Children of Edward & Eliza Jane DIXON

Edward Dixon married Eliza Jane Dufton on Thursday 18 February 1847 by licence at Leeds Parish Church, Kirkgate, Leeds. So he had to pay for a licence rather than have a notice of intention of marriage put up in the church & banns read three times in the church on successive Sundays. This made me question what was the difference between marriage by banns & one by licence. I found the best answer here: https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Marriage_Allegations,_Bonds_and_Licences_in_England_and_Wales

The marriage record which I found at Leeds Central Library & Ancestry, show that Edward was under 21, so a minor; he was 18 when he married Eliza.

1847 marriage at the Parish Church, Leeds, Yorkshire 292: February 18 1847: Edward DIXON, minor, Bachelor, Contractor, Chapeltown Road, son of George Dixon, Contractor, & Eliza Jane DUFTON, minor, of Richmond Terrace, daughter of George Dufton, Gentleman, were married by licence. Witnessed by Thomas Dufton & W. Rickard. Both Edward & Eliza signed record.

Edward & Eliza had 14 children & I have been spending some time researching them, their births, their marriages & their deaths, and also their families.

Child number 1. Eliza Ann DIXON born 16 January 1848, baptised 21 February 1848 at Leeds, Parish Church.

1848

21 Feb

Leeds, St Peter, Yorkshire, England records state: 

Born 16 January 1848, Eliza Ann baptised 21 February 1848, daughter of Edward & Eliza Dixon, of Richmond Terrace, Leeds, Hay Dealer.

This shows value of such records, giving the occupation of Edward at that time-he was 20 years of age, and where they lived, a house owned by his father-in-law, George Dufton. Eliza may have been named for her mother called Eliza Jane Dufton & her great grandmother Ann Kirby, bride of Edward Dixon who died in 1833.

Eliza married John Vernon Brown on 1 July 1873 at St Mary's Parish Church, Scarborough, Yorkshire. An announcement was made in a Sheffield newspaper, which must have a readership that covered a large part of Yorkshire. This was the announcement in the Sheffield & Rotherham Independent Tuesday, July 08, 1873:

BROWN-DIXON: July 1 at the Parish Church of St Mary, Scarborough, John Vernon Brown, only son of Mr. John Brown, of Dorking, to Eliza Ann, eldest daughter of Mr. Edward Dixon, of West Park House, Scarborough.

I have yet to find West Park House, but it's clear that prior to that date Eliza Ann and famiy had been living in York at St Martin's House, Micklegate.

I found this record at East Yorkshire Archives Beverley, Yorkshire , page 192, Scarborough St Mary's marriages, Fiche Record PE/165/28 Fiche Number 7

1873 Marriage Solemnized at St Mary's Scarborough in Yorkshire
Number 384: July 1st 1873, John Vernon BROWN, Bachelor, aged 29 years, Commercial Traveller, of Dorking, Surrey, son of John Brown a Rentmaster & Eliza Ann DIXON, 25 years, spinster,of Scarborough,daughter of Edward DIXON, Gentleman, married by Banns by Edmund Tate, curate, witnessed by Edward & Eliza DIXON

The groom, Vernon Brown, was a commercial traveller in the drapery trade. It's clear that after the wedding in Scarborough, judging from the birth places of their children,  the Browns move to York, then Manchester & then Leeds. I think that Eliza's husband had a double barrelled name, "Vernon-Brown", as opposed to just Brown. Certainly the birth & baptism records continually include the word Vernon with all the records, even the daughters.

Eliza & John Vernon Brown had 5 children between them, 4 daughters and a son. 

Those children were:

1.  Stelle Elsie Yorke Brown born 1876 died 1949. She was christened on 15 February, 1876 at St Mary's Bishophill, Senior, a church was demolished in 1963.

2. Vernon Heywood Brown born 1879 died 1956

3. Gladys Louisa Violet Brown born 1876-she was christened at St Clement's Leeds on 19 November 1882.

The record above states, No 690, November 19, 1882, Gladys Louise Violet, daughter of John Vernon & Eliza Ann Brown, of 20, Louis Street, Leeds, father is a commercial traveller, by F. P. Fleming.

John Vernon-BROWN died on 12 September, 1914 at 1, Newton Grove, Leeds-his death was reported in 2 newspapers that I have traced.

1. Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser - Saturday 19 September 1914

BROWN. On September 12th, at Newton Grove. Leeds John Vernon Brown, eldest son of Mr. John Brown, late of Great Yarmouth, and High-street. Dorking. Interment at Harehills Cemetery. Leeds. da 3839.

2. Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 23 September 1914

VERNON-BROWN September 12, at 1. Newton grove Leeds, John Vernon Brown, (late representative Messrs. Miller. Son, and Torrance, London)

 His wife, Eliza Ann Vernon-Brown died 27 April, 1925, and her burial site and that of her husbands is below-both buried in the Consecrated Section of Harehills Cemetery.

Yorkshire Evening Post - Wednesday 29 April 1925

DEATHS: VERNON-BROWN.-April 27, at I. Newton Grove. Leeds, Elise, widow of  the late John Vernon-Brown. —lnterment Harehills Cemetery, Friday, 2 p. m.

Harehills Cemetery Records: Yorkshire Indexers:

Entry Number 1896: John BROWN, buried 15 September 1914, aged 70, Section C 0564

Entry Number 9706: Eliza Ann BROWN, Buried 1 May 1925, aged 77, Section C, grave 0564.

This is the gravestone at C0564 with the inscription In Loving Memory of JOHN VERNON BROWN Born January 6th 1844 at Dorking, Surrey died Septr 12th 1914.
Eliza his wife's name is not on the stone.

Children number 2 & 3., George Edward & Mary Ann DIXON

On the 20 March 1850, Eliza & Edward had twins-George Edward & Mary Ann Dixon. It took me a while before I recognised this fact, it just struck me when I was looking at their baptisms at Leeds Parish Church. 

Note how the Parish Clerk at Leeds Parish Church had linked bracketed the children together and put the title "Twins".

The records state:

 Born 20th March 1850, baptised 18 February 1851, George Edward, son of Edward & Elisa Jane Dixon, of Chapeltown Road, father’s occupation, Contractor for stores, by S Kettlewell, curate.

Born 20th March 1850,  baptised 18 February 1851, Mary Anne, daughter of Edward & Elisa Jane Dixon, of Chapeltown Road, father’s occupation, contractor for stores, by S. Kettlewell, curate.

George Edward may have been named for his grandfather & father, and Mary Anne for her grandmother Mary and great grandmother Ann Kirby.

Little Mary Ann died in the July quarter of 1851, I have yet to find her burial, which saves the expense of a certificate. There was a burial at a Methodist Church graveyard at Gildersome on 3 May 1851 in name of Mary Ann Dixon but that is quite a distance from Buslingthorpe Lane.

George was born on 20^th March, 1850, at 3, Buslingthorpe Terrace, Leeds, Yorkshire, England. Buslingthorpe Terrace was opposite the army barracks where George's father Edward who was  an army contractor supplied hay & corn to the army stationed there.In fact George Edward’s great grandfather Edward, was also an army contractor/hay dealer, so George being the eldest son would have been expected to follow into the family business, but for some reason he didn’t do so.

The census of 1851 lists the following at No. 3 Buslingthorpe Terrace

Edward Dixon 22, married, head, married, 22 years, hay dealer born Leeds, Yorkshire.

Eliza Jane Dixon, wife, married, 21 years, born Leeds, Yorkshire

Eliza Ann Dixon, daughter, unmarried, 3 years, born Leeds, Yorkshire

 Mary Ann Dixon, daughter, unmarried 1 year, born Leeds, Yorkshire

George E. Dixon, son, unmarried, 1 year, born Leeds, Yorkshire

Catherine Dakin, Visitor, unmarried, 19, born Sheffield, Yorkshire

Elizabeth Landrick, servant, unmarried, 11 years, born London, Middlesex.

Maybe the 11 year old servant is looking after the young children. 

Louisa Dixon George’s sister, was born 8th February, 1852 in Leeds but according to her baptismal records at Leeds Parish Church-the GRO record states the birth was registered in Leeds in the June qtr of 1852. At her baptism, on 31st October, 1852, Edward Dixon's address is shown as being York. So sometime after her birth, the family move to York, which may account for the delay in the registration? I don’t know yet what caused the family to move to York, when Edward had good contacts in Leeds, but maybe he had won a contract to supply the barracks there. Certainly Louisa’s birth record & baptism record states that Edward, her father was an army contractor. There was a barracks in York as well. 

George lived with his family first in Leeds, then York,  as shown in the census of 1861,
1861 England Census Yorkshire York St Nicholas District 23
 Lawrence Street, Schedule number 12:
1. Edward DIXON, Head, Married, aged 32, Army Contractor, Born Leeds, Yorkshire
Eliza A DIXON, wife, Married, aged 30, Born Leeds, Yorkshire
Eliza Ann DIXON, daughter, aged 13, Scholar, Born Leeds, Yorkshire
George E. DIXON, son, aged 11, Scholar, Born Leeds, Yorkshire
Louisa DIXON, daughter, aged 9, Scholar, Born Leeds, Yorkshire
Mary A. DIXON, daughter, aged 7, Scholar, Born York, Yorkshire.
Eugenie Alberta DIXON, daughter, aged 5, Scholar, Born York, Yorkshire.
Harry DIXON, son, aged 3, Scholar, Born York, Yorkshire.
Charles DIXON, son, aged 1, Born York, Yorkshire.
Hannah FARRER, servant, Unmarried, aged 16, House Maid, born Bishop Wilton, Yorkshire
Lucy THOMPSON, Servant, Unmarried, 13, Nurse, Born Oulton, Yorkshire

 & 1871. In that census of 1871,
St Martin Cum Gregory/Micklegate, York RG10/4747
111, St. Martin House
Edward Dixon, Head, Married, aged 42, Army Contractor employing 4 men, born Leeds, Yorkshire.
  Eliza Jane Dixon, wife, Married, aged 40, Wife born, Leeds, Yorkshire.
  Eliza Ann Dixon, daughter, single, aged 23, born, Leeds, Yorkshire.
  George E. Dixon, son, single, aged 21, Ironmonger's apprentice, born Leeds, Yorkshire.
  Louisa Dixon, daughter, single, aged 19, born, Leeds, Yorkshire.
  Mary Ann Dixon, daughter, single, aged 16, born, York, Yorkshire.
  Eugenie Alberta Dixon, daughter, single , aged 14, scholar, born, York, Yorkshire.
  Harry Dixon, son, single , aged 13, scholar, born, York, Yorkshire.
  Charles Dixon, son, aged11, scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
  Kate Dixon, daughter, aged 8, scholar, born, York, Yorkshire.
  Albert Dixon, son, aged 6, scholar, born, York, Yorkshire.
  Ada Dixon, daughter, aged 4, scholar, born, York, Yorkshire.
  William Dixon, son, aged 2, born, York, Yorkshire.
  Vernon Dixon, son, aged, 6 mths, born, York, Yorkshire.
  Maria Kender, servant, single aged 23, Domestic Servant, born, Youthorpe, Yorkshire.

when the family at St. Martin's House in Micklegate, George's occupation is that of an ironmonger's apprentice.

Sometime between 2 April, 1871 (date of 1871 Census) and 29 April, 1874, George goes to live & work in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. Bearing in mind his trade is that of an ironmonger, and he has spent 7 years training to be an ironmonger, such a job must be more than just working in a shop selling pots and pans. The iron & steel industry made Middlesbrough into a major industrial town.

On 29^th April, 1874, he married Ada Robinson at Crowle, Lincolnshire

Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries .

The Hull Packet and East Riding Times (Hull, England), Friday, May 8, 1874; Issue 4660.

Marriages: Middlesbrough-Robinson, April 29, at the Parish Church Crowle, Mr Dixon, Middlesbrough, to Ada, seventh daughter of Mr. George Robinson, of Tetley House.

For more information about the Robinson Family of Crowle see here-http://crowle.org/?p=179

There is also some evidence that before October 1874, George went into a partnership with a builder from South Bank, Middlesbrough called Francis Buck. Together they contracted to build a new church.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MIDDLESBROUGH .

The Daily Gazette (Middlesbrough, England), Saturday, October 03, 1874; pg. 3; Issue 1218. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.

“The Church increasing & flourishing under the care of the ministry, the place of meeting was transferred to the Town hall to the Lecture-room in Corporation-Road, which was opened for worship on May 25, 1873, by the Rev. D. W. Brown, M.A., Newcastle. Here the congregation have worshipped ever since. The tender for the erection of the New Church was let to Francis Buck, contractor, Milton-street, the contract price being £2,875. The Church when completed will however cost over £3,000, and will be capable of accommodating 700 people. It will be built in the Gothic style of architecture, and will be built of red pressed bricks with stone facings. The work is already progressing and it is hoped the sacred edifice will be ready for occupation by May or June next year.”

However this advertisement appeared in the above newspaper, & also the York Herald, on 26^th December 1874, the paper where Edward Dixon made announcements which I think suggests that George Edward Dixon in the advert, is the son of Edward Dixon.

“Notice  is hereby given that the partnership heretofore existing between us the undersigned Francis Buck of Middlesbrough in the County of York, Contractor; and George Edward Dixon, of the same place and business, under the firm of “Buck & Nixon” has been dissolved this day by Mutual Consent. And that all debts due and owing to by the aforesaid late firm will be received and paid by the said George Edward Dixon. And that in future such business will be carried on by the said George Edward Dixon alone. As witness our hands this Nineteenth day of December, 1874. Francis Buck & George Edward Dixon.”

Witness to the signatures of the said Francis Buck & George Edwd. Dixon, Thomas Addenbrooke, solicitor.

After their marriage, George & Ada returned to live in Middlesbrough where their first child, a boy was born, named George Edward Dixon, in April qtr of 1875. (Certificate would help to establish where the Dixon family were living at this time) 

On 6 November, 1875, George is in Scarborough, Yorkshire, where the rest of the family were now living after George's father Edward moved to about 1872.  Louise, his younger sister married Louisa Dixon, married a Thomas Martindale, a Primitive Methodist Minister. George was a witness to this marriage, signing the register & marriage record. 

Thomas Martindale & his wife Louisa are living in Scotter, Lincolonshire, but soon after the marriage they move to Bournemouth, a new seaside resort on the south coast of Hampshire. George seizes the chance to move to a new area as well, and is next to be found in "Tetley House", Christchurch Road, Bournemouth. They clearly named their new home after Ada's former home in Crowle. 

Evidence for this lies in the fact that on the 29 January, 1876,  George & his brother-in law Thomas Martindale, sit in an office with F W Calvert, a York solicitor,  & James Watts a local builder from Lansdown Road, Bournemouth. There Mr. Calvert writes out the will of Thomas Martindale which he signs in the presence of George & James Watts. Thomas is only 29, and must have been in quite poor health to make a will so young, when he had only recently been appointed as the new Methodist Minister for this new town. The Information about the ironmonger’s shop comes from the 1881 Census entry, showing Charles Dixon, George’s brother, living at “Tetley House”, Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, where he is employed as an ironmonger’s assistant with a William Haydon as the ironmonger. 

On the 31^st August, 1876, Horace Dixon is born in Bournemouth, the second son of George & Ada. He is born in Tetley House, Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth. I have obtained his birth date from an Entry in Mechanical Engineers.

Cyril Vernon Dixon was born in Bournemouth in the June quarter of  1880. 

