An American Family History

Zadoc Ricketts 1772

Zadoc Ricketts was born about 1772 in Maryland. His parents were Anthony and Mary Ricketts. His father mentioned him in his 1793 will.

He married Anne Groome on July 20, 1797 in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The History of Western Maryland gives us some idea where the family lived. When new boundaries of the Cracklin Election District, No. 1. were laid out in 1821 the description included:

Beginning at Mershberger's old mill on Patuxent, and running down Patuxent to the mouth of Hawling's River; then running up said river to the mouth of Reed's Branch, from thence to the head of the late Gerard Brooke's spring; thence to the pole bridge near where Cyrus, a black man, formerly kept a blacksmith-shop; then with a small road, leaving the house formerly owned by Surrett Dickerson [probably son of Henry Dickerson] on the right, until it intersects the road passing in front of Mrs. Magruder's house at the corner of her fence; thence with said road leaving the house where the late Capt. Benjamin Ricketts [probably Zadoc's brother] did live on the right, until it intersects the Bladensburg road at the lower end of said Ricketts' plantation; then with the road through the place where Zadok Ricketts once lived to the head-waters of Muddy Branch. . .

Two of their children were recorded in Prince George's Parish, Montgomery County, Maryland

Mary Ricketts (1799)
Zedekiah Ricketts (1807, married Margaret Dews)

from Chronicles of Colonial Maryland by James Walter Thomas

Zadoc Ricketts; married July 20, 1797 in Montgomery County to Ann Groome, and had children, born Frederick County:
a. Mary Ricketts, born August 6, 1799
b. Zedediah Ricketts, born September 20, 1807

from Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas

Joseph C. Ricketts was born in Warren county, Kentucky, December 16, 1832, a son of Zedekiah and Margaret (Dews) Ricketts. His father was born and reared in Maryland, and in Virginia was married, Mrs. Ricketts being a native of the latter State.

After his marriage he moved to Kentucky, where he engaged in farming, continuing there until 1847, when he came to Texas, landing in Dallas county on the 5th of April. He came to Shreveport, Louisiana, by water, thence to Dallas by wagon. He located a headright ten miles south of Dallas, improved the property and lived there until June 10, 1856, when his death occurred, at the age of sixtythree years. His wife died in 1878, aged eighty-two. They reared a family of eight children, three of whom still survive. This worthy couple were members of the Christian Church, and were held in high esteem in the community where they resided.