A Note on Our Research
The family genealogy below is sourced from online research and may contain inaccuracies. While we strive for absolute factual accuracy in every profile we publish, historical records and biographical details can sometimes be incomplete, conflicting, or updated over time. If you notice an error, spot a missing piece of the puzzle, or have documentation that helps clarify a life story, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to us with any corrections or updates so we can keep these biographies as precise and complete as possible.
Three Small Date Discrepancies to Keep an Eye On:
1. Thomas Dickerson (Gen 4): Your text notes born c. 1643, while the attached FamilySearch link lists 1657–1724.
2. Henry Dickerson (Gen 5): Your text notes born c. 1689, while FamilySearch lists 1685–1785.
3. John Dickerson (Gen 7): Heading notes 1751, while the source link references 1744.
Robert Dickinson (1570–1626)
(Also recorded as Robert “Lord Cambridge Dickinson”)
Captain John Dickerson (c. 1596 – c. 1682)
William Dickerson (1623 – after 1662)
Thomas Dickerson (c. 1643 – ?)
Henry Dickerson (c. 1689 – ?)
John Dickerson (b. Feb 11, 1721)
John Dickerson (1751 / 1744)
Zadock Dickerson (b. Sept 16, 1774) & Mary "Polly" Thorn (b. Feb 25, 1789)
Samuel Cotton Dickerson / Dickinson (1827–1907) & Nancy Jane Green Dickinson
Biographical Notes Click Here:
(Family surname consistently recorded as Dickinson after settling in Arizona, c. 1875)
Samuel Cotton Dickerson/Dickinson is the son of Zadock Dickerson (b. PA, Sept 16, 1774). Zadock married Mary "Polly" (Williams) Thorn in Washington County, Ohio, on February 13, 1817. She was born in Wales on February 25, 1789, daughter of Robert (1762–1843) and Jane (Roberts) Williams, and mother of David Thorn (1811–1899).
Zadock and Mary appear in the 1820 and 1830 Censuses of Bristol Township, Morgan County, Ohio, and later in the 1850 Census of Van Buren County, Iowa. They are buried in Heidlebaugh Cemetery, Davis County, Iowa. Zadock is likely the parent of David (1806–1886), Harriet Sanford (1810–1886), Zadock (1812–1855), and Rhoda Harward (1814–1892); they are likely the parents of Elizabeth Haney (1821–1908), Mary Ann Brown (1826–1914), and Samuel Cotton Dickerson (1827–1907) (Find a Grave).
Records indicate at least two Dickerson families arrived from England settling in the northern Colonies. Grandsons of Henry Dickerson were Revolutionary War patriots: his sons were John (1721; father of Henry), Thomas (1723; father of Thomas, Kinzer, Vachel), and Sarratt (1725; father of Zadock, Solomon) (GenForum).
These are likely the ancestors of Zadock Dickerson (1774) and Samuel Cotton Dickerson, born in New York (or OH/NJ) on September 10 (Sharlot Hall) or September 16 (Gravestone), 1827. Samuel died January 17, 1907, and is buried in Cottonwood Cemetery, Plot C 437.