James Pickard was born 12 May 1786 in German Flatts, Herkimer County, New York, United States to Joseph Pickard (1767-1823) and Maria Magdalena Forthen (1765-1820) and died 21 September 1859 Ellery, Chautauqua County, New York, United States of unspecified causes. He married Catherine Pickard (1789-1845) 1808 in New York, United States. He married Polly Richmond (1794-1873) 1850 .
James "Jim" Pickard was born on May 12, 1786 to Joseph Pickard and Marlena Forthen. He was baptized that month at the Dutch Reformed Church in German Flatts, New York. He married first to his first cousin, Catherine "Caty" Pickard. Secondly, he married Mary "Polly" Richardson Pickard, the widow of his brother-in-law, Adam. James Pickard came to Ellery, New York in the spring of 1819. When the town was organized in 1821, he served elected Justice of the Peace for twenty years. The first religious meeting in the northern part of the Ellery was held at his home in 1819. Preaching by Reverend John Haskin from the west part of Ellery and assisted by James Pickard, at that time an exhorter. He became a Methodist Minister and soon after coming to Ellery was ordained a local preacher in the Methodist church. He became known as "Esq. Jim". He had a very stirring appeal to his hearers to "Flee from the wrath to come and lay hold on Eternal Life". So earnest was he for the cause of his Master, that he was not deterred from what he thought his duty, though frequently obliged to stand before the people bare footed in his frock and pants. James Pickard Esq was a strong thick man about five feet, eight inches in height, light hair and blue eyes, a round well balanced head, fair complexion and considered by all as a "good looking man." He Pickard settled on Lot 21, Twp. 3, Range 3, west of Lawrence Stom. He died on his old farm where he first settled. In a meeting of Commissioners of Schools for Ellery and Ellicott, May 17, 1842, he was one of the commissioners.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Joseph Pickard (1810-1878) | 1810 Onondaga County, New York, United States | 10 September 1878 Sinclairville, New York, United States | Hulda Rooker (?-?) |
| Rebecca Pickard (1812-1853) | |||
| Mary Pickard (1819-1885) | |||
| James Pickard, Jr. (1822-1880) | |||
| Nancy Pickard (1826-1881) | |||
| Catherine Pickard (1829-?) | |||
Footnotes (including sources)
| ‡ General |
| § Remains |
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