Dickinson, Albert C. b. May 8, 1879; poss. Salisbury, Connecticut; d. September 2, 1951; Roxbury, Connecticut; mo. Phebe I. (Newton) Dickinson; f. Henry H. Dickinson. m. to Nora (Lynch) Dickinson; b. c. 1879, poss. Ireland or Connecticut.
Children of Albert C. Dickinson and Nora (Lynch) Dickinson.
Albert Daniel Dickinson. b. August 23, 1915; d. June 16, 1975.
Robert H. Dickinson. b. c. 1916.
Charles A. Dickinson. b. c. 1917.
Alice Dickinson. b. c. 1918.
Donald J. Dickinson. b. c. 1919.
Mary Dickinson. b. c. 1920.
Alexander Dickinson. b. c. 1921.
Daniel J. Dickinson. b. c. 1922.
Phebe Ann Dickinson. b. c. 1923.
Kathleen Dickinson. b. c. 1924.Salisbury, Connecticut.
Roxbury, Connecticut. Tobacco farmer. Albert C. Dickinson lived on his father's farm with his father, mother, brothers, and sisters. He inherited the farm from his father and continued to operate it until his death in 1952.
TO DO
Find b. records of ch.; Salisbury, Connecticut or Roxbury, Connecticut; all were prob. b. Roxbury, Connecticut since Albert Daniel Dickinson is oldest and was b. Roxbury, Connecticut; 12/25/1996.
Find more information on Nora (Lynch) Dickinson; 12/25/1996.
BIOGRAPHY: See Dickinson, Albert C.
Dickinson, Henry H. b. March 14, 1841; Cleveland, Ohio. d. February 5, 1926; Roxbury, Connecticut. mo. Mary Jane (Lee) Dickinson. f. Samuel Dickinson. m. to Phebe I. (Newton) Dickinson; b. April 12, 1846, Cornwall, Litchfield, Connecticut; d. June 18, 1935; dau. James L. Newton and Ora (Calkins) Newton of Cornwall, Connecticut; m. her February 21, 1861, poss. Cornwall, Connecticut.
Children of Henry H. Dickinson and Phebe I. (Newton) Dickinson.
Lee Samuel Dickinson. b. January 14, 1863.
Mary Isabelle Dickinson. b. March 14, 1865; d. March 22, 1886.
Frank James Dickinson. b. March 7, 1867.
Alice A. Dickinson. b. July 11, 1871.
Robert H. Dickinson. b. April 21, 1873; d. August 22, 1941.
Daisy May Dickinson. b. August 4, 1875.
Albert C. Dickinson. b. May 8, 1879; d. September 2, 1951.
Grace Edna Dickinson. b. June 5, 1883.1815
Samuel Dickinson, Henry's father, was b. Cleveland, Ohio in 1815.
1845
He [Samuel Dickinson] came east in 1845; and, settling in Kent, this county, he engaged in burning charcoal.
1846
Henry H. Dickinson m. to Phebe I./J. (Newton) Dickinson; April 12, 1846; Cornwall, Litchfield, Connecticut; www.familysearch.com; Batch Number 8771907; Source Call No. 1396435; Type Film; Kathryn Colleen (Hillis) Dickinson, 1790 NY 43, Averill Park, NY 12018; kathy@haleasdollclothes.com; 03/09/2002.
1856
In 1856 he [Samuel Dickinson] bought a tract of land, containing two hundred and fifty acres, situated in Falls Village; and, as the property was well wooded, he continued the production of charcoal in large quantities for the rest of his life, and died in 1887, aged seventy-two years. His prosperity was the reward of a life of industry.
Kent, Connecticut, Henry H. Dickinson attended school. After completing his studies, he assisted his father until reaching the age of twenty-one. He then engaged in the production of charcoal upon his own account, and carried it on successfully until 1885.
1885
Roxbury, Connecticut; in 1885 Henry H. Dickinson bought a farm in Roxbury, Connecticut. He was a tobacco farmer. Mr. Dickinson's grandfather, Philip Dickinson, was a prosperous farmer and large land-owner of Cleveland, Ohio previous to its expansion into a city.
In 1885 he bought the Zachariah Warner farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated in the town of Roxbury, where he has since resided. He has remodelled his residence, increased his barn and storage capacity, and now owns the finest set of farm buildings in the town. He has also improved his land, bringing it to a high state of cultivation, and has raised a crop of seven acres of superior tobacco in one season. He devoted considerable attention to dairying, keeping from twenty to twenty-five cows; and he had an apple orchard, planted with a large number of grafted trees. He conducted his farm with the progressive spirit which yielded the best results, availing himself of all the modern facilities for executing agricultural work.