George & Ada & family remain in Bournemouth from 1876 to 1880, and then move to Leeds in time for the 1881 census. On 2^nd April, 1881, George, Ada Theresa, young George Edward & Cyril Vernon are at 20, Louis Street, Leeds, near Chapeltown Road, where George senior was born. They are living with George’s eldest sister Eliza Ann Dixon who was married to John Vernon Brown.
1881 England Census for George Edward DIXON Yorkshire, Potternewton, District 5
Schedule No. 285: 20 Louis Street, Potternewton:
John V. BROWN, Head, Married, 37, Commercial Traveller, (Drapery), born Dorking, Surrey
Eliza A. BROWN, wife, Married, aged 33, Born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Stella E Y BROWN, daughter, aged 5, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
Vernon H. Brown, son, aged 2, born Manchester, Lancashire
George E. DIXON, Brother-in-law, Married, Aged 31, Ironmonger, Born Leeds, Yorkshire
Ada T. DIXON, Sister-in-law, Married, aged 28, born Crowle, Lincolnshire.
George E. DIXON, nephew, aged 6, Scholar, born Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.
Mary E. SHAW, Servant, Unmarried, aged 19, General Servant, Born Leeds, Yorkshire.

Horace aged 4, staying with his aunt, Hannah Mary Robinson at Tetley Hall Mansion, Crowle, Lincolnshire- it looks like they went there with their 14 year old servant from Bournemouth called Elizabeth Sherwood. 
1881 England census for Horace DIXON, Yorkshire, Crowle, District 2
Schedule No. 21: Tetley Hall Mansion:
Hannah Mary ROBINSON, Head, Unmarried, 39, Born Crowle, Lincolnshire.
Dora ROBINSON, sister, unmarried, 26, born Crowle, Lincolnshire.
Annie HIND, niece, visitor, Unmarried, Aged 5, born Rawcliff, Yorkshire
Horace DIXON, nephew, Unmarried, aged 4, born Bournemouth, Hampshire
Cyril H. DIXON, nephew, ditto, aged 11 months, born Bournemouth, Hampshire
Alice Ellen ROBINSON, sister, ditto, aged 30, born Crowle, Lincolnshire.

Elizabeth SHERWOOD, servant, ditto, aged 14, born, Bournemouth, Hampshire.

A month later they are arriving in New York, USA on board SS Helvetia, which left Liverpool on 20^th April according to many newspapers including that of the Liverpool Mercury, which reported it leaving on 20^th in the 21^st April edition. The Morning Post, in its 22^nd April edition reported the same ship of the National line arriving in Queenstown, Ireland long enough to drop off the mails at 9am and setting sail immediately for New York.

The Dixon family were travelling as saloon passengers according to New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 for Edward Dixon. The manifest shows Edward Dixon, Theresa Dixon, George, Horry, & Vernon, travelling in saloon. 

George, Ada, George, Horace & Cyril Vernon start off in Cincinatti, but where and why they were there I have no idea. I have no information of what happened to them there, all I do know is that in the 1900 USA census, all the family apart from Cyril Vernon are in Chicago. He doesn’t get mentioned at all, so I wonder if he died soon after the arrival of the family in USA.

The Dixon family move to Chicago  1885, their movements from then until 1904 when George & Ada died in an horrific road accident I have tracked down using trade directory entries found in the History Museum in Chicago, census entries and an application by Horace Dixon to become a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in 1906.

First of all this entry :- Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922); Jun 27, 1904
Mr. Dixon was 54 years old. He came to Chicago in 1885 from Cincinnati. In 1902 he took up residence in La Grange, at 320 Wailola Avenue. His wife was 50 years old. Mr. Dixon was head of the firm George E. Dixon & Co., dealers in heating apparatus at 64-68 West Monroe street. He was an Englishman by birth, and before coming to America was a British Army officer, having attained the rank of major in the queen’s service. He was a member of La Grange’s Country Club.

In the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614, United States, looking at Business Directories I have compiled this list of entries of the Dixon family, their business addresses and home addresses from 1885 to 1911. Note after 1904 and the death of George Edward DIXON senr., the two sons George Edward & Horace change the name of their family business. 

1886, George Edward DIXON (senr), engineer; business address 175, Dearborn, living at Lakeview.

1890, George Edward DIXON (senr), Mechanical Engineer, business address, 79, Michigan Avenue, living at North Paulina, nr Suizer

1895, George Edward DIXON, George E. Dixon, Steam Heating with E.J. McDonough & Co, 19, West Randolph, Living at La Grange

1895, George E. DIXON, junior, Clerk, George E. Dixon & Co, Steam Heating with E.J. McDonough & Co, 19, West Randolph, Living at La Grange.

1900, George E. DIXON, junior, Clerk, George E. Dixon & Co, Steam Heating, 66, West Monroe, living at La Grange

1900, Horace DIXON, clerk, George E. Dixon & Co, Steam Heating, 66, West Monroe, living at La Grange

1900, George E. DIXON (senr.) George E. Dixon & Co, Steam Heating, 66, West Monroe, living at La Grange

1902, George E. DIXON, jnr., as above

1902, Horace DIXON, as above

1902, George E. DIXON, senr., as above

1903 all as above

1905 George E. Dixon Jnr, George E. Dixon & Co, Steam Fitting & Steam Heating, 169, S Canal St, Living at La Grange

1905 Horace Dixon, George E. Dixon & Co, Steam Fitting & Steam Heating, 169, S Canal St, living at 707, Pullman Buildings

1906, George E. DIXON, president of Dixon Steam Systems & Co, Steam Fitting & Steam Fitting, of 169, S. Canal St, living at 714, Pullman Buildings

1907, George E. DIXON, president of Dixon Steam Systems & Co, Steam Fitting & Steam Fitting, of 164, Dearborn

1908 George E. DIXON, president of Dixon Steam Systems & Co, Steam Fitting & Steam Fitting, of 164, Dearborn living at 703, Pullman Buildings

1911 as 1908.

1914:No entry

1928, No entry.

Some of the pages in the business directories in this museum's research facility.

 1886, George Edward DIXON (senr), engineer; business address 175, Dearborn, living at Lakeview

1895, George Edward DIXON, George E. Dixon, Steam Heating with E.J. McDonough & Co, 19, West Randolph, Living at La Grange

 1905 George E. Dixon Jnr, George E. Dixon & Co, Steam Fitting & Steam Heating, 169, S Canal St, Living at La Grange

1905 Horace Dixon, George E. Dixon & Co, Steam Fitting & Steam Heating, 169, S Canal St, living at 707, Pullman Buildings

The 1900 Census for Chicago show the Dixon family thus:-

Lyons Township, La Grange Village Census 07 June 1900

DIXON, George E, Head, White, Male, Born in Sept,1850, 50, Married for 29 years, Born England, Father Born England, Mother Born England, Year of Immigration to USA in 1881, 19 years in USA, Naturalized, Mechanical Engineer, 0 months unemployed, Yes Can Read, Yes Can Write, Yes Can Speak English, Owner, Free of Mortgage, Lives in House

DIXON, Ada, T, Wife, White, Female, Born in Sept, 1853, 47, Married for 29 years, Mother of 4 children of which 2 are living, Born England, Father born England, Mother Born England, Year of Immigration to USA 1881, 19 years in USA, Not Naturalized, No Occupation, Can Read, Can Write, Can Speak English.

DIXON, George E., Jn., Son, White, Male, Born in March, 1875, 25, Single, Born England, Father born England, Mother born England, Year of Immigration to USA, 1881, 19 years in USA, Not Naturalized, Draftsman, O months unemployed, Can read, Can Write, Can Speak English,

DIXON, Horace, Son, White, Male, Born in Aug, 1876, 23 years, Single, Born England, Father Born England, Mother Born England, Year of Immigration to USA 1881, 19 years in USA, Clerk, O months Unemployed, Can read, Can write, Can Speak English,

A business directory for La Grange sent to me by the La Grange Historical Society,444 South La Grange Road, La Grange, IL 60525,www.lagrangehistory.org/

shows this entry:

Dixon, G E Sr 320 s Waiola steam heating engineer 66 w Monroe

Dixon, G E Jr 320 s Waiola steam heating engineer 66 w Monroe

Dixon, Horace 320 s Waiola steam heating engineer 66 w Monroe

Horace Harcourt Dixon's application to be a member of the Institute of Engineers

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK

1906: DIXON, Horace Harcourt

Received 1 Aug 1906, Mechanical Engineer, 13 years in Total

President, Dixon Steam System Company 169, S Canal Street, Chicago, Ill. US America

88 St James Street, London, SW

Age 31, born 31 August 1876, Bournemouth

Arrived USA 1881-age 5, Cincinatti until 1885, so age 9 when arrive in Chicago, then in education in Chicago as below.

Education: 8 years in an American Grammar School, Chicago Athenaeum, then Law Dept, Lake Forest University

Apprenticeship 1893-96 with G.E. Dixon & Co, Chicago, practical Steam fitting & ventilating work.

Career:

3 years 1896-99 in Drawing room at Geo. E Dixon & Co designing apparata under the personal instruction of the late Mr Geo. E DIXON

7 years from 1899 as follows:-:In making reports and plans of alterations necessary in old or defective plants which his firm has been called upon to reconstruct or modernise them.  Also in taking off quantities from plans (or buildings when plans were not available) for estimating upon the required apparatus.

Also had charge of all Foreman & men on varied apparata in large office building and factories, the last building being the 22-story Land Title Block at Phila., Pa.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Title_Building

 Since June 1904 - Partner in Geo. E Dixon & Co. Presently president & treasurer of Dixon Steam System Co Ltd.

Also: Principal in Messrs. Dixon & Heydorn, Chemical Merchants, 20 St Dunstan's Hill London & at Barking Essex.

Also: Member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers

1907:  DIXON Horace Harcourt (change of name notified 8 July 1907)*

President, Dixon Steam System Company

169, S Canal Street, Chicago, Illinois, US

DoB:  31 Aug 1876

Elected: 14 Dec 1906, Associate Member, Nr 1399

Resigned 26 Nov 1907, Paid 1907

So as you can see, George & his wife Ada are doing very well in Chicago, and then they both die in a most awful accident.

It was when I was researching George & Ada I couldn't find them in 1910 Census, so I started a thread on rootschat.

 http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=656106.0

From this I followed this link  http://www.ilsos.gov/isavital/deathsrch.jsp

DIXON, GEORGE E           1904-06-26          CHICAGO             53 YR     U     Death record no.00003490  COOK County

DIXON, ADA T    1904-06-26          CHICAGO             49 YR     U      Death record No. 00003489   COOK County

I can use these death records to obtain a will which I am sure George would have made from the County Archives in Chicago.

Newspaper Articles describing this accident

The Austin Avenue Accident

Mr. & Mrs George E. Dixon, the victims of the automobile accident at Austin Avenue last Sunday, were well known in Oak Park, and are deeply mourned by their friends here. They were on their way from their home in La Grange to dine with friends in Sheridan Park, when they were run down by an Aurora Elgin and Chicago electric east-bound car at Austin Avenue. The gasoline tank of their automobile exploded with the collision, and both Mr. and Mrs. Dixon were crushed and burned to death, their flaming bodies being hurled one hundred feet from the street to the platform of the Austin Avenue station. He was instantly killed, and she survived but a few minutes in an unconscious condition. The machine was a total wreck, but the car was little injured, although the airbrake was broken so that the car could not be stopped until it had spent its momentum which carried it about half a mile. No one on the car was injured.

The coroner’s jury on Monday censured the railroad company for the unprotected condition of the Austin Avenue crossing, and brought about an agitation for better safeguarding of the public at all such points of danger. The Chicago Tribune contained the following editorial a day or two after the accident:

“Austin Avenue on the west is the boundary line between Chicago and Oak Park. Near the intersection of Lake street the North Western Railway company has been running trains at grade over Austin Avenue at fifty and sixty miles an hour. But the North Western road has a watchman there, an alarm bell, and gates. Forty feet south of the railroad’s rails the Chicago and Oak Park elevated road crosses Austin Avenue at grade, its trains running never faster than five miles an hour. Yet the Oak Park line has its industrious flagman in the middle of the avenue.

“At Harrison street the rails of the Aurora, Elgin and Chicago Electric railway lie across the same Austin Avenue at grade. Here, unless there be a passenger to get on the train or to leave the train at the station, nothing may hinder a motorman from sending his train over the Avenue at a mile a minute. Yet in the years that this electric line has been in operation neither gate nor watchman has been there to safeguard the public. On either side of the “cattle guards”, too, there are the deadly third rails, hedged in by an ordinary railroad fence. This is the crossing responsible for Sunday’s Automobile horror”

Oak Park Oak Leaves from 2 Jul. 1904

MAN AND WIFE DIE IN AUTO FLAMES.: Machine of Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Dixon ...

Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922); Jun 27, 1904;

ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Tribune (1849-1989)

MAN AND WIFE IN AUTO FLAMES

Machine of Mr. & Mrs. G E Dixon of La Grange and Electric Car Crash at Austin

GASOLINE TANK BURSTS

Day Brings Three other Accidents to Motor Vehicles, in which Five Persons are Injured

Death in flame and the crash of swiftly moving cars was the fate yesterday afternoon of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Dixon of La Grange, whose automobile was run down by the Elgin, Aurora & Chicago Electric car in Austin. At the instant of the collision the gasoline tank in the automobile exploded and the victims, shrouded in flames, were hurled nearly 100feet. Both died instantly. The impact broke the airbrake of the electric car, which ran half a mile before it could be stopped.

Speed to their Doom

The killing of Mr. and Mrs. Dixon is the most serious accident in the history of automobilling in Chicago. They left their La Grange residence in the morning expecting to make a rapid run to Sheridan Park, where they were to dine at the residence of Mrs. L. Wingscotte Howard. Turning north in Austin Avenue, the boundary line between Austin & Oak Park, the automobile was making rapid progress when the grade crossing of the “third rail” electric road was reached. Another motor car going in the opposite direction passed the Dixons at this point and it is believed this cut off Mr. Dixon’s view of the track. He ran his machine at 11-15 o’ clock on the rails directly in front of an east bound electric car.

Explosion Follows the Crash

Motorman Bates of the electric car described later that this automobile was not twenty-five feet away when he saw it between the rails. He reversed the car and attempted to apply the air brake but in an instant car and auto had crashed together. From the wreckage came a flash of flame, and the bodied of Mr. and Mrs. Dixon, their clothing ablaze were hurled through the air falling on the platform of the Austin Avenue station.

Bodies are Burned and Crushed

Mr. Dixon was dead when found a few minutes later. His wife, although alive, was unconscious and survived only a few minutes. Both were crushed and burned. Mrs. Dixon’s clothes had been burned from her body. The bodies were taken to Postelwaite’s undertaking rooms in Austin to await the coroner’s inquest. Diamond rings valued at $3,000 were found on Mrs. Dixon, and a gold watch and $16 were taken from her husband’s pocket. There was nothing left of the automobile except the twisted wheels and the deflated tires. The body of the machine had been reduced to splinters.

Electric Car starts with Wild Rush

The force of the collision broke the air brakes on the electric car and it rushed on with undiminished speed. Although Bates declared his car was running at a rate of ten miles an hour he could not stop it until Fifty-second avenue was reached. It is declared by friends of the Dixon family that the electric car was running at nearly fifty miles an hour at the time.

Eye Witness Tells of Collision

R. M. Guthrie, 853 West Van Buren street, who saw the collision, said “I was walking with a friend near the point where the Elgin line crosses Harrison Street. “My attention was suddenly called to flames on the track just in advance of an east bound car running at terrific speed. At first I believed the flames were the result of some electrical disorder, but a moment later I became convinced a collision had occurred. I can hardly realize yet that the stream of fire I saw shooting through the air was wrapped around human beings. The motorman did not attempt to stop his car as far as I could see. He drove on, apparently regardless of the two lives that had been crushed out. I am a strong man, but I did not stay to see the bodies. It was too horrible to contemplate. Without a note of warning; without a moment’s preparation it was over”

Stranger Notifies the Police

The chauffeur in the automobile which had passed the Dixons shortly before the accident stopped when he heard the collision and telephoned the Austin police. Then he hurried away before his name could be learned. Motorman Bates and Thomas Hughes the conductor, were arrested two hours after the accident and held for a time at Austin police station. Upon representations of officials of the electric railway company that the men would be present at the inquest they were released. Although the electric car was filled, none of the passengers was injured.

