The Pickering Family Papers include business, legal, and personal papers of five generations of the Pickering family of Salem, Massachusetts. Approximately half the papers belong to Colonel Timothy Pickering (1745-1829), a prominent statesman. Many others belong to his son John(6) Pickering (1777-1846), a lawyer and gifted linguist and scholar. Also represented in the collection are personal and business papers of thirteen other family members. In addition, papers of Pickering relatives and in-laws are included in the collection. These papers document the evolution of a family in Salem from modest beginnings as skilled laborers and farmers to a distinguished, successful family, whose members have included statesmen, scholars, lawyers, and merchants.

The collection has been arranged in six series, spanning the third through seventh generations of the Pickering family in this country. Series I. Third Generation Business Papers, which span the years 1684 to 1733, include papers belonging to John(3) Pickering (1658-1722) and his brother William Pickering (1620-1723). For John(3) Pickering there is an account book detailing transactions on his farm. For Captain William Pickering, a successful sea captain and later merchant, there are business and shipping papers including inventories, invoices, receipts, accounts, and bills of loading and sale. These concern voyages primarily to Newfoundland and Europe. On one trip to Newfoundland in the brig Hope he reports on destruction of St. John's. Also present are deeds, personal correspondence to his wife Hannah or from his brother John, a power of attorney for his brother Benjamin Pickering (1665-1718), and papers concerning William's estate following his disappearance at sea in 1722. Other documents concern the ship Province Galley, which William Pickering commanded for several years. Other vessels mentioned include the sloops Content, and Elizabeth, the ships Salem Galley, and Elizabeth and Hannah, bark Blessing, and brigs Hope, John, and Java. Papers in Box 1, Folders 4-6 were removed from the one volume Pickering and Derby scrapbook.

Series II. Fourth Generation Business and Personal Papers span the years 1702 to 1772. They include a coroner's inquest following the death by drowning of Lydia Pickering (1698-1702) at age 4 years. The papers belonging to Theophilus Pickering (1700-1745) deal mainly with the purchase of land in Ipswich (now Essex), Massachusetts, where Theophilus settled. Papers of Timothy Pickering (1702 -1778), who was both a farmer and church deacon, include information on First Church of Salem affairs, notes on biblical texts and drafts of sermons, and a record of marriages performed. There is also a ledger detailing twenty-five years of his farm's accounts.

Series III. Fifth Generation Business and Personal Papers, 1686-1887, contain the papers of John(5) Pickering (1740-1811) and his younger brother Timothy Pickering (1745-1829). The papers of John(5) Pickering reflect his years in public service at the state and local levels. Business papers and receipts pertain to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Essex Country Registry of Deeds, Essex County Bar, and the Salem town treasury. Of particular interest is a journal of the committee that drafted the Massachusetts constitution in 1777. There is also a diary on gardening, and a deed for land in Danvers.

A large portion of the Pickering Family Papers belong to Timothy Pickering (1745-1829). These include business and legal papers, military papers, business and personal correspondence, missions to Indians, agricultural journals, historical notebooks, account books, printed materials, and newspaper clippings. Business papers and correspondence are grouped together because many are notes, drafts of letters, or copies of letters, some written in Timothy's hand and others copied by scribes. Included is correspondence with George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and John Adams, among others.

Many of the early papers focus on the Essex County Militia. Additional papers pertain to Colonel Timothy Pickering's years in the Continental Army, where he was appointed Adjuvant General in 1777, served on the Board of War (from 1777) and became Quartermaster General in 1780. Following his resignation from the Army in 1783, many papers concern his business partnership with Samuel Hodgdon. In 1785, topics covered in the papers include his dealings in land speculation in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Included are depositions collected after Timothy was abducted by some disgruntled settlers from Connecticut and held hostage for nineteen days in 1788.

Papers in Boxes 3 and 4 span Timothy Pickering's years in the government, first as Postmaster General (1791-1795), briefly as Secretary of War (1795), and then as Secretary of State (1795-1800). His letters as Secretary of State reflect his increasing dissatisfaction with the French government and his subsequent dismissal from the government in May 1800. A continuing worry of Pickering's was providing for his family, and several letters pertain to disposal of his lands in Pennsylvania. Pickering returned to Massachusetts in 1801; he continued to write on the early days of the Republic, and to engage in political controversy. Subjects discussed in these papers include his opposition to Thomas Jefferson's doctrines, and later opposition to the War of 1812, when he went so far as to propose secession of the New England states. Also included in Box 4 are invitations to Timothy and his wife Rebecca, mostly received during his years in government.

