Origins of the Dick Name & Generations One to Four

CHAPTER ONE

Origins of the Dick Name & Generations One to Four

The Origins of the Dick Family Name

The Dick family is generally traceable only as far back as the origin of the name in its various spellings. ‘Dike,’ ‘Dyke,’ ‘Dicke,’ ‘Dykes,’ ‘Dix,’ ‘Dicks’ are all variations of the same family name. Our ancestors in the Middle Ages probably lived near a ditch, bank, or entrenchment and were named by their location: e.g. “John at the Dyke” or “John of the Dykes”. At the time of the Norman Conquest in England, 1066, the French “del” meaning “from” appears between first and second names: e.g. “Robert del Dykes”.

Early records in twelfth century England spell the name as ‘Dyke,’ ‘Dykes,’ ‘Dyx,’ and ‘Dycks’ and associate the name with Hadrian’s Wall in Northern England. The earthworks South of the wall were called Dykes. The surname Dykes was first applied to a family living there at the Western extremity of the wall at Dykesfield near Burgh-on-the-Sands, Cumberland.[i] This family is said to have been there before the time of the Norman Conquest. [ii]

The name, in a Latinized form, appears in Normandy as well as ‘Dica’ in 1195; and there was a John Dike in England as early as 1272. Pedigrees of early Dykes, Dyke, and Dike families appear in England in Cumberland, Yorkshire, Sussex, Kent, and West Somerset as early as the twelfth century. [iii]

When it comes to documenting my own Dicks/Dick family, our history begins in the sixteenth century in the town of Occleston, in Cheshire, England.

No 1 -- FIRST GENERATION:ROGER DICKES I (approximate birth date 1550)

All we know about this first ancestor is that he married Anna Jacson on 23 October 1580 in Sandbach, Cheshire, England.[iv] He may have come from Scotland or from England. “Roger” is of course a Norman name.

Father: Roger Dickes I (approximate birth date 1550)

Mother: Anna Jacson

Roger and Anna married in Sandbach, Cheshire, England on 23 October 1580. Marriage and baptismal records for the children are in St.Mary Church, Sandbach.

Children:(1) Thomas (baptized 29 March 1584)

(2) Roger II (baptized 11 October 1590)

(3) Randolph (baptized 4 February 1593)

(4) William (baptized 15 April 1599)

(5) Margaret (“Margeria” -- baptized 15 October 1602)

No 2 – SECOND GENERATION: ROGER DICKES II (baptized 11 October 1590)

Father:Roger Dicks II (baptized 11 October 1590)

Mother: Isabella

Roger and Isabella married in Sandbach 1621

Children:(1) Margaret (baptized 17 May 1621)[v]

(2) Roger III (baptized 15 December 1622 – 1694 Occleston)

(3) Anna (baptized 20 December 1624)

(4) Maria (1628)

(5) Isabella (1631)

(6) Randolph (baptized 6 July 1637)

(7) Thomas (baptized 12 January 1639 – 1703)[vi]

(8) Jane (baptized 20 November 1643)

NO 3 – THIRD GENERATION: ROGER DICKS III (1622 – 1694)

Father:Roger Dicks III (1622 – 1694)

Mother: Elizabeth

Roger and Elizabeth married in1651.

Children:(1) James[vii] (baptized 15 July 1652) twin

(2) John (baptized 15 July 1652) twin

(3) Peter I(baptized 18 January 1654 – 1704)

(4) Joseph (baptized 10 November 1657)

(5) Sarah (baptized 27 December 1662 in Middlewich)

Married Roger Blower (Bloor) of Pope, Cheshire.

NO 4 – FOURTH GENERATION PETER DIX (DICKS) (1654-1704) [viii]

Peter Dicks Iwas born 18 January 1654 in Occleston[ix]near Chester in Cheshire England and died 1704 in Chester, Pennsylvania. His wife Esther Maddock, daughter of Nathan and Alice[x], was born on the 16th day of the twelfth month 1661 in Cheshire, England died 1709 in Chester[xi] Pennsylvania. Peter and Esther married 1 September 1681 at the Frandley Monthly Meeting in Chester, England. In 1684 they arrived in North America on the ship FRIENDSHIP OF LIVERPOOL[xii]. Peter was a flax-dresser in Chester, England. Peter and his wife, Esther, settled in Chester Pennsylvania, where he died in 1704. Peter was also an early financial supporter of the Quaker Concord Meeting House.[xiii]In 1708, his widow married John Mendenhall (born 30 August [xiv]1659, Mildenhall, Wiltshire, England and died 19 August 1743, New Castle Co. DE) on the 11th day of the 8th month in 1708.[xv]