Phebe I. (Newton) Dickinson, second cousin of Henry H. Dickinson, was the dau. of James Newton and Ora Lavina (Calkins) Newton, prosperous farmers of Cornwall, Connecticut. Her f. died in 1887, aged seventy-six years. James Newton was a prominent and useful citizen, supporting Democratic principles in politics, and filling various town office with ability. His wife, Ora Lavina (Calkins) Newton, surviving him, lived in Branford, Connecticut. Their children were Henry Newton, William Newton, George Newton, Edward Newton, Phebe I. Newton, Nancy Newton, Frederick Newton, Mary Newton, John Newton, and Charles Newton.
Lee Samuel Dickinson, a successful farmer, married Lizzie Warner. Children were Evadna, John, Bessie, William and Flora.
Frank James Dickinson married Minnie. They had one dau. Phebe.
Alice A. Dickinson married Frank Pierce, a prosperous farmer.
Robert H. Dickinson engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Daisy May Dickinson became a teacher.
Albert C. Dickinson resided at home and later ran the farm.
Henry H. Dickinson was a Democrat and though he did not seek political notoriety, ably filled some of the important town offices. He was a member of the Rising Sun Lodge, A.F. & A.M., and attended the Espiscopal Church.
See Henry H. Dickinson.
Dickinson, Samuel. b. August 15, 1811/1815; Cleveland, Ohio. d. April 14, 1887; Salisbury, Connecticut; bur. Lime Rock, Connecticut. mo. Phebe (Hutchinson) Dickinson. f. Philip Dickinson. m. to Mary Jane (Lee) Dickinson; b. March 21, 1816; d. June 23, 1904; dau. Benjamin Lee and Esther (Lane) Lee of Kent, Connecticut; m. her September 5, 1833, Litchfield, Connecticut.
Children of Samuel Dickinson and Mary Jane (Lee) Dickinson.
Eliza A. Dickinson. b. August 17, 1834; d. February 21, 1842.
Adelia D. Dickinson. b. October 16, 1837.
Henry H. Dickinson. b. March 14, 1841; d. February 5, 1926.
Eliza Ann Dickinson. b. April 5, 1843; d. August 30, 1844.
Edward G. Dickinson. b. October 25, 1845.
Samuel Elmore Dickinson. b. January 19, 1848.
Mary Ellen Dickinson. b. March 20, 1852.
Walter Lee Dickinson. b. March 5, 1853.
Wallace Dickinson. b. March 5, 1853.Cleveland, Ohio.
Johnston, Ohio; at time of his marriage in 1816. Mary Jane (Lee) Dickinson was a descendant of John Lee, b. Essex, England. Her f. served in War of 1812. At the time of their marriage, Samuel settled in Johnston, Ohio, the home of his father. He resided there five years where three of his children were b.
Barrack Mountain, Lime Rock, Connecticut. They removed to Lime Rock, Connecticut, and purchased a farm on Barrack Mountain. He was employed by Barnum Iron Works. He later rented and ran an iron furnace near Lincolnton, Iron Station, North Carolina.
Samuel and his wife attended Methodist Church, at Falls Village, Connecticut.
Salisbury, Connecticut.
At the time of Mary's death, she had twelve children, 47 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren.
In her later years, her dau. Mary Ellen was appointed conservator and she went to Bridgeport, Connecticut to live. Probate records state her estate was settled by her son Henry H. Dickinson and that he did it in a most satisfactory manner and without
pay.
Dickinson, Philip. b. May 22, 1770; Cornwall, Connecticut. d. April 15, 1859; Fowler, Trumbull County, Ohio. mo. Elizabeth (Barns) Dickinson. f. Elisha Dickinson. m. to Phebe (Hutchinson) Dickinson; b. April 23, 1775; d. September 10, 1858; dau. Ezra Hutchinson and Elizabeth (Chapman) Hutchinson; m. her May 19, 1791.
Children of Philip Dickinson and Phebe (Hutchinson) Dickinson.
Irena Dickinson. b. November 20, 1792; d. September 14, 1841.
Eliza Dickinson. b. May 1, 1794; d. July 26, 1830.
Nathaniel Dickinson. b. March 9, 1796.
Delana W. Dickinson. b. May 9, 1798.
Ezra Dickinson. b. August 26, 1800.
Patty Dickinson. b. March 17, 1802.
Laura Dickinson. b. May 25, 1803.
Amanda Dickinson. b. July 16, 1805.
Elisha Dickinson. b. October 29, 1808.
Samuel Dickinson. b. August 15, 1811.
Amelia Dickinson. b. May 9, 1814.
Mary Dickinson. b. April 22, 1817.