Son is prostrated by the News

George E. Dixon Jr., was notified of the accident, and with F. J. Grulce, hastened to the spot. He was prostrated by the death of his parents. Another son, Horace Dixon, moved recently to New York. He was telegraphed for. Mr. Dixon was 54 years old. He came to Chicago in 1885 from Cincinnati. In 1902 he took up residence in La Grange, at 320 Wailola Avenue. His wife was 50 years old. Mr. Dixon was head of the firm George E. Dixon & Co., dealers in heating apparatus at 64-68 West Monroe street. He was an Englishman by birth, and before coming to America was a British Army officer, having attained the rank of major in the queen’s service. He was a member of La Grange’s Country Club.

 CAR STRIKES AUTO.

Terrible Accident in Suburb of Chicago—

Man and Wife Are Killed.

Chicago, June 27.—An automobile outing terminated in instant death Sunday morning for Mr. and Mrs.

George E. Dixon, well known residents of La Grange and leading members of the Episcopal church of that suburb.

They were killed in Austin avenue, in Austin, when their automobile collided with an electric car on the Aurora, Elgin

& Chicago railroad. Immediately following the collision the gasoline tank of the automobile exploded, and the flaming fluids saturated the clothing of the two victims. Before the fire could be extinguished both bodies were burned almost beyond recognition. As a dramatic climax to the double tragedy, the brakes of the electric car became unmanageable and the car, crowded with horror-stricken and fear benumbed passengers, ran wild of its own momentum for almost a mile. The circumstances of the collision are not clear. Neither Motorman Frank Bates nor Conductor Thomas Hughes could explain more than the fact that the automobile ran directly in front of the rapidly moving electric car, and that the collision occurred before there was any opportunity to apply the brakes or reverse the power. Both the motorman and the conductor were arrested, but later in the day, at the request of George E. Dixon, Jr., son of the victims of the accident, they were released. The accident is said to have been due in part to the construction of the electric motor car. The arrangement of the motorman's compartment does not permit of a clear view on the left side. The car was east bound, and the Dixons approached from the north, on the left, so that the motorman had no sight of them until the automobile was on the track in front of the car. It is supposed that Mr. Dixon either lost control of the automobile or believed that he could cross the track ahead of the car. Mr. Dixon was president of George E. Dixon & Co., a manufacturers of steam appliances at 64 and 66 West Monroe street.

New Ulm review., June 29, 1904, Image 2

About New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961

DASHED TO DEATH

In Auto Collision With'Electric Car.

Chicago, June 20. George E. Dixon, A wealthy engineer and contractor,

and his wife, were dashed to death by an electric car which crashed Into their

automobile as they wore crossing the track of the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago

railway at Austin Boulevard, Austin, at 11:15 o'clock this morning. The car struck them while travelling at an estimated rate of speed of sixty miles an hour. Mr. Dixon was instantly killed, his head being crushed and both legs broken.

Mrs. Dixon was thrown 140 feet onto the third rail, which carrles the heavy

electric current and was electrocuted. Horace Dixon, a son of the two victims,

resides in Now York. The Stark County Democrat., June 28, 1904, WEEKLY EDITION, Image 1 About The Stark County Democrat. (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912

LAW Will Limit Crossing Peril: Chicago Daily Tribune (June 28, 1904

CITY COUNCIL AND COUNTY BOARD ARE AROUSED TO ACTION BY THE DEATH OF Mr. and Mrs. G.E. DIXON.

TRACKS TO BE ELEVATED

Coroner’s Jury, at Inquest, Censures Aurora-Elgin Road for Sunday’s Frightful Collision.

The law is to step in and limit the perils along the line of the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago Electric Railway, Aroused by the automobile collision of Sunday in which Mr. and Mrs. George E. Dixon of la Grange met frightful death, the city council of Chicago and the Cook County board both started legislation yesterday which is aimed to make such accidents less likely in the future.

The Council last night ordered prepared ordinance elevating the third rail tracks within the city limits. The County Board received a resolution directing the construction and maintenance of safety appliances at the Austin Avenue grade crossing, where the fatal collision occurred. The Coroner’s jury, investigating the Dixon deaths, censured the electric line and demanded better protection for the public.

Race Demand Track Elevation

Ald. Frank L. Race, who represents Austin in the council and who attended the inquest in the afternoon, took to the meeting of the aldermen in the evening the order calling for the elevation of the electric road’s tracks within the city limits. The order, which was passed, states:-

Whereas, The Austin avenue crossing of the Aurora, Elgin and Chicago Railroad is at grade and the trains pf the company run at a high rate of speed, and Austin boulevard is a connecting boulevard between Washington boulevard, Riverside, and the south side drives and has heavy traffic, and whereas, the company uses the third rail system, which carries a powerful and dangerous electric current, and whereas, there is no protection by gate or flagman at the Austin boulevard or at Central boulevard, and whereas, the use of the third rail system should be discontinued in the city unless on elevated road structures.

Therefore, the track elevation committee is ordered to prepare an ordinance for the elevation of these tracks from Fifty-second avenue to Austin avenue and central avenue crossings flagmen night and day, and shall also safeguard the streets by approved gates. The road must also conform to the speed regulations of the city of Chicago.

County Board Prompt to Act

As further evidence of the stir among Austin people resulting from the Sunday tragedy, County Commissioner J. P. Garner of that suburb called the accident officially to the attention of the Cook county board during the afternoon. He introduced a resolution directing the county attorney to take the necessary steps to compel the railroad company to construct and maintain such appliances as will properly guard the grade crossing at Austin boulevard.

The resolution was referred to the public service committee, which in turn referred it to the Judiciary Committee. Immediate action is promised.

Auto Club Wants Speed Law

About the same hour a special meeting of the directors of the Automobile Club was held, at which vigorous action was decided on to secure and enforce a speed limit for electric cars within the city and at suburban crossings. The secretary was instructed to send out bulletins to every member of the club containing the following cautions:-

In view of recent automobile accidents members are requested to strictly obey the city speed regulating ordinance and use their influence with automobilists not members of the club to the same end. Slow up and keep a sharp lookout at all street car and railroad crossings. Avoid a high rate of speed at curves and in rounding corners.

Developments at the Inquest.

At the Inquest in the afternoon Coroner Traeger made a searching examination into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Dixon and his wife. A number of witnesses were heard, and employees of the electric road questioned particularly as to the speed at which cars are operated in Austin and Oak Park.

Henry Bates, motorman of the death dealing car was one of the most important witnesses. He testified that the car was going at a rate of twenty-five miles an hour when the accident occurred, and that he had whistled and put on the brakes when he saw the automobile 100 feet away, but could not stop in time to avert the collision.

Mr. Traegar then asked Bates what his running orders were. The motorman said he never had been given instructions not to exceed a certain speed, but had been ordered to keep within the time schedule of fifteen minutes for the six mile run between Fifty-second avenue and Maple avenue, Oak Park.

Story of Car conductor

Thomas Hughes, the conductor, told the following story: “I was standing on the back platform, and when we were 600 feet away from the Austin avenue crossing I heard Bates blow the crossing whistle. The next thing that came to my notice was the sound of an explosion. I knew we had struck something. I could not see distinctly as the smoke blinded me. I rushed to the front of the car to assist the motorman. While I was running through the car I felt it give a sudden lurch forward. I believe this was due to the force of the gasoline explosion”.

The motorman’s assertion that the car was not running faster than twenty-five miles an hour was disputed by James A. Walker, of Oak Park.

“The train was going, I believe at not less than fifty miles an hour,” he declared.

“I have ridden many times with Mr. Dixon on his machine and found he was always a careful, cautious driver”, Dr. J. Grulle testified. “Mr. Dixon told me once the machine was not geared to run more than eighteen miles an hour. The last time I was out with him we were crossing the car tracks at Austin boulevard, and he mentioned the danger. He said autommobilists should be particularly careful.

Verdict Censures the Electric Road

The verdict of the jury, after censuring the electric road company, states:

“We the jury, recommend that immediate action be taken by the proper authorities to compel the railroad company to erect gates at crossings and also to see that the third rail is better protected.

So after the accident the tracks were elevated, where they crossed roads, rather than crossing them at grade-i.e. on the level. 

The photograph below shows a tram crossing a road at grade. The road is the wooden causeway which gives some idea of the dangers involved in making these crossings by automobile in 1904-but then I suppose there were fewer on the roads then.

In August 2014 I did go to the where I thought the accident site was in Chicago-Austin Avenue & Harrison and took this photograph.

However it turned out I was wrong, as someone later pointed out to me and sent me the site of the accident according to Sanborn Map of 1908.

The next mystery to sort out is where George & Ada were buried in 1904 bearing mind they did live in La Grange. 

They were both buried in Bronswood Cemetery, DuPage County, Illinois. 

Dixon,   Ada Theresa, birth, 03/14/1853 death, 06/26/1904, mother, age 49 from La Grange, shock & injuries from motor car accident Grave Reference B Section Lot 26.

Dixon, George Edward birth 03/20/1860 , death, 06/26/1904, father, age 53 from La Grange, shock & injuries from motor car accident, B Section, Lot 26. 

On the 9th of July 2015, I went to to the  Bronswood Cemetery to look for the gravestone of George Edward & his wife Ada. My wife & I were in staying in Chicago at that time as our son Pete was getting married in Chicago.

I found the gravestone and asked someone to take a photograph of me standing beside it.

The names on the gravestone are a bit faded now, but below the main inscription are words Mother & Father.

Ada Theresa DIXON born March 14 1853 Died June 26 1904

George Edward DIXON, born March 20, 1850, Died June 26 1904

So after their deaths, I then followed the lives of their sons, George Edward & Horace Harcourt Dixon-he seems to have added the Harcourt about 1906. The rootschat thread was useful again, as I found that Horace married in Scarborough, England to his young cousin, and they travelled back and forth to Chicago. 

In 1904 at the time of the accident Horace was living in New York, and the last entry I have of him is in 1921 in London, England. 

He served in the Royal Navy during World War 1: 

LONDON, OCT 16: Horace Harcourt DIXON for twenty years a resident of Chicago and member of the Mid-Day Club, the La Grange Country Club and the Hinsdale Club, who holds a naval battle medal service from the Spanish American war, has been commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Brigade.

The Spanish War Service Medal was a military decoration of the United States Army which was established by an act of the U.S. Congress on July 9, 1918. The decoration recognizes those members of the Army who performed active duty during the Spanish-American War, but did not qualify for the Spanish Campaign Medal.

To be awarded the Spanish War Service Medal, a service member must have served on active duty in the United States Army between the dates of April 20, 1898 and April 11, 1899. Those who were awarded the Spanish Campaign Medal were ineligible to receive the Spanish War Service Medal.

The primary purpose for the creation of the Spanish War Service Medal was to recognize units of the Army which had performed homeland defense in the United States during the years of the Spanish-American War. The award was also presented extensively to members of the United States National Guard who had been federalized for active military duty but had not been deployed to actual combat in the Spanish-American War.

It seems he served on board the USS Wilmington 

After that he has just disappeared. Well not quite disappeared because I think I have found him, well the police certainly did find him in his houseboat on Leigh on Sea marshes in August 1931. I found these two articles in 2 English newspapers.

Chelmsford Chronicle - Friday 28 August 1931

Southend Police, called on Saturday to a houseboat on Leigh Marshes found Mr. Horace Harcourt Dixon, a retired naval officer dead on the floor. He had been under a doctor for a considerable time for heart trouble.

Northampton Mercury - Friday 28 August 1931

Lieut.-Commander Horace Harcourt Dixon, R. N. retired, aged 55, who lived alone in a houseboat on the marshes at Leigh-on-Sea, was found dead on the floor of his cabin by the police on Saturday.

I have sent for his death record-reference: 

Dixon    Horace H , age 54, Registration District,  Rochford , 4a, 616

The Death Record reads thus: Horace Harcourt DIXON died on 22 August 1931 aged 54 on "The Dawn", Houseboat, Leigh Marshes, Leigh on Sea. Formerly a Retired Lieutenant Commander Royal Naval Division, he died of heart disease-natural causes, after a post mortem with no Inquest. His uncle, Vernon Dixon is recorded as being the person who informed the registrar, not his wife.

George Edward Dixon married in Chicago and moved to California dying there on 13 February 1952 in Los Angeles. He married Doris Jeffrey on 23 January 1918 

Cook County, Illinois Marriages George E Dixon, born c1876 (age 42) Mrs. Doris J Schultz, age 29 Marriage date and place: 23 January 1918, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Child number 4: Louisa DIXON:-

Louisa DIXON, my great, great grandmother was born at 3, Buslinglthorpe Terrace on 8 February 1852, and baptised at Leeds St Peter's Parish Church on 31 October. This record states:St. Peter's Parish Church, Leeds: Born 8 February 1852, baptised 31 October 1852, Louisa, daughter of Edward & Eliza Dixon, of York, Army Contractor. 

 Note by that date, Edward Dixon, her father has already moved to York and is living in Lawrence Street. They travel back to Leeds, about 20 miles away, most likely by train, to have Louisa baptised in Leeds Parish Church.

Louisa is with the family in the census of 1861 in Lawrence St in York, in St Martin's House, Micklegate in 1871 Census, and moves with the family to Scarborough. Then, aged 23, on 6 November 1875 at Primitive Methodist Church, Aberdeen Street, Scarborough, where her husband, a widower, Thomas Martindale was the minister of a church in Scotter, newly qualified, having passed his probation in Doncaster, and previously in Scarborough. Records to prove this are a newspaper announcement of the marriage:

Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries .

The York Herald (York, England), Monday, November 08, 1875; 

 Category: Birth, death, marriage notices

MARTINDALE-DIXON:- On November 6^th, at the Prmitive Methodist Jubilee Methodist Chapel, Aberdeen Walk, Scarborough, by the Rev. John STEPHENSON, the Rev. T. MARTINDALE, Primitive Methodist minister, Scotter, Lincolnshire, to Louisa, second daughter of Edward DIXON, Esq., Clifton Villa, Scarborough, and formerly of Micklegate, York.-No Cards.

Photo above kindly provided by Neil Jefferson of Scarborough Old Photos and people on Facebook.

John Stephenson was appointed Primitive Methodist Minister at the Jubilee Chapel in Scarborough at the same time as Thomas MARTINDALE, who at the time of his marriage was minister at Scotter, near Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire. Louisa DIXON was married from her home at Clifton Villa, and then must have travelled back with her husband Thomas to the the manse in Scotter. They weren't there long, because on 29 January 1876, Thomas made a will in Bournemouth, and died there on 22 January 1877 leaving a young son and grieving widow.

More information about Thomas & Louisa here: http://whereareweallnow.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/thomas-martindale-primitive-methodist.html

After the tragic death of her husband Thomas, Louisa travelled back to Scarborough to be with her family. I am quite sure that Edward, Louisa's father helped her out with the funeral arrangements. he was named along with his daughter as an executor of his son-in-law's will as living at Clifton Villa, Scarborough. She married again on 3 July 1879 in Beverley, Yorkshire to a John "Harry" DOUGHTY, a builder of Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Proof of this marriage lies with a copy of the marriage record which I obtained in April 2002.

1879: Marriage at the Independent Chapel, Beverley, in County of York

Third July 1879: John Henry DOUGHTY, 21 years, Bachelor, Bricklayer, of Great Grimsby, son of William Doughty, Milk Dealer & Louisa MARTINDALE, 27 years, widow, of Lairgate, Beverley, daughter of Edward Dixon, Late Corn Merchant were married in the Independent Chapel according to the Rites & Ceremonies of the Primitive Methodists by Benjamin Fern, Minister in presence of F. Moss & N. E. Doughty. Jas. Wm. Pomfret, Registrar.

