William DIXON of York, Maine

DIXON

1. JAMES-

James was a tenant of Groton Manor in 1605 where John Winthrop's grandfather was Lord of the Manor.

St. Bartholomew's church- Groton

Issue-

  • 2I. WILLIAM- b. Groton, Suffolk, m. JOANE ______, will 13 Feb. 1665/6


    2I. WILLIAM (JAMES 1)

    b. Groton, Suffolk
    m. JOANE ______
    will 13 Feb. 1665/6, inventory 22 March 1666 �113/5/0

    William came in 1630 as a servant to Gov. John Winthrop who had paid his passage.(1) In 1635 he had jumped his bail to come to York leaving some unsettled accounts which became the subject of correspondence between Gov. Thomas Gorges and Winthrop.(2)

    In 1633 George Newman acquired the house and lot known as the William Dixon lot on the harbor front.(3) On 13 Jan. 1636/7 he bought the house and lot formerly owned by Newman opposite Harker's Island and Roger's Cove where he lived 30 years a cooper having a shop and a wharf on his house lot.(4)

    Joane was the mother of Dorothy, wife of William Moore but, apparently Dorothy was Wiliam Dixon's stepdaughter. In 1686 the court ordered the Moores to take their mother Joane Dixon to their home and maintain her out of the estate willed to her by her husband William Dixon.

    William had an account with Florence Chapman through William Hooke 23 June 1647(5). He was a juror in 1649 and on 24 June 1650 he sold land which he had purchased of George Parker. He took the oath of allegience to Massachusetts 22 Nov. 1652.(6)

    Submission to Massachusetts

    In 1653 the town began to grant tracts of land above Bass Creek to the northwest limits of the Patent, William received a 20 acre lot which was passed on to his heirs.

    William along with many others was not satisfied with the division of Godfrey's land and they signed a petition to the general court in Boston stating their opinion. However, the awards were never changed.(7)

    Petition to the General Court- Page 1, Page 2

    Map of York- Gorges and Ferry Necks- from Banks' History of York, Map of York- Lower Town- from Banks' History of York, Map of York- showing the homes of the people who signed the submission to Massachusetts in 1652

    He was evidently satisfied with the Massachusetts government as he signed the petition to Cromwell which referred to the complaints presented to the Protector by "some gentlemen of worth" (i.e. Godfrey) for restitution of their right of jurisdiction and asked that they be not heeded, intimating that they are instigated by "professed Royalists whose breathings that way... have been so farre stifled."(8)

    Issue-

  • I. James- d.s.p., living in 1668
  • II. Susannah- m. ______ Frost, returned to England
  • III. Ann- m. John Brawn (will 8 Oct. 1703-29 May 1704) d.s.p.
  • 3IV. ______- m. HENRY (2) MILBURY

    Ref:

    (1) MA Col. Rec.- Vol.1, p.105
    (2) Ibid- Vol.7, p.333
    (3) York Deeds- Vol.8, p.210
    (4) "History of York, Maine"- Banks, Vol.2, p.207
    (5) Notary William Aspinwall's Notebook- quoted by Pope
    (6) Mass. Archives- Vol.3, p.199
    (7) Ibid- Vol.3, p.237
    (8) Ibid- p.242

    "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire"- p.197
    "Pioneers of Maine & New Hampshire"- pp.56-7
    "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England"- Savage, Vol.II, p.54


    1. WILLIAM- of Hawkstead

    Issue-

    2I. JOHN- m. ANNE (2) De ROS, d. 1528

    Ref:

    "The Ancestry of Sarah Miller 1755-1840"- Walter Goodwin Davis, p.77


    2I. JOHN (WILLIAM 1)

    m. ANNE (2) De ROS
    d. 1528

    John lived in London and Furness Fells.

    Issue-

  • 3I. MILES- m. ELIZABETH ______, d.1571, bur. Hawkstead Church
  • II. Margaret- m. George Sandys of London

    Ref:

    "The Ancestry of Sarah Miller 1755-1840"- Walter Goodwin Davis, p.77
    "Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants"- Vol.I, p.190


    3I. MILES (WILLIAM 1, JOHN 2)

    m. ELIZABETH ______
    d. 1571
    bur. Hawkstead Church

    In the manor rolls of Torvin (Torver?), Furness in 1560 Miles and Elizabeth gave one tenement and two oxgangs of land for Elizabeth's use for life with the remainder going to her son George. On 5 Oct. 1573 George Dixon of Ramshaw, Durham, son and heir of Miles and Elizabeth his wife, both deceased, admitted to one tenement and two oxgangs of land.