William Dickinson. b. November 29, 1819.Probable Child, But Not Proven.
Philip Dickinson.Philip Dickinson died at the home of his son, Elisha Dickinson. His tombstone bears the following inscription: "Philip Dickinson, Marine Art., M.D. -- Mil. War 1812".
The Rolls of the War of 1812 for Maryland give the following: "P. Dickinson a private in Capt. Stiles Co., Marine Artillery". The U.S. Navy Department suggests that Philip enlisted in the Maryland militia at the time and Admiral Cochrane and General Ross went up the Potomac River to capture Washington. At that time General Windner called upon Virginia and Maryland for men, and both states sent men, mostly militiamen.
Phebe (Hutchinson) Dickinson's birthdate was recorded in the Fergus Bible dated 1715. She is buried beside her husband, Philip, in the Fowler, Ohio cemetery.
Philip Dickinson is recorded in Sharon, Connecticut in the Census of 1800, 1810, and 1820.
In 1824, while a resident of Sharon, Connecticut, he conveyed property to [2436] Noah T. Calkins, husband of [0394] Irena (Dickinson) Calkins (his daughter).
Philip's sons, Elisha and Ezra, migrated to Johnston, Ohio c. 1829 and purchased land. Philip built a log home between his two sons and resided there until the 1840's. He then moved to Fowler, Ohio and remained there the rest of his life.
Dickinson, Elisha. b. c. 1737; prob. Hatfield, Massachusetts. d. prob. New York or Ohio. mo. Sarah (Denslow) Dickinson. f. Ebenezer Dickinson. m. to Martha (Dean) Dickinson; b. c. 1737; d. April 15/19, 1769; dau. Dr. Reuben Dean; m. her December 9, 1755, ceremony conducted by Reverend Judah Champion of Litchfield, Connecticut. m. to Elizabeth (Barns) Dickinson; b. c. 1737; m. her August 2, 1769, prob. Cornwall, Connecticut.
Children of Elisha and Dickinson and Martha (Dean) Dickinson.
Friend Dickinson. b. December 19, 1757.
Stephen Roys/Ross Dickinson. b. c. 1760.
Asahel Dickinson. b. January 9, 1762.
Hannah Dickinson. b. July 27, 1763.
Rehna/Reny/Irene Dickinson. b. July 17, 1765.
Ebenezer Dickinson. b. May 19, 1767.Children of Elisha Dickinson and Elizabeth (Barns) Dickinson.
Philip Dickinson. b. May 22, 1770; d. April 15, 1859.
Nathaniel Dickinson. b. March 25, 1772.Poss. Children, But Proof Lacking.
Cornwall Dickinson.
Putnam Dickinson.
Elisha Dickinson.Elisha Dickinson was mentioned in the settlement of his father's estate and in his brother Benjamin's will, which was probated in New Haven, Connecticut, 1790.
Elisha's first wife, Martha, is buried in the Cornwall Plains Cemetery in Connecticut.
Elisha received land in Cornwall, Connecticut from his father, Ebenezer Dickinson, as a token of his affection and he share in the settlement of his father's estate.
Elisha Dickinson resided in Cornwall, Connecticut during the Revolution according to the pension record of his son, Asahel Dickinson.
On October 21, 1779 he sold his share of his father's estate in Cornwall, Connecticut at which time he was a resident of that town.
He was listed in the 1790 Census of Sharon, Connecticut and prob. thereafter removed to New York or Ohio.
Elisha Dickinson is listed in the D.A.R. Patriot Index, Vol. I, cited for Patriotic Service, from Connecticut.
MISCELLANEOUS
Samuel Barnes; b. June 4, 1700, Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut; f. Thomas Barnes; International Genealogical Index; Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Family History Center, Loudonville, New York; 12/08/1993.
Samuel Barnes; m. to Elizabeth Miller; January 11, 1727, Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut; International Genealogical Index; Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Family History Center, Loudonville, New York; 12/08/1993.
Elizabeth Barns; b. March 15, 1737, Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut; mo. Elizabeth (?) Barns; f. Samuel Barns; International Genealogical Index; Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Family History Center, Loudonville, New York; 12/08/1993.
Dickinson, Ebenezer. b. October 7, 1690; Hatfield, Massachusetts. d. November 21, 1774; Litchfield, Connecticut. mo. Hepzibah (Gibbs) Dickinson. f. Nathaniel Dickinson. m. to Sarah (Denslow) Dickinson; b. February 13, 1694, Windsor, Connecticut; dau. Samuel Denslow and Patience (Gibbs) Denslow of Windsor, Connecticut; m. her October 20, 1716, recorded in Hatfield, Massachusetts.
Children of Ebenezer Dickinson and Hepzibah (Gibbs) Dickinson.