Now how Louisa met "Harry" Doughty and married him is a bit of a mystery. I did discover that Louisa's first husband Thomas Martindale had been appointed to Grimsby as a Methodist Minister in 1873 when he married his first wife a Jane Palliser. But Harry Doughty was then only 14 years old. Maybe after her husband died, Louisa also travelled to Grimsby to see where Thomas had lived taking with her her son Thomas Justin Martindale. "Harry" we know was a bricklayer/builder, maybe he travelled to Beverley to do some work there and met Louisa there. Anyway I think the mystery will have to remain unsolved-all we know is that at the time of her marriage to "Harry" Doughty she was living in Lairgate, Beverley, and named her father's occupation as a former corn merchant.

The witnesses in this copy certificate are interesting-one is Fred Moss and the other is an N. E. Doughty, but I think that this is a mis-copy, I think that this was Annie Elizabeth DOUGHTY, "Harry"'s sister who a year later married Fred Moss. A visit to the records at Beverley will confirm this or not.  I did go to the Archives at Beverley on 17 June, 2015, and found the marriages of Eliza Ann Dixon & Mary Ann Dixon above, but not the marriage of Louisa & Henry DOUGHTY-the archives don't have copies of Non-conformist marriages after 1837.

Anyway after their marriage, Louisa, with her young son Thomas Justyn and husband "Harry" travelled back to Grimsby, where they set up home in Willingham Street,at number 74. On 12 September, 1880, their first & only child was born and named William Hermon Stanley DOUGHTY.

That name, William, well most likely after his grandfather William DOUGHTY, a milk dealer also living in Willingham Street. Hermon Stanley, well that is a mystery. In the 1881 Census, the entry states:
Henry DOUGHTY, 23 yrs, head of family, married, Builder, born Grimsby, Lincolnshire
Louisa DOUGHTY, 29, yrs., wife of head of family, married, born Leeds, Yorkshire
Thomas E. J. MARTINDALE, 4 yrs.,  step-son to head of family, born Bournemouth, Hampshire.
W.H.S. DOUGHTY, 6 months, son to head of family, born Grimsby, Lincolnshire
They also had a servant called Ellen Cade, aged 14, born in Caistor, Lincolnshire.

So quite a difference in age between Henry & Louisa. I do have a photograph of Henry DOUGHTY.

So John Henry DOUGHTY is now calling himself just Henry. Thomas E. J. MARTINDALE was christened Thomas Edwin Justyn MARTINDALE, son of Thomas MARTINDALE & Louisa MARTINDALE nee DIXON.

So everything was going well, Louisa, who had married her Thomas MARTINDALE, had her first son Thomas Edwyn Justyn, but then suffered the loss of her husband through ill health. She's then managed to marry again to a builder & good Methodist like herself, and have another son called William Hermon Stanley DOUGHTY. But it wasn't too last-Louisa died on 14 June 1883 and was buried 4 days later in Grimsby old cemetery. The tombstone read:  In loving memory of Louisa wife of Henry Doughty who was taken home to Jesus 14th June 1883 age 31yrs."I am thine Jesus, and she fell asleep".

Her death was announced in The York Herald (York, England), Monday, June 18, 1883; pg. 4; Issue 10012

DEATHS: On the 14th inst., at Grimsby, Louisa, wife of Mr. Henry DOUGHTY and second daughter of Mr. Edward DIXON, Esq., of Ablemarle Crescent, Scarborough.

In the Grimsby News was this article: "on the 14^th inst, at 11 Maude Street, Louisa Doughty aged 31 years". On the burial register the cause of death was phthisis, which means tuberculosis.

After that I followed the life of her son Thomas Edwyn Justin Martindale, who aged 15 in the 1891 Census is attending the school of his aunt & uncle in Scarborough. In June of that year he attends the funeral of his step-father "Harry Doughty-(John Henry DOUGHTY) in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. By all accounts this funeral was well attended judging by the account in the Grimsby News, part of which refers to Thomas I put here.

The interment of the remains of the late Mr J. H. Doughty-whose death it was our regretful duty to chronicle last week-took place on Friday afternoon at the New Cemetery (Scartho Road). The scene mournful as was the occasion will not soon be forgotten. The sympathy felt and shows towards the deceased gentleman during his painful illness was feelingly extended to the sorrowing friends whom he has left behind, and the numerous train of those who attended to pay the last possible mark of respect to the remains of the deceased, only showed more eloquently than words can express the universal esteem in which he was held. The funeral procession was timed to leave the late gentleman's residence in Chantry-lane at one o'clock long before which hour a considerable number of persons quietly assembled in the neighbourhood to witness the proceedings. The cortege, consisting of hearse and some twenty carriages, moved slowly away in the direction of the Cemetery, the route being along Chantry-lane, through the Bull-ring, thence to Bargate by Brighow-gate, and forward to Scartho-road. In front of the hearse, and on foot, were a large number of the officers of the Grimsby Primitive Methodist (1st circuit) and teachers of the Victoria-street Sunday school, followed by a conveyance containing Dr Newby and Dr Smith. Then the came the hearse and the coaches, the chief mourners being Mrs J. H. Doughty, Alderman Doughty, Mrs Doughty, senr, Mr C Doughty, Masters Stanley Doughty and Justin Martindale. 

10 years later, in 1901, Thomas is living with his step-mother, Polly Doughty-she had married his step-father Harry Doughty after the death of Louisa at 1, Belgrave Terrace, Grimsby. Is it a co-incidence that he attended Belgrave School in 1891-or was the house one of those built by his step-father Harry DOUGHTY. 

On 18 March 1902, he married Sarah Cutting at Victoria Street, Methodist Church. In 1911, he and Sarah, are living at 128, Legsby Avenue, Grimsby with Thomas employed as a cashier of a company called "Grimsby Steam Fishing Company" which was run by the brother of his step-father, George Charles Doughty who in 1911 was knighted and an member of parliament for Grimsby.

In 1927 he was appointed as legal guardian of his half-brother's family, both Stanley & his wife Nellie had died. 

Thomas died in Humberston, on 5 February 1952. 

Child Number 5, Mary Ann DIXON

Mary Ann was born in York, in Lawrence St, in 1854 & baptised at St Lawrence York on 5 May, 1854. She is with the family in Lawrence Street in 1861

1861 England Census Yorkshire York St Nicholas District 23

 Lawrence Street, Schedule number 12: 

 Edward DIXON, Head, Married, aged 32, Army Contractor, Born Leeds, Yorkshire

Eliza A DIXON, wife, Married, aged 30, Born Leeds, Yorkshire

Eliza Ann DIXON, daughter, aged 13, Scholar, Born Leeds, Yorkshire

George E. DIXON, son, aged 11, Scholar, Born Leeds, Yorkshire

Louisa DIXON, daughter, aged 9, Scholar, Born Leeds, Yorkshire

Mary A. DIXON, daughter, aged 7, Scholar, Born York, Yorkshire.

Eugenie Alberta DIXON, daughter, aged 5, Scholar, Born York, Yorkshire.

Harry DIXON, son, aged 3, Scholar, Born York, Yorkshire.

Charles DIXON, son, aged 1, Born York, Yorkshire.

Hannah FARRER, servant, Unmarried, aged 16, House Maid, born Bishop Wilton, Yorkshire

Lucy THOMPSON, Servant, Unmarried, 13, Nurse, Born Oulton, Yorkshire

 & at St Martin's House in 1871,

St Martin Cum Gregory/Micklegate, York RG10/4747

111, St. Martin House

Edward Dixon, Head, Married, aged 42, Army Contractor employing 4 men, born Leeds, Yorkshire.

  Eliza Jane Dixon, wife, Married, aged 40, Wife born, Leeds, Yorkshire.

  Eliza Ann Dixon, daughter, single, aged 23, born, Leeds, Yorkshire.

  George E. Dixon, son, single, aged 21, Ironmonger's apprentice, born Leeds, Yorkshire.

  Louisa Dixon, daughter, single, aged 19, born, Leeds, Yorkshire.

  Mary Ann Dixon, daughter, single, aged 16, born, York, Yorkshire.

  Eugenie Alberta Dixon, daughter, single , aged 14, scholar, born, York, Yorkshire.

  Harry Dixon, son, single , aged 13, scholar, born, York, Yorkshire.

  Charles Dixon, son, aged11, scholar, born York, Yorkshire.

  Kate Dixon, daughter, aged 8, scholar, born, York, Yorkshire.

  Albert Dixon, son, aged 6, scholar, born, York, Yorkshire.

  Ada Dixon, daughter, aged 4, scholar, born, York, Yorkshire.

  William Dixon, son, aged 2, born, York, Yorkshire.

  Vernon Dixon, son, aged, 6 mths, born, York, Yorkshire.

  Maria Kender, servant, single aged 23, Domestic Servant, born, Youthorpe, Yorkshire.

 then moves with them to Scarborough to West Park House, from which she is married on 2 July 1873.

 Mary Ann married a Thomas Giblin, a record states that the marriage took place on the 2 July 1873 at St Mary's Parish Church, Scarborough. I found this record at East Yorkshire Archives Beverley, Yorkshire on page 193 of Scarborough St Mary's Marriages, Fiche Record PE/165/28 Fiche number 7.

1873 Marriage Solemnized at St Mary's Church, Scarborough, Yorkshire

385:July 2nd 1873, Thomas GIBLIN, 26 years, of Scarborough, Bachelor, Draper, son of Thomas GIBLIN, farmer, Deceased & Mary Ann DIXON, 19 years, Spinster, of Scarborough, daughter of Edward DIXON, Gentleman were married by Banns by Edmund Tate, Curate, witnessed by Edward & Eliza DIXON

This marriage ended in divorce

  On 6 July 1899, Mary Ann Giblin sued her husband Thomas GIBLIN for divorce on the grounds of cruelty & adultery. She was successful, a decree nisi awarded to her on 19 January 1900, and decree absolute on 30 July 1900. According to the National Archives which keeps records of these divorces, obtaining  a divorce in 1900 was very expensive, and it seems unlikely that Mary Ann would have money of her own to pay for a divorce, so maybe her father, Edward paid for it. 

Previous to this the 1891 census shows that Thomas & Mary Ann were living in Sloane Street, London, with him being an India Rubber Manufacturer-their son Thomas Edward GIBLIN born 16 October 1878 in Burnley, in 1911 was a Mackintosh Dealer married to Isabel Huxley at All Saints, Fulham witnessed by his brother-in-law William Cadman Haring. The marriage record shows that by the time of the wedding, Thomas Giblin was dead.

 After their marriage in 1873, Thomas & Mary Ann moved to Burnley, where both their children were born, Marion Louise on May 18, 1875 & Thomas Edward on 25 September 1878. They lived at both 28 & 30 Manchester Road, Burnley. The baptism record for Marion Louise http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Burnley/Habergham-and-Habergham-Eaves/holytrinity/index.html, on 18 May 1875, shows the family living on Manchester Road, Burnley with Thomas's occupation as a draper.According to the baptism record of Thomas Edward GIBLIN, he was baptised at Holy Trinity, Habergham Eaves, Burnley on 25 April 1878, his abode as given 28 & 30 Manchester Road, Burnley. http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Burnley/Habergham-and-Habergham-Eaves/holytrinity/index.html

It was a bit of a puzzle to find Thomas, his wife Mary Ann and just two children apparently living in 2 houses, but an advertisement in the Burnley Express dated 5 April 1879, shows that Thomas had a draper's shop and silk mercers at number 28 and he lived next door in a three storied house complete with cellars.

However, when Thomas & Mary Ann went to Burnley after their marriage, Thomas went into partnership with a Thomas HERBERT, but in 1876, this partnership was dissolved as this article in the London Gazette shows.

The London Gazette November 3, 1876.

Notice is hereby given that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned Thomas GIBLIN and Thomas HERBERT, as drapers in Manchester-road, in the Borough of Burnley, in the County Palatine of Lancaster under the style or firm of GIBLIN & HERBERT has this day been dissolved by mutual consent. And that all debts owing to or by the aid partnership will be received and paid by the said Thomas GIBLIN, who will henceforth carry on the business on his own account. As witness our hands this 31^st day of October, 1876, Thomas GIBLIN, Thomas HERBERT.

This is that advertisement:

Burnley Express - Saturday 05 April 1879

VALUABLE FREEHOLD HOUSES AND SHOPS IN BURNLEY

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION by Mr. John RAWCLIFFE, at the Bull Hotel, in Burnley, on Friday 25^th day of April, 1879 at Four O’ clock in the afternoon, in one or more lots as may be determined on at the time of sale, all those two well and substantially stone built SHOPS AND DWELLING HOUSES, numbered respectively 28 and 30 (formerly 26 and 28), in Manchester Road in the Borough of BURNLEY, and now in the occupation Mr. Thomas GIBLIN, draper and silk mercer. The property is three storeys high and cellared throughout, and each house has a good yard and conveniences.

The premises numbered 28 contain five bedrooms, sitting-room, kitchen, outhouse, cellar-kitchen and cellar.

The premises numbered 30 contain four bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen, cellar-kitchen and coal cellar. The property is freehold of inheritance and is situate in the best part of town, and offers the opportunity of a first class investment, and is being sold in consequence of the owner leaving the town.

For further particulars apply to the Auctioneer at his offices, Nicholas Street, Burnley; or to Messrs Creeke and Sandy, solicitors, Burnley, 4^th April 1879.

So the Giblin family moved to Southport, but things go too well their either.

The London Gazette, October 24, 1879.

The Bankruptcy Act 1869

In the County Court of Lancashire, holden at Liverpool. In the Matter of Proceedings for Liquidation by Arrangement or Composition with creditors instituted by Thomas GIBLIN, of 79, Lord St, 41, London-street, and 9A, London Street, all in Southport, in the County of Lancashire, Milliner, Draper, Auctioneer and Coal Merchant.

Meeting of creditors to take place at 12, London-street, Southport at 3 0’ clock at the office of Mr. Henry Threlfall, solicitor for Thomas GIBLIN.

So not content just running a drapers business, Thomas is an auctioneer, coal merchant & milliner.

At the time of the 1881 Census, Thomas & Mary Ann  were living at 5 Sussex Road, North Meols, Southport, where Thomas has remained an auctioneer with his wife,  Mary Ann supplementing the family income as a  dancing teacher, with their two young children. Eugenie DIXON, Mary Ann's younger sister was staying with them on Census day. In 1884, the family move to London, the proof for this is contained in this newspaper article in the Burnley Express concerning the divorce in 1900.

Lancashire Evening Post - Friday 19 January 1900

A MANUFACTURER DIVORCED

In the Divorce Division today, before the President Sir Francis JEANE, and a common jury the case of GIBLIN versus GIBLIN was heard. This suit of Mrs. Mary Ann GIBLIN, formerly of Burnley, for a divorce by reason of cruelty and adultery on the part of her husband, Mr. Thomas GIBLIN, a waterproof manufacturer, of Sloane-street, London. The defence was withdrawn. Evidence was given to the effect that the parties were married at Scarborough in 1873. Afterwards they lived at Burnley, and in 1884 went to London. Petitioner alleged that the husband had been guilty of several acts of violence, and evidence was given as to the respondent having been seen in the company of a woman he met at the Empire Theatre, and went home with her. A decree nisi was granted.

In the 1891 census, Thomas & Mary Ann & family live at 167 & 168 Sloane-street, London, where Thomas is recorded as being a rubber manufacturer (the word India has been added I think). 

Mary Ann has altered her name to Marion, and they have a house servant too. 

The divorce then comes in 1899 to 1900, and after then, finding what happened to Mary Ann Giblin is difficult. Today Sunday 22 April 2018 I have discovered a marriage for Mary Ann GIBLIN nee DIXON to a Jacob Adam  MARTIN in St Giles Register office in July 1902. I was sent this marriage certificate by  a Heather Martin from Australia. 

