She was born on November 20 or 21, 1849, on the Hancock County plantation of her father, the famous white agricultural reformer, David Dickson (1809-85). Her birth was the result of the rape of her slave mother, Julia Frances Lewis Dickson, when Julia was twelve years old. Amanda America Dickson, the daughter of an enslaved woman and her enslaver, became one of the wealthiest Black women in nineteenth-century America. In her childhood, she was taken into the Dickson family and tutored by her paternal grandmother Elizabeth Sholars Dickson. David Dickson's wife, Clara Harris Dickson, died the next day. Dickson inherited his estate in Hancock County upon his death in 1885. Although the will specifically warned Dickson family members not to contest his wishes, 79 relatives filed a lawsuit to prevent Amanda Dickson from inheriting the property. Born in 1849, Amanda was the daughter of David Dickson, a plantation owner who had raped Amanda's mother when she was 12. This fascinating story of Amanda America Dickson, born the privileged daughter of a white planter and an unconsenting slave in antebellum Georgia, shows how strong-willed individuals defied racial strictures for the sake of family. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. In the process, she opened the way for other black women to preach in the A.M.E. church. It is the first project from Atkinson Way Films, the production company created by Waterston and. The Spirit of America Foundation was established to encourage and promote volunteerism, and the foundation presents awards to honor local individuals, organizations or projects in appreciation of community service. In 1892, Amanda married Nathan Toomer, a wealthy widower from Perry, Georgia. Suzanne bore a daughter Eulalie in Chicago in October of 1796. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. She is Mrs. Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. As a child Toomer was purchased by John Toomer, who moved to Houston County, Georgia, in the 1850s. She was buried in her wedding dress, in a metallic coffin, which was lined in rose colored plush fabric. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Try again later. The Supreme Court ruled in 1887 that Amanda was legally entitled to the inheritance under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that property rights are equal for blacks and whites, including the offspring of black and white citizens. The will was upheld in Probate Court. Try again later. Immediately after his death, she took measures to protect herself legally. . At the time, David Dickson was forty and the wealthiest planter in the county. Jay Jefferies stops by to deliver the weather and much more! Amanda America Dickson spent her childhood and adolescence in the house of her white grandmother and enslaver, Elizabeth Sholars Dickson, where she learned to read and write and play the pianothe survival skills of a young lady but not ordinarily the opportunities of a enslaved child. David Dickson died unexpectedly in 1885, 12 years after the death of his wife, Clara. Amanda America Dickson Toomer was born in Hancock County in 1849, to wealthy planter David Dickson and Julia, who was enslaved by Dickson's mother Elizabeth. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. She was quickly tended to by Dr. Eugene Foster, in place of their family physician, Thomas D. Coleman, who was out of town. For newspaper articles concerning the Dickson estate and will, and Amanda Dickson, refer to The Atlanta Constitution June 12, 1893; June 14, 1887; June 19, 1887; November 15, 1885; July 5, 1885. Born Amanda America on the Dickson Plantation, near Sparta, Georgia, Mrs. A. Elegant Experiences. Who was Amanda America Dickson Toomer? Legally, Amanda was still a slave until her grandmother's death in 1864. Before the supreme court decision, Dickson purchased a large house at 452 Telfair Street, in the wealthiest section of the then-integrated city of Augusta. David Dickson was a rich white Georgian who attentively raised, educated, and supported Amanda America Dickson, the daughter he fathered by one of his many slaves. Executors appraised the estate, which included 17,000 acres of land in Hancock and Washington counties, at $309,000. This fascinating story of Amanda America Dickson, born the privileged daughter of a white planter and an unconsenting slave in antebellum Georgia, shows how strong-willed individuals defied racial strictures for the sake of family. When her father died on February 18, 1885, Amanda became the center of a famous lawsuit. The funeral was held at Trinity Colored Methodist Church. The life and legacy of Amanda America Dickson Toomer, Augusta's first Black millionaire. Her father had stipulated that Amanda, and her children after her death, were the beneficiaries, and no future husband or Dickson family member could "interfere". Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Twelve-year-old Julia . I am very apprieciative to the people who have read the book and reviewed the website. Born on November 20, 1849, Amanda America Dickson was Davids daughter, the product of his rape of thirteen-year-old Julia Francis Lewis, the enslaved property of his mother. 