Maryland was established with religious freedom for Catholics. The colonial economy was based on tobacco cultivated by Africans who had been enslaved.
John Adams, Jr. (1735-1826) was the second President of the United States (1797–1801), the first Vice President (1789–1797).
Fayette County is in southwestern Pennsylvania, adjacent to Maryland and West Virginia. It was created on September 26, 1783, from part of Westmoreland County.
Reason (Rezin) Ricketts was the son of Cheney Ricketts and Nancy Ann Cheney. He was born about 1764 in Maryland.
He moved to Barree Township Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania about 1784 with his family. At that time, it was still part of Bedford County.
He married Mary Long about 1786. Mary Long was probably a member of the William Long family from Barree.
Mary and Reason's children may have included: Jeremiah Ricketts (1787, married Elizabeth Ricketts), William Ricketts (1791, married Susannah Martin and Elizabeth Dougherty),
Charles Ricketts (1795),
Mary Ricketts (1797, married John Cotton Ricketts),
Jonathan Ricketts (1800, married Peggy Dearmont), and
Chaney Ricketts (1803, married Millicent Ricketts).
In 1807 Reason received land patent in Bloom Township, Fairfield County, Ohio.
Mary died on October 9, 1814 in Fairfield County, Ohio.
Reason's second wife was Hannah Meason Mason. They married July 17, 1817 in Fairfield County, Ohio. Hannah was born on January 1, 1782 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of John Meason and Hannah Frost. She had been married before to Dorsey Mason, who died on April, 25, 1814. Hannah and Dorsey's children included:
Samuel F. Mason (1800),
John Mason (1802),
Rosannah Mason (1804, married John Howe),
Harriett Mason (1806),
Thomas Mason (1808, married Harriet Dixon),
Dorsey Mason (1811, married Nancy Ricketts daughter of Charles Ricketts son of Cheney Ricketts), and
Magnus Mason (1813, married Martha Wright).
Reason and Hannah's children probably included:
Hannah Ricketts (1818),
Elizabeth Ricketts (1820),
Irena Ricketts Tharp (1822, married Armstead Bowen Tharp),
Cyrus F. Ricketts (1825, married Sarah Jane Smith),
Isaac M. Ricketts
(1826, married Nancy W. Swaim),
Frances Ricketts
Hammer (1830, married Paul V. Hammer),
The family moved to on to Fairfield County, Ohio.
The family brought their possessions on horseback, there being only Indian trails to follow.
In 1806 Reason was involved in a criminal case.
The March term of 1806 [of the Court of Common Pleas for Fairfield County opened]... its proceedings with the hearing of several criminal cases. We quote from the docket literally, thus: "State of Ohio vs. William Long;" "same vs. Samuel Chaney;" "same vs. Reason Reckets;" "same vs. same;" "same vs. same;" "State of Ohio vs. James Lambert." In no instance is the nature of the offense or crime specified. Wm. Long was fined one dollar and costs; Samuel Chaney was acquitted; Reason Rickets was fined in one case three dollars and costs; in the two others he was acquitted. (from The Complete History of Fairfield County, Ohio)
Reason appeared on the 1808, 1810 tax lists in Fairfield County.
Jeremiah Ricketts married Elizabeth Ricketts in January, 1810.
Mary Ricketts married George Russell in July, 1815.
Jonathan Ricketts married Peggy Durmot in January, 1816.
William Ricketts married Susannah Martin in February, 1816.
John Ricketts married Mary Ricketts in January 1817,
Rebecca Ricketts married James Forsythe in August, 1819,
In 1820 Reason was in Bloom Township, Fairfield County, Ohio. The household consisted of:
a man and a woman over 45 - Reason & Hannah
2 men and 2 women between 16 and 25 - Jonathan age 20
2 boys between 16 and 18 - Chaney age 17
2 girls and a boy between 10 and 15,
2 girls and 3 boys under 10 - Hannah age 2
Margaret Ricketts married Abraham Miller in June, 1821.
Chaney Rickett married Millison Ricketts in April 1825.
Susan Ricketts married Jacob Mouser in July, 1826.
Reason died on October 31, 1833 in Fairfield County, Ohio.
Hannah moved to Wells County, Indiana with some of her children and died there on August 3, 1859.
Shays's Rebellion was an armed uprising in Massachusetts in 1786 and 1787. Daniel Shays led four thousand rebels (Shaysites) in rising up against perceived economic injustices.
Daniel Shays and Job Shattuck
from Bickerstaff's Boston Almanack
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania was established on September 20, 1787 as a large region of Central Pennsylvania. It was previously part of Bedford County and the earlier Cumberland Region.