The Certificate reads:

Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage given at General Register Office

1902 Marriage solemnized at the Register Office, in the District of St Giles, in the County of London

No. 84. Sixth September 1902, Jacob Adam MARTIN, 62 years, Widower, Wine Merchant, of 16 Woolwich Common, Woolwich, son of Potter MARTIN, Deceased, Farmer & Mary Ann GIBLIN formerly DIXON, spinster, 45 years, born 1857, the married wife of Thomas GIBLIN, of 34, Bedford Place, Bloomsbury, daughter of Edward DIXON (deceased), Gentleman were married in the Register Office.

So her new husband on his marriage certificate says his occupation is a wine merchant, whereas in the census of 1901 when he is widower, and living in a shop at 16, Woolwich Common, he says he is a Baker & Confectioner. Mary Ann GIBLIN, formerly DIXON, says she is 45 years of age, born in 1857, whereas we  know from above both on her baptism record & other census records that she was 48 years, born in 1854, in May. 

 He is still around in 1911 on the census of that year but his marital status is that of a widower, so his wife Mary Ann must have died between her second marriage date and the 1911 census date. 

However, Thomas GIBLIN married again to Kate Jane Erskine at a register office in the Chelsea district in 1904. He died at 13, Clonmel Road, Fulham on 24 April 1906 leaving near £5,000 to his new wife Katie Jane GIBLIN, who was his excecutrix of his will along with his son Thomas Edward GIBLIN, his executor described as a motor clothier.Thomas's business must have been a good one, but it's difficult to find out much about it online. 

Child Number 6. Eugenie Alberta DIXON

Eugenie Alberta DIXON was born in 1856 in York, & baptised at St Lawrence Parish Church-

February 3rd 1857, at St. Lawrence Parish Church, York, by George Stuart, curate, Eugene Alberta Dixon, daughter of Edward & Eliza Jane Dixon, of Lawrence Street, York, Edward's employment, Contractor. 

Again she was with the family in Lawrence St, then St Martin's House in Micklegate, the Scarborough, both West Park House and then Valley Bridge House & Clifton Villa.

She married George James Hall Lovett on 7 April, 1891-: 

The Yorkshire Herald, and The York Herald (York, England), Tuesday, April 21, 1891

LOVETT-DIXON, on Wednesday the 7th inst., at Westborough chapel, by the Rev. H. E. Gregg, George Lovett, FS Sc., eldest son of the Rev. W. Lovett, to Eugenia Alberta, daughter of Edward Dixon, esq., Valley Bridge House, Scarborough.

Early life of George James Hall Lovett:

George James Hall Lovett was born on 13 May, 1861 in Camus, Tyrone, Ireland, the eldest of three brothers, all children of William Lovett & Jane Hall. His brothers were William Henry Lyons Lovett, a surgeon & Samuel Henry Wesley Lovett, a clergyman who worked for HM forces.

William Lovett, his father was a Primitive Methodist Minister, and records at Methodist Historical Society of Ireland Library and Archives at

http://www.edgehillcollege.org/about-edgehill/methodist-historical-society-in-ireland/

Show that the Lovett family moved around Ireland as the Methodist Conference moved ministers from place to place. Records from the above society show that between his birth in Camus, Tyrone in 1861, George & family were in the following places at the following times.

1861       Cavan 2 years, 1863 Ballyshannon 2years, 1865   Tullamore 3 years, 1868  Lisburn Mission               3 years, 1871, Tandragee & Portadown              1year, 1872 Downpatrick 3 years

1875       Cootehill (Cavan St) Home Mission Station , 4years;

By this time George James Hall Lovett was studying at Trinity College Dublin where he obtained a BA, and in 1881, he was in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England as a teacher & undergraduate according to the census entry.

Eventually his father William, was able to leave Ireland, settle in England, where he & his wife finally died in Buxton, Derbyshire, her in 1914 and him in 1917.

The same records above give a short history of George’s life.

George James, born, Camus, Co. Tyrone, 13 May 1861, BA, FSSc, was principal of a private school Belgrave School, Scarboro’ which he and his wife founded. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Science, Letters and Arts (London) [CA.86.152]. He married 8 April 1886 at Westborough Chapel, Scarborough, Eugenie Alberta Dixon (born York, 1858). He and his wife gave up the school in 1901 as he became a member of the clergy. He was ordained 25 Dec 1894 at St George’s Hulme, Manchester and posted to the vicarage of St Werburg, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, 7 Dec 1898. He died 22 April 1931.

Children: 1. Lois Eugenie Norah, b. Scarborough about 1888, married Arthur Walton Facer; 2. George Cecil, born Scarborough about 1889; Kathleen Marion born about1899.

From around 1875 there are articles in the local newspapers for Scarborough about a Clifton House School, however they don’t mention the location of the school. They are mainly concern cricket matches played between them and other local schools. Then 7 May, 1884, the York Herald reported the death of a Joseph Walker of Clifton House School, Scarborough, aged 51, who died, on Monday 7 May, 1884 and was buried in Scarborough Cemetery.  Looking at the 1881 Census for Scarborough, taken on 3 April, 1881, for a Joseph Walker born 1833, I found that he was head master of the same school at which George James Lovett was an assistant teacher, an undergraduate of Dublin College. The school had 26 boy pupils aged between 10 & 16 years with 2 tutors. Joseph Walker was married to Elizabeth with 7 children. So Clifton House School was situated at 9, Castle Road, Scarborough, and after the death of James Walker, his assistant, George Lovett took over as headmaster. This article in the Leeds Mercury 29 August, 1885 confirms this

CLIFTON HOUSE SCHOOL, Scarborough, Head Master George LOVETT, TCD, M O P

Duties will resume 22^nd September, A Vacancy (at reduced terms) for a pupil to complete a class preparing for the 1^st Class Coll Prac. Exam. Terms on Application.

Then  by March 1886 he had been awarded a FS Sc, (Fellow of the Society of Sciences, Letters and Arts, of London, and he opened a new school called Belgrave School, on Thursday, 29 April, 1886 which we know was at 20, Ramshill Road, Scarborough, South Cliff, which is currently a dental practice and just along the road from Valley Bridge House where his wife used to live.

In the census of 1891, taken on 5 April, the school had only 9 pupils, one of which was Thomas Edwyn Justin Martindale, aged 15, from Grimsby, Lincolnshire,  Eugenie Lovett's nephew-the son of her deceased sister Louisa & Thomas Martindale. The school had 2 other teachers, one teaching languages & the other English & Mathematics.George, headmaster, kept a dog, but without a licence, he was prosecuted for such on 1 April 1891 & fined 10 shillings at the local magistrates court.

The Times Newspaper reported a couple of items that confirms that George & family gave up Belgrave School well before 1901. He was ordained 25 Dec 1894 at St George’s Hulme, Manchester and posted to the vicarage of St Werburg, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, 7 Dec 1898.

1908 Crockford's Clerical Directory Entry for George Lovett:

LOVETT, George James, 30 Ellesmere-road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, Trinity College Dublin, 1878, R.U.I. B.A. 1886, deacon 1894, priest 1895 Manchester, Rector of St. Werburgh, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Diocese, Manchester, 1898. Crown and Bishop of Manchester, alt; Net Income £250), F Curate of St George Hulme, 1894-98

George & Eugenie remained in Chorton-cum- Hardy all their lives dying within a few days of each other in 1931. George had just finished the burial service for his wife when he too died and was buried in the same grave a few days later in Southern Cemetery, Manchester. Details may be searched here : http://www.burialrecords.manchester.gov.uk/

Hartlepool Mail Thursday 23 April 1931

VICAR DIES AFTER WIFE’S FUNERAL, COLLAPSES ON RETURNING FROM THE CEMETERY

Less than two hours after seeing his wife buried at Manchester yesterday the Rev. George James Lovett, vicar of St Werburgh’s, Chorlton–cum-Hardy Manchester collapsed and died almost immediately. The funeral party had returned from the cemetery and were almost to sit down to lunch when the minister hurriedly left the room.

A few moments later he was found outside in a collapsed condition.

The Rev. G. J. Lovett was 70 and his appointment to St Werburgh’s in 1896 is said to have been the last approved by Queen Victoria.

George & Eugenie had 3 children-Lois Eugenie born 1887, George Cecil born 1898 & Kathleen Marion born 1899.

Lois Eugenie Nora Lovett, was born in the July quarter of 1887 in 20, Ramshill, Road, Scarborough, Yorkshire, the first born child of her parents the Rev. George James Hall Lovett & his wife Eugenia Alberta DIXON. In the census of 1891 she is with her parents at their family house at 29, Ramshill Road-also there was my mother's guardian Thomas MARTINDALE, son of her mother's sister, Louisa Alberta DIXON, who had been married to the former local Methodist Minister, Thomas MARTINDALE. Ten years later in 1901 she is with her parents at 49, Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, where her father is now a priest. Ten years later in the 1911 Census she is recorded as being an undergraduate in a university. This Manchester University where she studied English History. and enjoyed amateur dramatics as several newspaper articles published in local Manchester Newspapers evidence.
For Example
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser - Friday 03 July 1908-she is listed as taking examination in English History. The same newspaper in 1909, shows her taking part in a play called "Tom Jones"

Child number 7: Harry DIXON

Harry was born Lawrence Street, York in December 1857-his baptism record states: December 19th, 1857,by George Stuart, curate, Harry, son of Edward & Eliza Jane DIXON of Lawrence Street, York, Edward's occupation a contractor.

In the 1861 census he is recorded as being with the family in their Lawrence Street House, and ten years later, he is still with the family at their home in Micklegate, York but ten years after that he is aged 24 and a draper's assistant, unmarried at 25 Alice Street, Bishopwearmouth County Durham. Two years later he is living at "Paris House", High Street, Peckham, London, at is being visited by his mother. He is there when she dies on 16 November 1883. It looks as if Harry wasn't quite sure of the age of his mother, because on the certificate which her age shows as 52 years. The record below shows that in November of that year, Albert Dixon & his father Edward had to make a statutory declaration that Eliza at the time of her death was 53 years of age not 52.

His mother's death record shows that she died at the home of her son Hy Dixon aged 52 years, probably of disease of the heart, so no inquest then.

As far as I can tell Harry or sometimes called Henry never marries, never has children, lives alone all his life. He starts off life employed as a draper and somewhere along the line becomes a Commission Agent-someone who sells a company's products and gets paid on commission. He acted as an executor of his father's will in 1900, along with his brother Albert who was a solicitor. And be it further known that at the date hereunder written the last will and testament of the said deceased was proved and registered in the Principal Probate Registry of Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice, and that administration of all the estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to Harry DIXON of No. 18 Ruvigny Gardens, Putney in the County of Surrey Commissioner Agent and Albert DIXON of the City of Leeds solicitor the Sons of the deceased two of the executors named in the said will.

 He died in Putney, London on 8 October 1902 according to the National Probate Calendar & his father's gravestone in Manor Road Cemetery, Scarborough.

Also of HARRY, beloved son of the above who died in Putney Oct 8th 1902 aged 44 years.

 Probate Record states: 

DIXON, Harry of 6 Borneo-street Putney Surrey died 8 October 1902. Probate London 18 December to Mathilde Emilie DIXON widow effects £600.

That's a bit of a puzzle-Mathilde Emilie Dixon-as far as I can tell Harry wasn't married but it just shows how wrong you can be. Having found this probate record which must be correct because of the entry on Edward Dixon's gravestone, I went looking for a marriage record of Harry Dixon to Mathilde between 1891 & 1902, and sure enough on Free BmD I found this record.

Dixon Harry Islington 1b 409
Salzmann Mathilde Emilie Islington 1b 409

So then on Ancestry I found this record:

1899 Marriage solemnized at All Saints, Tufnell Park, Islington, London 349: February 22 1899, Harry Dixon, 41, Bachelor, Salesman, of 36 Challis Rd, Putney, son of Edward Dixon, gentleman & Mathilde Emilie Salzmann, 30, spinster, of 95 Mercer Rd, Putney, daughter of George Salzmann, Gentleman were married by Oscar Worner by banns in presence of Alice Roberts & ?

So Harry did marry at the age of 41 to a Mathilde Emilie Salzmann-she was age 30, but I can't find either of them in the 1901 Census, or what happened to Mathilde after the death of her husband. I went back to search again and found Harry & Mathilde in Moss Side, Manchester at 55 Heald Place, where Harry is now a shipping agent-his wife, a German National, now is caring for their 4 month old daughter Eileen F-I found an Eileen Frederica K. Dixon registered in the April quarter of 1900 in the Wandsworth Registration district which includes Putney. So it appears they left Moss Side soon after the census of 1901 and went back to Putney.

Child number 8: Charles DIXON

Charles was born in 1859 in York, in Lawrence Street. Charles survived childhood, and moved with the family to St Martin's House in Micklegate, where he is recorded in the 1871 Census, aged 12. Ten years later he is living in Christchurch, Hampshire, working as an ironmonger's assistant at Tetley House, Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth. His elder brother George Edward and his wife & 3 children have just emigrated to Cincinatti, USA, I can't find anything further about Charles until he marries an Anna Hansen in Idaho, USA. in 1897. Well I haven't found the marriage yet, the date is just based on the ages of their children and the entry in the 1900 Census for Portland, Oregon where it says she was a widow but had been married for 3 years.

Also on the gravestone of Edward Dixon at Manor Road Cemetery, Scarborough I found this inscription.

Also of Charles Dixon, son of the above who died Portland, Oregon, USA, October 29th, 1899, aged 40 years.

So Charles died before the 1900 Census of United States of America.I can see on the 1900 census at http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html , living in Portland

Anna Dixon, a widow, b. Jun 1872 Oregon parents Norway, married 3 years (crossed out), 2 children, 2 living-her children are Charles A, b. September 1899 Idaho, and Margaret L, b. Sep 1897, Idaho
The children give their father's birthplace as England.
Anna's father, Ole Hansen, b. Apr 1853 Norway, widowed.

They all live at 46 Precinct 9 Portland city Ward 3, Multnomah, Oregon, United States

 So in 1900, Anna has 2 living children, Margaret L & Charles A. 

About a year later, Edward Dixon was drafting his will and included in it was this instruction:-And with regard to the share of my deceased son Charles DIXON late of Lewiston United States of America I will and direct that the sum of three hundred and fifty pounds already advanced by me to him shall be deducted from the share which his wife and children shall be entitled to in the same manner as if he was living at my deceased and such share shall be paid to his wife or children in such manner and in such sum or sum or invested for their joint and several benefits as such my trustees shall think fit

So it seems that when Edward was drafting his will in September 1900, he already knew that Charles had formerly lived in Lewiston, and seeing as his children and wife Anna were from Idaho, this must refer to Lewiston in Idaho as opposed to any other state.

His widow, Anna, formerly Hansen, then re-married a Mr. Watson before 1910. Sometime between 1900 & 1910, Charles A Dixon becomes Albert Donald Dixon. I have traced both him and his sister through to their deaths. Albert Donald didn't marry, but his sister did. Both stayed in United States in Oregon. As yet I have been unable to trace their birth places, nor their father's death place & burial.

The census, available at Family Search, shows that Anna remained in Multnomah.

1910 North Bend, Coos, Oregon
Annie E Watson, born c1876, Oregon.  Parents born Norway.  Marriage 2: married 8 years.  Mother of 2 children, 2 still living. Occupation: Dressmaker, at home.
Louise M Dixon, daughter, born c1898 in Idaho.  Father born England, mother Oregon.
Albert D? Dixon, son, born c1900 in Idaho.  Father born England, mother Oregon.

 1920 Portland, Oregon

Anna Watson, born c1873 in Oregon.  Parents born Norway.  Widowed.  No occupation.
Albert Dixon, born c1900 in Idaho. Single.  Father born England, mother Oregon.  Clerk, RR Freight Office.
Louise Dixon, born c1898 in Idaho. Single.  Father born England, mother Oregon.  Bookkeeper, Dept Store

Louise Margaret married a a John Hicklin Smith on 10 July 1922: 

The Portland (Oregon) Telegram of June 21st gives the following account of the marriage 'of John Hicklin Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. V. Smith, and. formerly of Clay Center: A wedding of interest took place last Saturday when Miss Louise Watson married John Hicklin Smith. The ceremony was performed in Oregon City at St Paul's Episcopal church by Rev. Mc Clellan. Mr. and Mrs. Smith left for British Columbia and on their return will make their home - at the Brown apartments in Portland."

