Re: Rickman Missouri Territory 1805
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In reply to:
Rickman Missouri Territory 1805
3/15/99
L. Houk's History of Missouri (an old book)lists early settlers in Bellvue Valley (later Washington and St. Francois Cos,)and includes Abraham Rickman (1803), settled by permission of Joseph Decelle, and John Rickman (1803).Years in brackets indicate when the settler came to Missouri or claimed to have done so. Most of Houk's data about early settlers is based on land claims against the federal government, the settlers claiming that they had a grant from the Spanish or French governments prior to the Louisiana Purchase.You should have no difficulty in getting a record of the land claims filed by Abraham and John.The books are in many libraries.The National Archives has the original records.The Missouri State Library probably has the books.I borrowed the land claim books through an interlibrary loan about 20 years ago.I'm sure it's simpler now.Your John was the son-in-law of Patrick Estes and his wife Millie (do not know if that stands for Melinda or Millicent or Mildred). Patrick Estes and some other members of his family came with William Murphy, Jr. to Missouri from eastern Tennessee (Hawkins or Grainger)and claimed land in 1802 in Ste. Genevieve District, in an area that became St. Francois Co., MO.His land claims, as well as those of the junior Murphys, were denied. (American State Papers) Sometime after 1808, probably after 1815, Patrick and several others from that region of Missouri moved down into Arkansas.I have some nonsubstantiated data that indicates they were there as early as 1815.They show up on early records for Lawrence Co., Ark (1829 Sheriff's census), but moved over to Washington Co., Ark. shortly thereafter.In 1842, Patrick Estes, who must have died within a short time thereafter, assigned his land claim to his oldest son, William J. Estes (b. 1799, Tenn), who had been a territorial judge in Arkansas.William and family moved back to St. Francois, apparently to pursue the land claim.The various documents signed by Patrick in 1842, first to give William a power of attorney and then to sell him the claim out right, were witnessed by various family members, including two other sons of Patrick, John H. and Isaac, and John Rickman.I do not know if that was the original John or the son of John or Abraham, who married Malinda.