Thomas Puckett, who was distantly related.

By April 1849, James Puckett was dead, and Samuel M Puckett named administrator.  

The link to Samuel O Puckett is given in Rankin Co, MS Record of Petitions, B:75, 'Estate of James Puckett' - administrator Saml M Puckett, in Apr 1849, described the property of James Puckett in Rankin Co, MS and what he knew of James' family - that he left a widow, Sarah Puckett in South Carolina, and 6 children:

"Samuel O. Puckett, who is one & twenty years of age and four children who are minors John Puckett, Isaac Puckett, Ira Puckett & Martha Ann Puckett as your Petitioner is informed and believes, these four children reside as your petitioner is informed in the State of South Carolina , the sixth child named Thomas Puckett is a minor under the age of twenty one and resides, or make it his home in the County of Rankin."

Note that Samuel O Puckett is described as 'one & twenty years of age' in 1849, a fancy way of saying 21.  This was legalese meaning he was least 21, the same way we say you must be 21 to buy alcohol.  At this time, 21 was the age of adulthood, and children under 21 were considered minors.

We find James Puckett's widow, Sarah Puckett, on the 1850 census of Union Co, SC, age 47, with children Isaac 16, Ira 14, Martha 12; also Asbury Hendricks age 27, male living with them.  Thomas Puckett, son of James, was on the 1850 Census of Rankin Co, MS as 22, born in SC, a carpenter, in the household of C N Langford.  

By the 1860 Federal Census, Sarah's family was in Hempstead Co, AR, not too far from Samuel O Puckett in Sevier Co, AR.  Sarah Puckett has the same children with her in 1860, plus John W Puckett, 28, born in SC.  John W Puckett must be the John Puckett listed as child of James Puckett, and the W likely stood for William, and he was the William Puckett with Samuel O Puckett in 1850.

From various records of Hempstead Co, AR, Sarah Puckett's maiden name appears to be Hendricks, daughter of a Thomas Hendricks.  Sarah Hendricks was the second wife of James Puckett, after his first wife, a Miss Dillard (given name currently unknown) died.

Later probate records of James Puckett in Rankin Co, MS show that Sarah Puckett of Hempstead Co, AR gave Power of Attorney to Isaac Puckett to handle the estate of James Puckett.

Given the age gap, and the fact that George & Martha Dillard only mentioned one Puckett grandchild, it appears James Puckett and Miss Dillard had only one child, or least only one who survived to 1849, which was Samuel O Puckett, born 1820.  James Puckett and second wife Sarah Hendricks had Thomas (born circa 1828), John William (c 1831), Isaac M (c 1834), Ira Allen (c 1836) and Martha Ann Melissa (c 1838).

I am pretty sure James Puckett was the son Benjamin Puckett and Sarah Hansell.  My reasoning will be in another post.  Benjamin Puckett was, I believe, the younger brother of Charles Puckett, father of John Puckett, father of Dr Samuel M Puckett who administered the estate of James Puckett.  This makes Samuel O Puckett the second cousin of Dr Samuel M Puckett of Rankin Co, MS.  

Why was James Puckett in Rankin Co, MS, away from his family in South Carolina?  He may have been ill, and perhaps Samuel M Puckett, a medical doctor, was treating him.

More later.

 

Quaker Pucketts

Sylvia Ridenour Olson's mother was Hazel Puckett (1882 - 1969), she the daughter of Francis Puckett (1859 - 1931), he the son of James B Puckett (1829 - 1899), son of James Puckett (1788 - circa 1860), son of Thomas Puckett, the progenitor of a large Puckett family of Quakers.

Our basic knowledge of Thomas Puckett the Quaker, and his father Isham Puckett Sr, comes from  the book A history of Welcome Garrett and his descendants by Samuel B Garret, as I discuss on my page for Womack Puckett.

Sylvia R Olson studied the Quaker Pucketts extensively, and created a large set of 3x5 cards with info on hundreds of Puckett individuals.  These cards were microfilmed by LDS, and available at FamilySearch (click this link, requires free FamilySearch login).  The cards are arranged alphabetically by name.

Richard Puckett, son of Thomas the first Quaker, and wife Hannah had several children.  After Richard died, Hannah and the children moved to Indiana.  In Surry Co, NC Deed Book U:288, Hannah and her children gave Power of Attorney to David Puckett (another child of Richard & Hannah) to settle the estate of Richard Puckett in North Carolina.  

