John Dickinson was my 7th great-grandfather. He was a “Gentleman Planter” in colonial Northampton County, North Carolina.
This is another line of my family that may go back to early Quakers. There was certainly a Quaker John Dickinson who married a Rebekah Powell in 1724 in Talbot County, Maryland. Many online trees trace my John Dickinson back to him, however, I would like more evidence before I add that connection to my tree. (I have been surprised at how many of these possibly Quaker ancestors held slaves, but apparently this was common among even Quakers in colonial times.)
In the name of God Amen. The fourth day of February in the year of our Lord God 1742. I John Dickinson of North Hampton County in North Carolina Gentleman Planter being in health of Body & of Perfect mind & memory Thanks be Given unto God Therefore calling unto mind the Mortality of my body & knowing that it is apointed for all men once to dye do make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament
that is to say Principally & first of all I Recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that Gave it & for my Body I Recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like & decent manner at the Discretion of my Executers nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall Receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God
And as touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to bless me in this life I Give devise & dispose of the Same in the following manner & form.
Item- I Give & bequeath unto my loving Wife Rebeckah Dickinson one feather Bed & furniture & two Horses or mares & twelve Head of Cattle of her own Choosing of my ____ hole Stock of Sheep two Iron Potts & Pott Hooks & Six Pewter Basons & three Negroes Names Tone, Frank and Harry & the use of my Plantation Whereon I now live During her natural Life & after her Decease I do give devise & dispose of the aforesaid Negroes to my Son Isaac.
Item- I Give & bequeath unto my Son Daniel Dickenson my negro named Cofee & the plantation whereon he now lives.
Item- I Give & bequeath unto my Son John Dickenson the plantation whereon he now lives & five shillings Cash.
Item- I Give & bequeath unto my Son David Dickenson one Negro Girl named Bess & a piece of Land lying between the Reedy Branch & John Horton’s line up the Reedy Branch to the Road And So allong the Road to Andrew Irving’s line & down the Said Line to John Horton’s Line one mare & Colt & two Cows & Calves & one feather Bed & bolster & one Pair of Blankets & one old Gun.
Item- I Give and bequeath unto my Son Isaac Dickinson the plantation whereon I now live & three Negroes named Frank, Tony and Harry after his mothers Decease.
Item- I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Daniel one Cow and Calf.
Item- I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Futrel five Shillings Virginia Currency.
Item I Give & Bequeath unto my Daughter Rebeckah Newsom three Cows & Calves.
Item- I Give & Bequeath unto my Daughter Charity Dickinson one Negro Girl named Sen.
Item I Give & Bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Dickinson one Negro Girl named Dinah.
The Rest of my Estate I Give to be Equally Divided between my wife Rebeckah Dickinson & David Dickenson & Isaac Dickenson & Mary Dickenson & Charity Dickenson & of this my Last Will & Testament I make and Constitute nominate & appoint my Sons Daniel Dickenson & John Dickenson my hole & Sole Executors Revoking & Anuling all former wills by me heretofore made ratified & Confirming this & no other to be my Last will & Testament.
John Dickinson (Seal)
Signed Sealed Published Pronounced & Declared by the Said Testator to be his last will & Testament in the presence of us the subscribers, viz. Joseph Jordan, Robert Peelle, Isaac Parker
Northampton County / August Court 1749 The within written Will of John Dickinson deceased was proved in open Court by the Oath & Affirmation of Isaac Parker and Robert Peelle two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and at same time Daniel Dickinson & John Dickinson were duly Qualified Executors thereof Test. L. Edwards, Clerk
Proved 24th Aug. 1749
A Long Way to Tennessee 
John & Rebeckah are also my 7th gr grandparents. I am still in NC.
Their daughter, Elizabeth & her husband, Thomas Futrell are my line.
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Hi, Kelly,
John Dickinson is my 7th great-grandfather, also, on my paternal line. I have been researching this line and have hired a genealogist to learn all I can. If you’re interested, I would love to be in touch and compare notes. Please feel free to e-mail me if you would like.
From my very Southern lineage to yours,
Kate
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