Notes and Documents
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NOTES AND DOCUMENTS THE ESTATE OF JONATHAN DICKINSON* (1663-1722) The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has recently received a gift of two important manuscripts of interest to students of our early Philadelphia mer- chant-citizens. One of these is a fifteen page folio "Inventory of the Goods & Chattels of Jonathan Dickinson late of the Citty of Philada Merch*. deed taken this twentieth day of Fifth Month Anno Domini 1722"; the other, a fifty-two page folio letter book containing forty-three letters written by Dickinson's executors—Isaac Norris, James Logan, and George Claypoole—to the various merchants in London, Amsterdam, Jamaica, and elsewhere with whom Dickinson had business transactions, as well as letters to his sons. Jonathan Dickinson was the son of Francis Dickinson (1630-1704) who In 1663 married Margaret, daughter of Stephen Crooke. The Cope Manu- script Notes (in The Historical Society collections) state that Francis was a captain in the Royal Navy, serving under Admirals Penn and Venables at the capture of Jamaica in 1655, where Francis eventually settled. Jonathan was born on that Island in 1663 and when twenty-two years of age, married Mary Gale (sister of Colonel John Gale of Jamaica) who died in Philadelphia December 3, 1719.1 In August, 1696, Jonathan Dickinson with his wife and infant son, "a Suckling Child 6 m.old," and eleven negroes, sailed on the brigantine Reformation, Joseph Kirl, master, for Philadelphia. Their ship was wrecked off the coast of Florida on September 23, and after great hard- ships they eventually reached their destination the following year. Dickinson wrote a description of their experiences entitled A Journal of the Travels of several persons and their Sufferings, being cast away in the Gulph among Cannables of Florida, the manuscript of which is in the Society's collections. This was printed by Reynier Jansen in Philadelphia in 1699, republished in eight editions in England and one edition in Holland, under the title of God's Protecting Providence Mans Surest Help and Defence. The earliest evidence of Dickinson's being in Philadelphia is a manuscript document which he signed as witness to a release on November 17, 1697.2 He was elected clerk of the assembly, 1698-1700; alderman, 1701-1711; com- missioner of streets and water courses, 1701 ;3 member of the governor's council, * The manuscripts from which this inventory is taken were presented to the Society by Mr. Harrold E. Gillingham.—Ed. 1 Philadelphia Monthly Meeting Records. * Charles Morton Smith Manuscripts; H. S. P. •Logan Papers, III. 14; H. S. P. 420 1935 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS 421 1711-1722; mayor of the city, 1712-1719; lay judge of the provincial court, 1715-1718; member of the assembly, 1719-1720; speaker, 1718; justice of the peace, 1719-1722, and died June 18, 1722.4 The children of Jonathan and Mary (Gale) Dickinson were as follows: Jonathan Dickinson Jr., born March 12, 1695, in Elizabeth Parrish, Jamaica,5 and came to Philadelphia as an infant with his parents, surviving the hardships of the wreck and overland journey. He moved to Flushing, Long Island, where he married, May 8, 1716, Hannah, daughter of Dr. John Redman, but had no children to survive him. After his death his widow married Samuel Holmes of Rhode Island.6 Joseph Dickinson was born in Philadelphia April 4, 1698. He married Grace, daughter of John Moore,7 by whom he had one child, Mary, who married Francis J. Tyssen of Jamaica, and was living in England in 1748.8 John Dick- inson, born in Philadelphia March 27, 1701, and died without issue in 1729.9 Mary Dickinson, born in Philadelphia and married in 1722 (after her father's will was signed) Francis Jones. She died in Philadelphia in 1733 and Francis Jones died in January, 1741/2. They had one son, Dickinson Jones, who died in 1728.10 Hannah Dickinson was a minor when her father died, and was sent by her guardians, the executors, to Thomas Redman in Rhode Island (the uncle of her brother Jonathan's wife).11 When about eighteen years of age she married Thomas Masters who died November 23, 1749,12 by whom she had one child, Thomas Masters,13 who died early. When Jonathan Dickinson, the subject of this sketch, died in 1722 his household effects were valued at £ 1,017-15-10, and the contents of his store and yard at over £961. He also had many debts for goods already in his possession as well as for shipments ordered, and was indebted for large land purchases. These debts gave his executors much concern and they were several years clearing up the estate, hoping they could save the plate and other effects of the home for the children. It will be noted the plate was valued at over £ 203 and weighed 594 ounces, an indication of Dickinson's prosperity in 1722. Another feature of this inventory, which will interest collectors of eight- eenth century furniture, is the great amount of mahogany pieces in the house, as well as the "11 Mohogany planks Each 11 foot long 5 Inches Thick and 2 foot wide" which were included in his stock. Jonathan Dickinson owned two *Penn. Col. Recs., passim; Wharton-Dickinson Manuscripts; H. S. P.; Dickinson Genealogy, Friends Meeting Records. 