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.

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