Nathaniel Dickinson aka Dickenson

  General Notes:

The following taken from the family website of Don Dickenson:


NATHANIEL DICKENSON

Who died in 1753 in Louisa County, VA



My great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather, Nathaniel Dickenson, was from one of the New Kent/Hanover/Louisa County branches of the Dickenson family which appears to have descended from Griffith Dickenson who married Elizabeth Springall on June 12, 1649 in St. Martin Orgar Church in London and settled 300 acres in James City County on January 5, 1656. It appears that Nathaniel may have been the son of a Nathaniel Dickenson who had several children including Nathaniel, Griffith, Elizabeth who married Benjamin Terry and an unnamed daughter who married Thomas Spencer.



Nathaniel was one of the early settlers and planters of Louisa County, Virginia having settled in St. Martin's Parish on Little River prior to the time Louisa County was formed from a portion of Hanover County. He received a land patent for 400 acres of new land on the Little River in Hanover County (now a portion of Louisa County) on September 28, 1728 which was described as being adjacent to land already owned by Nathaniel Dickenson (Patents 13 page 314). It was in this area that he and his wife, Mary raised their nine children.



Nathaniel and Mary Dickenson's colonial era farm was the subject of a historical archaeology excavation by students from the Anthropology Department at the University of Virginia. The excavation took place during 1996 and 1997 and several thousand artifacts dating from the 1720s to 1790s were recovered. The artifacts included pieces of German and English ceramics, wine bottle fragments, smoking pipes, buttons, and hand wrought nails and implements. The excavation is the topic of the doctoral thesis recently completed by Alison K. Bell.



Nathaniel's will was written on August 23, 1753 and proved on September 25, 1753 in Louisa County (Will Book 1, page 30). In it he names his children: "Nathaniel Dickenson, Griffith Dickenson, William Dickenson, John Dickenson, Sarah Snelson, Elizabeth Dickenson, Rachell Dickenson, Mourning Barksdale and Agness Dickenson. He left one third of his 400 acre plantation to each of his sons, Nathaniel Jr., Griffith and William; with William to receive the western portion with the mill, Nathaniel to receive the center portion and Griffith to receive his share, the eastern portion with the house and orchard, upon the death of Nathaniel's wife, Mary.



On March 11, 1755 Nathaniel Dickenson Jr. and his wife, Lucy, and William Dickenson and his wife, Sarah, deeded their two thirds interest in their father's farm, 260 acres, to Richmond Terrell who was one of the witnesses to their father's will and was possibly the father or brother of their brother Griffith's second wife, Sarah. On June 30, 1778 Griffith Dickinson and his wife, Sarah, granted to John Snelson of Hanover County 116 acres described as being "bounded by the Little River and lands of sd. Snelson and those of the Estate of Richmond Terrill Dec’d, being the land whereon sd. Griffith Dickinson now lives which was devised to him by the Last Will & Testament of Nathaniel Dickinson, Father to said Griffith." At this point, the last of the original 400 acre colonial era farm passed out of ownership of the Dickenson family.

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OTHER SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THIS NATHANIEL DICKENSON INCUDE:



September 28, 1728 - Hanover Co., VA (formed from New Kent County in 1721): Nathaniel Dickenson of Hanover County for 40 shillings received a patent for 400 acres of new land in Hanover County joining to the lines of Nathaniel Dickenson and John Clement ... in Wade's line. (Patents 13, page 314)



[This indicates that the 400 acres Nathaniel Dickenson received a patent for was adjacent to land he already owned as well as a 350 acre patent James Wade received on both sides of Holling Camp Creek in Hanover County on March 24, 1725 (Patents 12, page 356) and a 400 acre patent John Clement received adjoining the lines of Alexander Snead, George Sims, Benjamin Brown and Charles Snelson in Hanover County on August 17, 1725 (Patents 12, page 246)]