Surry Co, NC DB U:288 - Power of attorney, David Puckett from Hannah Puckett and others.  Hannah Pucket widow and Thomas Pucket, Isam Pucket, Moses Pucket and Betsey Pucket his wife, Joseph Pucket, Richard Pucket, Elihu Pucket, Phebe Pucket, Nancy Combs Pucket, Levina Pucket and Lewis Pucket heirs of Richard Pucket deceased of Vigo Co, IN make Daniel Pucket our Attorney to settle the estate of Richard Pucket in Surry Co, NC.  Signed 19 Sep 1832.  Signed by Hannah Pucket, Thomas Pucket, Moses Pucket, Betsy Pucket, Richard Pucket, Joseph Pucket, Elihu Pucket, Phebe Pucket, Levina Pucket, Lewis Pucket.  Witnesses Isom Garrett, Patterson M Wire.  

The question arises whether Moses Puckett in the Power of Attorney above was the son of Richard and Hannah, or a son-in-law who married their daughter Elizabeth.  Moses Puckett married Elizabeth Puckett 13 June 1818 in Surry Co, NC with Benjamin Taylor bondsman.  The wording of the Power of Attorney means that Moses was a son-in-law of Richard, acting in the right of his wife Elizabeth, nickname  'Betsy'.

According to Sylvia Olson, Moses was Elizabeth's first cousin, the son of Benjamin Puckett - link here.  If so, Moses came back to NC to marry Elizabeth, because in 1809, Moses witnessed a deed to his father in Knox Co, OH (DB B:102).

A guardian report in Surry Co, NC (Record of Estates 1818-1824:54) shows Samuel Pfaff was the guardian of Elizabeth Puckett and Nancy Puckett.  Pfaff settled Elizabeth's share with her husband, Moses Puckett.  He gave Nancy Puckett her share a few days before she came of age, right before she moved to "the western country" with a bond from Nancy's mother to indemnify him.  He also received money from the administrator to pay for school for David Puckett.   The "Richard Puckett 1815" estate file shows Pfaff as guardian to some of Richard's children.  

So, Moses Puckett was Richard Puckett's son-in-law.

Moses Puckett was on the 1820 census of Clinton Co, OH and the 1830 census of Vigo Co, IN.  The Moses Puckett on the 1840 census of Clinton Co, OH was another Moses Puckett, son of James Puckett son of Thomas the Quaker, and thus first cousin of both Moses Puckett and his wife Elizabeth.  Moses Puckett son of James was on the 1850 census of Hamilton Co, IN.  

Clinton Co, OH DB D:234, a deed made in 1824 where the sellers were Benjamin Puckett and wife Catherine, James Puckett and wife Mary, and Moses Puckett and wife Betsy.  Proof that after marrying, Moses Puckett and his wife Elizabeth Puckett lived for a time in Ohio before moving to Indiana.

John Puckett of Amherst County, Virginia

 In 1756, a John Puckett was an overseer for Peter Jefferson, father of President Thomas Jefferson, in Albemarle Co, VA.  See book 'The Lee Harmon Manuscript' at Internet Archive, Chapter V, p.104.  The footnote for this is missing from the footnote section for Chapter 5 at the end of the book, but I assume it comes from the papers of Peter Jefferson, who had four large plantations in Albemarle County.  John Puckett may have worked at Jefferson's Shadwell Plantation, a little east of Charlottesville.

A John Puckett bought land in Albemarle Co, VA in 1765:  DB 4:100 - 11 Jul 1765, William Kippes to John Puckett, both of Albemarle Co, for 20 pounds, tract in Albemarle Co, South Branches of Hardware River, 200 acres, mentions corner of John Howard and Stephens. Signed Wm Kippes.  No witnesses.  July 1765 Albemarle Court, acknowledged by William Kippes.

Also, DB 4:500 - 25 Oct 1765, John Howard & John Puckett of Albemarle to Randolph Johnson of Cumberland Co, for 8 pounds, land in Albemarle, part of a 400 acre tract granted to aforesaid John Howard on Dabeys Creek.  Mentions William Kippe's corner, Jacob Oglesby's line, John Howard's corner.  Signed John Howard (J H his mark), John Puckett (+ his mark).  No witnesses.  Apr 1768, Albemarle Court - acknowledged by John Howard and John Puckett, Katey [?, later deeds show John Howard's wife was Catherine, Katey a nickname] wife of said Howard relinquished Dower.

