Deacon Nathaniel Dickinson and Anna Gull (widow)
Husband Deacon Nathaniel Dickinson 1
Born: 3 May 1602 - Billingborough, Lincolnshire (Ely, Cambridge), England Christened: Died: 16 Jun 1676 - Hadley, Massachusetts Buried:
Father: William Dickinson ( - ) Mother: Sarah Stacey ( - )
Father: John Dickinson (1564-1637) Mother: Elizabeth ( -1609)
Marriage: 27 Nov 1623 - Billingsley, Lincolnshire, England
Wife Anna Gull (widow)
Born: 1603-1608 - in or near Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England Christened: Died: - Hadley, Massachusetts Buried:
Other Spouse: John Gull (1599-1621)
Children
1 M John Dickinson
Born: 22 Aug 1624 - Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England Christened: Died: 19 May 1676 - Turner's Falls Fight, King Philip's War Buried:Spouse: Frances Foote ( - ) Marr: 1648 - Wethersfield, Connecticut
2 M Nathaniel Dickinson 2
Born: 18 Mar 1626/1627 (1644)(Aug 1643) - Wethersfield, Connecticut Christened: Died: 11 Oct 1710 - Hatfield, Massachusetts Buried:Spouse: Hannah Beardsley (1642-1679) Marr: Bef 25 Dec 1663 - Stratford, ConnecticutSpouse: Elizabeth (Hawks) Gillett ( -1681) Marr: 16 Dec 1680 - Hatfield, MassachusettsSpouse: Elizabeth (Burt) Wright ( - ) Marr: 26 Sep 1684 - Northampton, Massachusetts
3 F Elizabeth Dickinson
Born: 14 Dec 1628 - Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England Christened: Died: 8 Jul 1631 - Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England Buried:
4 M Joseph Dickinson
Born: 10 Oct 1630 - Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England Christened: Died: 4 Sep 1675 Buried:Spouse: Phoebe Bressey (Bracey) ( - ) Marr: 1665 - Hadley, Massachusetts
5 M Thomas Dickinson
Born: 21 Oct 1632 - Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England Christened: Died: Buried:
6 M Samuel Dickinson
Born: 7 Dec 1634 (abt middle July 1638) - Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England Christened: Died: Bef 1638 Buried:Spouse: Martha Bridgman ( - ) Marr: 4 Jan 1668
7 F Ann or Hannah Dickinson
Born: 26 Jun 1636 - Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England Christened: Died: 17 Jul 1723 - Hadley, Hampden, Massachusetts Buried:Spouse: John Clary Jr (Abt 1632-1690) Marr: 16 Jun 1670 - Hadley, Hampden, MassachusettsSpouse: Enos Kingsley (Abt 1640-1708) Marr: 30 Nov 1692
8 M Samuel Dickinson
Born: Jul 1638 - Wethersfield, Ct Christened: Died: Buried:
9 M Obadiah Dickinson
Born: 15 Apr 1641 - Wethersfield, Connecticut Christened: Died: 10 Jun 1698 - Wethersfeld, Connecticut Buried:Spouse: Sarah Beardsley ( - ) Marr: 8 Jan 1669Spouse: Mehitable Hinsdale ( - ) Marr: 8 Jan 1669
10 M Nehemiah Dickinson
Born: Aug 1643 - Wethersfield, Connecticut Christened: Died: 9 Sep 1723 - Hadley, Massachusetts Buried:
11 M Hezekiah Dickinson
Born: Feb 1646 - Wethersfield, Connecticut Christened: Died: 14 Jun 1707 - Springfield, Massachusetts Buried:
12 M Azariah Dickinson
Born: 10 Oct 1648 - Wethersfield, Connecticut Christened: Died: 25 Aug 1675 - King Phillip's War - Swamp Fight at Whately Massachusetts Buried:Spouse: Dorcas ( - )
13 M Frances Dickinson
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
General Notes (Husband)
Earlier sources had him descended from Walter de Caen, a member of the family of the Dukes of Normandy, kinsman of William the Conqueror, via a 13th century Yorkshire freeholder of Kingston-Upon-Hull become merchants.