Benjamin Brown of Hanover County received a patent for 400 acres ... joining to the lines of Pulliam, Dickenson and Brown ... at Benjamin Brown's corner ... in William Pulliam's line on the north side of the Little River ... Nathaniel Dickenson's corner. (Patents 13, page 309)



[On February 18 1722, William Pulliam, referred to in description, received patents for 400 acres on the south side of Little River in Hanover Co. (Patents 11, page 162) and 400 acres on the north side of Little River (Patents 11, page 163)

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September 28, 1732 - Hanover Co., VA: Joseph Moutray received patent for 400 acres of lapsed land adjoining the lines of Nathaniel Dickenson and John Clement ... by Patent dated 28 September 1728 then was granted unto Nathaniel Dickenson of Hanover County 400 acres joining to the lines of Nathaniel Dickenson, John Clement; and Wade's line now granted tp Joseph Moutray. (Patents 14, pages 480 & 481)



[This indicates that the second 400 acres Nathaniel Dickenson received a patent for was not farmed and four years later the 400 acres was patented to Joseph Moutray]

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January 15, 1734 - Hanover Co., VA: Nat. Dickinson was witness to inventory of estate of Alexander Snead, dec'd.



[Alexander Snead received a patent for 400 acres on the south side of Little River on February 20, 1723]

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May 3, 1734 - Hanover Co., VA: Inventory of Robt. Searsey dec'd. was witnessed by Nathaniel Dickinson and Robt. Thomson.



[This was probably the Nathaniel who died in Louisa County in 1753. Robert Thomson may have been a relative]

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December 5, 1734 - Hanover Co., VA: Orphan bonds list John Dabney, William Snelson and Nathaniel Dickenson, of Hanover County, as bondsman of Nathaniel Dickenson, guardian of Woodward Spencer, orphan of Thomas Spenser. Signed by Nathl. Dickinson, John Dabney and William Dickinson. (County Records Vol. 1, page 153)

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January 10, 1735/36 - Hanover Co., VA: Robert Hester of Hanover County received patent for 400 acres ... joining to his own and Nathaniel Dickenson's line. (Patents 16, page 528)

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October 13, 1736 - Hanover Co., VA: Henry Bibb of Hanover County received patent for 400 acres in sd. County on both sides of Tomahawk Swamp ... at Robert Hester's corner ...in Nathaniel Dickinson's line ... in Mr. Temple's line ... Colonel Meriwether's corner. (Patents 17, page 199)

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1737 - Hanover Co., VA: Mention of suit against Nath'l Dickinson regarding title to a grant of 400 acres of land in Hanover County.

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February 13, 1744 - Louisa Co., VA (formed from Hanover County in 1742): On petition of Nathaniel Dickenson, Adam Jones, John Harris & others for a Road that leads from the Mine road over the Little River.

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April 22, 1746 - Louisa Co., VA: Bristol a negro boy belonging to Nathaniel Dickenson of this County was adjudged by the Court to be eleven years of age. (Louisa County Order Book 1742-1748, page 181)

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August 31, 1753 - Louisa Co., VA: Will of Nathaniel Dickenson, Sr. mentions his wife, Mary, and nine children including sons: Nathaniel Dickenson, Griffith Dickenson, William Dickenson, and John Dickenson and daughters: Sarah Snelson, Elizabeth Dickenson, Rachel Dickenson, Mourning Barksdale, and Agnes Dickenson. Will leaves one third of his 400 acre plantation to sons Nathaniel Jr., Griffith and William with Griffith to receive his share with the plantation, including the orchard and dwelling house, upon death of his mother. He gave three slaves to his daughter, Elizabeth. The will was proved on September 25, 1753. Witnesses included Richmond Terrell and James Sims. Nathaniel Dickenson and William Dickenson were named as executors.