Reuben Dickinson. b. August 29, 1717.
Elijah Dickinson. b. March 12, 1720.
Sarah Dickinson.
Oliver Dickinson. b. 1724; d. January 29, 1783.
Mary Dickinson.
Benjamin Dickinson. b. October 11, 1729.
Thankful Dickinson. d. February 25, 1831.
Elisha Dickinson. b. prob. 1737.
William Dickinson. d. 1834/35.Sarah (Denslow) Dickinson was Ebenezer Dickinson's first cousin, and just what became of Sarah after her husband's death is not yet known.
On February 12, 1711/23 Ebenezer Dickinson sold land which he had received from his grandf., Samuel Gibbs, to Daniel Haydon in Windsor, Connecticut. He was a resident of Hatfield, Massachusetts at that time. He lived in Hatfield, Massachusetts and later removed to Connecticut.
In 1753 he bought 50 acres of land in Cornwall, Connecticut from Stephen Lee. This land was on the Litchfield Road near Mohawk Pond.
In 1754 he bought another piece of land in Cornwall, Connecticut of Stephen Lee.
On August 2, 1755 he bought land in Cornwall, Connecticut from the estate of Zachariah Dibble.
In 1765 he conveyed land in Cornwall, Connecticut to his son William. This land was his homestead on which he had his house and barn.
In 1773 Ebenezer Dickinson conveyed the land he purchased in Cornwall, Connecticut from Zachariah Dibble to his son Benjamin Dickinson.
He bought land in Blue Swamp (Milton) Section of Litchfield, Connecticut and evidently lived there for a few years as a house and barn are mentioned in the settlement of his estate.
His estate, probated June 10, 1775, gave 1/3 of his real estate and 1/3 of his personal property to the widow Sarah. This included the house and barn in Litchfield, Connecticut and the house and barn in Cornwall, Connecticut. All of the land in his estate was in the Blue Swamp section except two pieces of land in Cornwall. 04/10/1993.
Dickinson, Nathaniel. b. May 7, 1663; Hatfield, Massachusetts. d. October 10, 1751; prob. Hatfield, Massachusetts. mo. Hannah (Beardsley) Dickinson. f. Nathaniel Dickinson. m. to Hepzibah (Gibbs) Dickinson; b. January 12, 1664, Hatfield, Massachusetts; d. June 26, 1713, prob. Hatfield, Massachusetts; dau. Samuel Gibbs and Hepzibah (Dibble) Gibbs of Windsor, Connecticut; m. her in 1684. m. to Lydia (Marshall) (Wright) Dickinson; b. August 26, 1713; dau. Samuel Marshall and wid. Samuel Wright, III of Northampton, Massachusetts; m. her August 15, 1738.
Children of Nathaniel Dickinson and Hepzibah (Gibbs) Dickinson.
Nathaniel Dickinson. b. February 25, 1685; d. July 15, 1698.
Samuel Dickinson. b. December 30, 1687.
Ebenezer Dickinson. b. October 7, 1690; d. November 21, 1774.
Daniel Dickinson. b. November 13, 1693.
Hepzibah Dickinson. b. August 7, 1696.
Nathaniel Dickinson. b. November 27, 1698.
Son. b. and d. August 27, 1702.
Benjamin Dickinson. b. September 11, 1703.
Thankful Dickinson. b. September 11, 1703.
Catherine Dickinson. b. January 8, 1706.On July 15, 1698 a small group including Nathaniel and sons Nathaniel and Samuel were hoeing corn in the Hatfield meadow when they were fire upon by Indians. Nathaniel, Jr. was killed and Samuel was taken captive but later rescued. Nathaniel, Sr.'s horse was shot from under him but he escaped.
Nathaniel Dickinson's date of death is located in the town's cemetery records. He made a will in 1743 which was approved in 1757. His first wife, Hepzibah, was baptized March 12, 1664. 04/10/1993.
Dickinson, Nathaniel. b. August 16, 1643; Wethersfield, Connecticut. d. October 11, 1710; Hatfield, Massachusetts; bur. Hatfield, Massachusetts, prob. in oldest cem. next to Isaac Hubbard home. mo. Anna (?) (Gull) Dickinson. f. Nathaniel Dickinson. m. to Hannah (Beardsley) Dickinson; b. 1642, poss. Wethersfield, Connecticut; d. February 23, 1679, Hatfield, Massachusetts; dau. William Beardsley and Mary (Harvey) Beardsley of Stratford, Connecticut; m. her December 25, 1662, Hatfield, Massachusetts. m. to Elizabeth (Hawks) (Gillett) Dickinson; b. January 10, 1647; dau. John Hawks and Elizabeth (?) Hawks of Hadley, Massachusetts and wid. Joseph Gillett; m. her December 16, 1680. m. to Elizabeth (Burt) (Wright) Dickinson; bp. December 4, 1638 at Herberton Co., Devonshire, England; dau. Henry Burt and Eulalia (Marche) Burt of Roxbury, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts, and wid. Samuel Wright, Jr.; m. her September 16/26, 1684.
