John Dillman

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John Dillman was the head gardener at Kew Gardens, and was a contemporary and relative of Francis Engleheart and George Engleheart.

From the book Kew: The History of the Royal Botanic Gardens , in a chapter entitled Prince Frederick at Kew:

"Frederick retained the services of Lady Elizabeth's gardener, John Dillman, who had come from Dillenburg in Germany, eventually becoming a British Citizen. From 1732 Dillman also maintained the Prince's garden at Carlton House, and an acre plot at Leicester House; in 1740 Durdans near Epsom was added to his responsibilities. He retired in 1753 and died about seven years later."

Death

John Dillman died in 1760, he was buried at the church of St Anne, Kew. His gravestone has recently (before 2018) been rediscovered after being overgrown with grass.

Summary of relationships from his will:

• His niece Ann Engleheart is the wife of Francis Engleheart - she got some land/houses.
• Her Mother is Ann Dawney

His will says:

In the Name of God Amen, I John Dillman of Kew Green in the county of Surry Gardiner being of sound Mind Memory and Understanding thanks be given to Almighty God for the same but considering the uncertainty of like the certainty of death and the uncertainty when or how soon the same may happen and being desirous to settle and dispose of all such estate that it hath pleased Almighty God to bless me with and so adjust the same that no disputes may after my death happen to arise to wishing(?) the same do therefore make my Will in the manner and form following first and principally I most humbly command my soul into the hands of Almighty God my most morrifull(?) creator trusting in the alone merits of Jesus Chris his son my most Blessed Saviour and Redeemer for those forgiveness of all my Sins and that after my death my soul and body being committed I shall and may enjoy eternal happiness my body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my executor hereinafter named

and as to such worldly estate that it hath please Almighty God to bless me with or that I shall besieged of or possessed of interested in or in any ways entitled unto at the time of my decease I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof in manner as hereinafter is mentioned first I give and devise unto my niece Ann Engleheart Wife of Francis Engleheart and to her heirs and assigns for ever all that my copyhold messuage or tenement with the Court Yard and Appurtenances thereto belonging situate lying and being on Kew Green aforesaid in the possession Theobald Esq orig so adjoining West upon a Party Wall of a messuage or tenement and premises belonging to me now in the occupation of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales and East on a messuage or tenement and ground belonging to John and Thomas Layton and also my freehold grounds and building therein parted worth said freehold ground is part of that I purchased of Mr Howslett together with the leasehold Garden adjoining South for the Residue and Remainder of my Term and Interest therein paying the rent and performing the covenants contained in the Indenture of Lease by which the same is hold which said above mentioned premises are more particularly described in a plan taken thereof which said plan is signed by me

and also all the furniture and household stuff that shall be In the said above mentioned messuage or tenement and premises at the time of my decease save and except her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales Picture Colonel Pelham Picture my own and my wife and a Childs which said premises and furniture so devised I do charge the same with the payment of what moneys I owe her Mother Ann Dawney and also to have a free passage to and from the said messuages and premises into the roads leading from Richmond or Mortlake during the remainder of the term and interest I had therein

AlsoI give devise and bequeath unto my Nephew John Dillman Engleheart his heirs and assigns for ever all that my copyhold messuage or tenement and premises with the appurtenances situate standing and being on the Southside of Kew Green aforesaid now in the possession of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales abutting East with a party wall on the messuage belonging to me now in the possession of Theobald Esq. West on a messuage or tenement now in the possession of William Frine North on the Green and South upon a piece of freehold land with a building thereon erected being part of the freehold land which I purchased of Mr Howlett and also on a piece of leasehold garden during the remainder of the term and interest I have therein

And also a free passage to the roads leasing to Richmond and Mortlake to being dung or mould at reasonable times as the said garden shall require and also liberty to draw water from the well under the middle of the fence as now stands to both houses

Also I give