[This is the land which was adjacent to the September 28, 1728 land patent. His son Nathaniel Jr. had wives (1) Lucy and (2) Elizabeth and died in Louisa County 1783; son Griffith had wife Sarah Terrell?); son William had wife Sarah (Daniel?) and died in Louisa County in 1764 and son, John Sr., had wife Rebecca Dudgeon and died in Halifax County, Virginia in 1788. His daughter Sarah married William Snelson and died in Louisa County in 1789; daughter Mourning married Nathaniel Barksdale in 1748 and moved to Halifax County, Virginia where Nathaniel died in 1789; daughter Rachel married Samuel Parris Jr. and daughter Agnes married Nathan Austin in 1754 and moved to Greenville County, South Carolina.]

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March 25, 1754 - Louisa Co., VA: William Dickinson of St. Martin Parish, Louisa County, planter and Sarah, his wife, deeded to Richmond Terrell of same, planter, one water grist mill with 2 acres adjoining on the Little River, devised to said Dickinson by the last will and testament of his father, Nathaniel Dickinson, dec'd., recorded in Louisa County ... including two houses besides the mill house. The deed was signed by William Dickerson and Sarah Dickerson.



[This William was the son of Nathaniel who died in Louisa County in 1753. The mill house was on north side of Little River upstream from current route 701 crossing.]

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March 11, 1755 - Louisa Co., VA: Nathaniel Dickenson, and Lucy, his wife, and William Dickenson, and Sarah, his wife, of St. Martin's Parish deeded 260 acres in St. Martin's Parish on the north side of the Little River to Richmond Terrell. The deed refers to James Simes line and Griffith Dickenson's line. Witnesses included Charles Dickenson and Griffeth Dickenson. (Louisa County Deed Book B, page 58)



[This 260 acres was the 2/3 of the 400 acres Nathaniel and William inherited from their father, Nathaniel Dickenson's will in 1753. Richmond Terrell was witness to their father's will, Griffith's wife Sarah may have been the daughter of Richmond Terrell and Griffith Dickenson was also the son of Nathaniel who died in 1753. Charles Dickenson was possibly the uncle of Nathaniel and William or the eldest son of William Dickenson who died in 1764. Charles died in 1775]

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May 26, 1761 - Louisa Co., VA: Charles Dickenson's bond for Administration lists Charles Dickenson & Philip Burford with condition Charles Dickenson as Executor of will of Mary Dickenson, deceased. (Louisa County Bond Book 1754-1766)



[Mary Dickenson, who was probably the widow of Nathaniel Dickenson who died in 1753, died about 1761. Because Charles Dickenson was not listed as a child of Nathaniel, he may have been his brother or his grandson, the son of William.]

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July 13, 1762 - Louisa Co., VA: A document dated May 1, 1755 in which Mary Dickenson said: "me hereunto moving" gave her daughter Agness Dickenson one negro man named Prymus after Mary's death. Wit. Richmond Terrell & William Dickenson. This instrument of writing was this day in open court acknowledged by Mary Dickenson too be her act & deed & by the Court admitted to record & is recorded. (Louisa County Deed Book C, page 184)

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June 30, 1778 - Louisa Co., VA: Griffith Dickinson and Sarah, his wife, of St. Martin’s Parish, Louisa County, granted to John Snelson, Gent., of Hanover Co., St. Paul's Parish, 116 acres bounded by the Little River and lands of sd. Snelson and those of the Estate of Richmond Terrill Dec’d, being the land whereon sd. Griffith Dickinson now lives which was devised to him by the Last Will & Testament of Nathaniel Dickinson, Father to said Griffith houses, buildings, ways, waters. Signed by Griffith Dickenson and Sarah Dickenson. ( Deed Book E, pages 346-347)



[This Louisa County Griffith Dickenson was the son of the Nathaniel who died in 1753 and not the Griffith Sr./Griffith Jr. family which lived in Halifax County as early as October 16, 1753. This is when the last piece of Nathaniel Dickenson Sr.'s 400 acre farm was sold out of the family. John Snelson was brother to Griffith's sister Sarah's husband, William Snelson]

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WILL OF NATHANIEL DICKENSON, SR.



IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Nathaniel Dickenson Senr. of the county of Louisa & Parish of St. Martins being thro the abundant mercy & goodness of God, tho weak of body yet of a Sound & perfect understanding & memory for which thanks be to Almighty God for it, First calling to mind that it is Apointed for all Men once to Die I do Recommend my Soul into hands of the Almighty who first gave it me & my body to the earth from whence it was taken, where the Worms Destroy it, but in my Sight I shall See God, whom I shall for my Self behold & not for another. I do make & Constitute this my Last Will & Testament & it is my Desire that what estate it hath pleased the Almighty to bless me with in this world I do give & dispose of in the manner & form as followeth Viz: Imprimis I give to my Loving Wife Mary the Plantation whereon I now Live During Natural Life with her Due part of the Rest of my Estate. Item I give & bequeath unto my son Nathaniel Dickenson one third part of the Tract of Land whereon I now Live Beginning on the River at the First Little branch above his Plantation Running thence to the back line so as to leave one third of the sd Tract of Land above him & he taking of the sd Tract of Land above him & he taking of ye Back Line & the River the sd Land I Give to him his heirs & assigns for ever, he not taking the Orchard & Dwelling House. Item I give unto my son Griffith Dickenson the manner Plantation with the 1/3 of my Land adjoining thereto, after the Decease of my Wife Mary to his heirs and assigns for ever. Item I give unto my son William the upper 1/3 of my land with the Mill to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item I give my daughter Elizabeth three negros to Wit, James, Gregory & & her heirs for ever. It is my Will & desire after all my debts and funeral charges are complyd with, that the Remainder of my estate what so ever to be found, be Equally Divided Between my nine children to wit Nathaniel Dickenson, Griffith Dickenson, William Dickenson, Dickenson, Sarah Snelson, Elizabeth Dickenson, Rachell Dickenson, [Mourning] Barksdale, and Agness Dickenson to them I give the sd. estate to their heirs & assigns lor ever If it should please God, that any of my above named children should die without heirs, that their or theirs part Divided amoungst the Surviving ones. I do hereby acknowledge this my last Will & Testament, disallowing all former Wills & Do if ever to appear. I Do appoint & it is my Will & Desire that Nathaniel Dickenson & William Dickenson be my Executors of this my Last Will & Testament In Witness where of I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 23rd Day of August 1753.



Signed Sealed & Delivered in the presence of:



John Moss his

Richmond Terrell Nathaniel N Dickenson

James Sims mark



AT A COURT held for Louisa County on Tuesday the DCDCVth day of September MDCCLIII. This Will was this day proved in open Court the oaths of all the parties thereto; and by the Court admitted to Record and is Recorded.



Teste Thos Perkins Depty. ce



(Louisa County, Virginia Will Book 1 - Pages 30 & 31)

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INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF NATHANIEL DICKENSON



