Author: William F. J. Boardman
Call Number: R929.2 B662
ELIPHALET DICKINSON, son of Obadiah Dickinson (No. 100) and Sarah Beardsley (No. 101), was born in Hatfield, Mass., in March 1676-7. He lived in Stepney Parish, Wethersfield, now Rocky Hill, and was the ancestor of many of the name residing there in later years.
About 1713, Eliphalet Dickinson, Joshua Robbins, Jr., and Ebenezer Dickinson erected a sawmill in Stepney, on a branch of Goffe's Brook, it is believed the earliest in that section of the township. On March 5, 1715-16, Eliphalet Dickinson and William Blinn received permission from the town to flood Deming's Meadow (thus forming the so-called "Reservoir" in Griswoldville) for the purpose of increasing the supply of water for "Madame Chester's Mill," which they had leased for nine years. Mr. Dickinson held several town offices. He is called in some deeds a "housewright."
He is buried in the Rocky Hill cemetery, where the epitaph on his gravestone is as follows: Here lies | ye Body of | Eliphelit Dickinson, | Dec'd Sept. 9th 1733, | Aged 54 years & half. | As you are so was we, | As we are you shall be. The will of Eliphalet Dickinson dated February 6, 1728-9 leaves to his wife, Rebecca, one-third of all his estate with œ20 dowry and names his sons Obadiah, Eliphalet, and Eleazer and daughters Sarah, Rebecca, and Eunice. To each of his daughters he bequeathed œ50. His inventory, taken October 30, 1733, amounted to œ633 1s. 1d. [Hartford Probate Records, XI: 312, 343, 344.]
Call Number: CS71.H665