James Dix (Dicks) (b.1652) also from Occleston purchased land along Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania[xvi] from William Penn [xvii] in 1681, some say at the wedding of Peter. William Penn was in attendance at that wedding of Peter and Esther Maddock[xviii]. On 16 August 1684 Peter purchased this land from his brother James Dicks. [xix]. One of the witnesses of the sale was their father Roger Dicks. Although the evidence I have found would indicate he did not, some researchers believe that in 1682 James traveled to Pennsylvania, the same year that William Penn went to Pennsylvania on the WELCOME.[xx]

Father:Peter Dicks I (1654 - 1704)

Mother:Esther Maddock[xxi](16th of XII 1661 – 1709)

Children:(1) Hannah (1682 - 1728) who married Jonathan Thatcher 12 December 1699.

(2) Elizabeth (1684 - ) who married Richard Tranter on 2 October 1714

(3) Sarah (1687 - ) who married Joseph Pyle on 16 April 1715

(4) Esther (1689 - ) who married Francis Swayne 10 April 1724[xxii]

(5) Deborah (1691 -) who married Jonathan Fincher[xxiii] on 29 April 1726[xxiv]

(6) Nathan [xxv] (1694 - 1765) who in 1715 married Deborah Clark (born c. 1690 and died before 1760)[xxvi], [xxvii]

(7) Peter I1 (1696 - 1760)

REFERENCES AND NOTES

[i][1] Cf. Nicholson and Brown, Antiquities Westmoreland and Cumberland, 1776, II, p.117.

[ii][2] CF. Burke, History of the Commoners, I, p.163. “This very ancient Cumberland family is said to have been located at Dykesfield in that shire prior to the Norman Conquest”.

[iii][3] Cf. The Norman People, published by Henry S. King & Co., London, 1874.

[iv][4] In terms of factual information, the history of all three Roger Dickes has been found in church records in Sandbach, England, close to Chester and to the other two towns where members of the Dicks family also lived: Occleston and Middlewich. Mr. Michael Hall a professional genealogist from the Cheshire area in England and Mr. J. Derek Skepper, Lancs, England researched the information.

[v][5] Baptisms of all of Roger and Isabella’s children are recorded in St. Marty Anglican Church in Sandbach, England. The Quaker movement started as a reform movement out of the Anglican tradition, it is not surprising that early Quakers would have been baptized in an Anglican church.

[vi][6] J. Derek Skepper, professional genealogist in Lancs, England reports:

“Will of Thomas Dix, of Occleston, (dated 1696 and proved 5 Aug 1703)
mentions:
"...my sister Ann Bageley, wife of Randle Bageley, of Overton...my loving
kinsman, Joseph Dickes, of lanthorn ?...my loving kinsman, Jobe Dickes, of
the same town..my kinswoman, Sarah Blower (ie Bloor), wife of Ralph Blower,
of the township of Grestey...my loving kinswoman Mary Sealor, wife of
William Sealor, of the township of Kidston?, Staffs...my loving kinsman,
James Dickes (executor)..."

[vii][7] This is the James Dicks, a weaver from Occleston, who purchased land from William Penn in 1681. It is quite possible that he had intended to travel to the new world. I suspect that when his brother Peter got into difficulties with the Maddock family that the Dicks family decided it would be better for Peter to get on a boat and leave England!

[viii][8]Today we use the Gregorian calendar. In the early Dick family history however, we have to realize that some dates were recorded according to the Julian calendar, the so called “Old Style”. This is especially important for the early Quaker Dicks, because the Quakers followed the Julian calendar until 1752 and then even after that sometimes recorded the years in both systems, e.g. 2nd March 1735/6. Quakers also had the custom of indicating the months not by name but by number, e.g. “this happened on the 3rd day of the 11th month.” In order to know which month (and mistakes are often made here) one has to know whether it was the Old Style calendar or the New Style. Frankly I have discovered that some professional researchers continue to mistakes about the months especially. No doubt there will be continual refinements in this area.

Our modern practice of starting each New Year on the 1st of January has indeed a long pedigree. The Roman civil year started on 1st January and its use continued until the seventh century AD. The Christian Church generally wished to move towards using one of its major festivals as the start of the year, and Christmas Day was used from the time of Bede (AD 672 or 673-735) until the twelfth century. The Feast of the Annunciation, 25th March, started to be used in the ninth century in parts of southern Europe, but only became widespread in Europe from the eleventh century and in England from the late twelfth. It then held sway until the sixteenth century. The 1st of January then started to be used as the start of the year, starting in Venice in 1522 and in England and the North American colonies in 1752.

