More on the Dickinson Family home

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog titled Researching the Dickinson Family Home [posted on March 31, 2023] about the New London home that belonged to Nathaniel & Elisabeth Dickinson, my 4^th great grandparents.  At the time I lamented that I would like to get ahold of any related land records or deeds so that I could ascertain whether Nathaniel Dickinson built the home or purchased it on or before 1794 when he received a loan using the home as collateral which was included in his probate paperwork.

After the blog was posted, my cousin Lynn suggested that I might try and see if the local historical society would know someone who could go to the courthouse and look for any records – a great idea!  I did just that and later received copies of 4 different documents relating to the Dickinson family ownership of their New London home and surrounding land.

While I still didn’t get an answer to my question as to when the large Dickinson family home was built, I did get a little more detail on the timeline of the property itself.  We know that the Dickinson family "lived" on the property as early as 1781, but I am not sure if they lived in the mansion home then, or possibly another home on the property acreage.

Below is a timeline that I detailed from the information that I presently have:

Prior to 1778 – Nathaniel Dickinson of New London was briefly married.  According to letters written by Jonathan Brooks, Jr to Nathaniel's son, David Bill Dickinson, "Capt Nathaniel Dickinson married for his first wife a Miss Roland of Lyme State of Connecticut the Daughter of a Wealthy Farmer..."

1778-1779 – Nathaniel Dickinson married Elisabeth Bill, both of New London.

1781 – Nathaniel Dickinson apparently already owned property near the New London shipping area and according to family letters Nathaniel “was at home with his family” when the British raided and set fire to colonial property in the port areas of both New London and Groton, Connecticut in 1781.  In May of 1792, Nathaniel was awarded 15.1.0 British pounds by the Connecticut General Assembly in recompense for his damages during the 1781 British attack on New London’s shipping businesses.  It is likely that at least his shop was burned or damaged in the raid.

1792 Sept 24 – Nathaniel Dickinson of New London received 20 British pounds from Timothy Green of New London for the sale of land that was described as a strip 8 feet wide and located from his shop to Main Street on the north side of where his home was located.

1794 Oct 10 – Nathaniel Dickinson signed a mortgage note for 27.6.9 British pounds.  He appears to have used his home as collateral for this note.  The funds were possibly obtained to build or enlarge the Dickinson family home or used for his business as a supplier for ships in New London.  This note was paid off and cleared when Nathaniel’s estate was probated.

1797 January – Nathaniel Dickinson died at sea on a voyage home to New London.  His estate left everything to his widow, Elisabeth.  Probate began in 1797 but wasn’t finally settled until 1806.  The property was recorded as a “Mansion House & Lot of Land with a small old shop” and it seemed to stretch the full width of the block with the shop at the end near of the wharf area & shipping center in New London.

1803 June 16 – Mrs Elizabeth Dickinson of New London leased a small parcel of land to Samuel Green of New London for the sum of $8 per year.  This plot of land was described as the south part of her garden.

1806 Sept 12 – In a $300 settlement of the Estate of Nathaniel Dickinson of New London, Elizabeth Dickinson granted/sold land to Peter Beebe of New London.  It sounds like this might have been for the eastern portion of the land with the shop on it that was nearest the shipping area.  It did not include her home.  The Beebe family was very active with early shipping in New London.

1815 August 14 – Elisabeth Dickinson of New London received $88 from Stephen Peck of New London and released to him title to land and a dwelling house that she had inherited from her husband, Nathaniel.  This document notes in the description that it is bounded on the northern and western sides by land owned by Joseph Bollis, bounded to the south by land owned by Joseph Peck, and to the east by Main Street.  BUT, the west side of the Dickinson home was along Main Street. So … either this was the sale of the Dickinson family home with an error in the description, or possibly it might have been property located across Main Street from the Dickinson family and an earlier home on the Dickinson property that also belonged to Nathaniel.     

1819 March – The house “lately occupied by Elizabeth Dickinson, situated on Main” was advertised for rent by Benjamin Brown of New London in 1819.  It is possible that Nathaniel & Elisabeth’s son, Capt David Bill Dickinson, had arranged for his brother-in-law, Benjamin Brown, to manage the property if it was still owned by the family at that time.  Or, if the property was no longer held by the Dickinson family, then as a local business man, Benjamin Brown was managing it for himself or another.

We still don’t know when the Dickinson family (probably either Elisabeth Dickinson or her son, David Bill Dickinson) finally sold the home on Main Street.  And I also don’t know when Elisabeth died, though it must have been after August 1815 as she signed the 1815 document noted above. 