Children of Nathaniel Dickinson and Hannah (Beardsley) Dickinson.
Nathaniel Dickinson. b. May 7, 1663; d. October 10, 1751.
Hannah Dickinson. b. January 18, 1666; d. August 3, 1745.
John Dickinson. b. November 21, 1667.
Mary Dickinson. February 2, 1673.
Daniel Dickinson. b. March 3, 1675.
Rebecca Dickinson. b. March, 1677.According to town records Nathaniel's son, Nathaniel, was the first child born in Hatfield, Massachusetts.
Dickinson, Nathaniel. b. 1600; Ely, Cambridgeshire, England. d. June 16, 1676; Hadley, Massachusetts; bur. Hadley, Massachusetts cem. mo. Sarah (Stacey) Dickinson. f. William Dickinson. m. to Anna (?) (Gull) Dickinson; b. c. 1600, England; m. her January, 1630, East Bergholdt, Suffolkshire, England.
Children of Nathaniel Dickinson and Anna (?) (Gull) Dickinson.
John Dickinson. b. 1630; d. May 19, 1676.
Joseph Dickinson. b. 1632; d. September 5, 1675.
Thomas Dickinson. b. 1633/34; d. 1712/13.
Anna or Hannah Dickinson. b. 1636.
Samuel Dickinson. b. 1638; d. November 30, 1711.
Obadiah Dickinson. b. 1641; d. June 10, 1698.
Nathaniel Dickinson. b. August 16, 1643; d. October 11, 1710.
Nehemiah Dickinson. b. 1643/44; d. September 9, 1723.
Hezekiah Dickinson. b. February 28, 1645; d. June 14, 1707.
Azariah Dickinson. b. 1648; d. August 25, 1675.1600 - 1634/35
Ely, Cambridge, England. Nathaniel Dickinson was b. with the century, one of three sons of William Dickinson and Sarah (Stacey) Dickinson of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England.
Nathaniel Dickinson must have had an excellent education as shown by the outstanding work which he did in Wethersfield, Connecticut and Hadley, Massachusetts. He may have been trained by private tutors since he did not graduate from either Cambridge or Oxford in England.
At the age of 29 he m. a widow with an infant son, Anna (?) Gull of East Bergholdt, Suffolkshire, England.
In A.D. 1628/29 the aspect of public affairs in England became more threatening than ever. Charles, I dismissed his Parliament and tried governing without one, introducing a system of tyranny, which eventually brought him to the block. His inquisitorial policy was to extinguish Puritan opinions and to punish with imprisonment and death all deviations from established ceremonies.
Reared in the traditions of a race which, for six centuries had braved tyranny from the Norman Rufus to the unfortunate Charles Stuart, is it any wonder that the same spirit led the stern Puritan, Nathaniel Dickinson, at this time, to seek the wilds of America.
On Easter Sunday of 1630, the Dickinsons were among the Puritans gathered at Southampton, England. On Monday the Dickinsons went down to embark on a ship in what has become known as Winthrop's Fleet. John Cotton, the vicar of St. Botolph's Church in Boston, Lincolnshire, England, preached a sermon based on the text of 2 Samuel vii 10: "Moreover, I will
apoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them that they shall dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime". In his sermon, John Cotton explained:What he hat planted he will maintain. Every plantation on his right hand hath not planted shall be rooted up, but with his own plantation shall prosper and flourish. When he promiseth peace and safety what enemies shall be able to make the promise of God of none effect? Neglect not wall and bulwarks, and fortifications for your own defence; but
ever lett the name of the Lord be your strong tower; and the word of his Promise, the Rock of your refuge. His word that made heaven and earth will not fail, till heaven and earth be no more.The fare for the voyage was five pounds each. Included in this fare was the food: salt pork, salt beef, salt fish, biscuits, and beer. The butter, pease pottage, and "water grewell' soon ran out. By the end of the voyage, signs of scurvy were appearing among the passengers.
There were many storms and sea sickness overcame many of the passengers. All of these were ordered out of their bunks and made to walk up and down the decks holding onto a rope. The fresh air restored them quickly.
There were morning and evening prayers. Each change of the watch was marked by the singing of a psalm and the saying of an extemporaneous prayer. There were two sermons each Sabbath. There were the Thursday lecture meetings whose function was to instruct the people in their faith.