One version (INCORRECT):
According to tradition, Nathaniel Dickinson sprang from a family which traced its descent to Walter of Caen, a kinsman and companion of William the conqueror, and through him to Rollo, first Duke of Normandy. Tradioton also relates that Walter wedded teh daughter of the last Saxon Lord of Kenson, and was afterward known as Walter de Kenson. Jsut when teh family took the anglicancized form of the surname is unknown but probably wearly in 14th century. The two most ancient forsm were Dickensen, then Dicconson. Dickensesn appeared in teh reign of Henry VII but it is not until a century later that the second syllable is spelled with an i, which is clearly a corruption of the original orthogarhpy.
DIckinson arms date from reign of Henry III and were used by John de Caen of Kenson, temp. Edward I, and have an intersting story to tell... The green fields and the hinds' heads signify that the bearers were rangersin royal forests, most likely Epping in Yorkshire. The cross was not added unitl the time of the last cursade, and shows the Dickinsons to have been engaged in taht holy war. These arems were borne by Hugh Dickonsen, who lvied about 1422, the supposed ancestor of John Dicksinson, a younger son of Lord Kenson, alderman of Leeds, the progenitor of the American Dickinsons and deceased 1525.
One version that I have, "Genealogies and Biographies of Ancient Wethersfield", has him son of William and Sarah (Stacey) Dickinson of Ely, Cambridge, England.
Clifford Scott argues in The Correct English Origins of Nathaniel Dickinson and William Gull, that the cited marriage of Nathaniel Dickinson to Anna Gull did not occur in that location (East Bergholt, Suffolk), Nathniel Dickinson is supposed to have been in Watertown but the records don't show him there, the date of birth for the oldest son gives him land at age 19, no degrees were found bestowed upon William Dickinson, the barrister of Ely, by Cambridge, or at Oxford, and the entire scheme has the Dickinson family inexplicably hopscotching around England.
Clifford L. Stott, "The Correct English Origins of Nathaniel Dickinson and William Gull, Settlers of Wethersfield and Hadley", New England Historical and Genealogical Register, April 1998, 159-78, unearthed the correct origins. in the Billlinborough, Lincolnshire parish records.
He did arrive in Wethersfield, Ct no later than 1638. They actually came from Billingborough, Lincolnshire, the parish from which came Governor Sion Bradstreet and the prob home of Anthony colby, both prominent men in Massachusetts Bay Colony.
There is a problem with the accuracy of dates in the parish and bishops' registers; the parish used a different dating system than everyone else and it particularly confused the people who did the bishops' transcripts, so the dates are as much as a year off.
Nathaniel Dickinson was church warden in Blillingborough in 1633/4. His fther John was church warden 1620/1, and William Dickinson's was/were church warden a number of years. Though the Gull's seem to hve been laborers, a number of Dickinson's are listed as yeomen. Their wills suggest a modest amount of property, probably a decent sized house.
Little is known of his activities in England. He was no doubt educated, signing the Billingborough bishop's transcript with a firm hand. He was town clerk in both Wethersfield and Hadley.
Stott pins down his emigration to between June 1636 when a daughter was baptized in Billingborough and July 1638 when he had a son baptized at Wethersfield, CT. He speculates that Nathaniel may have heard Puritan preaching from Rev. Simon Bradstreet, vicar of Horbling from 1596 to 1621. Also prominent men in MA from the same parish. Rev. Bradstreet's son Simon went to MAin 1630 and rose to prominence in the government of the Bay colony. Twilve miles east of Horbling and Billingborough, Rev. John Cotton expounded his Puritan views from the pulpit at Boston until he fled to New England in 1633. It appears Nathaniel spent little if any time in MA. He was not among the Watertown contingent that settled in Wethersfield in 1635.