Fairfield County, Ohio originally encompassed all or parts of present day Knox, Hocking, Licking, Perry, and Pickaway counties.
Barree Township, Pennsylvania was formed in 1767 and was originally part of of Cumberland County, then it became part of Bedford County until 1787 when it became part of Huntingdon County.
American pioneers migrated west to settle areas not previously inhabited by European Americans.
from Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio by Charles Milton Lewis Wiseman
Colonel John Meason, seventh son of Thomas, was born February 22, 1753, in Berkeley County, Va. He married Hannah Frost, who was born December 23, 1751. They moved to Fayette County, Pa. They were the parents of ten children.
Isaac was born November 20, 1773, and died February 26, 1845;
Elizabeth, born April 2, 1776;
Martha was born May 20, 1779;
Hannah was born June 1, 1782;
John was born September 7, 1784;
Nancy was born May 4, 1787;
Mary was born May 9, 1789,
Thomas was born June18, 1791;
Francis, January 20, 1794; and
George, January 12, 1798.
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America and was ratified in 1789.
from History of Fairfield County Jeremiah Ricketts came from Pennsylvania with his father at an early date in the history of Fairfield county. The family brought their possessions on horseback, there being only Indian trails to follow. Reason Ricketts and his son, Jeremiah, began the work incident to the life of the pioneer; but by industry, energy, and the closest economy, they managed to live, and began to see field after field cleared, each year adding a few more acres, until the forest gave away to cultivated fields. Reason Ricketts died in 1830;
Jeremiah remained in Violet township, and cleared a farm now owned and occupied by his son, Reason, Jr. He reared a family of five sons, all of whom are living. He lived to enjoy the results of his industry and toil of his early manhood, and owned at his death two hundred and forty acres of land. He had held the office of township trustee and treasurer. Mr. Ricketts died in 1867.
from History of Seneca County, Ohio edited by Michael A. Leeson
Milton D. Ricketts farmer. P. O. Tiflin, was born November 10, 1836, in Hopewell Township, this county, son of William L. and Elizabeth (Docherty) Ricketts, natives of Pennsylvania. William L. Ricketts, a son of Rezin Ricketts, was born in 1791, and in 1800 came with his parents to Fairfield County. Ohio. where they began as pioneers.
Rezin Ricketts was among the early settlers of Ohio, and William Ricketts was one of the first settlers of Hopewell Township, moving in 1828; the latter began life in the woods, where there was no road open between him and Tiflin.
He was twice married, and had the following children: Rezin Ricketts, Washington (deceased), Turza (Mrs. Jacob Einoc). Cinderella (deceased wife of J . Adelsberger). Matilda (wife of Joseph Culbertson). Catharine (deceased), Mary (wife of James Vanvleet) and Milton D.
Our subject was educated in the schools of this county. He was united in marriage, in 1870, with Annie, the second born in the family of eight children of John Shaferly. He is now occupying the well-improved lands entered by his father, and which are located on the Findlay and Tiflin State road on Section 30, Hopewell Township.
from Historical Hand Atlas 1881, Jackson Township, Wells County, Indiana,
Armsted B. Tharp-born in Virginia, June 12, 1820, died January 27, 1871. He was married in Jackson township, Wells county, on July 12, 1840, to Irena, daughter of Rezin and Hannah (Mason) Ricketts, who in 1836, removed to Wells county.
Mr. Tharp's children begin with
Elizabeth J., born April 18, 1841, died September 27, 1845;
William H., December 16, 1842, died February 1, 1863;
Hannah M., March 30, 1844;
Isaac M., March 1, 1846;
John W., January 19, 1848;
Mary C., September 29, 1849;
Rezin R., January 2, 1852;
Jonas G., November 17, 1853;
Sarah F., October 17, 1855, died May 31, 1856;
Nancy B., March 17, 1857;
Lucy S., June 5, 1859;
Ezra C., June 28, 1861, died March 17, 1870;
Amos S., December 28, 1864;
Milton M., September 26, 1866.
All are married except for Lucy, Amos and Milton. William H. was a member of the 47th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Isaac M. was also a member of that company and regiment, participating in every battle in which his regiment was engaged. Previous to Mr. Tharp's death his time was employed as a farmer. He was a resident of Jackson township, removing to Wells county in 1836.
Mrs. Tharp was born in Fairfield county, Ohio on April 3, 1822. Her address is Warren, Huntington county, Indiana. Isaac M. is a minister of the denomination of United Brethren.