On June 12th, twelve weeks from departure, the fleet dropped anchor in Boston Bay. Winthrop had originally intended to form his new colony at Newtown, but the ships of his fleet kept appearing, bringing somewhere between 900 and 1,000 people by the end of the summer.
The London Company of Massachusetts Bay had transferred itself and the whole government of its colonists, to its American settlement, and in June, of this year, John Winthrop, chosen Governor by the Massachusetts Company, with his fleet, the Arbella, Talbot, Ambrose and Jewell, bearing three or four hundres colonists, two of whom were Nathaniel Dickinson and his wife, arrived at Salem, Massachusetts. Another two members of the party were his brothers John Dickinson, and Thomas Dickinson. Some "resolved to set down at the head of the Charles River", others "relinquishing Salem, shipped their goods to Charleston, Watertown and Roxbury".
These emigrants had arrived too late to plant crops, for it was August before they had their land allotted and installed their meager possessions in whatever shelter they could erect. Some lived in sail-cloth tents, some in crude log shelters, and some in Indian bark wigwams. On December 26th, bitter cold froze the rivers. The cattle and goats were still without shelter and, as the winter continued, many of them died. People lived on the remnants of salted meat and hard-tack left over from their voyage. Beer rant out and they drank water, considered a dangerous thing to do. They ate hominy, a dish they learned of from the Indians, without butter and salt. Smelt, clams, and mussels kept many of these first Puritans from starvation. John Winthrop had just passed out the last handful of wheat in his storeroom when the ship "Lyon" was sighted on February 5th. Five days later the ice broke up, temperatures rose, and they "Lyon" could reach shore to unload her cargo and passengers. The struggling Puritan colony was saved, and among them was the Dickinson family.
1635 - 1659
Nathaniel Dickinson is said to have settled at Watertown, where John, Joseph and Thomas were born, and where he remained until 1635/36, when looking for better living conditions, Nathaniel removed his family to Wethersfield, Connecticut, probably
coming overland from Watertown, Massachusetts and following the trail as the Thomas Hooker party which settled Hartford, Connecticut.Settling with his gentle wife, Anna (?) Gull, in Wethersfield, Connecticut, 1636, he took front rank. He was one of the first Board of Selectmen, Representative to the General Assembly, from 1646-1656, Recorder for twenty years at Wethersfield, Connecticut; Deacon in the church throughout his life. Nathaniel helped survey and lay out the homesteads of new settlers like himself. He had a homestead, house and barn plus three acres of farm land. In time he bought half of the homestead lands of Samuel Boardman.
His family grew. One by one the sons came until there were nine of them, not including Ann's son by her first marriage. Nathaniel and Nehemiah were twins, a rare and puzzling manifestation of God's notice of the family. The boys were as strong and healthy as their older brothers and thrived; not one died before they were married and had children of their own.
Early in 1648, the oldest son, John, at the extremely young age of 17, married Frances Foote, third daughter of nathaniel and Elizabeth (Deming) Foote. Their child, Hannah, was born on December 6, 1648, which may account for the early marriage. The Dickinsons had commenced their career as grandparents, but had not yet finished being parents. Two years after becoming a grandmother, Anna Dickinson gave birth for the eleventh time. She was almost fifty years old. The baby was a girl and she was named Anna.
In October, 1654 he was one of three men (one from each of the river towns) appointed by the General Court as a commission to advise with the Constables about "pressing men for the expedition into the Ninigret country", one of the on-going battles in the Narragansett War against the Indians.
Under one of those theological upheavals, common to the time, and no doubt with promise of bettering their condition, Nathaniel Dickinson and his sons decided on the removal to Hadley in 1659.
Nathaniel Dickinson owned east of the "Great River", at Hartford, Connecticut, one hundred acres in the tract called "Naubuc Farms", which was sold on or before the removal to Hadley, Massachusetts.
Wethersfield, Connecticut was nearly depopulated by the exodus to Hadley, Massachusetts. The agreement, or engagement, of those who intended to remove from Connecticut to Massachusetts, is dated at Hartford, Connecticut April 18, 1659.
Among the fifty-nine signers are Nathaniel Dickinson and his sons John Dickinson and Thomas Dickinson. A part of the agreement made at this meeting was that William Westwood, Richard Goodman, William Lewis, John White, and Nathaniel Dickinson should go up to the aforesaid plantation on the east side of Northampton, Massachusetts and lay out the number of fifty-nine homelots, and to allow eight acres for every homelot, and to leave a street twenty rods broad betwixt the two westernmost rows of homelots, and to divide said rows of homelots in quarters by highways.
