Caleb Dickinson of Monks, Corsham

1670 - 1728


Biography

  1. Captain Francis Dickinson (1632-1704) was granted 6000 acres in Jamaica by Charles II as a reward for his actions of 1655 when Jamaica was taken from the Spaniards. His estates were inherited by his son Caleb (1670-1728) who married Sarah Vickris of Chew Magna; the couple had three sons, Ezekiel (1711-1788, grandfather of Jeremiah and Ezekiel Harman, both q.v.), Caleb (1716-1783, grandfather of William Dickinson, q.v.) and Vickris (1718-1797, grandfather of Frances Dickinson of this award). The Dickinson family papers are kept at the Somerset Record Office and include records of the management of the family's Jamaican estates.

  2. Caleb Dickinson of Monks in the parish of Corsham died 03/09/1728, buried at Bristol.

  3. Caleb Dickinson of Britain, Esquire. Estate probated in Jamaica in 1731. Slave-ownership at probate: 454 of whom 246 were listed as male and 208 as female. 119 were listed as boys, girls or children. Total value of estate at probate: £21512.81 Jamaican currency of which £15305.5 currency was the value of enslaved people. Estate valuation included £0 currency cash, £0 currency debts and £0 currency plate.


Sources

  1. Walter Minchinton, Jamaica Plantation Records from the Dickinson Papers 1675-1849 in Somerset Record Office and Wiltshire & Swindon Record Office: Introduction to the microfilm collection (East Ardsley, Wakefield, Microform Academic Publishers Limited, 1978), available at http://www.microform.co.uk/guides/R96977.pdf [accessed 11/03/2013]. Somerset Record Office, DD/DN.

  2. Findmypast.co.uk, England & Wales, Society of Friends (Quaker) Burials 1578-1841 [database online]

  3. Trevor Burnard, Database of Jamaican inventories, 1674-1784.


Further Information

Absentee?
Transatlantic
Spouse
Sarah Vickris
Children
Ezekiel (1711-1788), Caleb (1716-1783), Vickris (1718-1797)
Will

PROB 11/628/231 - precis.

Caleb Dickinson of Monks in the parish of Corsham, Wiltshire, gentleman.

All my capital messuage and farm called Monks and all my lands in the parish of Corsham, and one moity of my plantation called Barton Isles in the parish of St Elizabeth, Jamaica, that has been under the management of Caleb Smith and Henry Wirling[?] to my eldest son Ezekiel Dickinson and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten. In want of such heirs to my third and youngest son Vickris Dickinson and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten. Also to him all my household goods etc remaining in my dwelling house at Monks, except those belonging to his brothers and sisters.

All my messuage, fams, lands etc in the parish of Congresbury, Somerset, and also the other moiety of Barton Isles Plantation to my second son Caleb Dickenson and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten. For want of such heirs to my eldest son Ezekiel Dickinson and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten, and in want then to my youngest son Vickris Dickinson and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten.

To my youngest son Victris Dickinson and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten my estate called Barton in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, and the land under the management of John Harriott and Samuel Wirling[?], and my house, lands etc in St Jago de la Vega, Jamaica. In default to Ezekiel and heirs, then Caleb and heirs.

[indecipherable] all my plantation lying on both sides of the Black River in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, to my two sons Ezekiel and Caleb and their heirs, equally divided between them.

To my daughters Margaret and Mary Dickinson £5,000 sterling each to be raised out of my personal estate (including South Sea Stock) at the age of 21 years or marriage (if earlier, with the consent of my executors).

£25 each per annum or any further annual sums as my executors shall think fit for the maintenance of my three sons until they reach the age of 21 years. The same for my two daughters. My children to be strictly educated in the same Christian religion which I myself have always professed.

To my brother in law Ezekiel Gomershall (in case he is disposed to dwell in England) the use and possession of my dwelling house at Monks until my eldest son reaches the age of 21 years.

To each of the children of my brother Jonathan Dickinson as a token of my love, £20.

To the blind son of Caleb Smith of St Elizabeth, Jamaica, an annuity of £10 Jamaican currency for life, to be paid out of Barton Islanes plantation.

To the other son of Caleb Smith, £50 Jamaican currency at age 21 years.

All rest and residue to my three sons equally.

My loving friends John Dyer, Truman Hartford and William Lynd of the City of Bristol, merchants, and Ezekiel Gomersall, John Foster and Joshua Crosby, gentlemen, to be my trustees and executors, and guardians of my children in their minorities. The three last are to have the management of the Jamaica property.

Signed 04/06/1726.

Memorandum. For Margaret and Mary Dickinson, all the linen that was their mother's and all chinaware and the parcel packed up in my cabinet for them. For Margaret the gold watch that was her mother's, also a silver teapot, sugar dish, silver cannister and teaspoon and one other spoon with her mark and age upon it. For Mary two silver salvers, one silver saucespoon, one other spoon with her age and mark on it, one silver cup that was her mother's, one silver pap dish and spoon and one child's silver cup. For Margaret and Mary, a pair of silver cans apiece and the place their grandmother gave them, also two writing desks and what's therein which stand in the brown parlour. For Ezekiel, Caleb and Vickris Dickinson, a silver tankard apiece. For each of the servants at the time of my death, 20 shillings a year during so many years they have lived with me at Monks. For Margaret the bed chair and table. Signed 27/07/1725.

Codicil dated 21/10/1727. There is a proposal of marriage between my daughter Mary Dickinson and Truman Hartford of Bristol, merchant, and "it is my great desire that such marriage to take effect..." £1,000 to Mary upon condition that she does marry Truman Hartford.

Proved in London 10/03/1729.

Religion
Quaker

Relationships (8)

Brothers
Father → Son
Father → Son
Father → Son
Grandfather → Grandson
Grandfather → Grandson
Grandfather → Grandson
Uncle → Nephew

Addresses (1)

Monks, Corsham, Wiltshire, South-west England, England

Inventories (1)