Jonathan Dickinson Cherry Garden Great House
Jonathan Dickinson (1663–1722) was a significant figure in colonial history, bridging the commercial and political worlds of Jamaica and Pennsylvania. A prominent merchant, ship-owner, and politician, he played a vital role in the history of both colonies. He was also the brother of Mary Gomersall, wife of Colonel Ezekiel Gomersall, the original owner of the Cherry Garden Estate in St. Andrew.
Born in Port Royal to a landed family, Dickinson amassed immense wealth, eventually serving as a leading magistrate in, and the Mayor of, Philadelphia. He is best remembered today for his journal, "God’s Protecting Providence," which provides a detailed historical account of his shipwreck and survival on the Florida coast in 1696.
The Jamaica Foundation (1663–1696)
The "Conqueror's" Son
The Dickinson family roots in Jamaica were established by Jonathan's father, Captain Francis Dickinson. An officer in the British Navy, Captain Dickinson served in the 1655 invasion of Jamaica under the command of Admiral William Penn.
This service created a historical thread between the Dickinson family and Jonathan's future home. King Charles II later granted the land of Pennsylvania to Admiral Penn's son, William Penn, to settle a debt. Thus, when Jonathan later fled Jamaica, he sought refuge in a colony named after the commander his father had served. Captain Francis was rewarded with approximately 6,000 acres in St. Elizabeth, including the estates of Appleton, Pepper, and Barton Isles.
The Quaker Conversion & Merchant Life
Born in Port Royal in 1663, Jonathan managed a vertically integrated business, transporting timber and produce from his father's inland estates to his store in the capital. However, the family’s status changed when they converted to the Society of Friends (Quakers), likely following the missionary visit of George Fox to Jamaica in 1671.
This conversion marginalized the family. In a colony under constant threat of invasion, the Quaker refusal to bear arms or swear oaths was viewed with hostility. Dickinson faced fines and social ostracism for refusing to join the militia during the Nine Years' War (1688–1697), a global conflict between England and France that turned the Caribbean into a volatile theater of combat.
The Crisis: Reasons for Seeking Refuge
By 1696, Dickinson was forced to seek refuge. He had survived the 1692 Port Royal Earthquake (which destroyed his store) and the subsequent yellow fever epidemic. When the French invaded Jamaica's north coast in 1694, the danger became untenable for a pacifist. He liquidated his assets and commissioned the barkentine Reformation.
The departure was not immediate. Although the family boarded the Reformation days earlier, they remained anchored in Port Royal, awaiting the protection of a naval convoy led by the HMS Hampshire. According to his journal, they finally set sail on August 23, 1696 (September 2 in the modern Gregorian calendar).
However, the safety of the convoy was short-lived. The Reformation was soon separated from the fleet during a gale, leaving the vessel and its passengers vulnerable and alone on the open sea.
The Crucible: Shipwreck and Survival
The voyage ended in disaster one month later. On September 23, 1696, the Reformation was wrecked during a storm off the coast of Florida (near present-day Jupiter Inlet, now the site of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, named in his honor).
The party, including his wife Mary, their infant son, and enslaved workers, was captured by the Jobe (Jeaga) tribe. Dickinson’s journal details their harrowing 49-day trek to St. Augustine. Their survival hinged on a critical ruse: the group feigned to be Spanish rather than English. The indigenous tribes of Florida feared and respected the Spanish but held a violent hatred for the English. By hiding their true nationality, Dickinson’s party narrowly avoided execution.
Rise to Power in Philadelphia
Rebuilding Wealth
Arriving in Philadelphia in 1697 physically destitute, Dickinson did not lose his primary wealth: his land. Remaining an absentee landlord for his Jamaican estates (Pepper and Barton Isles), he leveraged the "credit" of these lands to re-enter the merchant trade.
He established a lucrative triangular trade, importing sugar and molasses from his own Jamaican plantations and exporting Pennsylvania flour. This allowed him to rebuild his fortune rapidly, eventually constructing a palatial mansion on South Front Street.
Political Dominance
Dickinson aligned himself with the "Proprietary Party," the faction that supported the Penn family’s interests against the populist "Popular Party." His rise through the civic ranks was comprehensive:
- Clerk of the Assembly (1698): Appointed just one year after his arrival.
- Provincial Council (1711–1720): Served on the Governor's advisory board.
- Justice of the Supreme Court (1711–1712): Held the highest judicial office.
- Mayor of Philadelphia: Served two terms (1712–1713 and 1717–1719).
- Speaker of the Assembly (1718): Guided the colony through the uncertain transition following the death of William Penn.
Legacy
Jonathan Dickinson died on June 16, 1722. He left behind a legacy as a colonial oligarch who successfully bridged the worlds of the Caribbean plantation economy and American colonial politics. His wealth and influence remained inextricably tied to the soil of Jamaica and the estates managed by his brother, Caleb Dickinson.