He was baptised 25 March 1821 at Bilbrough, a son of John Dickinson and Mary, formerly Wilson.
In 1881 he was living at 5 Lamberts Yard, York (St Mary Bishopshill Jnr). He was aged 60 and a railway porter, born at Bilbrough. With him was his wife, Jane, aged 58 and born at Burley, Yorks, and children Eliza, aged 27, unmarried, a domestic servant and born at Bradford, Benjamin aged 19, a railway clerk and born at Bolton Percy, Thomas aged 17, a railway clerk and born at Bolton Percy and a granddaughter, Jane Ann Lawbert, aged 7 and born at Idle, Yorks.
James and Jane's children were
Posted February 2017