Dickins or Dickens family, Birmingham and Trysull

[Caliandris]

I have been researching my 4 greats grandfather for the last 20 years, and I still don't know where he was born.  He was in the army, and had a large number of children.  In 1813 and 1816 he was in Birmingham, as the children born then were baptised at St John's Deritend:  Robert Archibald Dickins, 24 Nov 1813, and Sarah Elizabeth Dickins 18 February 1816.

The children born subsequently were born at Woodford Grange in Trysull, Staffordshire.  This is where Charles, Harriet, Frances, George were born.

There are also two Henry Fowler Dickins who could be related:  one privately baptised on 19 July 1807, and another baptised 23 March 1815.  Some researchers seem to think this is the same Henry in both cases, others that one died and another was given the same name, yet others that the first is maybe a different family.

I know a lot about the children of the family, and I did find a reference to this family in a book about Church Preen, printed at the end of the 19th century, but as the author said that John Dickins was a Captain in the Royal Navy, when he was actually a Captain in the army, I am a bit dubious about the information which it provides.

I have been to the National Archives recently, to see if I can find anything on John Dickins's Army record, but so far have located nothing except the bare details of his service in the army from 1798 to 1818.

I know that he wasn't at Trysull when he died in 1848, but at Forton. Meertown is the place given although I think it is also spelled Meretown.  His wife Ann was still there in 1851, with some of her daughters.

Any ideas, suggestions, etc, gratefully received. Thanks!
Fee

[jim1]

I don't know if you have this:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=7&CATID=-3998235
The date is a bit out but I'm thinking as was time served he must have received a pension.
The children's christenings after 1812 will include fathers occupation.It might help if you know what he did for a living after discharge.The same applies for the private baptism in 1815,also the 1807 may have additional information as they often did when it was paid for.
jim

[Caliandris]

Thank you for this!  The odd thing is tht I checked all the Army Lists from 1795-1827, and I only found he'd served in the first fencible regiment, the seventh garrison battalion and the 90th foot - no service in the 83rd regiment for a John Dickins... but obviously *a* John DIckins WAS in the regiment....

The dates do fit, a bit, in that I know he was in the first fencible regiment as a cornet by 1798, and I think he went on half pay in 1816, and finally retired in 1827.  It's possible he was something under a cornet before 1798 and that he retired in 1816, maybe. 

I know precisely what he did after tha - he was a tenant farmer in Trysull in Staffordshire.  At some stage between 1841 when he appeared on the census and 1848 when he died, he moved with his daughters and what I presume was his second wife to Forton, Meretown.  He left his eldest surviving son, Robert Archibald Dickins in charge at the farm, with his wife and son.  I have the will of this son, who was unfortunately predeceased by his wife and son, but none of this tells me where the father, John Dickins was born.

I will investigate this information though - thank you sooo much!
Fee

[jim1]

There are a large number of wills held at Lichfield RO for Staffs.I would want to see the private baptism of 1807,I've seen a number of these and they do often hold other information about the father..This is held at B'ham Central Library.
Jim

[Caliandris]

Yes, it's on the list of places I need to go to.  I was hoping that the kind person who does Warwickshire look ups might be able to do it, but they pointed out the St John's Deritend stuff would be at Birmingham.

Actually the 1807 christening for Henry Fowler Dickins was in Colchester... I was thinking that maybe that would be right with a career in the army, as it was a garrison town.
Fee

[Martinom]

My ancestor's diary for 14th Jan. 1837 states: "Call on Captain Dickens at Trysull a person who has in part the letting of Sir J.’s farms. Get the refuse of the farm called Wrottesley Lodge, provided Sir John had not already promised it." I don't know if this helps much! Martinom

[Caliandris]

It's certainly a nice thing to have, and makes me wonder if I may find information in the Wrottesly archives.

Thank you so much for taking the trouble to post it for me :-).
bws
Fee

[Martinom]

In my biographical index, I was going to put: "Dickins John – (born c1776) A retired army captain, subsequently a farmer, he and his wife Ann had six children." Is that about all I need to say? No knowledge of the death date I suppose? Martinom

[Caliandris]

Hi there!

Despite not having his place of birth, I do actually know quite a lot about John Dickins.  He had at least nine children, one of whom, Charles John Dickins, emigrated to Australia. 

I think he was married twice.  The second marriage was to Ann Campbell, at Castle Church in Stafford in 1811.  He was shown as a Farmer in the 1841 census, at Woodford Grange in Trysull.

He was at Trysull for some years before moving to Meertown or Meretown, Forton, Staffordshire, with his wife and some of his children, leaving Robert Archibald Dickins, who was later Lieutenant Colonel in the Staffordshire militia, and his wife and son to farm at Woodford Grange.

He died on March 24, 1851, at Meertown, Forton, Staffordshire, and his wife and daughters carried on with the farm there after his death.

Edited to add:  am I allowed to know the name of the ancestor who wrote the diary?  Thanks!
bws
Fee