John Dickinson

John Dickinson was born April 8, 1831, in Masbrough, England. Masbrough is in the township of Kimberworth, a suburb of Rotherham (West Riding), South Yorkshire, England. His parents were William & Ann Dickinson. He was baptized at the Cathedral Church of St Peter & St Paul, Sheffield, Yorkshire (West Riding), England on July 31, 1831. He married Elizabeth Reynolds on the 10th of February, 1856, at St. Philips Church in Sheffield. They lived in Sheffield where he worked as a Steel Forgeman. The family emigrated to America in 1879 or 1880, and they were found on the census in Pittsburgh that year. Pittsburgh's population nearly doubled between 1870 and 1880, with the new steel mills established there in that decade. John died at the age of 57 from heart disease, on the 25th of May, 1889, in Pittsburgh. He was buried in Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh. John and Elizabeth had three known children: Mary Ann Dickinson, William Henry Dickinson (1859-1932), and Harry Dickinson.

​

Researchers Note: There was also an 11-year old boy named John Dickinson counted in Sheffield on the 1841 census. He lived on South Street in Sheffield Park. (Piece #1336/1, Folio 28a, ED#9). The head of this household was a man, also named John (age 50) and a woman named Elizabeth (age 45), with children: William (age 14), John (age 11), Mary (age 8), and Sidney (age 3). This Sidney was born on 6 Nov 1838. This John lived 1791-1865 and Elizabeth (nee Pilkinton) lived 1794-1863, according to researchers. Although the men’s names are similar to our line, William’s Grandfather, John Dickinson’s marriage license clearly states that his father’s name was William. Perhaps he was a brother or relative of our William.

​

William Henry Dickinson, son of John & Elizabeth Dickinson, was born in January of 1859 in Sheffield, England. He was the older brother of my 2nd-great grandfather, Harry Dickinson, making him my 3rd great-uncle - often confused with Harry's son who shares the same name. Both were probably named after John's father, William. On June 7, 1880, William's family was counted on the census, living at 3474 Denny Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a hammerman, like his father and brother.