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Facts and Events
Records in Virginia
- “Atrocity File”
- (28) The Killing of Humphrey Dickenson By Emory L. Hamilton
- Humphrey Dickenson, son of Henry Dickenson, Sr., of Prince Edward Co., Virginia, and a brother to Henry Dickenson, Jr., first Clerk of Russell Co., Virginia, settled on 310 acres of land on the north side of Clinch River, just up river from Castlewood in the year 1769. The old two-story log house where he settled in still standing (1950s) in a fair state of repair and is now the property of Mr. Donald Gray, of Castlewood.
- This acreage was surveyed for Humphrey Dickenson on May 26, 1774, being the first surveys made in what is now Russell County, and was entered in the records of the now extinct Fincastle Co., Virginia, and was reentered in Washington Co., Virginia, on August 23, 1781, in the name of John, spelled "Dickerson", heir-at-law to Humphrey Dickenson, deceased.
- The tradition in the Dickenson family is that Humphrey Dickenson was killed by the Indians. They say he was found in Gist's Ford of Clinch River on a rock and had been shot by the Indians. This is another of the Indian killings, as there were many, which has not been documented and no factual evidence of the killing has been uncovered to date. The actual date of his death can be proven to have occurred sometime between 26th of August, 1777 and 17th of November, 1778, for on the latter date the Court of Washington Co., Virginia, entered this order: "On motion of Elizabeth Dickenson, and Thomas Brown, administration is granted them on the estate of Humphrey Dickenson, deceased, who made oath thereto and entered into and acknowledged their bonds in the sum of two thousand pounds lawful money with Archealous Dickenson, (brother of Humphrey) William Cowan, and John Anderson, their securities for the faithful administration of the said decedents estate."
- "Ordered that John Dunkin (1), John Kincaid, Sr., and Samuel Porter (1), Zachariah Abel, and Archibald Scott (1), or any three of them, being first sworn to appraise the estate of Humphrey Dickenson, deceased, and make return to the court."
- Humphrey Dickenson had four children at the time of his death, as proven by the Washington Co. Deed books (2) , wherein Henry Dickenson, father of the slain Humphrey, leaves a Negro slave to John Dickenson, son of Humphrey Dickenson, deceased, "for the love and affection I bear my grandchild." The order goes on to say that John must pay a fourth of the value of the Negro to each of his brothers and sisters; Humphrey Dickenson, Jr., Eliza Dickenson Crump, and Nancy Dickenson. Elizabeth, the widow of Humphrey Dickenson, later married a Mr. George Crump.
- In Washington Co. Survey Book, page 192, is this entry: Surveyed for John Dickerson two hundred and eighty six acres of land in Washington county, lying on the north side of Clinch River and beginning on the bank of the same below Gist's Ford; running thence up the meanders of the river, etc...Surveyed 15 March, 1783.
- We the Commissioners, etc...do certify that John Dickerson, heir-at-law to Humphrey Dickerson, who was assignee of Joseph Blackmore, who was assignee of Nathaniel Gist is entitled to 310 acres of land lying in Washington county on the north side of Clynch River in Cassell's Woods, to include his improvement. Surveyed the 28th day of May, 1774.
- (1) Later captured by the Indians.
- (2) Archibald Scott who had married Humphrey Dickenson's sister, Frances (Fanny) was murdered on Wallens Creek in 1785, along with all his children, and his wife was taken captive, later escaping.
- (3) Deed Book 1, page 30, dated 17 July, 1790, Washington Co., Virginia.
- “Guardian Bonds Washington County, Virginia 1780-1872” Abstracted by Gerald H. Clark, Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia, Publications, Series II, No. 21, May, 1984
- Apr. 20, 1792 -- Arch’s Dickenson named guardian of John Dickenson, orphan of Humphrey Dickenson, deceased. Bond: 200 pounds. Surety: John Greenway.
- Source: Rootsweb.com
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