Hugh Dickson :: Dickson County, TN :: Home of Dickson County's Genealogy Project

Re: Hugh Dickson

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by on May 31, 2004 - 10:12 AM

A case of mistaken identity.

It has long been accepted and widely published that the Hugh DICKSON who bought land from David WILSON in 1803 on Dry Branch of Yellow Creek was the son of Joseph DICKSON.

Certainly Joseph DICKSON had a son Hugh. That Hugh appears to have married Hannah HICKS and served in the War of 1812 from Dickson County.

However, there were two Hugh DICKSONs in Dickson County from the date it was formed until after 1820. Both signed the petition to form the new county. Both are found in the 1820 census. Both are mentioned in early County Court minutes.

It is my belief that the one called Hugh DICKSON, Jr. in some of the records was the son of Joseph. The terms Sr. & Jr. did not necessarily mean a father/son relationship in those days.

Anyway, Hugh DICKSON (s/o Joseph) moved with his brother Abner and probably his brother, Michael to Franklin Co. AL. He is found there in the 1830 & 1840 censuses and his wife, Hannah, is found there in the 1850 and 1860 censuses. She applied for bounty land based on her husband's service in the War of 1812. That was in the 1850's.

Dry Branch Hugh DICKSON was older (b. ca. 1770-1775). We don't know his wife's name. He ws the father of Hugh James DICKSON, John DICKSON, James W. DICKSON, another son and four daughters all of whom are documented. In other words, it is "his" list of descendents that appear in the DICKSON Chapter of "The Primal Families of the Yellow Creek Valley".

The theory is that he might be a son of James DICKSON who remianed in Duplin Co. NC thus he would be a brother of Alexander DICKSON who lived nearby. He probably came to Dickson County with his Uncle Joseph DICKSON.

Mr. Nesbitt just missed it on this one. I would be happy to discuss the evidence with anyone interested.

Russ James of Houston Co. TN

p.s. I appear to have done something which causes this post to not list my name at the beginning. I didn't intend for that to happen but can't seem to correct it. My email address is rbj485@bellsouth.net.