[ix][9] As indicated, English researchers in the Cheshire, England area confirm that are three towns in Cheshire close to each other where the Dicks appear: Occleston, Middelwich, and Sandbach.

[x][10] Nathan Maddock was born 1642 in Chester, Cheshire, Eng, and died 10.Oct.1680 in Chester, Cheshire, England. He married Alice Nicholls b.c 1659 daughter of Anthony Nicholls. Her burial: 10.Jun.1685, Newton, Cheshire, Eng

Children of Nathan Maddock and Alice Nicholls are:

-- Nathan Maddock, born 30.Dec.1660 in Chester, Cheshire, Eng; died Aft. 1684.

-- Esther Maddock, born 16.Dec.1661/62 in Chester, Cheshire, Eng; died 1709 in Chester, PA.

-- Deborah Maddock, born 30.Jun.1664 in Chester, Cheshire, Eng; died in infancy.

-- Deborah Maddock, born 30.Jun.1666 in Chester, Cheshire, Eng; died 05.Oct.1750 in Thornbury, Chester Co.,PA. She married (1) Henry Nayle. She married (2) ??? Perhaps Henry Reese Bef. 1684.

More About Deborah Maddock:. Other location: Chester Co., PA

-- Abel Maddock, born 01.Nov.1668 in Cheshire, Eng; died Bet. 1702 – 1704 Eng.

-- Rachel Maddock, born 30.Sep.1670 in Chester, Cheshire, Eng. She married (1) Possibly John Cox. She married (2) Possibly Edward Evans 05.May.1687 in Chester, Cheshire, England.

-- Mordecai Maddock, born 10.Jul.1672 in Chester, Cheshire, Eng; died in may have died young.

-- Hezekiah Maddock, born 30.Sep.1673 in Chester, Cheshire, Eng; died 11.Feb.1690/91 in Chester, Cheshire, Eng.

-- Alice Maddock, born 23.May.1675 in Chester, Cheshire, Eng. She married Thomas Stapleton 17.Apr.1691 in Holy Trinity, Chester, Cheshire, Eng.

-- Caleb Maddock, born 14.May.1677 in Chester, Cheshire, Eng; died in may have died young.

[xi][11]ChesterPennsylvania is of the oldest communities in the state, the Chester area was granted by the Swedish crown to a bodyguard of the governor of New Sweden in 1644. After 1655 Dutch settlers joined the Swedes in establishing the town of Upland. William Markham, the deputy governor to William Penn located his seat of government there when he arrived in 1681 to establish the English colony of Pennsylvania. Upon Penn's arrival in 1682, the province's first assembly was convened there. Penn renamed the settlement Chester for the Quaker center in Cheshire, England.

[xii][12] From: A Registry of All Wills, Letters of Administration, and the Names of Executors, Guardians, and Trustees, in the Countie of Bucks in the Province of Pennsilvania. Begun on the tenth day of the tenth month in the Fourth Yeare of the Proprietaries, Government Annoque 1684, pages 208-09:

"Will of JOHN WORTHINGTON, of the Parish of Cheadle in Old England. Dated 16th Jan. 1684.The Lord having been pleased to visit me with a sore pining sickness by means whereof my Body is much weakened, do think it good to set my Goods with other things in order which I have with me in the good ship called Friendship of Liverpoole. Jacob Hall and William Kenerly to be executors.To mother, Dorothy Worthington, a pair of silver clasps: To my brother Roger my seal of silver: To brother Roger and brother Henry and to my sister Anne Worthington all residue of estate, goods or moneys, that I have now in the ship. Sister Ann to have above her share my gold ring. Executors to sell all except the clasps, seal and ring and divide the money between brothers Thomas [Roger?] and Henry and sister Ann. Witnesses: Peter Dix, Bartholomew Coppock, Willm. Stockdale. Probate 8th of 11 mo. 1685. Administration granted, same date, to Jacob Hall, of Bucks County, yeoman, on estate of John Worthington, who deceased at sea Coming for this province the 17th day of the 11th month 1684; he producing an inventory taken on board the Friendship of Liverpool; William Kennerly having refused to administer. Inventory aprized at sea the 17th of January 1684. Amount, in English money, [pounds symbol] 17 - 19 - 00. I was present when [symbol for per]t or all of the above Goods were vallued and knowe that they were vallued Lowe and as English money price and were the first cost in England. Witness my hand - John Fuller The whole sum above in money of Pennsilvania comes to 22 - 08 - 09. Recorded 8th day of the 11th month 1685."