    Whether or not this is the same George as the one of Ramshaw Hall is subject to debate. Andrew MacEwen, a very prominent Scottish genealogist is of the opinion that the two records which prove George's ancestry are "phony" for several reasons as did Walter Davis. For one these entries pertain to a place which cannot be located unless it refers to Torver, a township in the parish of Ulverstone, Furness, Lanc. Also the records are too neat. Not only do they prove the parentage of George Dixon, but it connects him with both Ramshaw, his only known home, and Hawkstead. Also given the fact that he was 46 in 1599 it seems unlikely that at the age of barely 20 years he was already settled in a distant locality from his family's home. Davis states that the manor roll for Torvin should be examined, if it can be located to find out whether or not the residence of George Dixon was so definitely stated. Furthermore there is the evidence of arms. John Dixon, father of Miles, bore Gules, a fleur-de- lys or, a chief ermine, whereas George Dixon had confirmed to him in 1615 Gules, on a bond or three torteaux between six plates, a chief ermine. It seems unusual that George would have adopted a completely different coat of arms when it would have been more natural for him to take pride in an ancient coat. Davis also states that there are many Dixons in Durham and if it had not been for the above entries it would have been most natural to expect a Durham origin for the Ramshaw family. Davis concludes by stating that further study may disprove the Dixon-Johnson pedigree, leaving the field free for the Durham hypothesis. It is also interesting to note that George of Ramshaw did not leave anything in his will to the poor of Hawkstead, his purported birthplace, which was a common practice during this period of time.

    Issue-

  • ?4I. GEORGE- b.c.1553, m.1. Susanna ______ (bur. 29 Nov. 1612 Cockfield) 2. c.1616 ANNE (3) WATTS
  • II. Robert- St. John's College 1566, BA St. Catherine's 1570/1, MA 1574, incumbent of Cockfield, Durham

    Ref:

    "The Ancestry of Sarah Miller 1755-1840"- Walter Goodwin Davis, p.77


    4I. GEORGE (WILLIAM 1, JOHN 2, MILES 3)

    b.c.1553
    m.1. Susanna ______ (bur. 29 Nov. 1612 Cockfield, Durham)
    2. c.1616 ANNE (3) WATTS
    will 19 March 1630/1-12 June 1631, Inq. P.M. 14 May 1632

    At Michaelmas 1569, three years after his brother graduated from Cambridge George was admitted to St. John's but the Cambridge records show nothing further.

    Ramshaw Hall

    George of Ramshaw Hall, St. Helen Auckland was the bailiff and collector of the barony of Evenwood for the Bishops of Durham from 1577 until his death.

    Georges holdings at Ramshaw are given in the records of the Court Baron of Evenwood:

    "June 3, 1589. To this court came Thomas Wilde and demised to George Dixon the moiety of the moiety of a parcel of land lying on the west of Ramshawe Field, and the moiety of the moiety of a close called 'le knightes field' and the moiety of the moiety of another parcel of 'Knightes feild' and three roods of land called 'le Wegarthe' and 'Lelounge' to hold to the same George from the feast of the Invention of Holy Cross last for eleven years".(1)

    John Fulthorpe and George took an inventory of Barnard Castle in 1592.(2)

    "October 23, 1596. To this court came George Dixon and took of the lord's waste a parcel of land lying on the north of the new house of the same George at Ramshaw extending in length by the hedge of the close called 'knightes feild' toward the east as far as the close called 'Wildes calfe close' to hold to the same George and his issue, rendering yearly 4d."(3)

    In the case of Jervis vs. Horsfall 22 Sept. 1599 George, age 46, gave evidence concerning the delivery of documents by Sir William Bowes to Ralph Bowes at Raby Castle with Robert Dixon being present.(4)

    In 1615 Richard St. George, Norroy, made a visitation of the county of Durham during which he confirmed to George the following arms: Gules, on a bend or three torteacex between six plates, a chief ermine. He also granted him a crest: a cubit arm erminois, cuffed argent, hand proper, holding a roundel of the first.(5)

    "October 13, 1615. To this court came George Dixon of Rampshawe, gent., and took of the lord a parcel of land built upon lying upon 'le batts' near the wall of the park, containing in length 50 virgates and in breadth 11 virgates, which Gregory Robson, out of court at Bishop Aikland, 14 Sept. 1615 surrendered to the use of the said George and his issue."(6)

