Ann (Booth) Dixon (abt. 1789 - 1854)

Born about 14 Dec 1789 in York, Yorkshire, England

Wife of Ralph Dixon — married 29 Jul 1808 in Dublin,,,

Descendants

Died 2 Feb 1854 at about age 64 in Staindrop, Durham, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Ann was born on 14 December 1789 in York, Yorkshire, England. She was the daughter of John Howard Booth and Mary (Harrison) Booth.^[1]

Ann was baptised on 19 December 1789 in All Saints North Street, York, England.^[2]

Her obituary (author unknown) reads as follows:

ANN DIXON, Staindrop. Died 2nd December, 1854 aged 64 years.

This dear friend was the widow of Ralph Dixon, of Staindrop, a memoir of who appeared in the Annual Monitor for last year. She was deprived of paternal care when very young, and her mother imprudently uniting herself in marriage to a sergeant of the 31st regiment of foot, brought upon herself and children many trials and privations. The soldier’s wives and families accompanied the regiment in its various marches in England, Scotland and Ireland and also when it joined the army in Holland. The extreme sufferings of the British soldiers during their campaign in that country are minutely described by Daniel Wheeler in his journal. They were also with the regiment at Gibraltar, on the island of Minorca and other parts of the Mediterranean. Her stepfather was a very intemperate man and mostly consumed his pay in intoxicating liquors, leaving his poor wife and children to provide for themselves by working for the officers and men. On the return of the regiment a second time to Ireland, she became acquainted with Ralph Dixon, and was united to him in marriage. Through all she seems to have been mercifully preserved by a kind Providence. Her husband, referring to his marriage in the memoranda he has left behind and speaking of his wife says “She was a prudent and industrious young woman and a better wife than I deserved or had any reason to expect.”

When Ann was 18 she married on 29 July 1808 in Dublin, Ireland.

They had not long been married before the regiment sailed from the Cove of Cork, for actual service in Spain and Portugal, and landed at Lisbon. She accompanied her husband during many a weary march in that land but the soldiers wives being found a great incumbrance they returned to Lisbon and were all sent back in a transport vessel to England - this vessel being sadly overcrowded and without either doctor or medicine on board, many died during the passage. Our dear friend did not escape from a large share of both bodily and mental suffering during this voyage, yet she was permitted to reach her native land in safety, and joined her mother at Cowes on the Isle of Wight where she remained until the return of her wounded husband.

Ann Dixon never had the privilege of being at school, by a little assistance from her mother she was enabled to read the Scriptures and acquired the art of writing from her husband after they had settled down at Staindrop, his native village. Her natural abilities were good and her judgment sound, notwithstanding the deficiency in her education. The many hardships and great deliverances they had experienced, gave both to the mind of herself and husband a serious turn, and through the pious influence of his mother and brother who were Methodists, they were induced to attend the meetings of that body and afterwards to unite with them in church fellowship. She continued a member of the Wesleyan Society for sometime after her husband left it. He, knowing the integrity of her heart, did all in his power to give her every opportunity not only of attending their preaching’s but also the class and prayer meetings.

Although she felt much love to her mother and brother in law and many other worthy Methodists, yet she became so dissatisfied with their forms and modes of worship that she could no longer continue united with them but resigned her membership and attended with her husband the meetings of Friends. These meetings were mostly held in silence, yet she expressed herself as closely united in spirit to the living members with whom she was now associated. Her husband took great delight in reading to her the history of the society, the journals and other writings of Friends. When he was engaged in his shop, as her older children grew up around her it was her practice to assemble them in the evening and to encourage them to read in their turns serious books, particularly memoirs of deceased young persons endeavouring to impress upon their young minds the uncertainty of life and the necessity of preparation for the solemn change whenever it might overtake them. The earnestness of these appeals, and the precious feelings which accompanied them, remain fresh in the remembrance of her oldest surviving children. Several of her beloved offspring were cut down in the vigor of youth. She bowed under these chastenings with Christian resignation, feeling assured that through adorable mercy they had a bright and blessed hope of a glorious immortality.

The poverty and sufferings of her early life quickened her sympathies for her poor and afflicted neighbours and she seldom left her own house unless bent on errands of mercy and assisted by her husband she often had the satisfaction of relieving the wants and soothing the suffering of those around her.

She was naturally of a hasty temper by giving way to which she was often brought under condemnation, but Divine grace eventually triumphed over all and she became meek and gentle as a lamb.

