David Dickson (abt. 1583 - bef. 1662)

Born about 1583 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Roberton) Dickson — married 23 Sep 1617 in Mekill Blair, Fife, Scotland

Descendants

Died before 31 Dec 1662 before about age 79 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

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Biography

David Dickson is Notable.

David was born about 1583 at Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland^[1]. He was the only son of John Dickson, a wealthy merchant of the Trongate in Glasgow. Some family trees give his mother as Janet Rankin, but no independent source has yet been found for that.

At first it was expected that he would follow his father into business, but later it was decided to have him educated for the Church^[1]. He studied at the University of Glasgow. He obtained the degree of Master of Arts and was appointed one of the instructors in philosophy in the University.

When minister at Irvine, Aryshire in 1622 Mr David Dickson strongly opposed the Articles of Perth and was confined to Turriff where he entered ward in April 1622^[2]. Several minister and others appealed for "Chrystes prissoner in Turreff" to be released^{[3] [4]}. The apology of Mr David Dickson of 10 January 1623 cleared him from all suspicion of offence done to the Royal Authority of his Majesty's Commission^[5]. On 24 March 1623 the Earl of Eglinton wrote to David regarding his efforts to persuade the bishop to allow Dickson to return to his parish. David was permitted to return to Irvine in July 1623^[6].

Mr David Dickson was minister at Irvine when his father died. He was retoured his heir of Busbie in November 1632^[7].

David Dickson married Margaret Roberton, daughter of Archibald Roberton of Stonehall, on 23 September 1617^[8]. They had at least seven sons and possibly daughters as well.

1. John (d 1653), fiar of Busbie
2. Archibald
3. James
4. David (d before 1662)
5. Alexander, of Wester Binnie, Minister of Newbattle
6. Robert (1630^[1] - abt 1700)
7. Andrew^[9]

At Holyroodhouse on 29 July 1626 a Royal Charter was granted by King Charles I to John Dickson merchant burgess of Glasgow and to Master David Dickson his eldest son minister at the church of Irvine in life rent and after the death of John to John Dickson eldest lawful son of Master David of the lands of Busbie in the parish of Kilbride (Ayrshire) then in the sheriffdom of Lanark on the resignation of Sir Walter Stewart of Minto, Lady Christina Crawford his spouse and Ludovic their son. ^[10]

At Irvine on 25 September 1638 the Presbytery of Irvine appointed Mr David Dickson and two other ministers as commissioners to attend the General Assembly at Glasgow on 20 November.^[11] The holding of this Assembly infuriated King Charles I and as it continued its sitting in spite of the orders of the Royal Commissioner, the Marquis of Hamilton the King then prepared an army and marched north to Scotland. This commenced the Bishop's War and the forming of the Covenanters Army to defend the Church of Scotland from the interfering King.

At Glasgow on 29 July 1644 David Dickson, Professor of Divinity, Glasgow, wrote to Alexander, sixth Earl of Eglinton to congratulate him on his safe return from the Scottish Army's invasion of England against the Royalist forces. ^[12]

David Dickson died in Edinburgh and was buried in Canongate Churchyard on 31 December 1662^[13]. His will was confirmed in Edinburgh Commissary Court on 20 March the following year^[14].

Research Notes

Different sources list different sons for David. The Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae lists four sons - John, James, David and Alexander^[8]. Other sources give five sons. It is stated that only three sons were alive at the time of his death, but this may be in error.

The source for the following quote is needed.

Studied at the University of Glasgow. Instructor of philosophy there. Ordained minister in parish of Irvine, Ayrshire, 1618. Member General Asembly, 1638. Chaplaine to Ayreshire regiment during campaign 1639. Moderator of General Assembly, Edinburgh, 1639. Appointed Professor of Divinity in University of Glasgow, 1640. Co-author of “The Sum of Saving Knowledge.” Elected to Divinity Chair, University of Edinburgh, 1650. Moderator of General Assembly in 1653 when it was dispersed by Cromwell. Wrote words of Episcopal hymn book version of “Mother dear Jerusalem.” Ejected from professorship in Edinburgh, 1660 for refusing to take oath of supremacy.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Harvey, Oscar Jewell. The Harvey Book : Giving the genealogies of certain branches of the American families of Harvey, Nesbitt, Dixon and Jameson, and notes on many other families, together with numerous biographical sketches. Digitised by Internet Archive Pennsylvania: Wilkesbarre, 1899. Accessed on on 21 Aug 2021]
2. ↑ National Records of Scotland GD172/2476 see [1]
3. ↑ National Records of Scotland GD172/2479 see [2]
4. ↑ National Records of Scotland GD172/2478 see [3]
5. ↑ National Records of Scotland GD172/2480 see [4]
6. ↑ National Records of Scotland GD172/279 see [5]
7. ↑ National Records of Scotland GD172/2481 see [6]
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae; Vol 1; pages 64-65
9. ↑ Memorials of the Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton Vol.1 p.161
10. ↑ Registrum magni sigilli regum Scotorum Vol.viii 980
11. ↑ Memorials of the Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton Vol.1 p.66
12. ↑ Memorials of the Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton Vol.1 p.268-269
13. ↑ OPR Burial Indexes; DICKSONE, DAVID; -----; M 31/12/1662; 685/3 200 214; Canongate; from Scotlands People
14. ↑ Index of Wills & Testaments; Diksone, David; 20/3/1663; preacher in Edinburgh, professor of Theology in the College thereof; Testament Testamentar and Inventory; Edinburgh Commissary Court; CC8/8/71; from Scotlands People

See Also:

• Wikipedia contributors, "David Dickson (minister)," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia Accessed August 21, 2021
• North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
• Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI)
• Chalmers' General Biographical Dictionary
• Ancestry.com. The ancestors of Courtlandt Palmer Dixon and his wife Hannah Elizabeth Williams of Stonington, Connecticut : containing also a [database on-line]. Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Stevens, Evalena Dixon: Printed for the members of the Dixon Association, 1927.
• The Scottish Nation by William Anderson, published in Edinburgh, 1863.
• Katharine Dickson Brown, Downeast Dicksons (1987)