1900). After four years of being married to (or living as a married couple with) Charles Eubanks, Amanda left her husband and returned to her father's plantation in 1870, shortly after giving birth to her second son, Charles Green. [1]:120121 Dr. F. D. Kendall, who examined her on the morning of June 9, 1893, noted that her heart and lungs appeared to be fine, but that she was obviously very nervous and anxious to return home. Toomer and Dickson's marriage lasted until her death on June 11, 1893, of neurasthenia, or nervous exhaustion. She was held in high esteem by those who came to know her because of her wealth, elegance, and intelligence. She learned to dress in a modest, elegant fashion and how to present herself as a "lady". [1]:117 But some were willing to accept children of wealthy planters, especially if mostly white. A few days later he became ill with pneumonia and died. Amanda America Dickson. Amanda America Dickson, the daughter of an enslaved woman and her enslaver, became one of the wealthiest Black women in nineteenth-century America. Her enslaved mother, Julia Frances Lewis Dickson, was just 13 when she was born. From a variety of sources, a great deal of information can be gathered on Mullato Amanda America Dickson, who exempted the traditional role of gender and racial inferiority in Antebellum and post-Civil War southern society. By the time the courts settled the Dickson will case, she had firmly ensconced herself in this new home and decorated it with Brussels carpets, oil paintings, a walnut dining room table and chairs, and books. She married twice: her first husband was white while her second husband was wealthy, educated, and mixed-race. [1]:101102 On October 11, 1886, chief justice James Jackson, and associate justices Samuel Hall and Mark Blanford heard the case following the appeal. [1]:101102, The death of her father, David Dickson, on February 18, 1885, was a pivotal turning point in Amanda America's life. Five of Dickson's descendants, from across the nation, are expected to attend the marker ceremony, Hock said. Meanwhile, her father had begun to secure his daughters and grandsons futures. Drama In the aftermath of the terrible Civil War which has devastated the South, Amanda America Dixon returns home to find she has become the sole heir to a vast cotton plantation. This fascinating story of Amanda America Dickson, born the privileged daughter of a white planter and an unconsenting slave in antebellum Georgia, shows how strong-willed individuals defied racial strictures for the sake of family. and to behave like a lady , according to biographer Kent Leslie. The name David Dickson is intertwined in early Hancock County history. The former slave-turned-millionaire purchased a home at 448 Telfair St., Augusta, Georgia, primarily to distance herself from irate relatives in Hancock County, Georgia. ." who was raised and educated in David's household. White relatives did contest it, first at the probate level, then on appeal to the Superior Court, and to the Georgia Supreme Court, arguing that the future of the Anglo-Saxon race, the traditions of the past, and the hope for the future all lay in the balance. The Court decided, however, in favor of Amanda based on the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, making her one of the wealthiest Black women in the nation. Amanda America Dickson was born to 40-year-old slave master David Dickson and 13-year-old slave, Julia Lewis in 1849. in the state died at Augusta at an eaHy hour Sunday. He lent the county $30,000 to build the original courthouse in the late 1800s, but he's also known for something else. While white Georgians were establishing segregation as the ruling social order in the public sphere, members of the Dickson family went about their private lives. Try again. Showtime Networks Inc., New York, 1999, film. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. I am so glad that a his torical marker has been placed at her home in Augusta.. Amanda America Dickson spent her childhood and adolescence in the house of her white grandmother and owner, Elizabeth Sholars Dickson, where she learned to read and write and play the pianothe survival skills of a young lady but not ordinarily the opportunities of a slave. - Kent Anderson Leslie. Amanda America Dickson. Kent Anderson Leslie uses the events of Dickson's life to explore the forces driving southern race and gender . Dickson left Eubanks in 1870 and with her sons returned to her fathers plantation. David Dickson is a wealthy plantation owner in antebellum Georgia who fathers Amanda by raping one of his slaves, Julia. Login to find your connection. His will left his estate to her "sound judgment and unlimited discretion" and prohibited interference from anyone, including any husband that she may have. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Weve updated the security on the site. Your support helps us commission new entries and update existing content. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. . who was raised and educated in Davids household. New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Jul 17, 2020. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/amanda-america-dickson-1849-1893/, Leslie, K. A. 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