Isabella Dixson / Hibberd (1845 to 1920)

I believe that Isabella Dixson and I could have been good friends.  I only have one photo of her, and it was taken when she was an older woman, but she looks like a really nice person. She was a supportive wife (expected for a Minister's wife) but she also attended many meetings and had her own interests.  I suspect she was quite modern for the time!

Isabella Dixson was born at 8 o’clock in the morning on 11 January 1845 at 391 George Street, Sydney (across the road from the current Sydney Town Hall; and next door to the current Woolworths store – neither of which were there is 1845).  At the time, it was not a particularly salubrious address as it was across the street from the Old Sydney Burial Ground, which was no longer in use and was somewhat of an eyesore and a community health hazard!

Isabella was Helen Craig and Hugh Dixson’s first daughter; she had two older brothers and two younger brothers – four other siblings died as infants.  Isabella was the earliest direct descendant of Samantha, Natasha and Rachel to be born in Australia.  She spent most of her childhood in Sydney, except for two years when the family lived at Twofold Bay.

On 11 January 1866, when Isabella Dixson married Rev Frederick Hibberd at her parent's home, she wore a veil made of Honiton lace.  Her parents probably had the lace imported from Honiton especially for her wedding - after all, she was their only daughter.  The veil has been used by a number of women over 140 years – five generations of Isabella’s family – including me!

Honiton lace has been made in and around the Honiton, Devon area for over 400 years.  How it came to be in that area is a matter of conjecture.  The most likely theory is that the flemish brought their trade with them when established themselves in the area.  Honiton lace was hand woven.  It was time consuming to make and expensive to buy.  Members of the English Royal Family regularly purchased Honiton lace. In the late 1700s, Queen Charlotte ordered a dress of Honiton lace as did Queen Adelaide some years later. The crowning achievement for Honiton lace-makers came in 1839, when the lace flounce for Queen Victoria's wedding dress was ordered from Tuckers of Branscombe (a small village near Honiton). 100 workers produced the lace at a cost of then £1000.  Queen Victoria was obviously satisfied because she then commissioned the christening robe for her eldest son, later King Edward VII. This christening robe is still used by the royal family.  Another royal order came in 1863, when Princess Alexandra married Edward, the Prince of Wales and ordered Honiton wedding lace for the dress. 

Making lace by hand was not financially rewarding.  By hard work, often in cramped conditions in primitive cottages, lace workers could earn a shilling (5p) a day. This was just below the wage of a farm labourer.  However, as women predominantly produced Honiton lace, it was probably one of the best career choices they could make in the circumstances.

It must have been some time shortly after this ‘Royal’ glory period that the veil used by Isabella Dixson was made.  Why Honiton lace was chosen for the veil is not known.  It may have been the ‘trend’ or perhaps someone in the family knew about Honiton lace.  In any case, Isabella Dixson wore a beautiful veil.  The veil has remained in the Dixson family - passed down from the eldest daughter to the eldest daughter.  To date six generations of the family have worn the veil.

It would appear that Isabella and Frederick didn't have a big wedding.  The notice in the Newspaper on 12 January 1966 read:

Marriage

On the 11^th instant, by the Rev. Allan W. Webb, at the residence of the bride's father, Isabella, Only daughter of Hugh Dixson, Esq,. of York-street, Sydney, to the Rev. Frederick Hibberd, Baptist minister, Sydney.  No cards.  (Sydney Morning Herald, Friday January 12, 1866)

Isabella’s family, particularly her father and brother, were involved in the Baptist Church in New South Wales; Isabella and Frederick were very close to her family. 

Isabella Dixson and Frederick Hibberd had eight children.  The children were:

·      Helen Mary born 1 November 1866 in Sydney;

·      Isabella Fredericka born 16 September 1868 in Launceston, Tasmania;

·      Frederick Robert born 20 May 1871 in Sydney;

·      Evangeline Alberta born in Sydney on 19 August 1873;

·      Beatrice Elizabeth born in Sydney on 21 February 1876;

·      Emma Elizabeth in Sydney on born 7 July 1878;

·      Ruth Avary born in Sydney on 24 October 1879; and

·      Anne born in Sydney in 1882.