When letters between John Adams and William Cunningham were published in 1823, Pickering wrote a rebuttal of many of the statements made in them. Drafts of his rebuttal are in Box 4, Folder 8 and Box 5, Folders 1-3. Also in Box 5 are miscellaneous business notes, memoranda, agricultural notes, pamphlets, speeches, and addresses on Indian affairs and political matters, and documents concerning the First Church in Salem. Box 6 contains assorted legal papers, including powers of attorney, summons, warrants and complaints, certificates, deeds, indentures, and mortgages and wills. Some of these papers precede Pickering's days as a lawyer in Salem, but they have been retained with the rest of the Pickering collection. Also in Box 6 are papers and correspondence related to Timothy Pickering's later years and death in 1829.

Colonel Timothy wrote frequently to his wife Rebecca during their long separations. Box 7 contains typewritten transcriptions of over 600 letters to her spanning the years 1775 to 1827. Some letters include glimpses of military or business affairs, but many are devoted to personal matters, such as relocating the family, the health of the children, or Pickering's desire to return to New England and settle as a farmer. Timothy also wrote frequently to his brother John (B8 F1) and to his children. There are about 270 typewritten transcriptions of letters to his eldest son John, who was his closest confidant (B8 F2-F4). In early letters Pickering counsels his son with regard to his education and study abroad. Later letters discuss American foreign policy and offer candid opinions of George Washington (March 3, 1810), John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Aaron Burr, and Elbridge Gerry among others. Also present are (handwritten) letters to sons John, Timothy, Charles, George, and Octavius and letters to twin daughters Elizabeth Dorsey and Mary Nichols and their husbands. Other personal correspondence includes drafts of letters to family members, letters to or from Rebecca Pickering, and papers concerning Rebecca (White) Pickering's family. The White family folder contains the marriage certificate (1757) of Rebecca Pickering's parents, Benjamin White and Elizabeth Miller, and letters to Rebecca and Timothy from Rebecca's sister Elizabeth, who did not come to America until 1785.

Business records (B9) include inventories and accounts, bills and receipts, a cashbook and three bankbooks. Many records pertain to the brigantine Hope or to other vessels including the cutter Royal George, ship Benjamin, or brigantine Nymph. Other records relate to Pickering's years as Quartermaster General, including the mustering out of officers from 1780 to 1783. There are also accounts spanning the years while Pickering was in business with Samuel Hodgdon and later while he was speculating in land in Pennsylvania. An oversize ledger itemizes expenses in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, from 1787 to 1791 (Cabinet 2 Drawer 9). One cashbook covers the years 1780 to 1800 in detail. Another cashbook pertains to Pennsylvania (1784-1803) and includes a record of lands surveyed in Ohio County, Virginia, in 1784. One bankbook dates from Pickering's time as Secretary of State, (1799), while two others are from Boston (1808-1809 and 1826).

In Box 10 are assorted journals, memoranda books, and maps. Four journals (F1) describe Pickering's experiences in the Continental Army from 1776-1777 and 1780-1781, and another (F2) describes a trip along the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania (1786). One memorandum book (F3) summarizes the family genealogy; the next folder (F4) contains a copy of this book, including the additions by his son Octavius Pickering and granddaughter Mary Orne Pickering. Also present is a shorthand manuscript book (1769), a copybook pertaining to the First Church in Salem (1824), a missionary journal by William Torrey (1823-1824), and miscellaneous maps. Pickering's agricultural journals (B10-11) reflect his lifelong interest in agriculture. Topics in the journals primarily concern animal husbandry and gardening. Others contain extracts of published works on similar subjects of interest to Pickering and include observations made by European agriculturalists. Finally there are printed materials from Pickering's years as Secretary of State or member of Congress (B12 F1), his years in Massachusetts (F2), as well as other printed items. Newspaper articles in F6 pertain directly to Pickering, while those in F7 pertain largely to his broad interests in national and international affairs.

Series IV. Sixth Generation Business and Personal Papers, 1753-1868, contain business papers, legal papers, and personal papers of Colonel Timothy Pickering's sons, John(6) (1777-1846), Henry (1781-1838), George (1789-1826), and Octavius (1791-1868), and his nephew Pickering Dodge (1718-1833). John Pickering(6) was a noted lawyer and scholar. The business papers in Box 13 pertain largely to his early law practice in Salem, his service in several sessions of the General Court, and his time as city solicitor in Boston. The papers in Boxes 14-17 contain legal briefs and Pickering's notes on particular cases. Many briefs concern property ownership, wills and estate settlements, or disputed insurance claims or other financial obligations. Other documents and notes deal with vessels or cargoes lost at sea, a petition to build a free bridge (Warren Bridge) from Boston to Charlestown (B14 F6), and construction of the Eastern Railroad (B16 F5-F6). Notable legal cases include Lord Stirling's claim to lands in Maine (B14 F7) and the insurance claim following the loss of the brig Oscar near Havana in 1832 (B15 F8-9 and B16 F1).

