Josiah Prickett (1717 - aft. 1751)

Born 1717 in Evesham Township, Burlington County, Province of New Jersey

Ancestors

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Carolyn Pinkerton [send private message]

Biography

Very little is known about the Josiah who was born c1717.

He may be the Josiah who is shown as a debtor to the estate of John Severns in 1751 in Middlesex County. In 1742 a Josiah is mentioned in the inventory of one Stephen Picock of Amwell, Hunterdon County.

If he is the Josiah involved in counterfeiting, we may conclude that he was somewhat shady. A Josiah Prickett in 1744 (he would have been about 27 years old), with two others, was indicted for counterfeiting. ". . . . Still worse was the shocking conduct of a fellow justice of the peace, Henry Stewart of Greenwich, to whom Anderson applied on 1 August 1744 for aid in apprehending Josiah Pricket, Jeremiah Wright. and Joseph Field. These men, Anderson informed his colleague, met in Pricket's house in Greenwich and were thought to be collaborating with others in coining gold and silver and forging New Jersey paper money. Stewart not only refused his aid but secretly hastened to warn the money makers, so that they concealed themselves and their instruments. For the time being Justice Anderson was thwarted with regard to these particular rogues, . . . ."

" . . . in an attempt to apprehend Josiah Pricket, Jeremiah Wright, and Joseph Field in 1744. Now at last Anderson had the satisfaction of seeing Pricket and Wright indicted for having joined with Field and Lemuel Washbourn, both of Greenwich ["Greenwich" is now Greenwich Township, Warren County, New Jersey] in counterfeiting both New York and New Jersey bills. Lemuel Washbourn had been accepted by the crown as an evidence against his accomplices, and also testifying against them were Samuel Grant. Jr., Walter Calhoun, Thomas Hutchinson, James Hanna. The grand jury found a true bill, but since there is no mention of the trial in the minute books it is likely that the men were brought before a court of oyer and terminer for trial.

"Frequently it was dangerous for a magistrate to take action against counterfeiters, for he was then exposed to retaliation by the malefactors, their relatives, and their friends. Justice Anderson was the object of a plot hatched against him on 1 June 1750 by Josiah Pricket, Henry Stewart, William Henry, and Joseph Warford, all of Greenwich. At that time, falsely representing themselves as acting on specific orders from Governor Belcher, they applied to Jonathan Pettit, a justice of the peace, to examine persons evilly disposed toward Justice Anderson. whom they accused of giving judgments partially. Their aim, of course, was to take away his good name and have him removed from his office of justice of the peace. Their scheme failed, and the four men were indicted for conspiracy. The case was continued until September 1751, when the attorney general decided not to prosecute them further." ^[1]

There are no extant marriage or death records.

from Findagrave.com

"New Jersey Supreme Court RecordsCase # 21164 Washburn, Lemuel (late of Greenwich, Counterfeiter) (Named in Case) King v. Josiah Pricket [et al] Aid and Abet of Counterfeiting (Joseph Field and Lemuel Washbourn, "notorious coiners and money makers") Morris 1744 - 1750. My Note for above - "Greenwich" is now Greenwich Township, Warren County, New Jersey Case # 31141 Washburn, Lemuel (Defendant) Thomas Potts v. Lennuel Washburn Trespass on the Case Morris 1751 - 1752. - Ken Maxwell. Added: Aug. 17, 2015.^[2]

Lemuel Washburn

Birth: 18 Aug 1714, Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; Death: unknown Sussex County, New Jersey; Burial: Unknown; Memorial #: 63456559.

Family Members: Parents: Jonathan Washburn (1689-1766), Rebecca Perry Washburn (1689-1788); Children: Jeremiah Washburn (1738-1805)^[3]

Citations

1. ↑ Kenneth Scott, Counterfeiting in colonial America (New York: Oxford University Press, 1957), pp135, 154.)
2. ↑ Sue McDuffe, "Lemuel Wasbourn," Findagrave.com, Record added 29 Dec 2010. Note by Ken Maxwell added on 17 Aug 2015. URL: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63456559
3. ↑ Sue McDuffe:) (47122067), "Lemuel Washburn," Findagrave.com. Record added 29 Dec 2010. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63456559?search=true. Accessed 9 February 2018

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Prickett-620 was created by Patricia Prickett Hickin on 9 January 2017.

Sources

• Boles, Harold W. and David B, Boles. Ellis Ancestors: Some immigrants, colonists, and pioneers (Pub: Harold W. Boles, 1994). Repository: Allen County [IN] Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, USA, Call Number: 929.2 EL59B.

• McDuffie, >Sue McDuffe:) (47122067). "Lemuel Washburn," Findagrave.com. Record added 29 Dec 2010. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63456559?search=true. Accessed 9 February 2018.

• Scott, Kenneth. Counterfeiting in colonial America (New York: Oxford University Press, 1957), pp 135, 154.