Ntahaniel held many positions of trust in Westhersfield and Hadley. He served on jury of Particular Court 1642. He was town clerk of Wethersfield before and in 1645, and until 1659, when he moved to Hadley. He was deputy to Connecticut General Court 1646-1659. Seletman of Wethersfield 1646. Owned a house, barn and three acres of land in March 1649. May 1653 member of a committee to direct a contemplated expedition against the Dutch. Oct 1654 oneof the commissioners appointed to consult with commissioners of Connecticut towns about drafting men for an expedition to Ninigret country. Also a deacon at the Wethersfield church.
He moved because dissension arose in the congregatins at Wethersfield, Hartford adn Windsor. Organized a new setlement under leadership of Rev. John Russell. One of the 59 men who signed the agreement to settle Hadley. He surveyed the origional 59 home lots of 8 acres each. Town clerk 1660. Fereman's oath 1661. Member of committee to erect a meeting house. He was an original member of the Hampshrie Troop, organized in March 1663/4 under John Pynchon. During King Philip's War, 1675-77, Nathaniel lsot three sons, John, Jseph and Azariah. Another son, Obadiah, was captured by the Indians and taken to Canada but escaped and returend in 1679. Also slectman, assessor and school trustee at times and a decon at Hadley church.
Came with wife Anna (Gull) and three children to Watertown, MA in 1634, to Wethersfield, Connecticut, 1636 or 37, seems speedily to have become a prominent citizen. On teh Jury 10/14/1642, town clerk or recorder 1 Dec 1645 or earlier. Earliest town vote on record is recorded in his handwriting. Deputy to General Court 1646-56. Tonwsman 1647-8. Homestead rec. to him 1649. Oct 1654 one of a committee of 3 appointed by teh Court to advise teh constables of the 3 River Towns about "pressing men for the expedition into the Ninigret country" in the Narr. War.
When the movement on the part of many dissatisfied members of the Wethefireld Hatfield and Windsor chhs. took place, Apl 1659, for the emigration ot Hadley, MA, he and his sons Nathaniel and John were present and active among the 59 persons concerned adn the father was one of the delegates chosen to lay out the new plantation east of Northampton. Moved to Hadley in 1659. The three were also of the 29 present at a town meetin g Oc 1660 at which ruiles and regulations for the new enterprise were adopted and signed At Hadley as at Wetherfield he be was first town clerk. Town Assessor, a magistrate, a member, at its formation in 1663 of teh Hampshire Troop under Capt. Pyncheon; and connected w teh founding of Hopkin's Academy of which he was one of the first trustees. When Major Pyncheon purchased teh Hadley tract he accepted Mr. D. and Nathaniel Ward as reps of the planters, and when they signed the final sett 29 Oct 1663. In both communities, Wehtersfeld and Hadley, he was jsutly esteemed as an upright, intelligent, active and capable citzen, bearing well his share in the labors, privations and dangers incident to a frontier life. He lost three sons in the Indian war of 1675-6, which depressed him. His will dated 29 May 1676 describes him as late of Hatfield, now of Hadley.
He lived for a few years in Hatfield but died in Hadley.
BACKGROUND ON NATHANIEL'S MIGRATION
From Nathaniel Dickinson in America
The theological as well as the economic climate in England during the early 1600's continued to worsen afater Charles I became king in 1624. Many of the so-called Separatists, those who did not wish to conform with all the church ceremonies demanded by Charles, had fled to Holland and later to New Engalnd, where they established a colony at Plymouth Plantation in 1620. Charles dissolved Parliament in 1629 and became more and more tyrannical in confiscating the fortunes and curtailing the freedoms of his English subjects.
