Benjamin Dikeman - Dyckman - Dykeman - Dykman

Benjamin Dikeman is one of my Revolutionary War ancestors, and since names and dates don't tell half the story, I thought I'd tell you a little bit about him.

Benjamin was one of 14 children born to Joseph Dikeman (abt 1737 - 1822)  and Eunice Darling (Jan 25 1736 - death unknown). The others were Ann, Phebe, Hezekiah, Joseph, Sally, Aaron, Peter, Ezra, Eunice, Elizabeth, Daniel, Abigail, and Ruhama.  Benjamin was born the 24th of May in 1761, in Redding, Connecticut and died 8 April 1845. Three of those sons were ancestors of mine, of them, Benjamin was the second son and fourth child in the family.
   
Benjamin enlisted 1781 in the Dutchess County Militia, and is listed as belonging to the company commanded by Captains Williams & Dykeman (his father) In his pension application, he mentions his three sons, 2 which are wealthy farmers and the other a cattle dealer and butcher.

Benjamin Dyckman Married Huldah Kelly in Patterson, Putnam County, NY, daughter of Jonathan Kelly and Priscilla King. Benjamin & Huldah had four children that we know of, some sources say there were more children that died young:

 Isaac Dykman was born 29 Dec 1788 in Dutchess County, NY and died Jan 16 1872 in Putnam County, NY. (note: Putnam County was created from southern Dutchess County in 1812) Isaac married Polly Wood on 18 Sept 1808, and they had a family of six children - Jane, James, Eunice, Mary, George, and Emma.  Polly was Born Nov 19 1778 in Norwalk, Fairfield County, CT and died Sept 14, 1867 in Patterson, Putnam County, NY. In 1850 he is listed as a farmer.

  Ezra Dykeman was born Dec 13, 1771 in Dutchess County, NY and died Sept 29, 1857. He married Keturah Ellis who was born June 27, 1797and died Dec 9 1878. According to His  brother Isaac's will, he had three daughters Martha, Emily, and Eliza. He was a farmer. He was most likely named after his uncle Ezra Dyckman, Joseph's Brother, who died in 1771.

 Priscilla Dykeman was born about 1792. She was most likely named after her grandmother, Priscilla King Kelly.She married James Baker.

 Benjamin Dykeman, (the younger) was born 1796 in Dutchess County, NY and died July 28, 1860. Benjamin married a woman named Asenath who was born 21 July 1790 and died 9 Dec 1873. They had a family of seven children - Beulah, Mary Elizabeth, Albert, Huldah, Sarah, Isaac, & Charles. In the 1850 census Benjamin was listed as a butcher.

Benjamin's son Isaac had a daughter, Emma C. Dykeman. That daughter married her second cousin, Daniel W. Dykeman. But then, thats another story for another day...

Sources Include:
Johannes Dyckman of Fort Orange, Volumes 1& 2
Barbour Records of Redding, Connecticut
Barbour Records of Norwalk, Connecticut
Censuses from 1800 to 1870
History of Redding CT
Revolutionary War Pension of Benjamin Dyckman
Records of Robert H Dykeman Sr.