1659 - 1676
In 1659 Nathaniel Dickinson joined the Russell Expedition and moved to Hadley, Massachusetts. When the time came to join the Reverend John Russell's move to a new town, the entire Dickinson clan responded. Father, stepson, and nine sons with
their families all joined the move, however, some of them returned to Connecticut at a later date.John and Frances (Foote) Dickinson had a homelot of their own in the Northeast Quadrant. Joseph Dickinson decided to settle in Northampton, Massachusetts. Thomas Dickinson got the homelot next door to his father, who moved in with Nathaniel
Dickinson, Jr. Neither Joseph Dickinson, nor Thomas Dickinson, although in their late twenties, chose to marry at this time. When the homelots opened up on the west side of the river Samuel Dickinson and Obadiah Dickinson got places there.William Gull married Elizabeth, the widow of Nathaniel Foote, Junior [Frances (Foote) Dickinson's brother]. She had four children, three of them sons. She was the daughter of Lieutenant Samuel Smith, the head of the Hadley, Massachusetts militia.
Nathaniel Dickinson put up 200 pounds toward the purchase money, one of the ten who could afford to invest so heavily in future land. With ten sons he had an exceptional number of people to settle.
The twins, Nathaniel Dickinson and Nehemiah Dickinson, in 1659 were old enough to bear arms in the town militia, but still underage for anything else.
In October, 1660, a town meeting was held at the house of Andrew Warner, when it was voted that no person should be owned for an inhabitant in the Plantation, or have liberty to vote or act in town affairs until he should be legally received as an inhabitant. This was signed by twenty-eight persons, among them Nathaniel Dickinson and Thomas Dickinson.
Nathaniel Dickinson was chosen to rebuild a bridge on the country road to Springfield, Massachusetts. As shown above he was one of the original Committee sent to lay out the town; first Recorder there, Assessor, Town Magistrate, member of the Hampshire Troop, one of the members of the first Board of Trustees of the Hopkins' Academy. "An intelligent and influential man, and one qualified to do public business, as well as a man of substance, rating with the highest in the division of lands".
On December 16, 1661, the town bought the boat Nathaniel Dickinson and Richard Goodman owned. They received six pounds in cash, free use of the ferry for a year, and the free use of the boat whenever they needed to carry cattle across the river. For three years, Nathaniel would be able to use the boat four days in order to carry hay and corn. It worked out well, since the Dickinson's homelot was across the road from the river on the south end and he had sons with places in Hatfield on the north side of town.
Hadley also formed a committee in 1661 to treat with Nathaniel Dickinson and Samuel Porter for providing a convenient place for public worship. There was no meeting house and presumably the Dickinson and Porters had houses large enough or an enclosed shed or barn suitable for seating the numerous people attending the Sabbath services. Such a space did not have to be heated. In fact, the cold of a winter's day would do much to keep an audience awake and attentive.
On New Year's Day, 1663, Nathaniel was 63 years old. All his family was living in the valley. He was the 31st to draw for his meadow acreage, after his son Thomas, but well before John. Nathaniel was going to be among the ten who would ride over to
Northampton and help form the Hampshire Troop.Nathaniel had removed his minister, Mr. Russell, who gave permanent concealment to Generals Whalley and Goffe, two members of the High Court of Justice that condemned Charles I. With the restoration of the SStuarts, a reward was offered for the head of these Generals, but they could not be found. One Sunday, in September, 1675, the little town of Hadley was panic-stricken by an attack of Indians. The surprise was so great, and the numbers to unequal, that the Indians were fast gaining the advantage. Suddenly there appeared among the settlers a man of towering height, and long streaming hair and
beard, dressed in fantastic fashion. Wherever he went the Indians fell, and the courage of the English rose. They though God had sent an angel to lead them out of their sore strait. When the fight was over, the stranger disappeared as suddently as he came. Many believe to their dying day that he was not mortal. He was General Goffe, the Regicide. Without doubt, our ancestor, being an intimate friend of Mr. Russell, was entrusted with the secret of the concealment of the Regicides, and witnessed this exploit of General Goffe.THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF NATHANIEL DICKINSON. I, NATHANIEL DICKENSON, Senior, late of Haytfield, now of Hadley, in ye County of Hampshire, upon Connitticut, doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament, as follows:
Nathaniel was 76 years old. His wife, Anna, had died within the past few years. Three of his sons had been killed within the last ten months in Indian attacks. In fact, John had died only ten days before Nathaniel wrote his will. A grandson had lived only two days in February.
