People of Note
Dickenson/Dickinson
William Dickenson (Deckenson), was born in 1540 and was the Earls of Shrewsbury's Bailiff of Sheffield from 1574, when he is said to have succeeded James Turner. His position was, however, much more important than that of mere bailiff and it seems clear that he also succeeded Thomas Sutton, the Earl's Receiver, who was responsible for the financial business of the Sheffield, Derbyshire, Worksop and Staffordshire estates. Sutton died in 1570-71 but Dickenson may not have been his immediate successor.
Dickenson wrote up his accounts in large volumes in a clear but small and closely written hand. Both Earls passed and signed the accounts at regular intervals and their signatures appear throughout. Dickenson had a house built in Sheffield High Street in 1575. He died in 1606. His daughter Faith, married Sir Ralph Knight of Langold.
MS 540
Sheffield Archives, Arundel Castle Manuscripts, hold details of the accounts of William Dickenson, with detailed information of the economy of the estates in the late 16th century, and include not only the Yorkshire and Derbyshire estates but those in Shropshire and Staffordshire which were then part of the Talbot inheritance.
Dickenson's notebook covering the years 1574-77 is in Sheffield Archives (reference MD/192) and extracts have been published in H.A.S.T., vol. 2, p. 189. A volume of Dickenson's payments and accounts, Sheffield and Rotherham estates, 1579-82, including cornmills and coalpits, is in the British Museum, Add.MSS. 27,532. This is the preceding volume to ACM/S/115. A microfilm copy is available in Sheffield Archives (Microfilm A119)
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