As soon as I saw the Laurens Co. in my brother's message, I recalled the Robert "Dickinson" of the Caleb Jones deed in 1775 in Laurens. I rechecked it just to be sure. Robert Jr. just *must* be the father of Michael. I remember combing the Laurens and Newberry records and plats for any other scrap about him when I was struggling with the "Bush River James" Dickerson last summer. And I never found another record of Robert. He must have lived on rented land. I agree with your premise that the Bush River James was very likely the brother of Robert Dickerson, Jr. They both came down to the old Newberry area. James stayed, and Robert left after a few years and returned to NC. He may have left when his in-laws did, as you write, or he may have returned to NC earlier--after the Rev. War started. That area of SC was a HORRIBLE place to be during the Rev. War. There were gangs of raiders (they called themselves Tories, but they were actually only murdering and robbing the citizens) who slaughtered entire families, burned people in their beds and did other horrible things. I've read that many people left the area after SC fell to the British--some went further down into the state, some went to GA and others to other places. There was a staggering number of widows and children in the area after the war. I can understand why Robert Jr. would leave with his children. It was not a safe place to live.

Patent Land Survey (Index of Land Acquisitions) 1770-1820, Located in Greenville, Laurens, Newberry, Spartanburg, Union (Parts of the old 96 District), compiled by Smith & Owens: (this may be where I got the map) P. 52 Jonathan Downs, Book C, 1785-1788, p. 296,297 - Reedy River in Laurens Co. (Robert Dickinson was on deed Caleb Jones to Jonathan Downs, Bush Creek of Saluda River). P. 139. Patrick Cunningham, Book E 1791-1803, p. 40,151 & 219, 222,223 - Rayburn Cr. & Beaverdam Cr., Reedy River, Laurens Co. & Bush, Saluda, & Reedy River, Laurens Co. Patrick Cunningham owned land that originally belonged to James Dickinson (believed to be son of Robert Sr. of NC)

From Abstracts of Early Records of Laurens County SC, 1785-1820, by Nash: P. 1. Deed Bk A, 17. 3/7/1775-9/22/1785. CALEB JONES, planter to JONATHAN DOWNS, Esq. for £250 cur. 150 acres on BUSH CREEK of SALUDA RIVER orig. granted to Henry Neily 4/30/1763 under the hand of his Exc. Thomas Boone, Esq. & of the Grate Seal of the Province. Wit: John Goodwin, Moses Tomlinson, & ROBERT DICKINSON.

From Abstracts of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of Cumberland Co., NC, Oct 1755-Jan 1779, Vol. I, by Wm C. Fields, Editor, 1977: P. 103. 16 Feb 1762. Deed: JAMES DICKENSON to MARY DICKENSON, both planters of Cumberland, for £25, 150 A., land ROBERT DICKINSON bought from Thomas Armstrong on S/S of Deep River, a mile above mouth of Buck Creek, 1/2 of 300 acre patent to Thomas Armstrong 26 June 1747. (On 20 July 1768, Mary Dickenson deeds this same property to WILLIS DICKINSON for £70. Deed witnessed by ROBERT (X) DICKINSON and James Muse.)

P. 202. 28 July 1772. Deed: Mary Dickenson and ROBERT DICKENSON to John Overton.



Moore Co. Will Book A, 1784-1819, p. 44 [p. 303 of original book], Bill of Sale, 1785 Robert Dickinson to Willie (Willis?) Dickinson, both of Moore Co., personal prop.

Moore Co. Will Book A, 1784-1819, p. 46 [p. 334 in original] Inventory of Rot. Dickinson - Nancy Dickinson, admr.



In among the Seale pages is a deed from 1798, giving Nancy's brother Daniel Seale the right to a piece of land in SC. This was after the death of their father. All of Charles Seale's children signed it, including Nancy, as did Robert Jr. At the end is a notation clearly labeled as "State of No. Carolina, Moore County" by "Murdock McIntosh," "justice for said county," stating that "John Mathis & Cornelius Doud" came before him and swore that "the said Robert & Nancy Dickson signed the within conveyance." It's dated 22 Oct. 1798. There are similar statements by witnesses in SC for the other heirs of Charles Seale. (DF, from William Seale)