James Dickenson
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James Dickenson of Greentrees, a fellmonger by trade, was born at Lowmoor House, in the Parish of Dean in 1658. His parents were Matthew and Jane Dickenson, who brought him up religiously; but his mother died when he was seven and his father when he was ten years old. At first, Dickenson took to youthful pleasures but, giving them up, he appears to have got the reputation of being a Quaker before he really was one. His mind, however, was in an unsettled state. In 1678, he presented himself at a Presbyterian meeting at Tallentire and was forcibly ejected but, standing outside of the window, delivered a short address to the congregation within; in return for which, they came out, bumped his head on the stones, and dragged him down the street.
A similar scene occurred when he visited a meeting of Baptists at Broughton. Noways daunted, he returned to Tallentire again, and bearded the Presbyterian priest, George Larcum or Larkham, (who had been parson of Cockermouth during the Commonwealth) in his own house. Dickenson was again ejected and Mrs Larcum threatened him with the stocks.
A year or two later on, in 1680, Dickenson commenced to travel as a preacher, going round Westmorland, the Yorkshire Dales, the Bishoprick of Durham and Northumberland. In 1682, he went to Ireland with Thomas Wilson. For some years he travelled round England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and then went on to Germany and Holland with Peter Fearon. On the voyage, they had a narrow escape by being captured by a Turkish privateer. After some years, he went with Thomas Wilson to Barbadoes. After a few days sail, the French fleet of sixty sail bore down upon the English fleet of merchantmen, which was under convoy, and captured the whole of them, except three, the ships in which the Friends were escaping under a friendly fog. Near Barbadoes, what was supposed to be a French privateer hove in sight. The English crew was called to quarters, and the captain ordered Wilson and Dickenson, as they would not fight, to go below with the doctor. They declined, and took up an exposed position on the quarter-deck, saying, it was conscience, and not cowardice, that prevented them from fighting. The alarm was, however, a false one.
From Barbadoes, the two went to America and visted the Friends there, going through many adventures, and running considerable dangers from the Indians, from the French, from wild beasts, and from floods. Returning to Barbadoes, they were there during a dangerous plot by the Negroes to kill all the whites, which was luckily frustrated.
Dickenson returned from abroad in 1693 and married a young woman of Pardshaw, but went on a second visit to America in 1695. He records that there were several priests on board the vessel with him, who were going out to Maryland, having heard that a tax of forty pounds of tobacco per head was to be levied for the advancement of their wages. He returned from America in 1697, with a convoy of one hundred and thirty sail, who had to go far to the southward to avoid the French fleet. During the voyage, a storm arose which created great confusion in the fleet, one ship being driven into another, and Dickenson's ship sprung a leek and nearly foundered.
Dickenson afterwards made a third visit to America, 1713-1715, when Thomas Wilson was again his companion. They sailed from Whitehaven - in a vessel of which Richard Kelsick was master – a man of whom Dickenson writes in the highest terms. Their return voyage was a dangerous one; they nearly foundered, and with difficulty got back to port. While in England, he travelled much as a minister, but his journal ceases soon after his final return from America for, being paralysed, he could not write. His wife died in 1726. He survived until 1741 and was buried at Eaglesfield.
Thomas Wilson was of Soulby, in Dacre Parish. He writes: "My parents' names were Edward and Ann Wilson, who brought me up in the profession of the Church of England, and taught me the Catecism, having been sprinkled or baptised in my infancy, according to the manner of that Church". He became a Friend, and was the companion of James Dickenson on the first and last of his American visits. He died in 1724. Many of this name were ministers among the Society of Friends -- such as Christopher Wilson of Greysouthen; Rachel and Deborah Wilson of Kendal.