Emma died on 3 December 1880 age 2, and was buried with her grandparents (Isabella’s father had died the previous month).  Only one, the third child, was a male.  One wonders if Isabella ever thought it ironic that she had been raised in a family predominantly of males and yet her own family was predominantly female.

Having spent almost all her childhood in Sydney, Isabella lived in Sydney for most of her adult life.  From 1867 to 1870 she moved to Launceston, Tasmania followed by Sandhurst, Victoria for Frederick’s various ministries.  Frederick was involved in a serious carriage accident in 1870 and the family returned to Sydney to enable Frederick to convalesce.  Sometime after this, Frederick went to England – spending nearly 14 months away before returning in May 1875.  One wonders what Isabella felt to be “abandoned” with four young children. I suspect her parents, particularly her mother, helped her a lot during this time.

Sydney was still a growing city, and Isabella and Frederick moved to the “new” suburb Ashfield, living in a house in Holden Street.  They were instrumental in the establishment of the Ashfield Baptist Church which was located in the same street. Isabella’s brother had purchased this land!  Considering the time, Isabella was very active in the Church.  She was often at meetings of Baptist Committees and she organised fundraising events. 

(One can only wonder at the extent of their pastoral care.  In December 1884, 29-year-old Fredericka Hilton was ill and dying in a home near the Hibberds in Holden Street.  Whilst her stated religion was Church of England, it is possible that either of the Hibberd's could have visited Fredericka before her death.  Nearly 110 years later Fredericka's great-great-granddaughter would marry Isabella’s great-great-grandson.)

It is very likely the Dixson family assisted the Hibberd family financially and family folklore would support this. Isabella’s brother, Hugh Dixson, was managing director of a successful company, a devout Baptist and a known philanthropist, donating large sums of money to the Baptist Union.  Rev. Hibberd often gave his services gratuitously, particularly in the establishment of the Ashfield Baptist Church.  The only logical way Rev. Hibberd could do this was if the Dixson family funded him.  In addition, Isabella’s mother, Helen Craig, came to live with the family after her husband died in late 1880 and she may have had access to money or at least was supported by her sons.  The Hibberd family lived comfortably at a time when Baptist Minister did not get paid particularly highly and certainly did not have superannuation plans. 

Frederick might have been instrumental in the development of the Baptist Union of New South Wales, but it was money from Isabella’s family that supported them.

Only three of Isabella’s seven adult children married and had children.  Isabella Frederika was first to marry: in 1890 age 18.  She had two children and was pregnant with her third at the time that her older sister, Helen Mary, married in 1893.  Evangeline Alberta was the only other daughter to marry: although she married twice, firstly to the brother of her brother-in-law in 1898 and then again (after a divorce) in 1912.  Isabella had 16 grandchildren: although two died as infants: Helen had six children; Isabella Fredericka had eight; and Evangeline had two (one in each marriage).

Isabella and Frederick moved to Carlingford around the turn of the century.  This house was also owned by Hugh Dixson and was available for Isabella and Frederick’s use until their deaths: Hugh Dixson’s Will outlined this arrangement.  They named their home Sarum, which was the old name of the city of Wiltshire – Frederick’s birthplace.  Naming one's Australian home after one's English hometown was very common!  One of their granddaughters, Gwenyth Harry, fondly told her own children about the holidays spent in their home.  This residence is now a Nunnery. 

Rev. Frederick Hibberd died on 28 October 1908, aged 73 – less than two weeks after preaching a sermon.  One can imagine that after 42 years of marriage Isabella was sad at his passing but, typical of the time, Frederick’s obituary merely mentioned Isabella’s name.  She didn’t even get listed as one of the chief mourners – although her brothers did!

Isabella Hibberd, nee Dixson, died on 21 August 1920 in Sydney, at the age of 75.  She is buried with her husband at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney.