This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Dickens, Dickins Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.alabama.counties.henry/2812.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: My ancester is a John R. Dickins or Dickens, his other brothers One lives in Tennessee, and the others in Georgia. My ancester John and family is Buried Mobile County,Alabama. Cemetery: Shady Grove. It is believed he was connected to the Smith family in Georgia and Charles Dickens the writter. Below is a typed copy of a fragile typed copy of the original autobiography. John was educated and was able to read and write so it can be assumed that he wrote the original journal of his life. If corrections or changes were made by the original typist we cannot know what they were. ( Thanks, curtmarg@yahoo.com ) In a little country home in Southern Tennessee, I was born January 25th, 1808, the eldest of five sons of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Dickens. My life was very happy until I began to get large enough to want to travel and see different parts of the world, I roamed and roamed around the country until in the Fall of 1822. I then was fourteen years of age. One day as I was out seeking some great adventure on the border of Georgia and Florida, a tribe of Creek Indians came upon me and I was captured by them. They caught hold of me and tied me with a rope made of hair. They kept me tied for three days. The third morning they decided to slay me. They made lots of signals to each other concerning me. The Chief pointed his finger at me and four Indians came and stood me up by a tree with my hands tied behind me. At that they all turned their backs upon me and made some more signals. One man stepped out from among the tribe and with his bow, aimed his arrow at me. A whoop was given and two Indian maidens ran in front of me and threw their hands up and said, "Shoot us! And save the pale face". This caused a grand up stir among the tribe but my life was spared. >From that day, for a good while they tied my legs so I could not run and tied another long rope around my waist so I could work around the tents. I still had guards watching over me. One day after a course of time, they took me for a hunt but sent some of the braves to watch over me. I behaved so well that they put more confidence in me. They finally trusted me out along with one brave. I kept on good terms with him and yet didn't try to make my escape. We killed quite a few wild animals and returned home late in the afternoon On the following day, the Chief said, "John, you go out and kill us a turkey". I went into the woods not far from the camps and killed a turkey and a fawn. I wasn't gone very long and came back to the camp. The Chief patted my back and said, "Well done, John". One day, the deputy Chief said, "I will take John and go out hunting in the mountains." When we got to the foot of the mountain he said I'll take the right path and you take the left one around the mountain. The country was full of wild animals and every one had to be on the lookout for his life. Just before we met on top of the mountain, I spied the panther about to leap upon the Chief's body. Just as the animal sprang forward, I shot him through the heard and it fell at the old Chiefs feet l went back to the tents and gave a whoop and all the Indians gathered together and we went back to the mountain where the Chief was standing in front of the dead panther. It caused such an excitement that they forgot about watching me and I made my getaway. I ran for about two miles and came to the river bank. Just as I reached the river bank, I heard the Indians coming behind me. I saw a raft of logs lying near the bank of the river so I crawled under the raft and hid. They walked all over the place and even walked on the raft looking for me. I knew I couldn't remain in this position long so I dived and swam across the river, keeping my head under the water most all of the way across. When I reached the other side, I turned and looked back and to my surprise, I saw the opposite side of the river was covered with savages. They were shooting. The side of the river that I was on was covered with dense forests. I would run behind trees and finally dodged them. I roamed around and after four days I came to a house. I went to a door and asked a lady for a glass of milk. She was afraid of me at first but I told her I was trying to escape the Indians. She asked me to come inside her cabin and she said she would fix me up a meal. I ex! plained to her that I hadn't had any bread for seven long years and had only eaten wild birds which I had roasted over a fire. I had not had one mouthful for four days and I was afraid to eat much so I just drank a glass of milk I left this home and wandered many days over the forests until I finally found my old boyhood home. When I came to my home, a sad surprise soon appeared before my eyes. The old home was vacant and the roof almost fallen in. I walked around in the back yard and found two lone graves which had been made since I was captured. At this I