As described in the History of Middlesex County, Connecticut (J. B. Beers & Co., 1884),
The Dickinson family, though not among the first settlers, were yet prominent people on Saybrook Point during and after the Revolutionary war. Captain George Dickinson, who was born in 1770, was for many years a ship master and at times resided in foreign ports as agent. He was at Copenhagen, Denmark, when that city was bombarded by Captain, afterward Lord Nelson, and at his death, in 1857, at the age of 81, was the wealthiest man in the town.
Around 1830, Capt. George Dickinson (1770-1857) built a house at what is now 191 North Cove Road in Old Saybrook. The west end of the building contained a ship chandlery.
Capt. George Dickinson House (1830)
Cushman Sears, who used to live on North Cove Rd. and passed away in 1984 at the age of 85, told me some interesting things about the Dickinson House. I don’t know how true these are, I am just passing them along as folklore. He said the house used to be part of the Underground Railroad. He also told me the house was a “Spite House” that was built to block the water view from the home across the street.