John(6) Pickering was esteemed as a linguist and philologist. Papers in Box 18, Folders 3-5 concern the Greek lexicon he wrote in 1826, the first with definitions in English and not Latin. Pickering also wrote various works on American Indian languages (B18 F6). His personal papers also include remarks on military law, the benefits of a classical education and an address as President of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (F9) in 1845.

John(6) Pickering and his father Timothy Pickering corresponded frequently with one another. There are typescripts of 157 letters from John to his father in Box 19, Folders 2-3. About half the letters relate to the time when John Pickering was in Lisbon and London (1797-1801) preparing for his future life in politics and law. Following his return to Salem in 1801, Pickering's letters deal largely with political and legislative issues, both at the local and national level. Also present is correspondence from his ward (and relative) John C. Lee, two memo books, five bankbooks, and a plan of Sewall's estate in Salem (circa 1753).

Box 20 contains assorted printed materials including documents from the General Court and Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, studies of American Indian and other languages, descriptions of Pickering's Greek lexicon, plans of railroad routes, announcements of exhibitions and other entertainments in Boston, and papers from historical and other societies, as well as many other items. Boxes 20 and 21 include newspaper clippings reflecting John Pickering's broad interests in law, politics, history, and language. Three oversize scrapbooks, totaling about 270 pages, contain documents pertaining to Pickering's years as City Solicitor for Boston, as well as miscellaneous papers. The legal documents include extensive coverage of the Boston and Providence Railroad v. the City of Boston case (1843-1844), while the miscellaneous papers include business papers, invitations, essays, and excerpts from Roger Williams's Indian language vocabulary, among many items.

Henry Pickering (1781-1838), Timothy's third son, was a businessman in Salem. This collection contains letters from Henry to his father Timothy, his mother Rebecca, and his sister Mary. The letters to his father deal primarily with Henry's early financial success and offers to assist his family, and then with his later financial failure. Letters to Rebecca and Mary describe Henry's life in New York City and in upstate New York along the Hudson River. Of particular interest is a letter to Mary describing Timothy's death (1829) and an ode to Mary's twins Mary and Elizabeth, who were born on the day Timothy died. Included with Mary's letters are two from Henry to her husband, Benjamin Ropes Nichols, and one from Nichols to Henry. Also present is a letter from Henry's uncle Paine Wingate, memorials to Henry's mother Rebecca, and an account of a shipping loss.

George Pickering (1789-1826), seventh son of Timothy Pickering, led a short and unfortunate life. Afflicted with mental illness, the papers in Box 22, Folder 7 document his admission to the Asylum for the Insane in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1821.

Octavius Pickering (1791-1868), eighth and youngest son of Timothy Pickering, was a lawyer and reporter. Notes, correspondence and drafts for his biography, The Life of Timothy Pickering, can be found in this collection. Octavius completed the first volume before his death in 1868, and his friend Charles Wentworth Upham completed the task in 1873.

Pickering Dodge (1778-1833), Timothy Pickering's nephew, was a successful merchant in Salem. He is represented in this collection by an account of the settlement for the loss and charges of the brig Alert in 1798.

Series V. Seventh Generation Business and Personal Papers, 1814-1879, contain business, legal, and personal papers of John(6) Pickering's children Mary Orne (1805-1886), John(7) (1808-1882), and Henry White (1811-1898). Mary Orne Pickering's papers include a music book (1814), a report of lectures given by Arnold Guyot (1852), and other papers. John(7) Pickering documents include a document from the Probate Court about the death of his wife Mehitable (Cox) Pickering (1879). Also found in this series is a deed of sale naming Mary Orne, John(7), and Henry White Pickering (1855).

Series VI. Pickering Family Miscellaneous Papers, 1662-1865, include business papers, legal papers, correspondence, notebooks, and incidental items. There are papers from a Richard Pickering, a William Pickering and a John Pickering Jr (1820-1894) not known to be related to this Pickering family but retained as part of the collection. There are miscellaneous papers, many dealing with the affairs of Essex County or the General Court, and others concerning the fishing trade, an Indian treaty, religious freedom, the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts, or the regulation of gold and silver coins, among many topics. There are also notebooks and account books whose authorship is unknown. Finally there are copies of gravestone inscriptions from Warwick, England, and a photograph of Pickering Tor in Dovedale, England.