Thomas Dixson
Encyclopedia
Thomas Dixson was a British
colonial
militiaman and politician serving in Canada
.
to parents William and Rebeckah (or 'Rebecca') Dickson, whilst the entry in The Springhill Record commemorating Dixson's listing as a Person of National Historic Significance listed his birth as occurring in 1732 at Dublin, Ireland
. As a young child, the Dixsons moved to Norwich, Connecticut
. Dixson moved to Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia
, soon after, and served as a militiaman in the capture of Fort Beauséjour
in 1755.
Dixson also served with Amherst at Montreal in 1760 and with Monckton
in Havana
in 1762.
At some point prior to 1761, Dixson travelled south to Massachusetts
and met Catherine Wethered (or 'Weatherhead'), who he married in Kings Chapel in Boston
on April 9 that year. That same year, Dixson received a land grant
at Fort Beauséjour, but later moved to Point de Bute, New Brunswick
.
, a band of revolutionaries led by Jonathan Eddy attempted to capture Fort Cumberland (Fort Beauséjour
) as part of an effort to provoke Nova Scotia into joining the revolution against British control of the colonies. To resist this siege, known as the Battle of Fort Cumberland
, Captain Dixson sailed himself and three volunteers in a small open boat across the Minas Basin
(known for some of the highest tide
s on Earth), part of the Bay of Fundy
, to warn the authorities in Halifax and bring reinforcements to the loyalists' aid. For this effort, Dixson was named a Person of National Historic Significance in 1938.
On 20 August 1776, Dixson was elected a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia in a by-election
to represent Cumberland County
. In October 1778, Dixson became a Justice of the Peace
for Cumberland County. In 1785, Dixson's term as a Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly member ended when New Brunswick
separated from Nova Scotia
. Dixson was subsequently elected to the same position he had held previously in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
, representing Westmoreland County. In 1802, Dixson retired from politics, and died on November 8, 1809, at Point de Bute, New Brunswick
. He was survived by his wife and their eleven children.
His half-brother Charles
and his son Thomas Law
also served in the Nova Scotia assembly.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
colonial
Colonial
Colonial or The Colonial may refer to:* Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony* Colonial history of the United States, the period of American history from the 17th century to 1776, under the rule of Great Britain, France and Spain...
militiaman and politician serving in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Early life
The year of Thomas Dixson's birth is not clear. The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia 1758-1983: A Biographical Directory and the National Historic Sites designation list gives Dixson's birth as occurring on May 3, 1733 at Colchester, ConnecticutColchester, Connecticut
Colchester is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,551 at the 2000 census. In 2005 it was ranked 57th on the "100 Best Places to Live" in all of the United States, conducted by CNN...
to parents William and Rebeckah (or 'Rebecca') Dickson, whilst the entry in The Springhill Record commemorating Dixson's listing as a Person of National Historic Significance listed his birth as occurring in 1732 at Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. As a young child, the Dixsons moved to Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
. Dixson moved to Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia
Fort Beauséjour
Fort Beauséjour, was built during Father Le Loutre's War from 1751-1755; it is located at the Isthmus of Chignecto in present-day Aulac, New Brunswick, Canada...
, soon after, and served as a militiaman in the capture of Fort Beauséjour
Fort Beauséjour
Fort Beauséjour, was built during Father Le Loutre's War from 1751-1755; it is located at the Isthmus of Chignecto in present-day Aulac, New Brunswick, Canada...
in 1755.
Dixson also served with Amherst at Montreal in 1760 and with Monckton
Robert Monckton
Robert Monckton was an officer of the British army and a colonial administrator in British North America. He had a distinguished military and political career, being second in command to General Wolfe at the battle of Quebec and subsequently being the Governor of New York State...
in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
in 1762.
At some point prior to 1761, Dixson travelled south to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and met Catherine Wethered (or 'Weatherhead'), who he married in Kings Chapel in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
on April 9 that year. That same year, Dixson received a land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
at Fort Beauséjour, but later moved to Point de Bute, New Brunswick
Point de Bute, New Brunswick
Point de Bute is a community in Westmorland County in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada.Point de Bute is the birthplace of World War I flying ace, Albert Desbrisay Carter and the scientist Edwin Colpitts....
.
Militiaman and politician
In 1776, during the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, a band of revolutionaries led by Jonathan Eddy attempted to capture Fort Cumberland (Fort Beauséjour
Fort Beauséjour
Fort Beauséjour, was built during Father Le Loutre's War from 1751-1755; it is located at the Isthmus of Chignecto in present-day Aulac, New Brunswick, Canada...
) as part of an effort to provoke Nova Scotia into joining the revolution against British control of the colonies. To resist this siege, known as the Battle of Fort Cumberland
Battle of Fort Cumberland
The Battle of Fort Cumberland was an attempt by a small number of militia commanded by Jonathan Eddy to bring the American Revolutionary War to Nova Scotia in late 1776...
, Captain Dixson sailed himself and three volunteers in a small open boat across the Minas Basin
Minas Basin
The Minas Basin is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and a sub-basin of the Fundy Basin located in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is known for its extremely high tides.- Geography :- Boundary :...
(known for some of the highest tide
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
s on Earth), part of the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
, to warn the authorities in Halifax and bring reinforcements to the loyalists' aid. For this effort, Dixson was named a Person of National Historic Significance in 1938.
On 20 August 1776, Dixson was elected a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
to represent Cumberland County
Cumberland County, Nova Scotia
Cumberland County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The name Cumberland was applied by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Monckton to the captured Fort Beauséjour on June 18, 1755 in honour of the third son of King George II, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, victor at...
. In October 1778, Dixson became a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Cumberland County. In 1785, Dixson's term as a Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly member ended when New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
separated from Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. Dixson was subsequently elected to the same position he had held previously in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
, representing Westmoreland County. In 1802, Dixson retired from politics, and died on November 8, 1809, at Point de Bute, New Brunswick
Point de Bute, New Brunswick
Point de Bute is a community in Westmorland County in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada.Point de Bute is the birthplace of World War I flying ace, Albert Desbrisay Carter and the scientist Edwin Colpitts....
. He was survived by his wife and their eleven children.
His half-brother Charles
Charles Dickson (soldier)
Charles Dickson was a soldier, land owner and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Horton Township in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia from 1767 to 1776....
and his son Thomas Law
Thomas Law Dickson
Thomas Law Dickson was a farmer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Amherst township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1802 to 1806. His surname also appears as Dixon....
also served in the Nova Scotia assembly.