Michael
Dixon
Born in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of
Sarah (Shepherd) Dixon
— married
about 1828 in England, United Kingdom
Husband of
Christina (Gilbert) Howell
— married
1855 in Wellington, New Zealand
Descendants 
Died
at about age 73
in Kuripuni, Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand
Profile last modified
| Created 11 Sep 2021
This page has been accessed 98 times.
Biography
The following biography is from Masterton Street Stories, written by archivist Gareth Winter.[1]
- Michael Dixon was born in Coventry, England, and spent his youth working in the ribbon-making trade. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1841, with his wife Sarah and their daughter Emma. He worked for a time as warder in the Wellington Gaol before starting as a dairy farmer in Karori. Sarah died in 1843, and Michael lost all his possessions in a bush fire in 1851, so he decided to try his luck further up country. He settled in Masterton with Emma, building a whare at Kuripuni and trading with the local Maori, as well as working his small farm. He remarried in 1855 but his new wife Christina deserted Michael after a short time, fleeing to Wellington with the couple’s only horse. Michael was deeply upset, and chased her on foot all the way to Wellington to find and return with – the horse.
His farm – bounded by the Kuripuni Stream and Chapel Street – was very swampy in parts, and the road eventually constructed through his land and named Michael Dixon Street in his honour, was better known to locals as “Swamp Alley”. To avoid confusion with the other Dixon Street, commemorating another unrelated Dixon family, the name was changed to Michael Street in 1905. It was retained despite an attempt to rename it Nelson Street in 1906.
Michael Dixon was baptised on 16 Nov 1810, the son of Charles Dixon and. Catherine Susan Hughes.[2]
Michael, his wife Sarah, and five children arrived in Wellington in October 1841 on board The Arab. [3] Note the five children may be an error and may be the number of the whole family.
He was widowed in 1843 and, as recounted above, he lost his house in Karori to a bush fire in 1851.[4]
Michael Dixon is recorded arriving in Masterton in the “original settlers’ party” on 21 May 1854 with his daughters Charlotte and Emma, and David Dixon (no relation). [5]
He married Christina Jones in 1855. [6]
He died in 1883.
- DEATH.
- Dixon—On the 13th inst, at Kuripuni, Michael Dixon, aged 72 years.[7]
- Mr Michael Dixon, one of the oldest settlers in Masterton died yesterday, A short time ago he was confined to his bed by a paralytic stroke.[8]
He is buried in Archer Street cemetery. [9]
His cottage, at 12 Michael Street, built in 1854, is still standing today. [10]
Sources
- ↑ https://street-stories.nz/streets/early-settlers/
- ↑ England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQPV-YBF : 10 April 2021), Michael Dixon, 1810.
- ↑ https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WarEarl-t1-body-d9-d11.html
- ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18510219.2.6
- ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19120520.2.14
- ↑ NZ BDM 1855/1160 Christina Jones Michael Dixon
- ↑ Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1455, 13 August 1883, Page 2
- ↑ Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1455, 13 August 1883, Page 2
- ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/235948952/michael-dixon: accessed 08 January 2023), memorial page for Michael Dixon (1811–14 Aug 1883), Find a Grave Memorial ID 235948952, citing Archer Street Cemetery, Masterton, Masterton District, Wellington, New Zealand; Maintained by pkg (contributor 46968786).
- ↑ https://mstn.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Masterton-Registered-heritage-items.pdf
- "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9V-KYZ9 : 9 March 2021), Michael Dixon, 1883; citing , Wellington Probate Files [First Sequence], 1843-1939, record number 2021, Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office; FamilySearch digital folder 100436974.
His Will mentions sister Mary Buscott of London, brother Thomas Dixon of London, brother Edward Dixon of Coventry and two daughters only.
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