Thomas Dickerman is believed to have migrated with his wife & children (Hannah, Thomas, and perhaps Abraham) with Rev. Mather's company in 1635 but there is no proof of this. Since Matapan (Dorchester) was established as early as 1629-30, he came sometime between that date and 1636. His wife was Eleanor "Ellen" Whittington whom he married in England.
He joined North Church (First Parish Church) in Dorchester on June 6, 1636 at which time he received three acres at the Boston Neck (now part of South Boston) and three acres at the "Cowes Pasture". In 1640, he received an additional 1 1/2 acres in the neck. He was one of seventy-one settlers who subscribed to a resolution to provide 20 pounds annually to maintain a free school in 1641, and in 1651, he was reimbursed seven shillings for providing timber for the meeting house (located on Meeting House Hill). In 1652, his homestead was located near Upham's corner in Dorchester.
"Thomas Dickerman of Dorchester in New England, Taylor" purchased a lot in Boston near the commons area for a tailor shop on August 26, 1656. He died the next year without a will at about 60 years of age. His estate was valued at 150 pounds for land and house in Boston, 47 pounds for house, barn, orchards and land in Dorchester plus moveables such as books, thread, leather, scissors, a sword with belt, and livestock, which totaled 235 pounds.
His widow married John Bullard of Medfield, Mass. The land in Thomas' estate was sold by the Bullards in February of 1663 who removed to Medford, Massachusetts where she is probably died and is buried.
Note on Eleanor Whittington: I have noticed in the Dorchester records that a name, Henry Withington (Whithington), is found often in connection with Thomas Dickerman. Is it possible that Henry was related to Eleanor and the surname was corrupted to a different spelling as was common in those days. Henry was born in 1587/88 in England, so he could not have been Eleanor's brother but might have been her cousin or uncle. He died in 1665/66 in Dorchester, was an "elder" of the First Parish Church for 30 years attending church with the Dickerman family.
