DIXON, brickmaker, St Albans, 19th century

July, 2003

Jan Johnston (bojanka @t bigpond.net.au) of Perth, Western Australia, writes: I've just been browsing through your site and have found mention of a family I believe to be part of my research.  You have listed James Dixon (the brickmaker) and his family as living at Sopwell Lane in the 1881 census. [see James Dixon]  I have a Richard Dixon who was listed on the IGI as Christened 31 March 1861 at the Abbey, parents being James Dixon & Susan.  I have no record of Richard living with his parents, and wonder if you can confirm him being part of this particular Dixon Family.  On the 1881 census I have found a Richard Dixon living at Market Place with Alfred Coles, his occupation being a Baker.

The Richard Dixon who I am researching was a baker and listed with my GtGtGrandmother on the 1901 census living at New Kent Rd, St Albans. 

He was her 2nd husband.  ( first one being Francis Ward who you kindly helped me out with information a while back now. ) [see WARD, Abbey & Abbey Gateway, St Albans, 1870/80s]  I'm hoping you may be able to confirm that Richard was indeed a part of this family, so I can place him at last.

The IGI index at familysearch shows the following children of James and Susan Dixon baptised at St Albans Abbey during the relevant period

• 1859 Sarah Ann
• 1861 Richard (he would have been alive at the time of the 1861 census)
• 1862 Mary Ann
• 1864 John
• 1865 Emily
• 1868 Ellen
• 1871 Eliza Ann

 This is consistent with the family described from other sources on James Dixon, brickmaker and it is reasonable to provisionally assume that James Dixon, brickmaker and Susan are your Richard Dixon's parents. However the examples in Right Name, Wrong Body indicate that caution is necessary - so at the very least you should get Richard and Sarah's marriage certificate, Richard's birth certificate, and James and Susan's marriage certificate from HALS. You should also be able to make arrangements to view the microfilms of the St Albans Abbey registers and at least the 1861 census - using the address given on Richard's birth certificate.

It is a supporting fact that Francis Ward was a bricklayer at the time James Dixon was a brickmaker - as they probably knew each other - and moved in similar social circles.

There is a web page for St Albans and pages relating to The Brickmakers of St Albans.

If you can add to the information given above tell me.