Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-09-04
How Charles Dickens Got Some
of the Names of the Characters
for his Novels. 5.,f flr.t;si
ICorrespondence Of Chicago Journal
ToN1oN Auvnst II 1897


Correspondence of Chicago Journal.]
LONDON, August IL, 1867.
L think have made a discovery OF some
literary interest. 1t has always been sup
posed that most of the names of Charles
Dickens characters were fictitious COIN
age of his own, and he has received much
credit for his versatility. AS general
thing have long been able to contradict
this. as during a protracted search among
the wills at Doctors Common. had STUN
bled on a very large number of the identi-
cal surnames used by him, such as Guppy,
and Ohuzzlewit,z and even including SAM
Weller. Among others for which had
always given him exclusive credit, was the
famous name Of g Pickwick," for did not
believe that, i'll this country at least, any
human being had ever legally borne a
patronymic so extraordinary. l fnd,-
however, that even in this was mistaken.
Being at Portsmouth the other day, spent
some time examining the Parish Registers
ofthat town, and there found family of
veritable Pickwicks, hourishing between
the years 1903 and 1914.
The baptisms of several children are re-
corded and they are called The. children of
John and Catharine Pickwick. The father g.
described as marine. The question arises,
had Mr.. Charles Dickens ever seen these
entries? think. he had, and for these rea-
sons: He was himself born in Portsmouth
in the year 1872. and his biographers are
kind enough usually to state that his faith
er held an appointment there connected
with the navy. Now / suspect that from
some motive of curiosity, or others equally
Ifudahle, Mr.. Dickens had searched these
registers for his own baptism. He did not
fad it, nor could ], nor was he baptized at
auy of the churches in the neighborhood,
and [ conclude that this ceremony was
omitted on the part of his parents. But
in the Portsmouth Register, under the date
of MAY 8. 1914, l fund the baptism of
Francis, son OF John and Catharine Pick
wick, and almost Immediately after. the.
2Sth OF the same month, that of Eliza,
daughter of Thomas and Eliza Dickens.
Eerv curiously, she next entry is that Of a
Shake .peare. sasTssaI $50 =.
/ suppose this Eliza Dickens to have been
sister of the novelist, and that in looking
at this particular period for the record OF
his own family, his eye caught, as mine
did, the name of Pickwick, which he has
since rendered immortal. / may add that
Thomas Dickens, the father, Is not describ-
ed as holding any position of profit or re-
sponsibility under the Government, but
against his name and descriptive of his
profession is the single word ''comedian."
This, / suspect, is the true state of the case,
but why Mr.. Charles Dickens should suffer
his biographer to repudiate the true nature
of his parentage is a question he must an
swer for himself. I may also add that Mr..
Dickens lawfully enjoys three Christian
names, viz: Charles John Huffam. He is
SO described in the record of his own mar
rage at Chelsea, which took place in 1886
although he then signed his name simply
s.Charles Dickens" 5 - ttlH