Penman of the Revolution

 

John Dickinson, born on November 13, 1732, was an American Revolutionary War figure, politician, and founding father.

At 33 years old, in 1765, he represented the colony of Pennsylvania in the Stamp Act Congress.

Held in New York City, the congress was a gathering of representatives from the colonies who were fighting to repeal the Stamp Act.

The Stamp Act was a tax that the British Parliament passed which was imposed on paper products sent to the colonies.

John was responsible for writing the meeting's declaration which stated the colonists' rights and oppositions. This document is known as the Resolutions of the Stamp Act of Congress. In the document, John outlined the congress' position that Parliament could not tac them because the colonies did not have a representative in that body. 

Sound familiar? It should! You've heard the phrase "taxation without representation", yes?

The Stamp Act was repealed in 1766, thanks to the efforts of John and other protestors. However, they would see taxes imposed on the colonies again in 1767, in the form of the Townshend Acts. John would once again use his pen to stir up resistance.

The Townshend Acts levied taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and (yes) TEA! The Boston Tea Party of 1773 would be the result of the Tea Act, but that story is for another day!

1767 also saw a published collection of essays from John, Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer. These essays argued his opposition to the Townshend Acts, in layman's terms. It was after this publication that John became an internationally-known figure.

In 1770, John married Mary Norris. Mary was the daughter of John Norris - a colleague of John Dickinson's and a Quaker.

John and Mary married in a civil ceremony, instead of a church, because John did not want to join the Quaker church.

They would have five children together although, only two would live to adulthood.

In 1776, John and his colleagues gathered at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The purpose of this meeting was to sign the Declaration of Independence. John refused to sign. 

Why would he refuse? Had he not been fighting to end the tyrannical rule of Britain over the colonies? He was, after all, a member of the Continental Congress that voted that the colonies should break off from Britain. John recused himself from the vote.

He believed that the colonies were unprepared to fight and stand as an independent country. Despite his opposition, we know how things turned out. The Declaration was signed by 56 other delegates and was adopted by congress. 

A total for four delegates refused to sign.

In his life, John Dickinson was the Governor or Pennsylvania, Governor of Delaware, and a delegate of the Continental Congress (representing Pennsylvania and Delaware from 1774-1776 and 1779-1781, respectively.) 

John died on February 14, 1808 in Wilmington, Delaware. He is my son's 2nd cousin 8x removed.

Reeves - Attaway - Davenport - Green - Prichard - Jones - Cadwalader - Dickinson