Unfortunately, I haven’t found probate papers, a death notice or even a burial plot for Elisabeth Bill Dickinson – any of which would answer more of my questions.

*  *  *  *  *

Key Individuals: 

   Nathaniel Dickinson (1749 – 1797)

   Elisabeth Bill (~1760 – ~1818)

David Bill Dickinson (1787 – 1846)

  

Notes:

In case you want to see the document images, below are copies and partial transcriptions of the 4 documents that are cited above that were recently obtained from the office of the New London Town Records.

1792 Sept 24 – Nathaniel Dickinson of New London received 20 British pounds from Timothy Green of New London for the sale of land described as:

“a certain piece of Land lying on the South Side of my Garden, viz – Beginning at the Southwesterly Corner of my Garden in New London & North of Green’s Land, therein running Northerly as the Fence runs between my Land and William Skinner or Thomas Shaw’s Lane eight feet & two inches to the North Side of a large white Oak Post, thence remaining on a Straight Line Easterly to the Main Street to a Meer Stone five Inches South of the Southwest Corner of my Shop which is the Division between Green’s & my Land on the East Bound thence running Westerly bounding Southerly on Green’s Lane to the first mentioned Bound, about sixty seven feet.” [recorded, page 221, Vol 26, New London Town Records]

1803 June 16 – Mrs Elizabeth Dickinson of New London leased a small parcel of her land described as a garden to Samuel Green of New London for the sum of $8 per year

“a Certain piece of Land being the South part of my Garden, description as follows, viz / Beginning at the North End of the Brick Building thence running ten feet, sixteen inches North thence West four feet thirteen inches thence North two feet ten Inches & half thence West thrity six feet, thence South by Land of Joseph Skinner Fourteen feet five Inches to Lane of Ann W Green P Green shall from time to time & at times During P Time hereby Granted peacably Occupying hold and Enjoy P Land without any Let Trouble or hindrance of P Elizabeth Dickinson or any Other person or persons Lawfully claiming by from or under her or by her Means or Procurement.  It is further agreed by P. Elizabeth & Samuel that after the Expiration of Six Years from the above Date, I Said Elizabeth her heirs or should wish to build on any part of the Lane hereby Leased the whole of P Land to be Given up if Requested and P Green to Move the fence to the Original Bounds to the Line of P Ann W Green.” Note: I believe that “P” means Party to this contract. [recorded, page 159, Vol 31, New London Town Records]

1806 Sept 12 – In settlement of $300 from the Estate of Nathaniel Dickinson of New London, Elizabeth Dickinson of New London sold land to Peter Beebe P of New London described as:

“a Certain Piece of Land lying within New London & is Bounded as follows viz beginning of the Northeast Corner of the Brick Building belonging to Ann W Peck, Lately Ann W Green thence westerly by Land of P Skinner to a Meer Stone marked with the Letter A. thence Easterly 42 feet to a Meer Stone.  Near the Southwest Corner of P Dickinson House to Meer Stone being twelve feets & a half Northerly of P Brick Building & Marked with the letter B thence Easterly to a Meer Stone Marked C to the Line of the Highway thence Southerly 14 feet to the First Mentioned bound.  P Beebe to have the use? of a Gang Way two & a half feet wide the bredth of P Dickinson’s House for the purpose of passing North of his Shop to Make Repairs _?_.  It is clearly Understood by the Contracting parties that P Beebe is Not to Come Into possession of that part of the Land Conveyed by this Instrument which is Covered by a Lease to Coll. Samuel Green Until the Expiration of P Lease the Land above described & Conveyed Is a part of the Lott on which the House of my Late Husband Nathaniel Now Stands & the same which he purchased of the Honble Richard Law Esq. Which Land I sell by Order of the Court of Probate.”  Note: a meer stone is a boundary marker.

1815 August 14 – Elisabeth Dickinson of New London received $88 from Stephen Peck of New London and released to him title to land and a dwelling house that she had inherited from her husband, Nathaniel:

“in and to a certain lot of Land being and situate in said New London with a dwelling House thereon standing bounded northerly of Land of Joseph Bollis, westerly by land of Joseph Bollis, southerly by Land of said Stephen Peck, and Easterly by the Main Street being all my right in and to the Estate of my deceased Husband Nath Dickinson.  [recorded, page 141 of Volume 36, New London Town Records]

– Jane Scribner McCrary