John R. Dickins of MS/AL, Cherokee Chief

Posted by: HAROLD SCOTT WILLIAMS, JR. Date: December 29, 2000 at 09:42:08 of 650
Bear with me. This story seems a bit farfetched, but I am merely repeating what I have uncovered thus far.
I am beginning to research my family tree, and I have stumbled upon a very interesting character, John R.(Rolla?) Dickins.
Apparently he was born in TN in 1814 or 1815, and shortly thereafter his family uprooted and moved farther south.
The story is somewhat muddled here, but it seems as though during the family move he was kidnapped by Cherokee Indians in Texas?, I believe, and was forced to live with them for 7 years.
He was rescued from, or released by, them and proceeded to start a new life in the southwestern part of AL (around Mobile) and the southeastern part of MS (around Hurley).
He had three wives, two of whom were named Susan and one of whom was an Indian, and fathered 10 children, one of whom was my great grandmother, Eveline Choyce.
He was always eccentric, dressing up in full Indian dress for almost any public event. This included buckskin pants and a feathered warbonnet.
He claimed to be Charles Dickens nephew (or first cousin) and the story goes that John once took a train to New York to see Charles, during one of Charles' visits to the U.S.
John would disappear for months at a time to go live with "the Indians", for he was said to have many friend among the Cherokee, and was in fact, an honorary Chief in one tribe. This honor being bestowed upon John for saving a Chief's life by killing a cougar that was attacking the Chief at the time.
For this action he also was made a "Blood Brother" by the cutting of arms and the mixing of blood.
He was apparently a Colonel in some form of Militia, because he also carried the title of Colonel and I have uncovered letters about his trustworthiness as a soldier.
I think that he was in the turpintine business with my great grandfather, Murdoch Roberts, who later married Eveline Choyce, John's daughter.
I have found his grave and tombstone in Shadey Grove Cemetary, in AL, but is actually only 7 miles from Hurley MS.
If anyone can help me find more about John R. Dickins, I would be greatful.
Followups:

  John R. Dickens Chillie M. Dickens was the son of John R. Dickens. My ancestry is John Hampton Dickens the brother of Chillie Dickens and son of John R. Dickens.
  

HISTORY OF THE DICKENS FAMILY     "JOHN HAMPTON DICKENS"   John, was married to Carrie May Cameron, on December 13, 1891, his wife Carrie, died of breast cancer, on November 28, 1916, Mosspoint Mississippi. John, was born in Hurley, Mississippi, on October 17,1870,and died May 29,1940, in Mobile, were he lived after his wife's death. John's, father John R. Dickens, was said to be of Indian blood, but my grandma Jessie Lawrence, who was the daughter of John Hampton Dickens, said he was not Indian but was made Chief,and that his wife Susan, was Indian. Let me point-out that John R. Dicken was married two times, according to a certify oath sworn to in Jackson Mississippi, on Nov. A.D. 1950 by a Richard Roberts,he also saids both wife's were name Susan, the first wife believed to have Indian blood. John Hampton Dickens, had brothers and sisters, there names are as followed: James, George, Hampton, Frank, Joel, Samuel, Chillie, and Sisters name, Catherine, Eveline, Nancy Elizabeth. ----------------------------------------------     DICKENS, appears from the name, and the arms ( a cross patonce ), to be the family of DAKIN or Dakeyne, which also bore a cross ( Robson ). ---------------------------------------------- I have found no connection to the following but I thought it should be included: Saturday 21st April 1804, on a letter dated 15th April 1804,from William Wofford and the recommendation of persons living on the frontier of Franklin County, ORDERED   That Pass Ports into and through the Cherokee nation be prepared for Lewis Dickens, Caleb Dickinson-which were presented and signed. IF you wish to look up this information, it will be found in the Library as; "PassPorts Issued by Governors of Georgia" 1785 to 1809. ---------------------------------------------- THE DAILY MOBILE PRESS     MARCH 25, 1885   DEATH OF AN INDIAN CHIEF.   JOHN R. DICKINS, OF DICKINS' FERRY.       On Monday, John R. Dickins died at his residence at Dickins' Ferry on Dog River, about twenty-five miles from the city. John R. Dickins was,and has been,for a score more years familiar to the eyes of every man, woman and child in and about Mobile. He was made conspicuous by his eccentric peculiarities which display themselves in a strong desire to practice the habits and customs of the Indians even while living in a civilized and intelligent community.   