Hugh Dixson

Hugh Dixson was born on 5 June 1810, in Edinburgh, Scotland.  He was the son of Mary Scott and Hugh Dixson, a baker.  When I first voiced an interest in family history, I was told in no uncertain terms that “the family always spelt the surname as D I X S O N”.  However, it appears that Hugh Dixson's father, for most of his life at least, spelt his surname “Dickson”.  This was the spelling he used on marriage to Mary Scott on 25 August 1809 in Edinburgh.  In the 1814 Directory of Midlothian – North (Edinburgh and Leith) he was listed:

Dickson, Hugh baker, 11 Shakespear square

In contrast, Hugh Dixson Junior, with only a few exceptions, used the spelling “Dixson” throughout his life.  It appears that his siblings also started spelling their surname Dixson.  For example, when Hugh's sister Rachael was born, she was baptised as Rachael Dickson.  When she married she used the name Dixson. 

Hugh was educated at Edinburgh High School and served an apprenticeship with a tobacconist before opening his own business as a manufacturer and retailer of tobacco.  The 1833 Directory of Midlothian (North) Edinburgh his entry reads:

Dixon, Hugh, tobacconist, 42 Prince st.

Prince Street was, and still is, one of the main streets in Edingburgh.  It has very few buildings on the south side of the street as a means of protecting the views over the gardens and to Edinburgh Castle.

By 1833 both of Hugh’s parents were deceased.  Hugh Senior died on 24 October 1830 and Mary Scott died on 23 March 1832.  At the time of Mary’s death, Hugh’s was 22 and it is possible that he had responsibility for his siblings.

Hugh Dixson married Helen Craig in Edinburgh, Scotland on 11 April 1837.   Helen Craig was born 25 April 1810 in Edinburgh – about six weeks older than Hugh.  Her parents were Isabella Duncan and Robert Craig.  Robert Craig was described as a shawl maker.   Helen was the second eldest of nine children.

Helen and Hugh with their son Hugh, emigrated from Edinburgh to Sydney on board the Glenswilly departing Greenock on 23 May 1839 and arriving in Sydney on 29 October 1839.  Hugh was encouraged to immigrate to Australia by relatives who had returned from the Colony.  It is unknown who these relatives are, but Helen’s older brother was already living in the Colony (in Goulburn, as it so happens).  Hugh and Helen were part of the Bounty Scheme. 

Upon arriving in Sydney, Hugh Dixson immediately opened a tobacco shop in George Street.  This was the start of one of the largest enterprises of its kind in Australia, the Dixson Tobacco Co. Ltd.  In the early 1840s the city of Sydney was new and was only officially established in 1842.  There were a little over 30,000 people living in the city.  The Dixson family lived at 540 George Street - across the road from Town Hall.  

One of the first things that Hugh Dixson did was to order 400 gross of pipes from Scotland.  These pipes bear an inscription ‘Sydney’ on one side and ‘Dixson’ on the other.  I am lucky enough to own one of these unbroken clay pipes.

Helen and Hugh had 10 children but only 5 survived infancy.  Their children were named according to naming patterns common during the 18^th and 19^th centuries, particularly in Scotland.  The first son is named after his paternal grandfather and the second after his maternal grandfather; the first daughter after her maternal grandmother and the second daughter after her paternal grandmother.  

The first son was Hugh, named after his paternal grandfather.  He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland but died before a second son was born.  Helen and Hugh’s second son was born in Sydney, Australia in 1841 and he was also called Hugh.  Another son was born in 1843, Robert, named after his maternal grandfather.

Their first daughter, born in 1845, was named after her maternal grandmother, Isabella (nee Duncan).   Another son, John Saunders, was born on Christmas Day in 1846, however he died on 7 March 1848.  A second daughter, named Mary after her paternal grandmother Mary Scott, was born on 11 August 1848 but she died on 10 April 1850.  Three more sons were born: Craig in 1850, Andrew in 1852 (who subsequently died in 1854) and Thomas in 1854. 

According to the death certificate of Helen Dixson, completed by her son-in-law, another child was born, however the child must have died at birth or soon afterwards as neither the birth or death appears to have been officially registered.  It is possible that her son-in-law merely miscounted the number of children.

Helen and Hugh must have spoken to their Scottish relatives glowingly about Australia as a number of their family emigrated from Scotland to Australia.  In particular, Hugh's sister, Rachael came to Australia in 1858 with her second husband, John Watson and their family.  John Watson became a successful Chemist in Australia - but that's another story!

The family grew up predominantly in Sydney.  In around 1860, Hugh relocated his family and business to Twofold Bay, near Kiandra presumably to take advantage of the goldrush, but it was not as successful as he had hoped and by 1862 the family was again in Sydney at 193 York Street.  In 1864 Hugh and Robert became partners of their business with their father and the company was renamed Dixson and Sons Pty Ltd.  In 1875 the business moved to Castlereagh Street. 

Hugh Dixson was committed Baptist and respected as a good employer.  The Empire Newspaper, Sydney, on Saturday 26 January 1867 reported on a presentation to Hugh.  The address read:

"Presented to Hugh  Dixson, Esq., senior, by his Employees, on the occasion of his departure from Sydney, NSW, to England, as a mark of their esteem and a token of their appreciation of his uniform kindness and general consideration displayed on all occasions towards them.-Respected Sir : In bidding you farewell we feel we should be deeply wanting in

gratitude did we permit you to depart without in some tangible form manifesting to you the high regard in which you have ever been hold by us. Whilst maintaining your position as an employer, you have without sacrifice of self-respect, in the most courteous and friendly manner, mingled with us in healthful recreations, and by your generosity on those occasions to us and our families, you have contributed considerably to our health and happiness, and to the promotion of those feelings of respect and goodwill that should ever exist between an employer and his servants. Nor are we forgetful of the numerous instances in which you have sympathised with us in sickness, and by your good advice and spontaneous pecuniary assistance, relieved us from pressing liabilities. The junior assistants and apprentices have ever been the peculiar subjects of your solicitude, and anxiety for their moral and social advancomant has been constantly manifested in the fatherly advice and admonitions which you have tendered for their welfare. We heartily congratulate you upon your commercial success, and we trust that the Divine Providence may still be vouchsafed to you and your family ; and that after a safe and pleasant voyage, you may again revisit the scenes of your childhood, and should your heart be saddened by finding that many with whom you were once familiar, and who would have welcomed you with warm congratulations, have long since been deposited in the silent tomb, you may be cheered and reanimated in the thought that in this sunny clime, so long the land of your adoption, and endeared to you by so many ties, there are many warm and loving hearts, who will long after your career on earth is ended revere your name and bless your memory."

Hugh thanked his employees for these words, adding that he wanted to treat people as he would like to be treated and advised that he was visiting some "States of America" to look at the growth and manufacture of tobacco and to look at the improved machinery.

His children were all well educated.  The Scots are known for their commitment to education and Hugh Dixson had signed a petition for better provision for education.  Hugh and Robert - the two elder sons - worked with their father in the tobacco business.  The two younger sons, Craig and Thomas, were both medical doctors.  Isabella, the only daughter to survive childhood, married Rev Frederick Hibberd, a Baptist Minister.  

Hugh Dixson died at home in 111 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney on 3 November 1880.  At his death, his estate for probate was valued at over thirty five thousand pounds.  Helen went to live with her daughter, Isabella.  She died at their home in Holden Street, Ashfield, Sydney on 5 February 1894.  Hugh and Helen Dixson are buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney.