Nathaniel Dickinson (abt. 1601 - 1676)

Born about 3 May 1601 in Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Bincks) Dickinson — married 27 Nov 1623 in Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England

Descendants

Died 16 Jun 1676 at about age 75 in Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Nathaniel Dickinson migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 94) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Nathaniel Dickinson is Notable.

Nathaniel Dickinson was probably born in late April or early May 1601, the son of John Dickinson and his wife Elizabeth (Unknown) and was baptized on 3 May 1601 at Billingborough, South Kesteven District, Lincolnshire, England^[1] .

It is unknown when he came to America. He signed the Bishop's transcript at Billingsborough in 1633/34, and Ann, his daughter was baptized at Billingsborough on 26 June 1636. In July 1638, his son Samuel was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Since his father died in England in Spring 1637, he likely emigrated later that year. He is not shown on Massachusetts Bay Colony records.

Nathaniel married Ann (Bincks) Gull^[2], the widow of John Gull, on 27 Nov 1623 at Billingsborough. They had the following children:

• John, bp., 22 Aug 1624 Billingsborough
• Nathaniel, bp. 18 March 1626/27 at Billingsborough
• Elizabeth, bp. 14 Dec 1628 at Billingsborough; bur. there 1631
• Joseph, bp. 10 Oct 1630 at Billingsborough
• Thomas, bp. 21 Oct 1632 at Billingsborough
• Samuel, bp. 7 Dec 1634 at Billingsborough; prob. d. young
• Ann/Hannah, bp. 26 June 1636 at Billingsborough
• Samuel, b. ca. July 1638 at Wethersfield, Connecticut
• Obadiah, b. ca. 14 April 1641 at Wethersfield
• Nehemiah, b. ca. August 1642 at Wethersfield
• Hezekiah, b. ca. Feb 1646/7? at Wethersfield
• Azariah, b. 10 Oct 1648 at Wethersfield

He died at Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts, on 16 June 1676 and is buried at the in Old Hadley Cemetery, Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts.^[3] You can see a picture of the memorial plaque for Nathaniel at FindAGrave.

Nathaniel was known as Deacon Dickinson. His descendants include the founders of Amherst and Princeton, and the poet Emily Dickinson (via Samuel, Ebenezer, Nathan, Nathan, Samuel, Edward, Emily)^[4].

Nathaniel was made Freeman 1637 and was town clerk in Wethersfield 1645-1659, having served in that position unofficially for several years previously. He was elected Selectman in 1646. He was representative to the House of Magistrates at Hartford from 1646 until 1656. He helped survey Wethersfield's Broad Street and lay out the home lots for some of the new settlers. His home consisted of a house, barn and three acres of land in March, 1649. He was also deacon in the church at Wethersfield^[5][6].

Disagreements later arose within the Wethersfield settlement regarding church membership, baptism and rights of brotherhood. Those not in favor of relaxing the standards set by earlier congregations were called the "Withdrawers" and they, along with others of similar views from Hartford and Windsor, petitioned to form a new settlement in Massachusetts. They purchased land from 3 Indian chiefs, 50 miles up the Connecticut River near Northampton, MA, a trading post established in 1654. On April 18, 1659, the Withdrawers met at Goodman Ward's house in Hartford and 59 men signed an agreement for the establishment of the new settlement. Named in this agreement are Nathaniel Dickinson and his sons, John and Thomas. Nathaniel was one of 5 men chosen to go to the newly purchased land and lay out 59 home lots of 8 acres each and a Broad St. 20 rods wide. This street with its wide common still remains virtually unchanged^[7][8].

By 1661, many houses had been built in the new town which was named Hadley, and home lots assigned on the west side of the river in the area that became Hatfield. The original home lots of Nathaniel and his sons John and Thomas were located on the east side of Broad St. in Hadley. Nathaniel, Jr. and Samuel, two other sons, settled in Hatfield and Nathaniel, Sr. also lived in Hatfield for a time before returning to Hadley^[9].

While in Hadley, Nathaniel was the first town clerk, a selectman and an assessor. He served as commissioner to end small claims and, in 1663, was appointed to a committee to make plans for the town's first meetinghouse and was one of the first deacons. He was one of 10 Hadley men who joined with men from neighboring towns to form the Hampshire Troop of Horsemen in 1663. He was on the first board of trustees of Hopkins Academy, one of the oldest grammar schools in the US, 1664^[10].

