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 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—, , and George Claypoole—to the various merchants in London, Amsterdam, , 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 , 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 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 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. Inside & outside Curtains Vailings head & Tester Clothes all of red & white Callicoe 6. Suit Blew Harateen Do wth bases 5.10. 2 pair sheets 4. Quilt & old Blankett 2. 6. Feather Bed Bolster 2 pillows cas'd w* 45 lb at 2id p.£ . . . 3.18. Sacking bottom screw bedstead & Iron Rods 1.10 Suit Callicoe Curtains head and Tester Cloth 3. Suit Blew Harateen Ditto 4.10. Quilt 35/& pair blanketts 24/ 2.19. 424 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS October

Best Chamber Mohogany Chest Drawers and Table 7.10. Looking Glass 7. 2 Scones i-5- Easy Chair 12 cushions Court Squab 3 pillows all flower'd Sattin 20. Cane Couch 2.10. 12 Elbow Cane chairs at 22/ 13. 4 Swing Glass & drawers 1.15. Brass hearth Doggs Tongs shovell Bellows & 2 brushes .... 3. 2 Cane Stools 1. 23 pc8. China ware on Mantle peice 1. Tea Tray and 16 ps. China ware 1. 1 Feather Bed Bolster 2 pillows cas'd w* 6glb at 2/3 7.15. 3 Suit fine Callicoe Curtains & inside Ditto with Vailings bases & head & Tester Cloth Quilted 12. Fine Callicoe Quilt 3.10. India Quilt much worn 2.15. Quilted head Cloth lin'd with Strip'd Holl'd & Silk Tester Cloth qt. 15 yds. with remnant 5. Large Quilt, one Cinamon Colour'd Persian & fine Callicoe the other side 6.10.- Blankett 8. Sack bottom Screw bedstead and Iron Rods 2. 5 Close Stool and pewter Pan 15. Two Quart Tankards 3 Salvers pr Candlesticks Snuffers & Stand 12 Spoons all with the family Arms 2 plates 2 lamps 6 sweetmeat forks 6 salts 1 pr Candlesticks Salver Tankard & flower'd Cup all called new plate wtt. 390 oz. 15 dwt. at 7/ pr. oz 136.15. 3 3 Pint Tankards Wine Quart Ditto Tea pot with family Arms 3 porringers 1 small D° H D14 1 eard Cup shallow Salver pepper Box marrow Spoon Ladle Lamp wth family arms 8 large Spoons 6 Tea Ditto Tongs Strainer Childs Spoon and Noodle Cap all worn plate ql 165 oz. 17 dwt at 6/6 . 53.18. Wine Quart Tankard 1 porringer 2 spoons left in Josephs Cus- tody and now at Vineyard supposed to weigh 38 oz. at 6/6 12. 7 Chamber over Upper Kitchen Mohogany Chest Drawers & Table 5.10. Looking Glass 6. Cane Couch and blew silk Squab . 2.15. 14 In Dickinson's Account book, page 21, November 5, 1700, is this entry: "Pd John Nys for making three porringers" Nys was a Philadelphia silversmith. The small tankard marked "H D" would indicate it belonged to the wife before marriage; it might have been her mother's. 1935 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS 425

6 Elbow Chairs D° with blew Cushions at 24/ 7. 4. 4 other Cane Chairs at 16/ 3. 4 Swing Glass & Drawers 1. 8. Brass hearth Doggs Tongs Shovel bellows Iron Tongs and Shovel with Brass knobbs and brush 2.10. Warming Pan 15. Feather Bolster 2 pillows Casd w* 60 lbs at 21/ 5. 5. Suit Camblet Curtains Vailings bases & Quilted head & Tester Cloths 5. Callicoe Quilt & Blanket 2. Blew silk Quilt lin'd with strip'd Holl'd 5. Sack Bottom screw Bedstead and Iron Rods 1.15. 11 Large Double flint drinking Glasses 9. Red Room Mohogany Chest Drawers and Table 4.10. Swing Glass and Drawers 1. 5. 7 Cane Chairs at 16/ 5.12. Doggs Tongs Shovel brass knobbed bellows & brush 18. Feather bed bolster 2 pillows cas'd w* 68 lb at 2id. pr 5.15. Sack bottom Screw bedstead & Iron rods 1.12. Double Suit Callicoe Curtains and Vailings 4. Quilt and Blanket 2. Stair Head Mohogany Cloaths Press 5. Long Room Feather bed Bolster 2 pillows cas'd wl 63lb at 2id. pr 5.10. 3 2 Sheets Blankett and Quilt 2.10. Lightish Colour'd Suit Curtains Vailings head & Tester Cloth . . 3. Feather bed bolster 2 pillows Cas'd w* 6olb at 2id. p 5.5 Green Rug 1. 7. 6 Sack bottom Screw bedstead and Iron rods 1.10. Pallet feather bed and bolster wfc 46 lb at 2id 4. .6 Ditto bedstead 17- 2 Red Rugs 30/ and 2 hamocks £3 4.10. Small Wallnut chest Drawers and Swing Glass 2. 7 Cane Chairs 1 damaged 5. Small Quilt 1. 2 doz & 9 huggabag Napkins much worn at 10 d 1. 7. 6 31 very old Ditto 6. 2 doz. Diaper Ditto mark'd with blew silk at 2/ 2. 8. 7 Course round Towells at 18 d 10. 6 12 Course small diaper Towells 10. 17 Oznabrigg Ditto 14. 2 426 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS October