left the old home and went to a near neighbor's home and asked if my father and mother still lived here. They told me they didn't know any one by that name. So I went to another home dose by and the man in that home soon recognized me. He was none other but Unde Jesse Dupree. He said, "Son, we thought you were dead." I asked him, "Where is my father and mother?" "Son, I hate to tell you, but your father and mother are dead," he said. >From that day, I never was satisfied. I then asked about my brothers. He told me after the death of my father and mother, they left the old childhood home and began to wander to and fro. I now left the old home once again. I went out west. Here I worked about on different farms in the day time and went to school at night for I had begun to realize I needed more education. I worked here for five years and finished my education. I now was twenty-six years of age. I began to get restless again. I decided I would go to the Governor and tell him of my escape from the Creek Indians and tell him that I thought that I could civilize them as I could speak their language and also six other languages. I asked the Governor for a guard or two to go with me to the Indian tribe. He sent ten armed soldiers with me and we finally reached the Georgia border where the Indians were located. When we arrived at the tents they didn't know me and seemed to be afraid of us. I spoke to them in their language and soon they recognized me and came and carried me all around the tents. So from that day they made me Chief over the Indian Nation. They gave me the Chief's suit and a gold bel! t. So I dressed and came out and told the guards that came with me goodbye, and that I would report to the Governor soon. So I went from village to village selling hides and property for the tribes as I could speak both English and Indian languages. In a little over two years, the tribe was civilized. I reported to the Governor every month, and soon I became wealthy trading and buying from the Indians. One day, I went to a town in Texas named Dill Hart I attended to some business over there. I called on an old man Sherman and he was out A girl came to the door and with a smile she asked me to come in. I entered their home and she and I had a long chat with each other. She was Jane Sherman, the daughter of the old man. Somehow, I fell for this girl the first glance I caught of her. She had beautiful brown eyes and black, curly hair. The old man came home after a long time and I mad a deal with him to buy some hides. He bought a good many and promised to buy many more if I retuned in a few weeks. In a few months, I was still thinking of the girl I left behind. While I was in Texas, I sold seven hundred dollars worth of hides. When I reported this to the Indians, they hunted more than ever. They would go hunting every day and bring something back every time. After several months of selling hides near home, I went back to Texas. All the way there, I could think of nothing but Jane. When I arrived in Dell Hart, I called at the Sherman home and who came to the door but Jane. She looked so sweet, I wanted to tell her how I loved her. I asked her if her father was at home. She said he would be gone for a week. She asked me to come in so I decided I would go in for a little while. We talked quite a while and she showed me some pictures and views of this place. I asked her if she would like to go for a walk that night and she said it would be impossible for her to go out that night as her Mother was sick but I could call upon her at home that night if I cared to. I answered her in the affirmative. After leaving her home that afternoon, I went to a Hotel and secured a room and refreshed myself for I was beginning to realize that I had found the dear girl of my dreams. Just at seven o'clock, I was upon the threshold of my girl's home once again. She met me at the door. She asked me to enter. Upon entering, we sat upon an old sofa and talked for a good while and then I asked her if It was so I could see her Mother. She went in and asked her Mother if it would bother her and her Mother said no, that she would be glad to have us come and sit in her room for a while. She came back into the room where I was sitting and I thought she had the most wonderful smile on here face I ever beheld. We went into the sick-room of her dear Mother and made me acquainted with her. I liked her very much. She was such a kind and gentle old lady. We sat here and talked and told one another about our lives and trades which were all different in every respect. In this manner we became to know e! ach other better. I left the girl's home at 9 o'clock but before I left, I asked her when could I call back and see her. She said I could call the following night, I realized I was in love with Jane and I could not live without her. I rolled and tossed upon my bed that night and when I would dose my eyes I could see only Jane and it was 3 o'clock before I fell asleep. When I awoke the next morning it was about eight o'clock and the birds chirping near my window seemed to be saying "Jane". That morning after I ate breakfast I set out to another small village near the town I was staying in to see if I could get up a few trades and hides. That day for me was far better than I had expected and I made about three hundred dollars that day. I arrived back at my hotel at 7 o'clock and I ate supper and dressed hurriedly for I could hardly wait to see Jane. That night when I arrived at Jane's home, she and her Mother were both sitting in the living -room and both received me gladly. I didn't stay late that night for I was tired and had to write some business letters, but before I left that night, Jane invited me to diner the next day. I accepted the invitation. I wrote a few letters that night. As the dawn came next morning, I awoke with a fierce headache. I dressed and went down to breakfast. I ate but very little and drank a cup of coffee. The coffee seemed to stimulate me' some. After breakfast I wrote some more letters and carried them to the Post Office. By this time, it was near time for me to go to Jane's house for dinner. I went over to her house and when I got there, I found her cooking dinner. I made myself at home. She loaned me an apron and soon we had the dinner ready to serve. We sat down to the table and my eyes fell on Jane. She looked so sweet in her little apron. Mrs. Sherman came in and sat down and ate with us. I can never explain how I enjoyed that meal. After dinner I helped Jane do the dishes while her Mother lay down for a rest When we got through with the dishes, we went in the quaint old living room and Jane entertained me by playing and singing on the old organ. While she was playing I went and put my arm around her shoulders and said, "J! ane, I love you and I want you for my own". She turned around with tears in her eyes and said, "John, I love you too". I was just thinking a moment ago how I cared for you and how I will miss you when you are gone." I took her in my arms and said, "I believe you do care, Jane dear." I told her not to worry about me for if she loved me and would be my wife, I would come back to her in two months. She promised to be my bride in just two months. The next day, the old gentleman came home and we closed a big deal for hides. Just two more days and I had to leave my dear Jane to return to the territory. When I arrived back at the camps, they seemed so proud to see me. The first thing I related to them was the news of finding the sweetest girl in Texas while I was a way and of her promise to become my bride. The Indians all set to work building us a rude tent to live in. They decorated it inside and outside. They painted the rising sun on one side. When it was completed, it was quite nice and comfortable for two to live in. For the next two months I kept very busy going from one village to another, making trades and deals with different tribes and white people. I wrote Jane every week while I was away and she did in return write me some kind letters. By this time I was saving a good deal of money I made on my trades. One morning after reporting to the Governor how I was getting on I set out on my journey after Jane. I rode by favorite horse and also carried one for Jane to ride back with me. I would camp out at night and every night when I would go to bed I would be one day nearer her than before. Finally I arrived in her little home town Dell Hart. It was late at night so I waited till morning to go see Jane. At 8 o'clock the next morning I was at her house and she came slipping down the path to the gate to greet me. We were married that day by the minister of that town. We set out next morning for the Indian territory. I felt so brave and happy with Jane by my side. For days, we traveled through the wild forest, camping out at night One day we got home and went to our little tent and she seemed to be very happy and contented. The Indians had a big feast and dance in our honor. They gave Jane lots of colored beads and shawls to wear. We lived here with the Indians for twelve years. During this time, we had two sons, Robert and Hampton. ( Robert was born in 1842 and Hampton was born in l844. ) I decided I had enough money to buy me a lot of land and wanted to build up a home somewhere by a stream. I set out one day and came upon a place in South Mississippi near Mobile, Alabama. On Dog River, I bought twenty-five thousand acres of land and went back and mobbed my family there I now resigned from being Chief and this made the Indians angry at me, but I promised to visit them once each year so they got in a good humor and each year I made my way back to see them and they received me each time joyfully and would give me all kinds of gifts to bring back home. I never moved from this home and reared my family of eleven children here. The Indians named one of my boys Chile Macintosh, an Indian name. My home was beautifully located in a group of stately pines and oaks. My family and I are very happy and since I came to Mississippi I heard from my brothers who were away from me so long. They have families of their own. One lives in Tennessee, and the others in Georgia.