Several Companies were organized to promote the setllement of new groups in New England. Commercial interestes as well as religious freedom were stressed. The Cambridge Company attracted many from East Anglia, a region particularly affected by the existing economic conditions and influenced by the nonconformist dons of Cambridge University. In 1628 the London Company of Massachusetts Bay received a patent and in 1629 a charter for lands along the Bay north of Plymouth. IN 1630 the Massachusetts Bay Company transferred itself and the whole government of its colonies to its American settlements and in June of that year John Winghrop was chosen its governor. By the end fof 1630 over one thousand persons had arrived in New England and were living in Salem, Boston, Cambridge, Dorchester and WAtertown. Some of the imigrants were men of wealth and prominence in England while others were impoverished and came to America as indentured servants.
In August 1629 Nathaniel Dickinson and his brothers John and Thomas joined the Cambridge Company. It is assumed that they and Nathaniel's new bride, Anna, and his step-son William Gull, sailed for New England on one of the ships of the MAssachusetts Bay Company in the spring of 1630. However no record of their names has been found among the passenger listings of that period. Nor has any record been found of their residence in teh Boston area between 1630 and 1635/6 wehn Nathaniel and his family appeared in the new town of Wethersfield, Connecticut. It is thought that he settled temporarily in Watertown and later traveled overland to Weathersfield along the trail used by the Rev. Thomas Hooker's party which settled Hartford. This sequence of events seems likely because many of the setllers of Wethersfield and later of Hadley had lived for a time in Watertown or Dorchester.
Disagreemetns developed in the settlement concerning the rules governing church membership, batpism and the rights of brotherhood. Parson Russell of the Wethersfield church and a majority of its members were not in favor of relaxing the standards set by earlier congregations. These peple and residents of Hartford and Windsor who held similar views formed a group known as the "Withdrawers" for the purpose of establishing a new settlement where they could live in accordance with their deeply held religious beliefs. After obtaining permission to settle in Massachusetts, the Withdrawers purchased land form three Indian chiefs. This land was 50 miles up the Connecticut River near Northampton, MA, a trading post establisyhed in 1654.
On 18 Apr 1659 the Withdrawers met at Good man Ward's house in Hartford and 59 men signed an Agreement or Engagement for the establishment of a new settlement. Nathaniel and sons Thomas and John were among the signers, and Nathaniel was one of the five men chosen to go and lay out the homelots and a street.
By 1661 many houses had been built in the new town, which was named Hadley, and homelots had been assigned on the west side of the river in the area that became Hatfield. The original homelots of Nathaniel and his sons John and Thomas were located on the east soide of teh Broad Street in Hadley. Two other sons, Nathaniel Jr. and Samuel, settled in Hatfield, and Nathaniel lived in that town for a while before returning to Hadley.
Nathaniel was active in civic affairs in the new settlement. He was Hadley's first town clerk, a selectman and an assessor. He served as a commissioner to end small claims. He was on the committee appointed in 1663 to make plans for the town's first meetinghouse and was one of the first deacons. Nathaniel was a member of the train band and one of the ten Hadley men who joined with men from neighboring towns to form the Hampshire Troop of Horsemen in 1663. He waws on the first boardof trustees of Hopkins Academy, one of the oldest grammar schools in the United States (1664).
General Notes (Wife)
Supposed to have been widow of William gull of e Berholdt,Suffolk,Engl had son, Wm Gull.
Actually, she was the widow of John Gull, laborer, in Billingborough,Lincolnshire. But while the parish register shows his death and the birth of their son William, and her remarriage to Nathaniel Dickinson, and also alot of Gull data including possibly this John Gull's birth in 1599 to William Gull, it does not show her marriage to John Gull, and therefore her identity remains unknown.
She was living in Hadley, MA, as late as 24 Mar 1670/1, when Nathaniel and Ann Dickinson sold property in Hadley to William Marcum. Ann had a son, William Gull, who accompanied the family to New England.
1 Stott, Clifford L, "Dickinson and Gull: English Origins", NEHGR (April 1998, 159-178).
2 Stott, Clifford L, "DIckinson and Gull: English Origins", NEHGR. (April, 1998, 159-178).
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