Albert Donald never married and died in 1952. Louise & John Smith had one daughter.

Child Number 9: Kate Dixon

Kate was born in the Lawrence Street house about July 1861, baptised at the nearby St Lawrence Parish Church on 22nd July 1861.

The record states "1202: July 22nd, 1861, by JJ Hodgson, curate, Kate, daughter of Edward & Eliza Jane DIXON of Lawrence Street, York, Edward's occupation, Contractor

I know little of Kate apart from her being with the family in the census of 1871 at their home in Micklegate and then she moved with them to Scarborough about 1873.Certainly she was with them in the 1881 census at Valley Bridge House, then aged 20, with no occupation. 

Kate married an Arthur Kirkness at Leeds Parish Church on 5 February 1886-

1886 Marriage at Leeds Parish Church, Yorkshire.
233: February 5 1886, Arthur Kirkness, 28, Bachelor, Draper, of Kensington Terrace, Leeds, son of Charles Kirkness, Draper & Kate Dixon, 24, spinster, of Ramshill Road, Scarborough, daughter of Edward Dixon late Army Contractor were married by licence by E J Birch, in presence of James Hey Kirkness & Amelia Wilkinson.

The Kirkness family were from Cowick, near Snaith & Goole in East Yorkshire, and were all in the drapery business. 

How Arthur & Kate met is a bit of a mystery seeing he lived in Leeds & she in Scarborough some 80 miles away. However there is this clue:

Advertisements & Notices
The Leeds Mercury (Leeds, England), Saturday, October 18, 1884; Issue 14518.

JUNIOR ASSISTANT wanted, for fancy drapery. Good window dresser. Apply, stating salary, references &c., Charles Kirkness, The Bar, Scarborough.

As you can see above, Arthur's father was Charles Kirkness a draper, who had a draper's shop in Scarborough in 1884. In fact he appears to have moved his shop from Leeds to Scarborough and later moved it back again unless he just had a shop in both places. The newspaper entries explains this idea. 

Advertisements & Notices

The Leeds Mercury  Saturday, January 10, 1874

Declining the FANCY DRAPERY BUSINESS at 156, BRIGGATE , LEEDS.

Charles Kirkness begs to inform his customers and the public that he is giving up his business at 154, Briggate, and will commence to SELL OFF the whole of his STOCK on MONDAY, January 12th. “The goods will be sold as marked, subject to a discount for cash of three shillings in the pound. The stock consists of Hosiery, Gloves, Dress and Mantle Trimmings, Black and coloured piece velvets, Crapes, Ribbon Velvets, Stays, Ribbons, Laces, Furs, Wool shirtings &c. 

So after their marriage in February 1886, Arthur & Kate move back to Scarborough, After 1886, according to Free BMD,  there are two children born in Scarborough with the surname Kirkness. Their names are Prudence Irene in 1888 & Florence May in 1889-there is also a record of a Prudence Kirkness, aged 69 dying in 1890 in the Scarborough registration area. However, by 1891, at the time of that census, Arthur & Kate have moved to Preston, Lancashire. They go to live at 13, Christian Road, Preston. Here at this address, with Arthur being employed as an artist. At first I wondered what sort of occupation Arthur had-an artist, a painter, but maybe not a portrait or landscape painter, not a man with an easel and brush, but maybe more like the man who would use his skills to paint on pottery. In 1883, for instance I found an article in a Bristol newspaper:-

ART WORK EXHIBITION .

The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (Bristol, England), Tuesday, November 6, 1883; Issue 11070.

A most varied and interesting exhibition of art work will be opened today in the room of the Bristol Society of Artist, No. 10 Park Street, and it is hoped that it will have the support of the public to the extent which it richly deserves, and that the promoters will be encouraged to make it an annual one.

 Messrs Jackson and Gosling are large contributors of hand-painted plaques and pilgrim bottles; and the specimens of terra cotta ware from the Hele Cross Works, Torquay are of a thoroughly artistic character. The plaques by Mr. Smith (King’s Lynn), Mr. Arthur Kirkness (Leeds), Mrs. Dugmore, Miss Bedingfield, Mr. Hill (Worcester) and Mrs. F.J. Miles are wonderfully clever. 

Despite frequent searching I have failed to find anything else in any newspaper about Arthur's painting. 

So The Kirkness family moved to Preston between 1889 & 1890. Florence May Kirkness though born in Scarborough wasn't baptised there, but in Preston, along with her newly born sister Margaret Gwendoline, who was born in the 3rd quarter of 1890, so July, August or September.

Both daughters were baptised at Christ Church Preston, which is in Victoria Road, Fulwood, both on the same day, 3 December 1890, both children recorded as living in 13, Christian Street, Preston, daughters of Arthur & Kate Kirkness, with Arthur's occupation, an artist. Today there is a Christian Road in Preston, not far from the railway station.

In the Census of 1891, the family were recorded as living in 13, Christian Road, with 2 daughters, and they can even afford a servant too.
The Census of 1891: 13, Christian Road, Preston

Arthur Kirkness, head, Married, age 33, Sculpture Artist (Painter), born Leeds, Yorkshire

Kate Kirkness, wife, married, age 29, Born York, Yorkshire

Florence M Kirkness, daughter, aged 1, born Scarborough, Yorkshire

Margaret G Kirkness, daughter, aged 4 months, Born Preston, Lancashire

 Margaret O Shaughnessey, born Leeds, Yorkshire, servant-maybe she came with them when they moved to Preston.
The Kirkness family stayed in Preston for quite some time, and in that time 4 more children were born to Arthur & Kate, though 2 of them died. Margaret Gwendoline was first to die, in September 1891. However on 2 September 1892, Ida was born at 13, Christian Street, followed by Arthur Herbert on 19 September 1894. Both of these children were baptised at the same time on 2 September 1895, in the church of St George, Hulme, which is in the Manchester area.

The record at St George's Church states for both these children states thus:

Born 2 September 1892, baptised 2 September 1895, Ida, daughter of Arthur & Kate Kirkness (maiden name Dixon, married in Leeds Parish Church, 1886), living at  13, Christian Road, Preston, Arthur’s occupation, Artist. (By Geoff Lovett)   

         

 Born 19 September 1894, baptised 2 September 1895, Arthur Herbert son of Arthur & Kate Kirkness, nee Dixon, married at Leeds Parish Church, 1886, living at 13, Christian Road, Preston, Arthur’s occupation, Artist.

It seems odd that Arthur & Kate should travel from Preston to Manchester to get their children baptised-it would take almost 90 minutes by train today, so maybe about the same in 1895.
Throughout 1896 Arthur advertises himself in the Preston HERALD:

So Arthur's business was at "The Arcade", Fishergate, Preston.

Their next child, named Reginald, was born but died in the March quarter of 1896-there is no baptism recorded for him.    

 Then on 29 June 1897, Marjorie Kirkness was also baptised in St George, Hulme in Manchester, she was born in Fulwood Preston like the others-the record states again

 Baptism: (Ancestry) 29 June, 1897 at Parish Church, St. George, Hulme, Lancashire, Marjorie daughter of Arthur Kirkness & kate Kirkness nee Dixon (married at Leeds Parish Church 1886), all living at Fulwood, Preston, Arthur Kirkness’s occupation, artist.

, 

So all this time, Kate & Arthur are living in Fulwood Preston with their growing brood of young children. Sometime, between June 1897 and April, 1901, they travel back to Leeds, and go to live in Burley as the census of 1901 states.

   1901 census: Kirkness: living at 11 Welton Place, Burley, Leeds

Arthur Kirkness, head, married, age 42, Draper’s Assistant, born Leeds, Yorkshire

Kate Kirkness, wife, married, aged 38, born York, Yorkshire

Florence M, daughter, single, age 11, born Scarborough, Yorkshire

Ida, daughter, s, age 8, born Preston, Lancashire

Arthur H. son, aged 6, born Preston, Lancashire

Marjorie, daughter, s, aged 3, born Preston, Lancashire
So Arthur has gone back to work in the Drapery business again, but some time in the next ten years he changes his occupation to coal dealer-a far cry from being an artist!

In the next ten years, the family stay in Leeds, with Arthur still being a coal agent. Here is the family in the 1911 Census:
1911 England census for Kate KIRKNESS Yorkshire West Riding, Leeds, 29.
26 Raglan Road, Leeds.
Arthur KIRKNESS, Head, 53, Married for 25 years with 5 children, (2 have died) by 1911. A Coal agent, born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Kate KIRKNESS, wife, 50, Married for 25 years, with 5 children, 2 having died(7 altogether), born York, Yorkshire
Florence May KIRKNESS, daughter, 21, Single, Tailoress, born Scarborough, Yorks.
Ida KIRKNESS, daughter, single, Professional Dancer, born Preston, Lancs.
Arthur Herbert KIRKNESS, son, 16, single, Artists Sign Writer, born Preston, Lancs.
Marjorie KIRKNESS, daughter, 13, Dressmaker’s Apprentice, born Preston, Lancs.
Edward Reginald KIRKNESS, 5, At School, born Leeds, Yorks.
Max KIRKNESS, son, 2, Born Leeds, Yorks.
Raglan Road is off Woodhouse Moor, near Leeds University, the house is no longer there now.

So in these ten years, Arthur & his family have moved from Burley in Leeds, to a house off Woodhouse Moor. In fact in 1906, we know they were living in Longley Road, Leeds. Their son, Edward Reginald, born according to the census in 1906, was christened at a Methodist Church.

The record states: Baptisms at Oxford Place Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Park Lane, Leeds.

April 2nd 1906, Edward Reginald son of Arthur & Kate KIRKNESS of 43, Longley Road, Born 28th November 1905, by SC Myers.

I can't find Longley Road, if that's what it reads, in Leeds.
So in the years between 1901 & 1911, Arthur & Kate have had 2 son, Edward Reginald & Max, both born in Leeds., Edward in 1905 & Max in 1909.
The eldest daughter Florence May KIRKNESS is living at home and working as a tailoress.
Her sister Ida is working as a professional dancer, and on census day is living & working from home.
Arthur Herbert KIRKNESS is a sign writer.
Marjorie KIRKNESS, a 13 year old dressmaker is working from home.
Then there are the 2 sons.

In the year 1912, the eldest daughter, Florence May KIRKNESS married Bertram Percy HARROP at Leeds Registry office. This is the record from Yorkshire BMD http://www.yorkshirebmd.org.uk/marriagesearch.php

KIRKNESS Florence M HARROP Bertram Percy Leeds Registered Building Leeds RB/176/200
In fact she and Bertram Percy HARROP married at Leeds Registry office on 30 January 1912. It turns out that Bertram Percy fought in the First World War, and his army records state that his next of kin was his wife, whom he married on that date at Leeds Registry office. The records also state that he and his wife May had a daughter Ida born 20 March 1912.  Bertram Percy joined the army, the Cheshire Rifles on 3 September 1914 but was declared medically unfit on 15 October 1914, so received a pension from the army-hence the records.
So it looks like the Harrop family lived in Leeds all their lives, just with daughter Ida, who married a Tom Andrew. Bertram Percy died in July 1943 in Leeds whilst Florence Mary as she was known died in the June quarter of 1978.
Florence, Ida, and Marjorie were all professional dancers, members of the Tiller girls a dance troupe. They travelled all around Europe.

In 1915, I found this article about Ida & Marjorie Kirkness in the Birmingham Mail.

Birmingham Mail - Friday 14 May 1915
His Honour Judge Amphlett continued the hearing at Birmingham County Court of the action brought by nine chorus girls of the “Now We Know” revue against the proprietor Edward G. Felton, to recover damaged for alleged wrongful dismissal. Mr Arthur Hall Wright appeared for the plaintiffs and Mr. Rabnett for the defendant. The plaintiff’s case was that they were dismissed summarily for failing to attend a “band call” at the Birmingham Gaiety Theatre last Monday morning. There was a matinee in the afternoon and two performances at night and they declared that if they had attended the first call they would have had no time for food and their health would have suffered. They were paid £1 7s 6d. a week, and this did not permit sending out for food to a restaurant. They had intended to ask for extra money for matinees, but it was denied that they had arranged to strike if it were not granted.
Three of the plaintiffs gave evidence yesterday, and this morning Ida Kirkness stated that they were entitled by agreement to two weeks’ notice. They did not always attend “band calls”, she said, and in reply to Mr. Rabnett, added that she did not know of the Lord Chamberlain’s regulation that there must be a full dress rehearsal of all revues before a public performance in order that the theatre manager might see that the regulations regarding dresses, tight, etc., were obeyed.
Mr. Rabnett: “Do you wear tights?”
Witness: No. In the first act we wear bare legs and short skirts.
Birmingham Daily Post - Saturday 15 May 1915
REVUE GIRLS in COURT
BIRMINGHAM ACTION SETTLED
The revue girls case was concluded at the Birmingham County Court yesterday, before Judge Amphlett K.C., the parties arriving at a settlement. The plaintiffs, who sued through their next (best?) friend, Pearl Hope, of 68, Bath Row, Birmingham were: Ethel M. Johnston, Ida Kirkness, Nan Whick, Mary (Marjorie) Kirkness, Pearl Hope, Nellie Ray, Connie Ray, Winifred Read and Hilda Bateman. They sought to recover from the defendant Edward G. Pelton, revue proprietor of the Market Hotel & Gaiety Theatre, Coleshill Street, Birmingham, £30 9s, the plaintiffs alleging breach of contract. The sum claimed was in respect of salaries of £1 7s 6d. a week, at which each plaintiff said she was engaged for matinee performances at West Bromwich and travelling expenses. The plaintiffs alleged they were summarily dismissed on May 10, and claimed two weeks wages.

Their father Arthur Kirkness had died earlier in March 1915:

 I have found is the burial of Arthur Kirkness:
I found this index and searched it on this address: https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/Leeds%20General%20Cemetery%20Burial%20Registers%20Index

 Name: Kirkness, Arthur, Gender: Male, Occupation or role: Agent, Date of death: 10/03/1915
Age at death: 57 Years, Cause of death: Pneumonia, Died at Leeds General Infirmary.
Burial details, Burial register: MS 421/3/1/20, Burial number: 69507, Plot number: 1056
Date of burial: 13/03/1915, Parental details
Mother: Kirkness, Margaret, Father: Kirkness, Charles
Occupation of parent(s): Draper

Two years later, Ida Kirkness married Alexander Harris Arundell:
1917 Marriage solemnized at Christ Church, Marylebone, London.
268: October 13 1917, Alexander Harris Arundell, 21, Bachelor, Lieutenant Royal Artillery, of 13, Dorset Square, London, son of William Rainfred Harris Arundell, Clerk in Holy Orders & Ida KIRKNESS, 24, spinster, of 13, Dorset Square, London, daughter of Arthur KIRKNESS, (deceased), Artist were married in presence of George Mould & Frank Edwards, by William Rainfred Harris Arundell, Recotor of S. Pool, Devon. (marriage record crossed out)
Entry Made in error, particularly by order of Registrar General-the marriage having already taken place at the Kensington Register Officer September 27, 1917.

It looks like, that though married, Ida continued with her dancing. Certainly she was living in Paris, France at one time, in 1928, because it was that year that her husband divorced her.

Western Morning News - Saturday 26 May 1928
SOUTH POOL DIVORCE PETITION
Lord Merrivale, in the Divorce Court yesterday, granted a decree nisi to Mr. Alexander Harris ARUNDELL, residing at the Rectory, South Pool, near Kingsbridge, because of mis-conduct between his wife Ida, and a correspondent named Barleza, at an address in Paris. The proceedings were not defended. The marriage was in September, 1917, and there was no issue.