His life was an eventful one, and fraught with many incidents and adventures of greater magnitude than are met with in the lives of most men; but little is known,however,of the details of his life. He was born in Georgia about 70 years ago. From Georgia he went to Texas,and it is believed that it was there he was first thrown with the Indian tribes with whom he afterwards became identified. He went to the home at which he died several years before the war. He was a frequent visitor to this city, and always attracted attentio by his attire,which was the full dress of an Indian, consisting of buckskin coat with breeches and leggins of the same material, ornamented with beads and a buckskin cap,set off with feathers. It has been his habit to vist to Indian Territory where he would devote several months to visiting the different tribes and looking up his friends. One peculiarity of these vists was that he would leave home without the knowledge of his family, who never knew of his whereabouts until his return. At the time of his death he held the title of chief of the tribes. ---------------------------------------------- News Paper clipping sent to me by Betty Clark Rodgers,Pasca. Mississ.                                         MARCH 27, 1885       Col. Jno. R. Dickins, of Dickens' Ferry, has passed away to the blissful hunting grounds. The old man paid his last debt of mortal infirmities last Monday, at the age of sixty-seven. He had many friends to whom his suit of buck-skins was familiar, who will be sorry to hear that the old Cherokee chief is no more. _________________________________     I also found on Microfilm, records relating to enrollments of Eastern Cherokee 1908 to 1910 volumes 5-7 applications 16001-31000 Microscopy No. 685. This record is found at the Mobile Library, Genealogical It is as followed: #25837. Chilley M. Dickin, Orange Grove, Mississippi  Rejected. Neither applicant nor ancestors ever enrolled.  Does not establish fact or decent from a person who was a party to the treaty of 1835-6 and 1846. Mis. Test.P.3448). #28422. John R. Dickin, and 5 childrens, Green, Mississippi  Rejected. Brother of #25837. #28423. Mary C. Stevens, and 3 children, Springhill, Alabama  Rejected. Sister of #25837. #28424. Joel B. Dicken, and 1 child, New Augusta,Mississipp  Rejected. Brother of #25837. #28425. Frank Dickin, Lucedale, Mississippi Rejected. Brother of #25837. #28426. Eveline C. Roberts, and 6 children, Brushy, Mississippi Rejected. Sister of #25837. #28427. Amelia A. Stevens, and 2 children, Lucedale,Mississipp Rejected. Sister or #25837. #28438. Samuel H. Dickin, and 2 children, Lucedale,Mississippi Rejected. Brother of #25837. #28429. Wm. S. Dickin, Lucedale,Mississipp  Rejected. Brother of #25837. #28420. Robert S. Dicken, Lucedale,Mississipp Rejected. Brother or #25837. #28421. Hampton Dickin, Brushy, Mississippi  Rejected. Brother or #25837. ________________________________                The Following Taken From The Book: TENNESSEE COUSINS page 735.  Col. John R. Dickens, son of either SAMUEL or WILLIAM DICKENS, probably the latter, moved to Mississippi and was Colonel of a Mississippi Regiment of Confederate soldiers in the war between the States.   One of his sons, Hon. O. Dickens removed to the West and settled in Texas, where he was a premisent member of the bar. (The person above apparently seems to be the same person) The Tennessee Cousins gives no further clue, it's a possibility it's not him. What is your thoughts? ____________________________________ John R. Dickins was born 1813-15 and died March 23,1885, his wife Susan R. (last name possibility, Sherman) was born 1830 and died June 23,1888, it was said by my Grandma Lawrence that her Grandfather was not of Indian Blood, she also quoted :          ( But his wife Susan R. was, and she may have been a Princess of a tribe : end of quote ), maybe thats why they made him a chief ?. My mother said there was once a Portrait of her Great Grand Father Dickens, where it is no one knows. John R. Dickins and his wife Susan R. (Dickins) are buried in the Shady Grove Cemetery, West of Mobile County off Airport Blvd. on the right, there's a small man made lake to the right of the cemetery and a chain link fence around the grave sight. Just a note : From about 1860 to about 1870, John R. Dickins operated a ferry from Alabama to the Mississippi State Line. It was long considered Dicken's Ferry for a time, but, time has seen the name changed. In Mobile, Alabama, there is still a road called Dicken's Ferry Road that is believed to be named for the Dicken's family. During a revision and update of information on John R. Dickins, it has come to my attention given to me by Ms. Nellie Corry, John R. Dickins was first married to a Indian woman of a tribe of Cherokee, named Susan Sherman, although she was at one time thought to be of the Creek Indians. And on June 26, 1997, I found it strange in finding information at the Mobile Library ( genealogy section on a C D, that was donated by the Latter-day Saints, of a John R. Dickins and wife Nancy K. Sharman. Both shows as being married in Jasper, Georgia in July 25, 1839. Batch + Sheet 7702412 92 Source Call No., 1058940, type Film.  ***********************************************   CARRIE CAMERON, who married John Dickens   Carrie May Dickens as seen on her Death Certificate,file No.20654 it asides she was born 10 March 1871, Mississippi and that she died 28 November 1916, County of Jackson, City of Mosspoint Mississippi at the age of 47 years 8 months 18 days, the date of her burial was 29 November 1916 and also her mother was Louisa Bang, and her father Leonard Cameron, the informant given from which this information was given was John Dickens, of Mosspoint Mississippi. Carrie, as she was noted had one brother, Danial and a sister called Emmia, you can find them on the census of 1880 Jackson Mississippi page 576, please also note Carrie is showed as named Caroline,also I wont to point out that Carrie's father was in the Navy and his pension file is C-2. 464-131 and also that his birth place was Mere Bedford,Massachusett, and you can find Leonard as he was called with his father Alexander Cameron on the census of 1850 in Bristol County Massachusetts page 229, also listed his mother Susan, and  two brothers Alexander, and Danial. Carrie Dickens Grandparents was as followed: On her mothers side was Emanuel (Bullo) Bang I. and Matilda Caroline Clark. On her fathers side was Alexander Cameron and Susan (maiden name believed to be Weston). Carrie's Grandfather Emanuel, was the son of Jacob Bang II. and Maria Angelique Baudrau, not to be confused with the other name Baudreau, mention in this book.    After a visitation to Gladys Dixon on Oct. 26, 1992, being her memory not so good recalled her mother with long black hair and dark brown eyes and fair complexion also having very nice teeth. she also had a horse and was a good rider, not to mention a School Teacher. My Grandma Jessie Lawrence said her mother Carrie fell off her horse one day and bruised her breast, later it turned into cancer and she beleived it may have been the cause of her death.  As told by Glady's, at the time of her death she was laid out on a slab in there home with Lacing covering, everybody came to see her as did Aunt Sally, Aunt Mollie, and Uncle Jim.  Gladys recalls some time after her mothers death she- recalled as a little girl coming to Mobile on a train with her papa, John Dickens and her sister Melba Dickens, she had no shoes, and two old women turned to papa and said, "May I have that girl that baby?" He said, "No Mam, thats My baby". They were referring to Mabel, her sister. Gladys said that Mabel was the cutest thing you ever seen, Mabel had brown eyes and wavy hair. ***************************************************   John R. Dickins was married twice, first to Susan Sherman, and they had a son John Hampton Dickens. John R. married again to Susan Cannon, and possibly married again after that. He had three sons in all John Hampton, Charles M. and Samuel. John R. origionally lived in Georgia. John R. had a timber/sawmill business in Mississippi.   Henry Bailey Dickens Jr. His father was Henry Bailey Dickens Sr.(He was a physician who practiced both in Tennessee and Georgia. He was born 1-1-1880.)His father was Hampton Telfair Dickens12.(Hampton Telfair was a confederate officer and lived in Indian Springs, Ga. He married 3 times, and his 3rd wife was Sarah Russell Wall) His father was John R. Dickens.   Henry Bailey Dickens, Sr. lived in Locust Grove Ga. and is buried there. My line is as follows: John R. Dickins   b. 1815  +Susan R. _______ NOTE: John R. and Susan R. Dickins are buried in the Shady Grove Cemetary off Airport Blvd. just past Airport Salvage in Mobile, Alabama. John Hampton Dickens   +Carrie May Cameron NOTE: John Hampton and Carrie Dickens are buried in the Union Cemetary Pascagoula, MS. John's brother, Hampton, is also buried close by. Jessie M. Dickens   b. 1895       + John Stewart Lawrence NOTE: My grandmother Jessie is buried in a Cemetary on Pierce Road off Airport Blvd. in Mobile, AL.   John *Stewart" Lawrence is buried in Old Colonial Cemetary in Fairhope, AL., according to my Uncle and mother. Betty Jean Lawrence   b. 1930   +William E. Ezell NOTE: Betty Jean is still alive and divorced from William E. Ezell Curtis E.Ezell   b. 1953   +Margie Kirby Wado (Thank you in Cherokee)