[xiii][13]History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Henry Graham Ashmead, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts & Co.,1884, chapter XXXIX.

“Concord Friends' Meeting-House. - The land for a Friends' meeting and graveyard at Concord, the sixth in the county, was conveyed or rather leased to trustees, by John Mendenhall, in 1697, they paying "one peppercorn yearly forever." In that year a sum was obtained by subscription for fencing in a burial-ground at Concord, and at a monthly meeting held at the house of George Pearce, on the 10th day of Fourth month, 1697, the following paper was read:

"Whereas, the has been some differences by some that have separated from Friends in their subscriptions towards their building of meeting-houses, &c., for the service of Truth, We, whose names are hereunder subscribed, do promise and oblige ourselves hereby, that if we, or any one or more of us, should separate ourselves from the Society and Communion of these Friends of Concord, Birmingham, and Thornbury, that now we walk in fellowship with, either in doctrine, life or conversation, we will make no trouble amongst these people by reason of any right we, or any one of us think we have because of this, or any other subscription that was, or may be, towards building a meeting-house or making a burial-place for the youse of the said people of God called Quakers. And we further promise to relinquish and lay aside all pretence of right or claim whereby any disquiet may arise among the aforesaid people of God called Quakers, of Concord, Birmingham, and Thornbury. According to the purport, true meaning and intent of the written as above said, we subscribe as follows:

Although this sum was subscribed for the building of a meeting-house in Concord, it seems not to have been completely ready for use until 1710, and was then a frame or log structure, which, in 1728, gave place to a brick edifice. In the early times the meeting-houses had no stoves in them, but were partially warmed by charcoal fires, which were built on large stones in the centre of the building, which were allowed to die out before the hour set for meeting, or were warmed by open wood-fires in wide chimney-places. Concord meeting-house was warmed by these latter means, large wood-fires being built in the attic at each end of the building, to which members would resort previous to assembling in the apartment below. Concord meeting-house having become too limited in its dimensions to meet the wants of Friends of that neighborhood, a movement was made looking to its enlargement or the building of an entirely new edifice. In the winter of 1788, while Friends had assembled to consider that question, the house caught fire from the soot in one of the chimneys, and despite the efforts of those present was burned, leaving only the brick walls. Immediate steps were taken to rebuild the house, the expense being borne jointly by Concord Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, the former agreeing to pay six hundred pounds, one-third of the estimated costs, and the six Monthly Meetings in ChesterCounty obligating themselves to discharge the remaining two-thirds. The present Concord meeting-house was built under these circumstances, the old walls being used, an addition being made thereto. The cost of the structure exceeded largely the estimate, and a call was made for three hundred and seventy-five pounds additional to complete the meeting-house. In this old building for seventy years the question of human slavery was discussed, and by degrees the feeling grew that it was unjust, until on 20th day Second month, 1800, at Concord Quarterly Meeting for the first time appeared on its record this announcement: "Clear of importing, disposing of, or holding mankind as slaves." At two o'clock on Friday, Sept. 12, 1777, Maj.-Gen. Grant, with the First and Second Brigades of the British army, marched from Chad's Ford to Concord, and some of his men were quartered in the old meeting-house, while foraging parties scoured the "country and woods" near by, picking "up Waggons, Horses, Ammunition, Provision and cattle, and several Rebels that had secreted themselves.'' Tradition records that the meeting-house was made a hospital by the English for their wounded, but the inference is more probable that disabled American soldiers, in striving to escape, were found in the woods by the English scouting parties, were brought there, and on Sunday following, when Dr. Rush with three surgeons came to "attend the wounded Rebels left scattered in the Houses about the field of Battle, unattended by their Surgeons till now," he visited that building on his errand of mercy. Gen. Grant, tradition also asserts, occupied as his headquarters, while he tarried at Concord, a house built in 1755, near St. John'sChurch, which in recent years has been removed to make room for needed improvements. The English officer, when he advanced to unite with Lord Cornwallis at Village Green, left a guard at the meeting-house for the short time intervening before the whole British army marched away from that neighborhood never to return.”

[xv][15]History of Chester County, Pennsylvania. J. Smith Futhey & Gilbert Cope, 1881