I did manage to contact a relative of this family who sent me this information:

Kate was known as Moy to the family here in Leeds.  Kate married Arthur Kirkness, who was the son of Charles Kirkness.  The Kirkness's are from the small village of Cowick, near Goole, and were all in the Drapery business.  Charles had a decent sized shop in Briggate, Leeds.  Arthur and Kate lived in the same area I grew up in (near Yorkshire Telly, we didn't stray far!), and my mother vaguely remembers Moy as a small woman always in black and rather scary.  She had three daughters and two sons.  Florence was my Great Grandmother who I remember very well, and she, Ida and Marjorie were in one of the first Tiller Girl troupes to travel in Europe in the 1910's.   Very risque, but these ladies were quite a riot, according to my mother.

Ida and Margie married in Paris and Copenhagen respectively, and came to visit Leeds to stay with us when I was 6-12 years old in the 60's.  They were great fun and had great stories, but I don't remember them talking much about their mother to me.  Margie often made a point to go to visit Moy's grave, up near the university in Leeds (possibly moved about 30 years ago in a big building project?).  I wish I'd gone with her now, but it wasn't interesting to me then.  My Mum and I knew of the Scarborough connection, but are hazy on the details.  The aunts would talk about the place and I think occasionally go there during their trips.  Florence was born in Scarborough according to the census.  Seems like a far healthier place to have a child than the back streets of Leeds.

This person was Michael Andrew, grandson of Ida Harrop & Tom Andrew.

So Kate KIRKNESS nee DIXON was known by this Kirkness family as "Moy", a small, woman, always dressed in black & quite scary". Well certainly Kate lived for quite a long time after the death of her husband Arthur-he died in 1915, and she lived through the rest of World War 1 and the whole of World War 2, before dying in 1947.

Arthur Herbert KIRKNESS, in 1911 census, aged 16 is a signwriter. In 1914, he would have been 19, but at present I can't find any war records for him. Anyway after the war he married Gwendoline Mary Alice Bracewell on 6 June 1921:

1921 Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church, in the Parish of Woodside, Yorkshire.
202: June 6th 1921, Arthur Herbert KIRKNESS, 26 years, Bachelor, Scenic Artist, of 18 Kelsall Road, Leeds, son of Arthur KIRKNESS (deceased), a draper & Gwendoline Mary Alice BRACEWELL, 22 years, spinster, of the "Queens Arms" Hotel, Horsforth, daughter of William Henry BRACEWELL, hotel keeper. were married in the Parish Church by T W Story, vicar witnessed by Clarence & Georgina Bracewell.

It looks like scenic artists were in great demand, painting backgrounds in theatres. Anyway, they soon have a son born to them whom they name William Arthur KIRKNESS, born on 3 May 1922. As a young lad William loved aeroplanes, joining Leeds Model Aero Club, then the Air Cadets, so it's no wonder when the Second World War came along he joined the R.A. F. as this newspaper article illustrates:
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 23 August 1944
Awards to Airmen

Warrant Officer William Arthur KIRKNESS (22), who receives the D.F.M. is the only son of Mr. & Mrs Arthur KIRKNESS, Oxbridge, Low Lane, Horsforth. As a schoolboy he served in the old 52nd (Leeds) Squadron Air Cadets, and was a member of Leeds Model Aero Club.

After the war he met & married Mary "Marie" Thomspson, daughter of Norman Munro THOMPSON & his wife Alice Ethel THOMPSON nee GREEN in the December quarter of 1947. Their first child was a daughter, born in the March quarter of 1948, Susan P. KIRKNESS, who I understand now resides in Australia married to a Mr. Layton. William & Mary/Marie had a son called William Miles Arthur KIRKNESS born 1956, who died in 1971.

Marjorie Kirkness, known by Michael Andrew as Marjie, was also a dancer, and a tiller girl, travelling in Europe. She married someone at some time according to Michael in Copenhagen. That's as far I have been able to discover about her. If anyone knows anymore please let me know.

Edward Reginald Kirkness who was with the family in 1911, married Caroline Margurita Howden at St Simon's Parish Church, Leeds on 27 June 1933.At that time he was living at 76, Burley Lodge Road, Burley, Leeds. Maybe a trip to Leeds library will show his occupation if I can find the actual marriage record.Leeds St Margaret's is in Horsforth. Today I went to Leeds Central Library, Family History library and searched for this marriage. In order to find which church they married I had to consult Yorkshire Free BMD-:http://www.yorkshirebmd.org.uk/marriagesearch.php

KIRKNESS Edward R HOWDEN Caroline M St Simon, Leeds Leeds CE40/D/200
1933 Marriage solemnized at Parish Church of St Simon, Leeds: Page 100, record 200: 27 June 1933, Reginald KIRKNESS, 27, Bachelor, Sign Writer, 76 Burley Lodge Road, son of Arthur KIRKNESS (deceased), & Caroline Patricia HOWDEN, 24, spinster,10 Rillband Road,  daughter of Walter James HOWDEN, Lythographer were married in this church by Banns.

Caroline was the daughter Walter James Howden & Nellie Walker born 17 April, 1909, she died 15 December, 1986 at 35 Wynford Terrace, Leeds.

Free BMD Births Sep 1934
Kirkness Margaret B Howden Sculcoates 9d 142
Yorkshire Free BMD has this record.
KIRKNESS Margaret B Southcoates Hull SOC/46/126
Edward died the same year in the same place but on 21 April, 1986. It look like their home was in Horsforth, Leeds, just off the ring road.

Also in the library was this record for Edward Reginald KIRKNESS:
Yorkshire Post: 25 April, 1986, Page 2:
Obituary Mr.E. Reginald KIRKNESS
A widely known Leeds artist, Mr. E. Reginald KIRKNESS has died in hospital at the age of 80. He was president of Leeds Painting and Sketching Club and for 25 years Honorary Treasurer of Leeds Fine Arts Club. Mr. KIRKNESS, who lived at Wynford Terrace, Leeds was in business as a painting contractor. he brought the fine skills of a craftsman to his easel painting and showed exemplary care for the quality of his paint. He contributed not only to club shows but to represent at the public galleries in Yorkshire. He showed an exceptional gift for portraying the scene in industrial cities with those tall warehouses, factories and office buildings. He leaves a widow a son & daughter. The funeral service takes place today at Lawnswood Cemetery at 1-30pm.
On 21st April, 2017 I went to Lawnswood Cemetery, just outside Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire and found the Book of Remembrance open at the page for 21st April and sure enough there was the name of Edward Reginald KIRKNESS.

So Reginald & Caroline had 2 children, a son & daughter.

Also in Leeds library was this article about Kirkness & Co * Son, 3, Briggate, Milliners in Industries of Yorkshire, Pt 1st of Historical Publicity page 146.

C. KIRKNESS & Son, Milliners, 59 and 60, Briggate, Leeds:

The trade of milliner as a factor in the world of taste, fashion, and design has an able exposition in the firm of Messrs. C. KIRKNESS & Son. This business was established in Briggate in 1851, and has been conducted in the present premises for the past sixteen years. The partnership consists of Messrs. C. KIRKNESS and J. H. KIRKNESS, the concern having been placed under the title of Messrs. C. KIRKNESS & Son only within the last few months. The shop is a handsome and commodious structure, containing two elegant showrooms, above which are situated properly fitted dining rooms. The stock of Messrs. C. KIRKNESS & Son is noteworthy, embracing flowers, feathers, straw and felt hats., bonnets, ribbons, hosiery, gloves, parasols, frillings and furs etc etc., being of a specially rich and attractive character, a feature which it is a point of the firm to persistently maintain. The showrooms have recently been rebuilt, and since this change has been effected Messrs. C. KIRKNESS & Son, have had every reason for congratulation on the most satisfactory results. The ceilings are composed of pitch pine. The firm devotes special attention to the departments of millinery & fancy drapery. The trade of this establishment extends throughout Leeds and the surrounding district. An adequate staff of assistants are employed, and the establishment affords every indication of mercantile prosperity and due appreciation at the hands of the public.

Kate DIXON died 1947 and was also buried in Leeds General Cemetery:

Name: Kirkness, Kate, Gender: Female, Occupation or role: [Unknown]

Date of death: 04/05/1947, Age at death: 85 Years, Cause of death: [Unknown]

Burial details, Burial register: MS 421/3/1/25, Burial number: 5083

Plot number: 1056, Date of burial: 07/05/1947 The record further states that at the time of her  death she was living at 76, Burley Lodge Road. There are some more details but i have yet to view them-they are available online:

https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/603466/kirkness_kate?selection=Leeds%20General%20Cemetery%20Burial%20Registers%20Index&query=Kirkness%2C%20Kate&browseQuery=Search&sortBy=NameAsc&resultOffset=3

Max KIRKNESS was the next and last child to be born to Kate & Arthur KIRKNESS-unusual name I would have thought. Max was born 18 July 1908, so that might have been when the family were living on Raglan Road, off Woodhouse Moor. I can't find a record of his baptism yet, so haven't go anything to show where the family were living then. Anyway Max lived with his parents, he would have witnessed his father dying in 1915 when he was only 7 years of age-maybe he went with the family to the funeral. He wouldn't have taken part in World War 1, but maybe he took part in World War 2, when he would have been 31 when it started & 37 when it finished. Max married an Ada Bartle at Hunslet Parish Church on 3 August 1931. here is the record below and details will follow beneath this picture.

1931 Marriage solemnized at Hunslet Parish Church in the Parish of Hunslet, Leeds.
No. 493: August 3rd, 1931, Max KIRKNESS, 23, Bachelor, Motor Engineer, of 76, Burley Lodge Road, Leeds son of Arthur KIRKNESS (deceased), coal dealer& Ada BARTLE, 25, Spinster, of 3, Hillidge Grove, daughter of Thomas William BARTLE (deceased), Leather Roller were married in this church by Banns, witnessed by Edward Reginald KIRKNESS & Emma BARTLE.

So this record shows that Max's occupation in 1931 was a motor engineer & he lived at Burley Lodge Road, which I think was where his brother Edward Reginald was living at the time of his marriage 2 years later.

In 1934, young Max got into trouble with the law:

Lancashire Evening Post - Wednesday 23 May 1934
THEFT OF MOTOR CAR CLOCKS
BURNLEY MAN IN CHRAGE OF RECEIVING
BOUND OVER
Charles Albert Edgar POPKIN (25), described as a motor driver, of St George’s Road, Dagenham, was at Stretford Police Court today charged on remand with stealing a number of rear view mirror clocks, valued at 44s. each, from Ford’s Motor Works, Dagenham.
Charges of having received some of the stolen property, knowing it to be stolen were preferred against 6 men described as Charles H. Bevan (19), motor driver, Claude Road, Upton Park; William Westlake, (22), Motor salesman, Latimer-road, East Ham; Max KIRKNESS, motor driver, Longroyd-place, Dewsbury-road, Leeds; George William BIRD, (23), Earthring Road, Mansfield; James Crawshaw(32), Granville St, Harle Syke, Burnley, and George Bicker Courtney (21), motor driver, Content St. Ayr.
All the prisoners were found guilty, Popkin sent to prison for 6 months with hard labour, Bevan & Westlake dined £5 or a month’s imprisonment and the other defendants, bound over.

So in 1934, Max & Ada were living at Longroyd Place, Dewsbury-road, Leeds. 

 Again this couple died within a year of each other, Ada on 27 December 1989 at 7, St Hilda's Place, Leeds  then Max died a year later in June 1990-not found his will so no exact date as yet.

Now records show that Max & Ada had a son called Peter, born in 1932 & he died on 31 May 2007.

So that's all the children of Kate & Arthur KIRKNESS.

Child Number 10: Albert DIXON

Albert DIXON was born in 1863, at least his christening is recorded in York, St Lawrence Baptisms, 1308: 10th March, 1863, by John Robinson, vicar, Albert, son of Edward & Eliza Jane DIXON of St. Nicholas, York, Edward a contractor. There is a birth of Albert DIXON recorded in Leeds area in April 1863, so one of his parents must have been there to record it. Anyway, he was 2, when his brother William was born in 1865, & 3 when his sister Ada was born in 1866 & 4 when his brother William died in Grimston, Then he was 6 when his brother William Long Dixon was born in 1869 and 7 when his brother Vernon was born. By then the family were back in York. In the 1871 census Albert was recorded as being with his family in that house in Micklegate, York, as in that photograph below.

Child Number 11: William DIXON

William was born in the March quarter of 1865 in the Parish of St Nicholas, York & christened at York St Lawrence Church on April 3, 1865, as son of Edward & Eliza Jane DIXON, Edward being a contractor. The family then move to Grimston, where 2 years later William dies as this article demonstrates.The York Herald (York, England), Saturday, May 04, 1867; pg. 5; Issue 4916. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.
DEATHS: DIXON-On Sunday last, aged 2 years, William, youngest son of Mr. Edward DIXON, of Grimston, near York.

Child Number 12: Ada DIXON
Whilst the family are living in Grimston, just outside York, they have baby daughter which they name Ada. She too is christened at York St Lawrence Church, clearly their favourite church. The record their states: Entry 147: 24 December 1866, Ada, daughter of Edward & Eliza Jane DIXON, of Grimston, contractor by W R Worthington.  So Ada was in the family when a year later her baby brother William died. She was also a child of 3, when her brother William Long Dixon was born in 1869.and 4 when her brother Vernon was born.

She was at home with her parents and family in the 1871 census at their new home in Micklegate called St Martin's House.

Here's the census entry for Ada & her family then.

Micklegate, York, Entry 111, St Martin's House:
Edward DIXON, Head, Married, 42, Army Contractor, employing 4 men, born Leeds, Yorkshire
Eliza Jane DIXON, wife, married, 40, Wife, Born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Eliza Ann DIXON, daughter, unmarried, 23, Born Leeds, Yorkshire.
George E. DIXON, son, unmarried, 21, Ironmongers Apprentice, Born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Louisa DIXON, Daughter, unmarried, 19, Born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Mary Ann DIXON, daughter, unmarried, 16, Born York, Yorkshire
Eugenie Alberta DIXON, Daughter, unmarried, 14, Scholar Born York, Yorkshire.
Harry DIXON, son, Unmarried, 13, unmarried, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
Charles DIXON, son, Unmarried, 11, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
Kate DIXON, daughter, Unmarried, 8, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
Albert DIXON, son, unmarried, 6, Scholar, Born, York, Yorkshire.
Ada DIXON, daughter, unmarried, 4, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
William DIXON, son, unmarried, 2, Born York, Yorkshire.
Vernon DIXON, son, unmarried, 6 months, born York, Yorkshire

Some time probably when she was about 8 she went with her family to live at Valley Bridge House in Scarborough,  and I am sure she would have attended the wedding of her elder sister Louisa to Thomas Martindale, a Methodist Minister at the their Methodist Church in Aberdeen Walk, Scarboorugh on 6 November 1875. After all she would have been 9 at that time. 6 years later she is in the 1881 Census, aged 14 and at school.One wonders if she was able to attend the wedding of her sister Louisa in Beverley on 3rd July 1879, when she married a Grimsby builder called John Henry DOUGHTY. After all Beverley could be got to from Scarborough on the train. 

I don't have any records of which school she went to. Anyway 10 years later she has met and married a Harry Holroyd Hield.

Child Number 13: William Long DIXON
William Long Dixon was born 5 January, 1869 in Micklegate, York-he was christened at York

No. 1543: Born 5 January, christened January 27 1869, William Long, Son of Edward & Eliza Jane DIXON, of Micklgate, Contractor, by E D Sall, Officiating Minister
Source: Microfilm at Borthwick Institute of Archives, York.( I was at the Borthwick again a couple of days ago, looks like I will have to go back and check that entry again!
So William was born as William Long Dixon, Edward & Eliza's first son after their 11th child also called William had died whilst the family were living in Grimston, just outside York City Centre. Now the family were back in York City centre living at a house in Micklegate. I am not sure why they gave him the second forename LONG. In fact on looking at the entry on the microfilm, I thought it might have read son of as opposed to LONG.