To adapt her expenditure to her husband’s pecuniary circumstances was her great anxiety. In order that they might keep within their small income, she wrought with her own hands and used the greatest frugality in every department of her domestic arrangements.

For several years before her death she suffered from paroxysms of asthma, which prevented her sleeping in the early part of the night, during these long waking hours when all were at rest but herself she felt her chief consolation in perusing the sacred page. She loved especially to read the Book of Psalms, the penitential, trustful and joyous language of the Shepherd King was doubtless often applicable to her own condition and produced in her mind those devotional feelings which she wished above all to cherish.

A ministering friend from a distance in a family visit, having been brought into a feeling of her condition, gave her great comfort. She often dwelt on the encouraging language of the Psalmist which he had revived, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

She felt the loss of her beloved husband keenly, and though for some time after rather better than usual, she seemed impressed with the belief that she should soon follow him and in all her engagements kept this in view. In the latter end of the 11th month she took a cold, which so much aggravated her old complaint that it was evident she could not long survive the shock. Her son from a distance had been sent for to see his sister, who was suffering from severe indisposition. On his arrival he was pleased to find her much better, but sorry to observe his dear mother in extreme suffering. She told him that she felt her end very near and that it was herself whom he had come to see for the last time. She afterwards informed her children how she had endeavoured to act up to what she saw to be right according to her small measure, although in many things she felt she had come far short, yet she believed that through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus her Saviour, her sins were blotted out, reviving the language of the prophet – “Through your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” She requested her son who was sitting with her to read a psalm, at the language – “This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them,” she could no longer restrain her feelings, but exclaimed “How true! What consolation!”

One of her children asking forgiveness for any unkindness she might have shown towards her, she replied, “How can I expect to be forgiven, if I do not forgive.”

The evening before she died, her breathing became extremely laborious, and it was evident to her mournful children that she was fast sinking. Her invalid daughter was now carried in to see her. She took little notice of her when she first entered. On being asked if she knew her, she replied “O yes I know thee.” To her enquiry if she felt happy, she said “I do, I am going to glory.” Upon her daughters comforting her with the assurance that she would soon join her dear father in heaven, she grasped her hand and replied, “Happy in glory! May we all meet there! Farewell! Farewell!” A messenger had been sent for her youngest son and she inquired once or twice if he had arrived. About nine o’clock she again bid her sorrowing family farewell. The name of Jesus was distinctly heard flowing in soft whispers from her parched lips. About ten o’clock her spirit seemed to have passed beyond the border land. She mentioned distinctly the names of her two deceased daughters and daughter in law. “I see them” she said “in heaven, they are waiting for me.” Shortly after, “I see them all”meaning no doubt her dear husband and those that had gone before her. Prayer was now raised that her Saviour would be graciously pleased to be with her in passing through the valley of the shadow of death and land her safely on Jordan’s banks. About eleven o’clock her purified spirit quitted its tenement of clay, it is consolingly believed for the bosom of her Saviour, to join those beloved ones in heaven whom she had been permitted to awaiting her and to unite with them in songs of endless praise.

In 1841, Ann was living in Staindrop, Durham, England.^[3]

in 1851, Ann was living in Staindrop, Durham, England.^[1]

Ann died at the age of 64 on 2 December 1854 in Staindrop, County Durham, England.^[4][5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Residence: 1851 England Census Class: HO107; Piece: 2387; Folio: 63; Page: 9; GSU roll: 87065 Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 8860 #14497380. (accessed 21 March 2021)
2. ↑ Baptism: England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 9841 #163220349. (accessed 21 March 2021)
3. ↑ Residence: 1841 England Census Class: HO107; Piece: 306; Book: 9; Civil Parish: Staindrop; County: Durham; Enumeration District: 16; Folio: 33; Page: 25; Line: 23; GSU roll: 241351 Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 8978 #1547898. (accessed 21 March 2021)
4. ↑ Died: England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 FreeBMD Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 8914 #9400890. (accessed 21 March 2021)
5. ↑ Died: U.S. and UK, Quaker Published Memorials, 1818-1919 Ancestry.com Ancestry Record 2581 #51812. (accessed 21 March 2021)

• Booth-2266 was created by Steven Ringer through the import of Ancestors of Gulielma Clark & Walter John Ringer.ged on Apr 16, 2014