The Life of William Dixon
Moravian Pioneer

William Dixon was born June 4, 1716 in Hunslet, Yorkshire, England and was baptised St Mary's Parish Church Hunslet.

In 1741 He joined Fulneck Moravian Chuch, Pudsey W. Yorkshire, England and also served at Gomersal Moravian congregation before being sent by the Church to America.

William sailed from London on March 1, 1749, to New York on the Moravian ship Irene and arrived on May 12, 1749.

He went on To Bethlehem and married Christina Orchard (1733-1799) from Oldsman Creek, New Jersey in 1755.

William and Christina were sent by the church to the new settlement in Bethabara to run the store.

William Dixon and his wife arrived Bethabara in 1760 from Bethlehem, having walked the Old Wagon Road.

William died March 7, 1764 and is buried in God's Acre Cemetery, Bethabara, Forsyth Co., NC. In March, 1779 Christina married Gottfried Aust, but died of small-pox in August of the same year.


First Generation

Children of William Dixon and Christina Orchard

Christina Dixon (1756-1835) m. George Bibiheus/Biwighaus (1754-1806) (minister of the Friedberg congregation for many years)
Elizabeth Dixon (1759-1805) m.
John Martin Schneider
Joseph Dixon (1761-1804) m. Rosina Huber (1764-1833) (m. in Pennsylvania)
John Dixon (1762-1832) m.
Anna Catharine Williard (1772)
(buried at Mt. Home Baptist Cem., Burke Co., NC.)

William Dixon and his wife ran the general store at the Moravian settlement. Their son, Joseph, returned to Pennsylvania and became a doctor. John Dixon worked first as a teacher in the Moravian school in Salem and later was a leather tanner by trade.


Second Generation

Children of John Dixon and Anna Catharine Williard

+ Joseph Frederick Dixon (1804-after 1880) m. 1) Elizabeth Matthews (1807); 2) Annie Temple (no children)
+
Charles William Dixon (1808-1888) m. 1) Elizabeth Adaline Bradshaw (1810-1844; 2) Martha M. Norton (1822-1855); 3) Lavinia Croff (unknown-1902)
+
George Christian Dixon (1812-after 1880) m. Elizabeth "Betsy" Patton (ca 1813-after 1880)

The brothers moved to Burke County about 1828-1830 when the gold rush began and this event is what most likely drew them to the area. The Dixie Eagle notes tend to back this assumption showing all three brothers did own land and were in the gold mining business at that time in Burke County.


Third Generation

Children of Joseph Frederick Dixon and 1) Elizabeth Matthews

George C. Dixon (1828-1862) died Civil War
Charles C. Dixon (1829-1913) went to Spartanburg SC
Mary Ann Dixon (1833-1921) went to McDowell Co. NC
Judy Simeline Dixon (1835-after 1900) moved to Spartanburg SC
Joseph Grayson Dixon (1838-1912) went to Arkansas
Nancy E. Dixon (ca 1840-ca 1912) went to Cherokee Co. SC
Salina R. Dixon (1841-1937) went to Shelby NC
Sarah Elizabeth Dixon (1842-1908) went to Rutherford Co. NC
James M. Dixon (1844-1920) m. Mary Elizabeth Poteet, went to Spartanburg Co. SC
Henry Harvey Dixon (1848-1927) m. Amy Jane Poteet, went to Rutherford Co. NC
Francis Marion Dixon (1850-1935) m. Rufina Celena Poteet, went to Cherokee Co. SC
Margaret Jane Dixon (b. ca. 1852, probably d. young)
Don Lee Dixon (b. ca 1856, probably d. young)


Children of Charles William Dixon and 1) Elizabeth Adaline Bradshaw

Alanson Emerson Dixon (1831-after 1880) went to Spartanburg SC
Lensetta Analine Dixon (1832-1853) m. Franklin
John Lovanzie Dixon (1835-1856)
Alfred Webb Dixon (1836-1917) went to Marshall TX
Joseph Grayson Dixon (1839-1856)
William Graham Dixon (1842-1913) went to Jessieville AR
Charles Bradshaw Dickson (1844-1937) went to Henley TX

Children of Charles William Dixon and 2) Martha M. Norton

Martha Elizabeth Dixon (1846-1874) went to Jessieville AR
Sarah Jane Dixon (1848-after 1860)
Bailey Gamerwell Dickson (1850-1930) went to Spartanburg Co. C
Letty Pheraba Dixon (1852-1946) went to Spartanburg Co. SC

Children of Charles William Dixon and 3) Lavinia Croff

Pernelly Lucinda Dixon (1860-after 1880)
Elfonzo Monroe Dixon (1861-1938) went to Anderson & Oconee Co. SC
Kasa Clarinda Dixon (1863-after 1880)
Tima Ann Dickson (1866-1941) went to Lancaster SC
George Washington Dixon (1868-1955) went to Spartanburg Co. SC
Immanuel Jackson Dixon (1871-1938) went to Charlotte NC
David Madison Dixon (1874-1952) went to Princeton, Greenville Co. SC


Children of George Christian Dixon and Eizabeth "Betsy" Patton

Judah Cathrine Dixon (1849-1918) went to McDowell Co. NC
Thomas Christian Dixon (1851-1918) went to McDowell Co. NC
William Webster Dixon (1854-1926) went to McDowell Co. NC


Starting with the fourth generation, various spellings were used:
Dixon/ Dickson/ Dixson/Dison/Dixxon


© Betty Green
CarolinaKin.com