    "October 11, 1616 William Dixon, son and heir apparent of George Dixon, gent., came to this court and took of the lord 4 acres and 1/2 rood of land, of the tenure of George Dixon, called Ramshaw and a third part of 'le knight feild' lying on the west of the same extending from 'le eastbancke' of Oldwalles and thus from 'weststanche' of 'ladyfeild' and 4 acres of land lying at the west end of Knightfield as far as the water there and thus going up to the east end of the field called 'ladyfeild' and 1 acre of land on the east side of 'ladyfeild' by the water of 'Gawncleze' and 1/2 acre of land called 'Knightfeild loning' lying between 'Gawncleze' and 'Knightfeild' which George Dixon, gent., surrendered to the use of William Dixon and his issue. To this court came William Dixon and demised to George Dixon, gent., his father, the premises abovenamed, for the term of the life of George Dixon."(7)

    George made his will 19 March 1630/1 the original of which is reported as being missing. He directed that he be buried next to his wife Susanna at the Cockfield Church. He gave his wife Anne "Knightfield" and the Prebend of West Auckland and Evenwood for the education of Matthias, Anne and John; to be given to his son Thomas if Matthias and John did not survive and to be given to his son William and his grandson Robert if Thomas died. He gave his daughter Anne a great caldron. As William owed his father �300 George directed that he pay off some of his debts to various people including his son-in-law John Corney, Vicar of Orton. He directed that his wife and William take care of his daughter Susan Egglestone's children and his daughter Mary's two children. He gave John Corney one 3 year old. He directed his cousin Thomas Dixon, minister of Winston to preach at his burial and he was given one colt. George gave his grandson Robert Dixon one ewe and a lamb and to John Robinson one lambe. He gave his son Thomas his choice of Craghill in Evenwood Park or Bowes closes. The residue of the estate went to his wife Anne, his son Matthias, his daughter Anne and his youngest son John and he made them his executors. The inventory of his estate was �292/12/6.(8)

    St. Mary the Virgin- Cockfield, Durham

    In 1632 Richard, Lord Bishop of Durham sued Ann, widow of George Dixon who was appointed collector of rents and perquisites of the Halmoote Court of Evenwood in 1626.(9)

    Anne then went with her daughter and son-in-law to her brother's plantation in Scarborough and last mention of her was in 1673 when she witnessed a deed.(10)

    Issue- first five children by Susanna, next four by Anne

  • I. Grace- m. 3 June 1602 St. Helen Auckland, Rev. John Corney (bur. 15 July 1643 Orton, Westmorland)
  • II. Susanna- m. Cuthbert Egglestone, d. before 1630
  • III. Mary- m. Nicholas Blackett, d. before 1630
  • IV. William- b.c.1583, m. 1. Frances ______, (bur. 7 Feb. 1614/5 Cockfield) 2. Jane ______, (bur. 1 Jan. 1636/7 Cockfield) 3. 1 Jan. 1627/8 St. Helen Auckland,Anne Bowser, bur. 9 Mar. 1637/8 Cockfield, Inq. P.M. 18 Jan. 1639/0(11). William was admitted to Gray's Inn, London 3 Feb. 1607/8.
  • V. Thomas- collector & bailiff of Evenwood
  • VI. Matthew- bpt. 9 Mar. 1616/7, alive in 1631
  • VII. George- bpt. 4 July 1619, d. before 1631
  • 5VIII. ANNE- bpt. 9 June 1620, m. RALPH (5) ALLISON
  • IX. John- bpt. 14 Dec. 1630

    Ref:

    (1) Durham Halmoot Book- No.25, fol.39
    (2) "History of Durham"- Surtee, Vol.IV, p.87
    (3) Durham Halmoot Book- No.25, fol.221
    (4) Exchequer Deposition- Hilary, 42 Elizabeth I, No.13
    (5) "Durham Visitation Pedigrees"- Joseph Foster, p.108
    (6) Durham Halmoot Book- No.28, fol.264
    (7) Ibid- fol.9
    (8) Durham Probate Registry; Durham Inq. P.M., portfolio 186, No.83; "Decrees and Orders in the Chancery of Durham, Durham"- 4/1
    (9) Durham Depositions- Class VII, bundle 30
    (10) York Deeds- II, 148
    (11) Durham Inq. P.M.- portfolio 188, No.126

    "The Ancestry of Sarah Miller 1755-1840"- Walter Goodwin Davis, pp.73-80
    Parish Registers- St. Helen Auckland, Cockfield; Orton, Westmorland


    Return to Home Page