Its always a temptation to make surmisings and assumptions in genealogical research. The best way to research "brick walls" or "unknowns" is with methodical patience and solid, cross-referenced, research. The Dixon's of Yorkshire are in a case in point.
Thanks to the efforts of a cousin (i have been able to contact through DNA) we have established that our common ancestors were in the Helmsley / Lastingham area in the mid to late 18th Century and in the early 19th century. These do appear to be based upon citation based facts.
These places (like many other villages) often had very small populations and, in theory, should make it relatively easy to track down ancestors but it must still be done so with a pinch of salt. I recently had to scrub an entire section of the family tree i was working on because i started to have serious nagging doubts on the leaps i was making... that they were just notright. A genealogist should give at least a token heed to their gut instinct.
Today i became a member of the Ryedale Family History Group (that cover these locations) because i can take advantage of the wealth of publications they provide (cheaply too) that cannot be found elsewhere. For example, parish publications, and the memories of those who contribute to writing stories within those pages. Whilst due caution still needs to be maintained - even anecdotal stories can at least, circumstantially, help assure the researcher that the track they are going down is in fact the right one.
I have information that would suggest two of the Dixon brothers were living close to one another in Helmsley and there is a reference to a likely father, Francis Dixon (born 1761). Whether this information can be validated with the information i hope to get soon is uncertain. Until then i cannot really proceed much further.
One of the things that i am beginning to suspect is that the Dixon's of Yorkshire were connected to the earlier Quaker movement. I cannot prove it at the moment but have found compelling information. As i mentioned at the beginning - it must be at least partly confirmed to be permitted as acceptable.
More to come going forward.
Thanks to the efforts of a cousin (i have been able to contact through DNA) we have established that our common ancestors were in the Helmsley / Lastingham area in the mid to late 18th Century and in the early 19th century. These do appear to be based upon citation based facts.
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| Lastingham, Helmsley |
These places (like many other villages) often had very small populations and, in theory, should make it relatively easy to track down ancestors but it must still be done so with a pinch of salt. I recently had to scrub an entire section of the family tree i was working on because i started to have serious nagging doubts on the leaps i was making... that they were just notright. A genealogist should give at least a token heed to their gut instinct.
Today i became a member of the Ryedale Family History Group (that cover these locations) because i can take advantage of the wealth of publications they provide (cheaply too) that cannot be found elsewhere. For example, parish publications, and the memories of those who contribute to writing stories within those pages. Whilst due caution still needs to be maintained - even anecdotal stories can at least, circumstantially, help assure the researcher that the track they are going down is in fact the right one.
I have information that would suggest two of the Dixon brothers were living close to one another in Helmsley and there is a reference to a likely father, Francis Dixon (born 1761). Whether this information can be validated with the information i hope to get soon is uncertain. Until then i cannot really proceed much further.
One of the things that i am beginning to suspect is that the Dixon's of Yorkshire were connected to the earlier Quaker movement. I cannot prove it at the moment but have found compelling information. As i mentioned at the beginning - it must be at least partly confirmed to be permitted as acceptable.
More to come going forward.
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