5 Philadelphia Monthly Meeting Records. 9 Logan Papers; H. S. P. 7 Philadelphia Monthly Meeting Records; Wharton-Dickinson MS. Genealogy; H. S. P. 8 Logan Papers, II. 129; H. S. P. •Philadelphia Monthly Meeting Records; Wharton-Dickinson MS. Genealogy; H. S. P. 10 Cope MSS.; Logan Papers, IX. 114. "Letter of Norris, Logan, and Claypoole to Isaac Gale, July 1, 1723; letter book of Executors of Estate of Jonathan Dickinson; H. S. P. 12 Philadelphia Monthly Meeting Records. 13 Logan Papers, IX. 114; H. S. P. 422 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS October plantations in Jamaica, and, according to his account book, imported much of that wood into Philadelphia as early as 1699, from which he no doubt had his furniture made. His books show that he sold mahogany planks to John Jones and Abraham Hoopper, both local cabinet-makers, but there are only business entries in these records and we have no information as to which of these craftsmen supplied him with the seven mahogany chests of drawers and ''Cloathes" Presses, or the ten mahogany tables, some of which were six feet long. The several items listed as "Swing Glass & Drawers" were no doubt those delicately fashioned pieces now styled shaving or dressing stands. As Dickinson had no grandchildren living after 1750, none of this furniture can be traced through his descendants, though no doubt some of it has found its way into other families, and thus lost sight of. Owing to the prominence of Jonathan Dickinson and the variety of his household furniture in 1722, it is thought advisable to print the entire in- ventory of his personal effects in the home. Space forbids the inclusion of all the recently acquired letters written by his three executors—the last survivor of them being James Logan—but scholars will be glad to learn of their preservation. It is worth noting that owing to the number of business com- mitments of Dickinson, amounting to more than £ 2,050 at his death, the executors were not able to close the estate entirely until more than twenty-five years after Dickinson's death. INVENTORY of the Goods & Chatties of Jonathan Dickinson late of the Citty of Philada. Merch\ deed taken this twentieth day of £Fith Month Anno Domini 1722.— In the best Parlour Mohogony Chest Drawers and Table £7.10.- 6 foot Table ditto 5. 4 foot D° 2. 5. 6 Elbow Cane Chairs at 20/ 6. 8 Common ditto at 16/ 6. 8 Brass hearth Tongs Shovel and Doggs 3. Large Looking Glass 8.10. 4 Scones 5. Brass knobb'd Iron Tongs Shovel and bellows 12. Stand 14. Tea Table and fframe 2. 5. Sett large Tea Cups & Saucers 2. Sett Small D° 1.18. D° Bason 9. Sugar Cop 9/ milk pot 12/ & 3 large saucers 6/ 1.7. 4 Dishes 12 plates edged and 2 Basons 5. China Bowl Stand 1. 2 doz. Courser China plates at 36/ p.Doz 3.12. 3 China Chocolate Cups 6. 8 fine earthen plates & 12 Saucers sorted 10. 1935 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS 423 3 Blew Stone Galon Juggs and 3 doz.Glass ware 15. 2 Brushes and Glass ware 4. Cash 42. 2.7^ Front Parlour 5 foot Mohogony Table 4. 4 foot ditto 2. 5.- Looking Glass 6. 2 pr Scones 2.10. Clock & Case 22.10. Cane Couch and Squab 3. 12 Cane Chairs at 22/6 pc 13.10. Pair Doggs Tongs & Shovel 10. Mohogony Cloaths Press 5. 2 Cane Chairs 1.12. 2 Quart & 2 Pint Decanters 2 Crewetts 4 cups & Brush ... 12. Green Room Old Broken Escrutore wch Joseph Claims 2. Brass knobbed Doggs Tongs shovel & bellows 15. 3 Decanters 2 Crewetts & Glass 8. Old Leather Chair 3. 2 Skins 5. Front Chamber Mohogany Table and chest of Drawers 7.10. Looking [glass] with part of Top Broken 4. 2. Swing Glass & drawers 1. Japann'd Stand 10. 2 Scones 1. 4. 2 Elbow Cane Chairs with blew Harateen Cushions 2.10. 2 Common Ditto at 16/ each 6. 8. Brass knobbed Doggs Tongs shovell Bellows & 2 brushes ... 17. 10 Glasses on Mantle piece 4. Large sliding Brass & Iron standing Candlestick 1.10. Joynt Stool 2. Largest feather bed bolster 2 Pillows cased wt 85. at 21/ p.£ . 7. 8. 9 Sacking bottom screw bedstead & Iron Rods 1.15.