9 Huggabag D° at 20 d 15. 12 New Oznabrigg Napkins & 7 small old Table Cloths Ditto . . 18. 9 Diaper Towells 1. 2. 6 8 Damask Ditto 1.12. 12 D° Chest Drawers Cloths 2. 8. 5 diaper D° much worn 12. 6 Large Damask Table Cloths 3. Small diaper Ditto 18. Suit Course Garlic Curtains Vailings & head Cloath 2. 5 pair Ditto window Curtains & Vailings 7. Table border 4. Oznabrigg bolster and 2 pillow Cas'd 2. 6 Child bed basket cover Quilted 3. 6 8 pr Garlit Sheets . . . 10. 23 Course Sheets 6.18. 4 Oznabrigg bolster Cases 8. 24 Pillow Cases sorted 1.10.

Stair head 17 Blanketts at 16/ p 13.12. In Black Trunk I D N 3 11 pr Holland Sheets at 50/ £27.10. 28 pr Pillow Cases sorted at 4/ 5.12 10 Huggebag Table Cloaths at 25/ 12.10 4 Doz. Ditto Napkins at 24/ p.Doz 4.16 1 Doz. Towells at 3/ 1.16 1 Doz. D° Damask at 4/ 2. 8 1 doz. D° Course 15. 55. 7-

In Red Chest 19 pr Holld Sheets at 50/ £47.10. 5 remnants holld q* 72 yds at 5/ 18. 20 pr Pillow Cases at 5/ 5. Damask Table Cloath sideboard & 12 napkins . . . 3.10. 5 setts ditto at £3/10 17.10. 4 pr Muslin Window Curtains Valings 4. £95.10.0

North Garret Feather bed bolster 2 pillows cas'd w* 60 lb at 2id 5.5. Lemon Coloured suit Camblet Curtains Vailings Tester and head cloath 4. Sack bottom Screw bedstead and Iron rods 1.15. Small Wallnut chest drawers 2. 6 Cane Chairs at 15/ 4.10. 1935 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS 427

5 India Quilts mostly new at 3<£ 15. Small white Callicoe Quilt for Pallet Bed 1. 6. 1 pr Blew window Curtains 2. 6 Doggs with Brass Knobbs 7. 3 Lemonade bowls and 8 Custard Cups 6. Old Close stool and Earthen Pan 3.

1 pewter Chamber Pot r ...

Long Garrett 2 Small Feather beds and Bolsters wu 51 lb at 18 d 3.16. 6 3 Small baggs Feathers wu 18 lb at 18 d 1.7. 6 Cane Chairs at 16/ 4.16. 2 small Stills 4. 3 pr Doggs brass knobb'd 2 Tongs 2 Shovels Ditto 1.17. 6 16 Wicker basketts 1.12. - Large Tongs & Shovells . 7. 6 Speaking Trumpett 7. 6

