The Dixon family

Thornbury

The Dixon family of Thornbury were what we would call today 'travellers'.  Our story starts with:

Robert Dixon and his wife, Jemima.   Our first record of them in Thornbury is the 1871 census which shows them 'living under canvas in Thornbury. Robert was a tinman aged 38 from the Forest of Dean.  Jemima was aged 39 from Lackhampton in Gloucestershire.  They had 9 children: Luke aged 19, Ellen aged 14, John aged 12, Sarah aged 10, Matthew aged 8, Charity aged 6, Mary Jane aged 4, Mark aged 2 and Emily aged 6 weeks.  All nine children were born in different places!

The 1881 census shows Robert had a proper roof over his head.  He was living in Lower Bath Road, at the house which later became known as 4 Rock Street.  Robert was described as a travelling hawker and they now only had six of their children living with them.

In 1891 Robert and Jemima were living in Chapel Street with their widowed daughter, Ellen Davis and her daughter, Keeley.  The 1893 Voters List shows that Robert Dixon was living in Horseshoe Lane - we are not sure if they were living in the same house as his son, Luke, who was also living there, but it seems likely.   

In 1901 Robert was living in a 3-roomed house at 7 Upper Bath Road - he was a widower and 'certificated pedlar'.  Jemima had died in 1895 aged 66.  Robert died in 1902 aged 64.

Of Robert and Jemima's children, two figure in what we have found so far:

Luke Dixon
Luke was born about 1852, the eldest son of Robert and Jemima Dixon.  In 1871 Luke, then aged 19, was working as tinmen like his father. 

We can find no trace of Luke and Jemima's marriage.  In 1881 census, they were listed as living in Winterbourne Trench Lane Cabelos - we are not sure what 'cabelos' were but two families were living there.  Both Luke and his next door neighbour were both tinplate workers.  They had 5 children: Mark aged 7, Ada aged 5, Julia aged 4, Sydney aged 2 and Athelina aged 5 months.  Only Ada was described as a scholar.

In 1891 Luke and Jemima were back in Thornbury living in 17 Horseshoe Lane.  The census shows Luke Dixon, a general labourer aged 31 from Newport, Gloucestershire and his wife, Jemima aged 34 born in Nettleton.  They had children: Mark aged 18 born in Surrey, Ada aged 16 born in Newport, Glos,  Julia aged 13 born in Hereford, Sidney aged 12 born in Crossways, Athelina aged 10 born in Acton Lane, Yate, Martha aged 7 born in Rudgeway and Maurice aged 1 born in Stanwell, Middlesex.  These details show that Luke also had the habit of 'moving on'.

From time to time, Luke seemed to get into trouble with the Law.   In 1890, Luke, described as a gypsy, was charged with camping on the highway at Mumbleys Hill and fined 17 shillings including costs.  In the same issue of the newspaper there was a brief mention of a similar offence for which he was charged with in Berkeley and fined 5 shillings plus costs.

In 1892, he was charged with stealing 24lb of hay, valued at 10d, from the farm of Thomas Anstey.  Apparently Luke had left a trail of hay leading from the farm back to his property which the police were able to follow and matched the hay in Anstey's barn with some found in Luke's manger.  He was fined £2, 'there being other convictions recorded'.

Finally, in 1895 Luke was charged with making a bonfire within 50ft of the centre of the carriageway at Tytherington to the injury of the highway and he was fined £1 with 6 shillings and 6 pence costs.

By 1901 Luke and Jemima had moved again, this time to Gillingstool.  Their daughter, Julia, is living next door with her husband Goliath Cole and their daughter, Gertrude Cole aged 1.  Luke and Jemima's son, Mark, and his family are living next to the Coles.  Luke, his son, Sidney, Goliath Cole and Mark Dixon are all now working as clothes peg makers. 

Luke is listed as a 'hawker' in the 1904 Thornbury Trade Directory.  Jemima died in 1918 aged 62 years.  Luke died in 1922 aged 69.

Three of Luke's children feature in the information we have researched so far.  Click here to read more about his children

Mark Dixon
Mark was born in Tockington or Almondsbury about 1869, the eighth child of Robert and Jemima Dixon. 

Mark was a groom but we haven't been able to trace his marriage to Florence who was born about 1867/8.  In September quarter of 1894 they had a son, Austin.  The 1896 Voters List shows they had moved from Horse Shoe Lane to Outer Back Street (which is now known as Rock Street).  The 1899 Rate Book show that they were living in the house which later became known as 7 Rock Street.   Mark died aged 29 years and was buried on 12 August 1898.  In the 1901 census, Florence was a charwoman aged 33 living in the 2-roomed house with Austin aged 6.  The Rate Books show that Florence continued to live there until at least 1910.

At some time between 1910 and 1918 Florence and Austin moved to the cottage at 5 Gloucester Road.  Austin continued living with his mother until he married on 28th July 1926.  He was then aged 31 and working as a motor driver.  His wife was  Lily Harris, the daughter of William G. Harris.  Austin died April 27th 1956 aged 61 years.

This page was last updated: 21/10/2008