35 Geese at 1/3 a parcel of old Iron 6/10

12 Steel at 1/... a parcel of old Working hoes 13/6

2 Pr Iron Screws 5/1 Broadaxe 6/

2 Iron wedges 3/ a parcel of Carpenters & Coopers Tools 10/1 [another 10/1 in margin]

2 old pots 1/ one pr Stillards 7/6

A parcel of Shoemakers Tools 5/

A parcel of files and Rest 4/ 2 pr. Shears 1/9

A Brass Cock 1/6 1 Box Iron & 1 Heater 3/

A Spice Mortar & Pestle 2/ 1 pr. fire Tongs & Shouvel 6/

3 pr. Cards 3/4 one Plain Iron 2/ Marking Irons one

Branding Iron I Gouge & 1 piercer & a small line 3/6

I Slay & Harness 3/ one Chisel 9

A parcel of Stone judgs Muggs Glass Bottles & Punch Bowles

2 yd Bed Ticken 5/ 1 pr Plad Hoes 1/6

A remnant of Cotton 1/6 rope 4/ pr of Money Seales 8/

I Glass Crewet & Salt Seller 2/

A ten Can 2 old Candlesticks 1 pr Snuffers & inkstand

A parcel of Knives & Forks 3/

7 Pewter Dishes 13 Plates Basons & 1 tin Pepper Box

1 Stock Lock 1/3 a parcell of Books 12/

2 old Looking Glasses a Hat Brush & Nutmeg Grates

3 Guns L 3.. 1 one Chest 10/1 folding Table L l.8

A Whip Saw 1.15/ & 1 old Bedstead & Cord 2/6

I Pewter Chamberpott 1/6 a parcel of old Chairs 6/

1 Desk 4. .5 one Bedstead and Cord 5/

I Feather Bed & Furniture L 5 one Do. 4.3.6 One Do. 5

2 old Beds L 3.. 16.6 Hempen Roles 4/

a Small Iron pott & Hooks 3/ 2 larger Do 19/ one frying pan 3/

I Belmettle Skillett 4/ one Grindstone 4/

1 Spinning Wheel & Iron Spindles 4/ 3 Meal Sifiers 2/3

2 Wheat Sivs 3/ 1 pr. of Broken Tongs 1/3 2 Baskets

A parcel of Tubs & Barrels 11/3 1 Hide 5/ 2 old Hide

I young House L 31 Gray Mare L 2.10 1 baydll 11

1 Cart & Wheels L 3..15 1 Saddle & Bridle 1.5

27 Head of CattleL 21..19 & 25 Hoggs at the Plantation 11.16

1 Handsaw 3/ one fro 2/ 1 pr of Sheep Shears 8

1 tin funell 10 2 Narrow axes 4/

I Bell 3/1 Do. 1/ 2 piggons 1 Pail & 2 Tubs 5/

I Cask 2/6 2 Sides of Sole Leather 5/6

2 P of shoes 8/1 pr of Horse fleam s/ & 1 Trunk 2/

3 old Bags 2/6

23 Head of Hoggs at the Mill

1 Negro Man Named Will L 30 one do. Named primus 38

1 Negro Woman Named Pegg L 38 1 do. philliss L 36

I Negro girl Hester L 14 1 do. Named Dillar L 18

1 Negro Girl Named Dafiiey L 16 1 do. Mille L 8

I Negro Boy Named Isaac L 18 1 do. Namd Peter L 10 ______________

335.03



In obedience to an order of Louisa County Court we the Subscribers being first sworn have apraised the Estate of Nathl. Dickenson Decd. according to within Inventory



Jas. Sims

Richin. Terrel

Wilim. Grenshaw



To Co Barrells of Corn Nathl. Dickenson

Co Bushels of wheat Willm Dickenson Exrs.



At a Court Held for Louisa County the 22nd Day of July 1755 This Inventory and appraisment was this day Returned by Nathaniel Dickenson and William Dickenson Executors of Nathaniel Dickenson Deceased and ordered to be recorded and is recorded



Teste James Littlepage.



[Note: "Do." means "the same thing", "ditto," or the thing just mentioned]



(Louisa County Inventory Book 1743 - 1766, pages 35-36)




Links to related photos:



Map of farm of Nathaniel Dickenson, Sr. - Louisa Co., VA

Excavation of Nathaniel Dickenson's homesite by University of Virginia students. (Click on photos)

Excavation of Nathaniel Dickenson's homesite in 1997 (1) (Alison Bell center of photo).

Excavation of Nathaniel Dickenson's homesite in 1997 (2).

Excavation of Nathaniel Dickenson's homesite (3) (Cellar steps)

ME excavating the homesite of Nathaniel Dickenson in 1997 (4).

ME excavating the homesite of Nathaniel Dickenson in 1997 (5).

Nathaniel married Mary Dickinson in 1724.