Upper Kitchen. 7 Tin pudding pans at i8d 10. 6 Tin dripping pan 2. 6 plates at 12d & 2 dish covers at 2/6 11. Old Apple roaster Cheese Toaster Saucepan & Cullender ... 4. Candle box and [?] 2. 6 185 patty pans 3 naple bisketts Contg 12 each and 6 Tin plates at l8d p. doz 1. 7.7^ 2 Copper Quarts at 4/ each 3 porringers 2/ each and Coffee pot 5/ .19. 2 bed pans each 7/ and 2 pewter chamber pots 7/ 1. 1. — Brass dish Warmer 10/ Iron d°. 7/6 plate d° 5/6 1. 3. Warming pan and 2 brass skimmers 16. 12 knives and 16 forks 4. 2 doz. Skewers 1. 8 Large Tin funnell and Rolling pin 2. 6 1 Stone Jugg 3 earth dishes 3. 6 Copper Fish Kettle and cover wt 24 lb at 2/ 2. 8. Bell Mettle Skellet 1. Copper stew pan and Cover 1. 2. 6 2 Marble mortars 30/ & 20/ 2.10. 9 leather Chairs 5. 8. Mohogany Ovall Table ab* 4 foot 2. ditto ab* 3 foot 1. 7. 6 Looking Glass 1. 4 Large Doggs Tongs Shovell and bellows 1. Large Copper Tea pot Hand brass Chaff, dish and small cast Ditto 18. Copper Stew pan Cover, bell mettle pot & Skellet 2. 5. 428 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS October

Memo this is brought Over 5/ wrong Brass Kettle with Copperbail wu. 8lb I 16. 2 large pewter Cullenders 10. 11 doz. pewter plates & 2 doz. soop Ditto 13. 24 sorted pewter dishes wtt 183 lb at i6d p. £ 12. 4 Pewter pasty plate 3. 7 Soop dishes 2 basons 2.10. Earth Punch bowl 2 dishes 3 little basons 2 Sillibub potts 5 saucers 2 chamber potts 12. 6 Alchimy spoons 16. 2 box Iron heaters and Stand 10. Large square pine Table 9. 2 brass Candle sticks 6. 2 pr Bellows 7. Lower Kitchen 8 pewter dishes Cheese plate 4 basons 3. 5 plates 4. Cullender and old bason 3. Jack wtts & appurtinances 4.10. Endirons doggs Tongs shovel 3 pott racks 2 Spitts & Fender . . 1.17. 6 Gridiron 2 frying pans and Ladle 10. Large Iron pot 4 lesser ditto & 5 small 3.10. Iron Pot and Kettle 7/ each 14. 2 Brass Kettles 3. 2 Bell mettle Skelletts 1. Old copper stew pan and cover 10. 9 Brass Candlesticks 1. 2 Brass Chaff dishes 12. Cleaver 2. Old Copper Sauce pan 5 pott hooks 3 Trevetts 10. 2 Dish and 2 plate Covers 4. Brass Ladle Skimmer and Iron Flesh fork 3.

Cellar Pipe Wine 20. Pewter Gallon Pot 12. -

£ 1017.15.10

The above inventory the contents of Jonathan Dickinson's house occupies eight pages of folio size. It is followed by seven pages more of merchandise, under headings such as "Store Garrett," "Store Back Chamber," "Shop or Ware house/' and "Lower Store"; which might have included a Yard, as there was a lot of wood and lumber mentioned, and what is interesting for the 1935 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS 429 period of 1722, there is listed "11 Mohogany planks Each 11 foot long 5 Inches Thick and 2 foot wide" which were valued at £ 24.4.0. Think of having eleven mahogany planks twenty-four inches wide five inches thick and eleven feet long at that period. Is it any wonder one so often sees in very old tables those beautifully matched leaves forming tops full four feet across ? Dickinson's personal property, according to this inventory, totalled £ 1,978.17! and was signed by John Cadwallader and , being a copy "Concordat cum origine Examet" The very last item on the sheet is "A Parcell of Books Historys &c £ 28.8.6"; whether these belonged to his stock of merchandise or were overlooked when inventorying the household effects is uncertain. Dickinson certainly was sufficiently well educated and possessed of such wealth that he would have had such a library. The merchandise consisted of hardware, dry-goods, notions, cabinet hard- ware, skins, rum and wine, lumber, timber, and seaman's goods, such as "2 i hour Glasses, 2 minute d° & 2 old Compasses"; for the merchants of those days dealt in everything salable. When Jonathan Dickinson died in 1722 he was possessed of much real estate. His house lot was on the east side of Front below Chestnut streets, extending to the river where he had stores and a wharf. He also owned lots on Chestnut street; was part owner of a mill at Chester; had a plantation in Frankford; another plantation called the "Vineyards" of about 250 acres, lying west of the "King's Road leading from Philadelphia to Wissahickon," which Scharf and Westcott say was about 18th and Parrish streets, near the village later called Francisville; there were 220 acres of swamp land, only 20 of which was drained, besides a large tract in New and two planta- tions in Jamaica, called "Barton" and "Pepper." Thus we can see why the executors had so much difficulty in realizing sufficient cash to clear the mer- chandise debts owing to London and Amsterdam merchants. Germantown HARROLD E. GILLINGHAM