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.
