Matthew Dickinson’s Headstone (Submitted Photo)
There are other opinions on this subject matter that are not represented by Stephen Ertman.
I am a fifth generation link to Matthew Dickinson and I have other information to share concerning the possible move of Matthew Dickinson out of the Edwards “Family Cemetery”.
Neither he nor Diane Gravlee have consulted with the Dickinson’s who moved West. They do not represent the Dickinson Family. There are others who are doing genealogy, and none are officially called a family historian, nor do either of them represent the interests of the entire family.
Matthew Dickinson graduated Yale, as did many of his siblings and relatives. He worked hard to get his education, and was the first President of Franklin Male Academy, now known as Louisburg College. If you look at his grave today, does it represent what you’d think of the first President of Louisburg College? Of Course not ! We have no idea how he ended up in a field of wildly growing plants, for the most part unattended. Now Louisburg College is willing to step up to the plate and make it right – their first President deserves some integrity and respect. They want to remove him from this field of chaos and lay him to rest in the dignified setting deserving of a college president.
What is the opposition’s main complaint? It might disturb the graves of the 10 relatives interred in this unkept weed garden. If the family truly cared about the conditions of their ancestors, this plot of land would look entirely different and I would have a much different opinion on the matter. But since their lack of caring is clearly evident by the mess that my ancestor is currently interred in, how could they expect any other outcome? If they want to maintain their own relatives in this manner, let it be so. But in my own opinion, Matthew Dickinson is NOT a member of this family and certainly shouldn’t be in that family cemetery. I’ve been working on the genealogy of our family for several years, and just this week got around to Noah and Hanna Dickinson’s family. In researching for pictures, I stumbled upon these articles about the college trying to move him from his current location to a more dignified setting. Ask yourself the same question – if your relatives remains were not being cared for and someone has asked permission to do the right thing by moving them to a more respectful setting, what would you do? I can’t be there for a meeting in North Carolina because I live in Utah. I hope, however, that my opinion will open up a new line of thought on the subject matter. Matthew Dickinson deserves a degree of respect owing to his station in life – as The President of a local College.
His nephew, Matthew Dickinson Field, born 2 years after his death, was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 1856.
Another nephew, Stephen Johnson Field was the 38th United States Supreme Court Justice, appointed by President Abraham Lincoln.
There are many more examples of how well educated and successful this family was. How Matthew ended up in this predicament, nobody seems to know, but there is a way out and I hope that the Franklin County Board of Commissioners takes all of these opinions into consideration when making their decision.
Pamela Genovesi
Daughter of Charles Phelps
Son of Jean Dickinson
Daughter of Roy Vene Dickinson
Son of Clarence Dickinson
Son of Parley Dickinson M.D.
Son of Parley Dickinson, BROTHER of Matthew Dickinson