Here's a photograph of the entry: 

Good, I was right, the entry does read 1869, not 1868. You can see the forename William Long-

Now hear are couple of other entries that do read son of, so I do think his second forename was Long.

When William Long Dixon was born on 5 January 1869 in York, Yorkshire, his father, Edward, was 40 and his mother, Eliza, was 38. He married Elsie Burns on 5 June 1896 in Manhattan, New York, USA. They had three children in 11 years. He died in New York, USA.

So that's the brief history of William, which I have only recently discovered, I couldn't find him in the census after 1881. 

William was born into a large family, his brother Vernon DIXON was born born before 12  September 1870, when William was about a year old. The Census of 1871, shows the family living in St Martin House.

Micklegate, York, Entry 111, St Martin's House:
Edward DIXON, Head, Married, 42, Army Contractor, employing 4 men, born Leeds, Yorkshire
Eliza Jane DIXON, wife, married, 40, Wife, Born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Eliza Ann DIXON, daughter, unmarried, 23, Born Leeds, Yorkshire.
George E. DIXON, son, unmarried, 21, Ironmongers Apprentice, Born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Louisa DIXON, Daughter, unmarried, 19, Born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Mary Ann DIXON, daughter, unmarried, 16, Born York, Yorkshire
Eugenie Alberta DIXON, Daughter, unmarried, 14, Scholar Born York, Yorkshire.
Harry DIXON, son, Unmarried, 13, unmarried, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
Charles DIXON, son, Unmarried, 11, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
Kate DIXON, daughter, Unmarried, 8, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
Albert DIXON, son, unmarried, 6, Scholar, Born, York, Yorkshire.
Ada DIXON, daughter, unmarried, 4, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
William DIXON, son, unmarried, 2, Born York, Yorkshire.
Vernon DIXON, son, unmarried, 6 months, born York, Yorkshire
You will note they haven't included his second forename, as they have other members of the family.
10 years later, William is recorded in the 1881 Census, but now the family have moved to Scarborough, Yorkshire.

148: Valley Bridge House:
Edward DIXON, Head, Married, 52, Retired Contractor, Born, Leeds, Yorkshire.
Eliza A. Dixon, wife, Married, Wife, born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Kate DIXON, daughter, Unmarried, Daughter, born York, Yorkshire.
Albert DIXON, Son, Unmarried, 18, No occupation, born York, Yorkshire
Ada DIXON, daughter, Unmarried, 14, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
William DIXON, Son, Unmarried, 12, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire
Vernon DIXON, Son, Unmarried, 10, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire.
Below is a modern day photograph of their home in 1881.

Now 10 years later in 1891, with his mother deceased & his father re-married, William is not at home with the family. Instead I found this New York Naturalization Document:

D250: DIXON, William L, at Common Pleas Court, New York County

Date of Naturalization: October 1-1891 bundle No. 690, Record No. 91

Address of Naturalized Person: 988, Jefferson Avenue, Bklyn, NY

Occupation: Reporter, Birth date or age: blank: Former Nationality: English

Port of Arrival in United States: Blank, Date of Arrival: Nov 18, 1883

Names, addresses & Occupations of Witnesses to Naturalization: Joseph McGuire, 988, Jefferson Avenue, Bklyn, NY.

Citing this Record

"New York Naturalization Index (Soundex), 1792-1906," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVT7-ZST1 : 13 February 2015), William L Dixon, 1891; citing , New York, New York, United States, Index to Naturalization Petitions filed in Federal, state and local court in New York, 1792-1906, NARA microfilm publication M1674 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 54; FHL microfilm 1,419,990.

He isn't in the 1890 Census for USA-The Eleventh United States Census was taken beginning June 2, 1890. The data was tabulated by machine for the first time.  Most of the 1890 census materials were destroyed in a 1921 fire and fragments of the US census population schedule exist only for the states of Alabama, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas.

William Dixon son of Edward Dixon & Eliza Dufton born England 1869 & Elsie Burns, daughter of Patrick Burns & Mary Keep, born Ireland, 1874, were married in Manhattan, New York, United States on 5 June 1896.

Citing this Record

"New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24CG-LGM : 20 March 2015), William Dixon and Elsie Burns, 05 Jun 1896; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,493,565.

 So William left Britain in 1883, when he was 15, and went to New York, if that record above is his of course, but the second forename William L might be a clue.His elder brother George Edward went to USA in 1881, and was in Cincinnati by 1883. 

I was amazed to find that record above of his marriage in New York City to Elsie Burns, daughter Patrick & Mary Burns nee Keep. William and his wife Mary had three children-I found them using Family Search.

I did find that William & Elsie did have a daughter called Mary A. Dixon, but she died in 1896

Wm. Dixon, Male & Elsie Burns Dixon had a daughter called Mary A Dixon

Who died at Manhattan, New York City, New York State on 05 Aug 1896

Aged,    0 years (so maybe at birth)

"New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W6G-G4B : 20 March 2015), Wm. Dixon in entry for Mary A Dixon, 05 Aug 1896; citing Death, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,322,916.

This is William & Family in the 1910 Census

William DIXON, head, married, aged 41, born England

Elsie Dixon Wife F 37 Ireland

Irene Dixon Daughter F 12 New York

Bernard Dixon Son M 9 New York

Event Place Bronx Assembly District 35, New York, New York, United States

This is William & Family in the 1920 census for New York:

William Dixon Head M 51 England

Elsie Dixon Wife F 45 Ireland

Bernard A Dixon Son M 18 New York

Albert E Dixon Son M 8 New York

Irene Schillhaneck Daughter F 20 New York

Irene Schillhaneck Granddaughter F 1 New York

Michael Fitzpatrick Lodger M 55 Ireland

You can see how William borrowed the name of his brother Albert Edward for his own son.

Albert E. Dixon

Marriage on 26 January 1930, in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

Son of William DIXON & Elsie BURNS, Aged 18, so born about 1912., bachelor & white married 

Mary A. Hackett, daughter of Patrick Hackett & Bridget O’Brien, aged 20 & white, so born 1910 in Ireland.

Citing this Record

"New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:248Q-1MR : 20 March 2015), Albert E. Dixon and Mary A. Hackett, 26 Jan 1930; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,653,973. Marion Dixon

Event Type Census

Event Date 1940

Event Place Assembly District 23, Manhattan, New York City, New York, New York, United States

Gender Female

Age 30

Marital Status Married

Race (Original) White

Race White

Relationship to Head of Household (Original) Wife

Relationship to Head of Household Wife

Birthplace Irish Free State

Birth Year (Estimated) 1910

Albert Dixon Head M 29 New York

Marion Dixon Wife F 30 Irish Free State

William Dixon Son M 8 New York

Joan Dixon Daughter F 6 New York

Citing this Record

"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3YY-QXZ : accessed 11 February 2017), Marion Dixon in household of Albert Dixon, Assembly District 23, Manhattan, New York City, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 31-2123, sheet 7A, line 25, family 134, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2676.

There's still a lot to do as regards this family.

So looking at William Edward Dixon, who was the son of Albert Edward DIXON & his wife Marion DIXON nee HACKETT. William was born on 18th December, 1831, at Bronx, New York. He was the first born son of Albert Edward DIXON & Marion DIXON, nee HACKETT.  

So looking at the 1940 Census, which is above from Family Search William is 8 years old, & his sister Joan, was 6 years of age. 

I know now that Joan Dixon still lives in New York somewhere, whereas her brother William died on 2 October 2006 at Naples, Collier, Florida. He has a son called Richard

Child Number 14: Vernon DIXON
Vernon was born in September 1870 at his parents house in Micklegate, York. He was christened at Holy Trinity Church: here is the baptism that I found at the University Library of York:

Baptisms solemnized at Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Micklegate, York: No. 1570: Vernon, son of Edward & Eliza DIXON of Micklegate, Contractor, by J. Metcalfe, Rector.
He was then listed in the 1871 census in York:


In 1881 & 1891 he was living with his family in Scarborough.

1881 Census: Vernon Dixon, aged 10, a scholar, at Valley Bridge House.


At the age of 13,  in 1883 he would have been at home in Scarborough, when he waved goodbye to his mother as she went off on the train to London to see his brother Harry who was living in Peckham, but then he would have heard that whilst there she died. No doubt he was present at her funeral that would have taken place in Scarborough, in November 1883, because she was the first to be buried in the newly purchased grave by Edward Dixon in Manor Road cemetery in Scarborough. In fact 1883, was quite a sad year for Vernon as his elder sister Louisa, who was then married to my great grandfather John Henry Doughty died in Grimsby on the 14th June.

I am sure he would then have been present when his father married Vernon's step-mother Mrs Annie Ikin, a surgeon's widow on 17th April 1890. By that date, Vernon had left school and was working as a plaintiff's clerk-the census of 1891 reflects this fact.

1891 Census for Edward DIXON & Family: Yorkshire, Scarborough, District 21
Entry no. 42, Primrose Lodge Drive:
Edward DIXON, Head, Married, 62, Living on own means, born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Annie V. A. DIXON, wife, Married, 50, Born Manchester, Lancashire
Vernon DIXON, son, single, 20, Plaintiff’s clerk, born York, Yorkshire.
 So he was the only one of his siblings living at home with his father & step-mother in that census of 1891-the remainder of his siblings all 12 of them were either deceased or had married and moved away from home.

In 1892, Vernon joined the staff of the London & Yorkshire Bank branch in Scarborough (see the information below that proves this)*

1. Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 10 August 1901
This newspaper reported on an action taken by a Mr Taylor who worked for a finance committee in Scarborough against the London & Yorkshire Bank company. The manager of the bank had disappeared, taking with him some money. Vernon Dixon appeared at the court appearance as an employee of the bank in Scarborough.
“Mr Vernon Dixon said he was at the Scarborough branch of the bank for some time and knew the trust account well. He had taken the pass book into the manager’s room when only Mr. Giddy (the manager) and Mr. Taylor were there. He never remembered any cheques been signed by Mr. Giddy alone and if he had seen them it was his duty to call attention to them”
So in August 1901 we know that Vernon Dixon was living and working in Scarborough then.

Then on 26 August 1900, his father Edward Dixon died, and he was buried in that grave where his mother was buried on the 29th August.  In September of that year he would have received his share of his father's will, probably about £500 which in 2017 would have been worth considerably more in fact around £56, 000 which gives a clue as to how well off Vernon was in 1900.

Then on 29 March 1901, his step-mother, Annie Augusta Dixon nee Wood died, leaving a will of £10,000, which was probably divided between the children-I have sent for a copy of this will to see what the actual result was, but if he received another £500, he would have had another £55,000.

I can't find Vernon in the 1901 census, but then with all that grief going on, with his father having died a year earlier and then his step-mother in March 1901, just a few days from the Census, maybe he just wasn't available. We know he was living in Scarborough then because  of that newspaper article about his appearance in court.

Somehow or other he met a lady called Edith Elizabeth Woulidge because there is a marriage record for them at West Yorkshire Archives. This states that on 11 February 1902 at Horton, All Saints, Vernon Dixon married Edith Elizabeth Woulidge, daughter of Benjamin & Eliza Woulidge. Horton All Saints is a church in Bradford, Yorkshire so a record could be seen at Bradford Library I think.

Anyway they did have son called Geoffrey Vernon Dixon born 21 October 1907 in Leeds, (source his death record) and Yorkshire Free BMD says: DIXON,Geoffrey V of Chapeltown, Leeds, CHAP/51/63: So maybe that was where Vernon & Edith were living in 1907, that is north Leeds.

 In fact his father's estate was re-valued in 1903, from £4,900 in 1900, to £13,311 5s 9d in 1903. So then Vernon would have received another £500 or as we know it another £56,000 on top of what he had already. 

This might explain why it was that Vernon changed his job from that of working for the London & Yorkshire Bank in Scarborough to becoming an accountant loaning money to people who were expecting to be the beneficiary of a will.

So Vernon is working in Leeds, Yorkshire from an office at 5, Wormald Row, Leeds.

2. Yorkshire Evening Post - Wednesday 25 October 1905
The above article is all about someone who was given money in a will, depositing the same with the bank, with the proviso that only persons in trust could withdraw it.
In this article in 1905, Vernon is no longer working for the bank but is in business for himself now as an accountant in Leeds.

 “Money or Property under Wills: Loans from 4 percent per annum, in large or small sums, or shares under wills-no preliminary charges: Write or Call: Vernon DIXON, Accountant, 5, Wormald Row, Leeds (twelve years with London & Yorkshire Bank) *

So Vernon is now doing quite well for himself, having moved from Chapeltown in Leeds to an address in Harrogate.

The census entry of 1911, finds that Vernon has moved to Harrogate:
Vernon DIXON in 1911 CENSUS
1911 Census for Vernon & Edith Elizabeth DIXON
43 East Parade, Harrogate:
Vernon DIXON, Head, 40, Married, Corporate Accountant, working on own account, born York, Yorkshire
Edith Elizabeth DIXON, Wife, 39, Married, married for 9 years, with one child, born Castle Donnington, Leicestershire
Geoffrey Vernon DIXON, Son, 3, Born Leeds, Yorkshire.
Ada BROWN, lady help, 21, Single, born Newton-le-Willows, Yorkshire
Ethel WILKINSON, servant, 17, single, General Servant, born South Stainley, Yorkshire.

Then 7 years later he moves his office to Bond Street, Leeds
3. Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Monday 14 October 1912
So this and other articles appear in this newspaper 5 years after the one above.
PERSONS ENTITLED TO MONEY OR PROPERTY UNDER WILLS: Immediate advances at 4٪ per annum (large or small sums) on expectations or incomes for life. Less repayable at fixed date or when legacy is paid if preferred. All Information Free: Apply VERNON DIXON, 25, Bond St, Leeds (14 years with one of the foremost Joint Stock in England.) Excellent references.
So now we know that Vernon joined the London & Yorkshire Bank in Scarborough in 1893.
All through 1912 and up 1919, this advertisement was repeated every month & every year.
So from 1912 to at least 1923 he is in Leeds, then moves to London as these next articles show, together with his home address whilst he was living there.

Then in 1923, Vernon & family have moved to London, for then this advert appears:
4. The Stage - Thursday 05 April 1923
WILL-EXPECTATIONS: LOANS of £50 upwards at 5 p.c. per annum (£15,000 for investment) to anyone entitled under WILL or LIFE INCOME repayable when share paid if desired.
No ordinary Money-lending entertained:
VERNON DIXON C. R. A. 61, New Oxford Street, W.C. (14 years with foremost bank)

All through that year and in 1924 Vernon was in the same office in London, doing the same thing as before, but then his wife died:
5.
Yorkshire Evening Post - Tuesday 23 September 1924
DEATHS: DIXON: Sept. 20, at 16, Dalkeith Road, West Dulwich, London S. E., Edith Elizabeth, beloved wife of Vernon DIXON, late of Leeds: Cremation at West Norwood today (Tuesday), Sept. 23.
6.  Then by November 1924, Vernon has moved to a new office in Piccadilly.
The Stage - Thursday 27 November 1924
WILL-EXPECTATIONS: LOANS of £50 upwards at 5 p.c. per annum (£15,000 for investment) to anyone entitled under WILL or LIFE INCOME repayable when share paid if desired.
No ordinary Money-lending entertained:
7. VERNON DIXON C. R. A Criterion Buildings, Piccadilly Circus, W.1., then sometime later by 1927 the office was in 24, Lower Regent Street, opposite New Plaza Theatre.
8. By 1939, Vernon was still doing the same thing but now from his office at 17, Shaftesbury Avenue (Corner of Piccadilly Circus) W.1. Whitehall 1162