Updates on Thomas Dickerman (1597? – 1657)

I recently received from David Allen Lower of Baldwinsville, New York, some well researched notes on Thomas Dickerman (1597? - 1657), father of Abraham Dickerman (1634 - 1711). His work is published in two parts over the next two days. Here are the links to Dickerman Ancestry, Additum for Thomas (___-1657)Part One and Part Two. His work clarifies a number of things. First, Thomas married three times, and Ellen Whittington was his third wife. His first son, Thomas, was born in his second marriage to Marie Eustaire or Eustice. This explains why there was no record of Thomas in Little Missenden where Thomas married Ellen Whittington. The work of Daviod Allen Lower on the Dickermans follows in the next two posts. He was kind enough to allow the full document to be posted on this blog which is much appreciated.

Second, it becomes possible that he might have had a daughter Hannah, by his first marriage to Elizabeth Simms but there is not proof. This early marriage just makes it possible that he had a daughter by that name who was old enough to marry William Ives.

I have written the following as part of my research report on who might be William Ives wife in my post, Who was William Ives' Wife? Part Six:

“The Dickerman genealogy authors could not find any information on Thomas and Ellen Dickerman in England; the only exception is the listing of the births of their two oldest sons in 1623 (Thomas) and 1634 (Abraham). The common assumption on many Web sites is that Thomas and Ellen were married in 1621. However, the church records in Little Missenden, Buckinghamshire indicate that Thomas Dickerman and Ellen Whittington were married on October 10, 1631. This date is found in both the 1911 publication of marriages in Little Missenden and the original handwritten record (42). While the printed version of Little Missenden parish records only includes marriages, the original handwritten version also includes christenings and burials. However, the handwriting for the years 1620-1635 is much harder to read for christenings than marriages, and some of the pages are damaged.

It was not possible for me to determine with certainty if the christening of Thomas, Abraham, or Hannah is listed or not listed. However, if not listed here, they also could have been christened in another parish for a variety of reasons. It is also possible that the date for the birth of Thomas was actually 1633, not 1623 but there is no primary evidence for either date. The birth dates of his children (1653-1668), at least make this 1633 birth date plausible (43). Thomas, the younger, also could have been the child of a prior marriage or relationship for either Thomas or Ellen. The same could be said for Hannah, if she existed. What is clear is that Hannah Dickerman could not have been born during the 1631 marriage of Thomas and Ellen Dickerman and then produced the first child of William Ives in 1642.”

Thanks to the work of David Allen Lower we have some answers to these questions, especially about Thomas Dickerman, half brother of Abraham. It also provides some circumstantial evidence for Thomas having a daughter Hannah Dickerman by his first marriage as there were some Hannahs listed in the birth records without a family attribution in the right time and place. Here are the details that David found in church records:

Thomas Dickerman married. Elizabeth Simms
Parrish: St. George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey
Date: 14 Jun 1613
[Note: Searched St. George the Martyr records from 1602 (earliest known to exist) thru 1635 and found no Hannah XXX christened 1620 - 1623 having an identified father; however, there were Hannahs without family name entry.]

Thomas Dickerman married Marie Eustaire or Eustace
Parish: Saint Clement Danes, London, ENGLAND
Date: 3 Nov 1622 - and christening 27 Apr 1623 of Thomas DICKERMAN son of Thomas and Marie

Thomas Dickerman Elenor Whittington :
Parish: Little Missenden, Buckinghamshire, ENGLAND
Date: 20 Oct 1631

I also found the last marriage in the original church records but first learned about the two marriages from David. This new information is much appreciated and is gathering information like this is one of the main reasons I started this blog.

Comments

[John Botsford Coleman]

I'm a direct descendant of Thomas (thru Abraham, Abraham, Abraham, John, John, Nathaniel, Norris, John, and Marjorie, who was my mother). I have the 1897 Dickerman Genealogy. I lived in Baldwinsville NY from '93 to '98, but didn't know of David Lower until now. You show Thomas and Ellen's marriage as 10 Oct 1631 then below that as 20 Oct 1631. I'd like to stay in touch. Thanks, John Botsford Coleman, Scarborough, Maine

[Bill Ives]

John - Thanks for your addition. When I looked at the original records it showed the marriage of Thomas Dickerman Elenor Whittington as October 10. David found it ten days later. I would have to go back to those records to see who is right but we do agree on the year and month. Please do stay in touch. Bill