Fluvanna Co, VA was formed 1 July 1777 from the eastern part of Albemarle Co.  Hardware River arises in modern Albemarle Co and flows into Fluvanna Co where it joins the James River.  Dobby Creek, called Dabeys Creek in the deed above, is a small creek in Fluvanna Co that flows into Hardware River in what is now the Hardware River State Wildlife Management Area.  So, the area in the two above deeds was in the part of Albemarle Co which became Fluvanna in 1777.

In 1764, John Howard sold land to George Duncan - Albemarle Co, VA DB 4:11 1764, John Howard & Catherine his wife to George Duncan, all of Albemarle Co, 20 acres, part of a patent granted 17 June 1738 of 200 acres to Jacob Shephard, and from him conveyed to said John Howard, on Hardware River, mention John Stevens line.  Signed John Howard (J H his mark), Catherine Howard (+ her mark).  No witnesses.  19 Oct 1764, court for Albemarle Co, acknowledged by John Howard and Katherine his wife.

In 1779, John Puckett, an inhabitant of Amherst Co, VA, sold 200 acres in Fluvanna Co, VA.

Fluvanna Co, VA DB 1:157 - 17 Feb 1779, John Puckett of Amherst Co, VA to George Duncan of Fluvanna Co, VA, for 25 pounds, 200 acres in Fluvanna joining the lines of said Duncan, Christopher Watts and Shadrack Ogelsby [Oglesby].  Signed John Puckett (+ his mark).  Witnesses Jno Wmson [John Williamson], John Duncan, Lewis Hancock.  Fluvanna Court 4 Mar 1779, proved by oaths of John Williamson, John Duncan and Lewis Handcock.

Although the deed does not mention any waterways, this appears to be the same 200 acres purchased by John Puckett in 1765 on Hardware River.  Almost certainly this is the same John Puckett selling that land in 1777.

John Puckett bought land in Amherst Co, VA in 1771.  In 1776, John Puckett sold part of that land to Jacob Puckett, and the description mentions William Oglesby's line - a probable connection to the Oglesby neighbors in the Albemarle and Fluvanna deeds above.

John Puckett was listed an the 1787 tax list of Amherst Co, VA as tax exempt.  Jacob Puckett is also on this list and was taxed for one white poll.  The 1787 tax list was different than those before or after, because the state of Virginia had instructed all counties to list by name all white males over 16, even those who were tax exempt.  In this way, the 1787 tax list has been used as substitute for the lost 1790 Federal Census of Virginia.  Virginia did not have automatic tax exemptions, but the courts could grant an exemption to someone who was old or disabled, though they still had to pay taxes on certain personal property if they owned it.  They were exempt from the poll tax on white males over 16.

John Puckett appears to have been alive for several more years, acting as the bondsman on several marriages in Amherst Co.  The last appearance was when a John Puckett was the bondman for the marriage of Benjamin Sneed to Silvey Enicks in 1797.

John Puckett and Jacob Puckett signed a Legislative Petition in 1776 - search the Library of Virginia catalog for 'Dissenters in Albemarle, Amherst, & Buckingham: Petition' - there are two petitions with this name, both dated 22 Oct 1776.  John Puckett and Jacob Puckett are listed on one of them.

Assuming John Puckett who was on overseer for Peter Jefferson in 1756 was the same as the John Puckett of the 1765 Albemarle Co, VA deeds, this makes us rethink this John Puckett.  He was probably the father of Jacob Puckett, and not Jacob's brother as has been theorized.  We can guess this John Puckett was born circa 1736, making him about 20 when he worked for Peter Jefferson, and old enough to be Jacob Puckett's father - census records show Jacob was born in the 1750s.  By 1787, John Puckett was around 51 years old, and tax exempt.  John Puckett may be the son of Daniel Puckett of Buckingham Co, VA, but if so, he came west from Chesterfield Co, VA to the Peter Jefferson plantation in Albemarle Co, VA well before Daniel Puckett left Chesterfield.

Two Robert Pucketts

 There were two Robert Pucketts in Virginia in the late 1700s, one the son of Douglass Puckett, and one the son of Daniel Puckett.

The Robert Puckett who married Elizabeth Rice and had several children with her, as well as several children with mistress Sarah 'Sally' Potter, is well-known thru records of Prince Edward, Charlotte and Campbell counties in Virginia.  Robert's will named both sets of children.  Robert died from a gunshot wound, and his son, Robert Potter alias Puckett, was tried and acquitted of murder.  There are multiple records that tie this Robert to Douglass Puckett.