Three of Nathaniel's sons, John, Joseph, and Azariah, were killed in King Philip's War of 1675/6^[11].

Will Extract

I, NATHANIEL DICKENSON, Senior, late of Hatfield, now of Hadley, in ye County of Hampshire, upon Connitticut, doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament, as follows:

Imprimis. my debtes and funerall expenses being first payd,

Secondly: I doe give unto my son, Nehemiah, my house & barn & homelott; as alsoe one-half my meaddow land in Hadley (except what is hereinafter excepted); to be to him and his heirs forever, besides what was Thomas Webster's.

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 Barn- ard, west; John Hubbard, north; & ye highway south. Further, I give or abate to her all that 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.

The rest of my meaddow in Hadley, I doe give to be equally devided betweene all my sons (except Ne- hemiah) 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 de- cease, to themm and their heirs forever.

To my son, Thomas, I give my house & lott I bought of Mr. Wattson; he paying to Mr. Wattson ye Thirty Pounds that 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.

I give to my son, Samuel, my house & home- lott in Hatfield.

To my son, Obadiah, I give all ye rest of my land in Hatfield; 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.

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.

All ye rest of my estate I give to be equally divided amongst all my sons and daughters. Frances Dickenson & Hannah Clary having equall shares with their breathren.

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 scale this present 29th day of ??? 1676. Nathaniel Dickenson^[12].

Sources

1. ↑ NEHGR V152 #606 (April 1998); pp. 159-178
2. ↑ NEHGR V170 (Spring 2016); pp.133-144
3. ↑ www.FindAGrave.com; Created by: Sue Allen; Record added: Feb 16, 2007; Find A Grave Memorial# 17951920
4. ↑ Habegger; p. 4
5. ↑ Savage; p. 48
6. ↑ NEHGR V152 #606 (April 1998); p. 168]]
7. ↑ NEHGR V152 #606 (April 1998); p. 168]]
8. ↑ Wells; pp. 40-41
9. ↑ NEHGR V152 #606 (April 1998); p. 168]]
10. ↑ NEHGR V152 #606 (April 1998); p. 168]]
11. ↑ Dickinson; p. 20
12. ↑ Dickinson; pp. 33-35

Bibliography

• The Dickinson Family Association, "Descendants of Nathaniel Dickinson," 1955.
• Stott, Clifford L., Ancestry of Anne Bincks of Scalford, Leicestershire, Wife of Nathaniel1 Dickinson of Wethersfield and Hadley, and Mother of William1 Gull of Hatfield, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass., Vol. 170 (Spring 2016)
• Stott, Clifford L., The Correct Origins of Nathaniel Dickinson and William Gull, Settlers of Wethersfield and Hadley, New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 152, No. 606 (April, 1998); https://www.americanancestors.org/DB202/i/11598/159/235064719 (subscription)
• Dickinson, Wharton. Record of the Lambert-Dickinson Family (Flushing, N.Y., 1901) Page 264
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Dickinson_(pioneer)
• Dickinson, Frederick; To the descendants of Thomas Dickinson, son of Nathaniel and Anna Gull Dickinson, of Wethersfield, Connecticut, and Hadley, Massachusetts, Published Chicago: W.D. Grant. 1897
• Habegger, Alfred, "My Wars Are Laid Away in Books", The Life of Emily Dickinson; Random House, 2001
• Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers Of New England, Boston, 1864
• Wells, Daniel White, A History of Hatfield Massachusetts
• Reunion of the Dickinson family, at Amherst, Mass., August 8th and 9th, 1883. Published 1884. pg 17. https://archive.org/stream/reunionofdickins01bing#page/16
• Goodwin, Nathaniel. The Foote Family (Case, Tiffany and Co., Hartford, Connecticut, 1849) Page 270: See footnote
• Descendants of Nathaniel Dickinson : typescript, link
• Map of Connecticut settlements from 1636 onwards (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut#/media/File:Ctcolony.png
• Wikipedia article about the Puritan Migration Era of 1620 - 1640 to North America

See also:

• Wikipedia: Nathaniel Dickinson (1601-1676)
• Wikidata: Item Q19288283, en:Wikipedia