Pickering, Timothy
Timothy Pickering (1745-1829) was a renowned soldier, prominent in the Revolutionary days of Salem. He was a colonel of the militia and present with part of his command at North Bridge during the incident known as Leslie's retreat. He marched to assist at Concord and Lexington, but arrived too late to take a hand in the affair.
He was clerk in the registry of deeds, and later a judge of the court of common pleas, and probate court judge for Suffolk, Middlesex and Essex counties.
He participated in numerous battles of the Revolution and was adjutant general of the staff of General Washington for a time. He was a member of the continental war board of 1777 and quartermaster general of the army in 1780.
After the war he settled in Philadelphia, and was appointed the first postmaster general by President Washington in 1791 and secretary of state in 1795. He resigned and returned to Salem but served in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. He was the organizer and first president of the Essex Agricultural Society, which holds annual fairs in Topsfield.
He is perhaps the most famous resident of his family ancestral home on Broad Street, the Pickering House, owned by his family for 11 generations, passed down from father to son many times.
He married Rebecca White on April 8, 1776. They had 10 children: Tim, Edward, Henry, Charles, William, John, Octavius, George, Mary, and Elizabeth (twin girls).
See Also
Vertical File in Salem Collection - Pickering, Timothy
Timothy Pickering as the leader of New England Federalism, 1800-1915 by Hervey P. Prentiss
Essex Institute Historical Collection Vol. 111, p. 65-77
Highlights in the History of Salem Salem Evening News, p. 11
Historical Sketch of Salem; 1626-1879 by Osgood, p. 240-1
"Glover and Pickering were counted among Washington closest friends in the area" Salem News, Feb. 15, 2010, p. 5
"Timothy Pickering, a military genius" Salem Evening News, May 5, 1976, p.?
"Ten generations of Pickerings lived in Broad Street house" Salem Evening News, June 6, 2001, A3