The other Robert Puckett is fairly unknown.  When Daniel Puckett, a resident of Buckingham Co, VA, sold land in Chesterfield Co, VA in 1780, two of the witnesses were Robert Puckett and Rachel Puckett.  There are few remaining records of Buckingham Co, VA; most early records were lost.  However, Robert Puckett appears on a 1773/1774 tax list of Buckingham that survived.  Robert Puckett also signed a Legislative Petition from Buckingham Co, VA in 1777.  

Daniel Puckett had a Virginia Land patent in northern Buckingham Co, VA, very close to where Buckingham joins the counties of Albemarle and Fluvanna.

By 1782, Robert Puckett, son of Daniel, appears to have moved to Fluvanna Co, VA, where he appears on tax lists from 1782 to 1817.  

Benjamin Puckett and Stephen Puckett also appear in Fluvanna records, likely sons of this Robert.  Benjamin Puckett, born circa 1781, was on the 1850 Federal Census Of Buckingham Co, VA, listed as age 65 with wife Polly.  His death was recorded in Virginia Death Registers, which state he died 17 June 1859 in Buckingham Co, age 78 (thus born circa 1781), wife Polly Pucket.  Most importantly, this record state he was born in Fluvanna Co, VA.

There were multiple Puckett marriages in Fluvanna Co, VA,

• James Thomas to Polley Puckett, 5 Jan 1801, Stephen Puckett bondsman, Robert Puckett consent
• Stephen Puckett to Polley Moore, 6 Nov 1801
• Robert Anderson to Rachel Puckett, 3 Sep 1808, John Thomas bondsman, Robert Puckett father
• Hiram Dawson to Jane Puckett, 23 Mar 1814
• Edmond Slaughter to Sally Puckett, 29 Dec 1816

Note that Robert Puckett had a daughter Rachel Puckett who married Robert Anderson.  This Rachel Puckett was unlikely the same Rachel Puckett who witnessed Daniel Puckett's 1780 deed along with Robert Puckett, but likely named for her.  The 1780 Rachel Puckett could have been Robert's sister or wife - it was fairly common to name girls after their mother then.

So, there were two Robert Pucketts, one with lots of records who was the son of Douglass Puckett, the other with fewer records, the probable son of Daniel Puckett.

Puckett - Surry County, North Carolina Land Entries

From the book, SURRY COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA LAND ENTRIES 1778 —1781 by JOSEPH WINSTON, at FamilySearch books.

#1208.  SAMUEL HUMPHRIS enters 100 acres of land in Surry Co. on the FLATT SHOLE CREEK above the main road including ISHAM PUCKETT's improvement for quantity —December 31, 1778. [Warrant granted]

#1243.  JOSEPH WILLIAMS enters 220 acres of land in Surry Co. on FLATT SHOLE CREEK including THOMAS PUCKETT'S improvement for quantity —January 2, 1779. [Warrant granted]

#2165.  REUBEN MATTHIAS enters 100 acres on the waters of FLAT SHOLE CREEK, including PAGE PUCKET'S improvement —July 13, 1781. [Warrant issued to THOS. WORD November 12, 1802 by J. W., C. C.]

Isham Puckett, Thomas Puckett and Page Puckett all believed to be sons of Isham Puckett Sr and his wife, Martha LNU.

Isham Puckett Jr moved north into Henry Co, VA by 1785 (tax lists), the part of Henry which later became Patrick County in 1791.

Page Puckett moved to Union Co, SC by the 1790 Census.

Thomas Puckett stayed in Surry Co, NC, though he also has records in Grayson Co, VA.  Thomas Puckett and his descendants were Quakers.

The 'FLAT SHOLE CREEK' in these records believed to the modern Flat Shoal Creek in modern Surry Co, NC, flows under I-74 near Long Hill, and flows into Ararat River.  There is another 'Flat Shoals Creek' in modern Stoke Co, NC, near Stokes Early College; this Flat Shoals Creek flows into the Dan River.  Some Puckett researchers have confused these creeks, since Stokes Co, NC is right next to Surry Co, NC, and Stokes was formed from Surry in 1789.

It was common for settlers to 'squat' on land and start improving it - clearing some if it, planting crops, building houses.  The squatter was in good position to get a land entry, which led to a grant from the state of North Carolina.  Sometimes the squatters sold the right to an entry to someone else.  That appears to be the case with the Puckett men.  Though Isham and Page moved on, Thomas stayed and eventually got a NC land grant in Surry Co, NC.