Hi Diana, I agree that the early familes that lived in Coffee, Ware, Clinch and what is now Atkinson counties,seemed to be one great big happy family. And they probably had to support each other to survive in the area in the early days. If family stories mean anything, the Ricketson/Sears name is probably tied together a lot more than we try to believe. According to the order of the listing of the 1820 census records, David Sears probably lived right next to Joseph and Serena Ricketson in Montgomery County, Georgia. In 1830 and subsequent census after both families relocated to what is now Coffee County or Atkinson Counties, they were again listed as living right near each other. Several researchers that I have been in contact with believe that the three youngest children of Serena Ricketson, born after Joseph Ricketson died, were fathered by David Sears. Of course the correct date of death of Joseph Ricketson is unknown. With the assistance of other researchers, a document has been located, which was witnessed by Joseph and Serena Ricketson during the period of time that Serena would have been pregnant with John Ricketson, so we believe that John Ricketson probably was the son of Joseph Ricketson. The two younger girls, Eliza and Maria, possibly were father by David Sears, although the girls used the Ricketson name. Joseph and Serena Ricketson's son Allen Ricketson married Luraney Sears, Daughter of David and Levicy Sears. David and Levicy Sears son Hiram Sears married Harriet Ricketson, daughter of Joseph and Serena Ricketson. Through my Arnold and Mills ancestors, I am tied to the Sears family several times again. If David Sears was really the father of John Ricketson, as some stories go, then I guess I could be related to the Sears family several times over. I think it would be great to have a large map of the area and pinpoint the location where each of these families lived. Hopefully some day I can get the time to do the research necessary to do that. If I had only listened to my Dad when I was a boy, I would know a lot more and not have so many questions that need to be answered. John Ricketson

Resending this memo ----- Original Message ----- From: <JLRICKET@aol.com> To: <GACOFFEE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2000 1:19 PM Subject: Re: [GACOFFEE] Ricketson/Sears Families > Hi Diana, > > I agree that the early familes that lived in Coffee, Ware, Clinch and what is > now Atkinson counties,seemed to be one great big happy family. And they > probably had to support each other to survive in the area in the early days. > > If family stories mean anything, the Ricketson/Sears name is probably tied > together a lot more than we try to believe. According to the order of the > listing of the 1820 census records, David Sears probably lived right next to > Joseph and Serena Ricketson in Montgomery County, Georgia. In 1830 and > subsequent census after both families relocated to what is now Coffee County > or Atkinson Counties, they were again listed as living right near each other. > Several researchers that I have been in contact with believe that the three > youngest children of Serena Ricketson, born after Joseph Ricketson died, were > fathered by David Sears. Of course the correct date of death of Joseph > Ricketson is unknown. With the assistance of other researchers, a document > has been located, which was witnessed by Joseph and Serena Ricketson during > the period of time that Serena would have been pregnant with John Ricketson, > so we believe that John Ricketson probably was the son of Joseph Ricketson. > The two younger girls, Eliza and Maria, possibly were father by David Sears, > although the girls used the Ricketson name. > > Joseph and Serena Ricketson's son Allen Ricketson married Luraney Sears, > Daughter of David and Levicy Sears. David and Levicy Sears son Hiram Sears > married Harriet Ricketson, daughter of Joseph and Serena Ricketson. Through > my Arnold and Mills ancestors, I am tied to the Sears family several times > again. If David Sears was really the father of John Ricketson, as some > stories go, then I guess I could be related to the Sears family several > times over. > > I think it would be great to have a large map of the area and pinpoint the > location where each of these families lived. Hopefully some day I can get > the time to do the research necessary to do that. If I had only listened to > my Dad when I was a boy, I would know a lot more and not have so many > questions that need to be answered. > > John Ricketson > > >