John Dickey was born in Northern Ireland in about 1724. Later a resident of Rowan County, North Carolina, he served as a member of the local Committee of Safety and later became a captain in the Rowan County Regiment of the North Carolina Militia, serving from 1776 to 1781. Within his own community, Dickey was distinguished for his bravery and leadership during the war, particularly at the Battle of Ramseur's Mill. He died in Iredell County, North Carolina on March 20, 1808.