IMPRIMIS. Making a full surrender of myself, soule and body, into ye handes of God, my Creator, and Jesus Christ, my alone Savior & Redeemer, relying on Him for all yt I need & hope for in this world, & yt which is to come, & leaving my body to decent burriell in hope of a blessed resurrection, I do bestow yt portion of outward estate which the Lord in His Fatherlie mercy hath blessed me with, in manner following: my debtes and funerall expenses being first payd.
In "making a full surrender" of himself, Goodman Dickinson shows his trust in the Lord and bows his head to a destiny that must have seemed a harsh punishment.
SECONDLY: I doe give unto my son, Nehemiah, my house & barn & homelott, with all the preveledges and appurtenances thereto belonging; as alsoe one-half my meaddow land in Hadley (except what is hereinafter excepted) with the preveledges and appurtenances thereto belonging; to be to him and his heirs forever, besides what was Thomas Webster's.
Nehamiah was 32. His wife was Mary Cowles. Nehamiah, Jr. was 4, William just over 1. A child, John, had been born on February 14th and had died two days later. This family lived with Nathaniel. Thomas Webster was the younger son of John Webster. He had owned a 2 acre homelot next to the pound on the road to the cemetery.
I give my daughter-in-law, Dorcas, widdow of my son Azariah, four acres & a half of Meaddow land, bounded by my son, Thomas, his land east; Francis Barnard, west; John Hubbard, north; & ye highway south; so as to be her & her heirs' forever. Further, I give or abate to her all yt was my due for ye rent of the rent of my land from her, & alsoe doe give to her ye rent money that was due to me for my oxen; and also three pounds that was due for a barrell (unpayd) of Pork: all and every of ye premises I give to ye said Dorcas as her own, to her and her heirs forever.
Azariah was his youngest son. He and Dorcas had been married less than a year before he was killed at the Swamp Fight.
The rest of my meaddow in Hadley, I doe give to be equally devided betweene all my sons (except Nehamiah) and my daughters - Frances Dickenson & Hannah Clary - which my executors shall either equally divide to all my aforesaid children, or else to pay to each their proportion of ye sayd lands, as it shall be prized in Country pay, within two years after my decease, to ym and their heirs forever.
The sons were: William Gull, Thomas, Nathaniel, Jr., Nehemiah, and Hezekiah. Hannah Clary was his only daughter. Frances Dickinson was his son John's widow. Note that he makes no mention of his son Joseph's widow, although she was raising five sons.
To my son, Thomas, I give my house & lott I bought of Mr. Wattson; he paying to Mr. Wattson ye Thirty Pounds yt is yet due for the same; or, if he like it not on those terms, then it shall be last in among my devidable estate to my children.
Thomas had his own homelot next door. Caleb Watson's lot was on a 2 acre piece on the river at the north end of town. He had moved back to Connecticut before the war.
I give to my son, Samuel, my house & homelott in Hatfield, to be to him & his heirs forever, together with the preveledges & appurtances thereto belonging.
Samuel, 35, lived in Hatfield. His oldest son, Samuel, Jr., was 7. In time Samuel and Martha would have 8 living children.
To my son, Obadiah, I give all ye rest of my land in Hatfield, with ye preveledges and appurtenances thereto belonging, to be to him and his heirs forever; and my meaning & will is that these two, my sons, Samuel & Obadiah, shall not come in for a share of my land in Hadley, but this given them in Hatfield shall be instead of itt.
Obadiah, 35, was the youngest son. He had married Sarah Beardsley of Northampton and they had 3 children at this time.
To my son, William Gull (son of his wife by her first husband) I give that Three Pounds which he oweth me for a barrell of pork.
Obviously Nathaniel raised hogs in quantity, since he was able to sell barrels of pork to his sons at 3 pounds per barrel.
All ye rest of my estate I give to be equally divided amongst all my sons and daughters. Frances Dickenson and Hannah Clary having equall shares with their breathren.
Did this include widow of Joseph? And did it include Dorcas? One wonders how the executors dealt with this ambiguity. Everyone must have been satisfied, however, as there were no subsequent law suits.
I doe hereby make and ordaine my two sons, Thomas & Nehemiah executors of this, my last will & testament, hereunto as my last will & testament I have subjoyned my hand and seale this present 29th day of May, 1676. NATHANIEL DICKENSON. In presence of JOSEPH KELLOGG, JOHN RUSSELL, Junior.
The desire of ye testator is yt ye share given unto Frances Dickenson, may, if she see meet, be given to Samuel Gillett's children. (Frances was their aunt).
Nathaniel Dickinson died almost three weeks later, on June 16, 1676.
Nathaniel Dickinson's exact burial spot is not known, but it is supposed to be in the old Hadley Cemetery near that of his son, Nehemiah. A fine boulder inset with a plaque, given by Mrs. Nellie Dickinson Hartnett has been placed near the spot.