Westmorland Co.

M.L.A.

DICKSON, Thomas (Major) (1732 – 1809) (also spelled Dixson, Dixon)

Born, ________, 1732, in Northern Ireland.  Of colonial English-Irish ancestry.

Came to America with his parents at an early age, where they settled at Norwich, Conn.  Enlisted in the local Colonial Forces, and took part in border engagements with the French and the Indians.  Joined the expedition against Fort Beausejour, and was present at the siege and capture of that famous French stronghold in 1755.  Remained there, and during the next two or three years was engaged in guerilla warfare carried on the French under the command of Boisherbert, an active and resourceful officer.  Boisherbert was successful in eluding capture and Major Dickson was severely wounded in one of the conflicts; and in another was taken prisoner and carried off to Quebec where he remained a prisoner for some years.  He was finally exchanged and joined General Amherst at New York.

On September 25th, 1761, he was commissioned a Lieutenant in Captain Behoni Danks Corps  of Mass. Rangers.  He accompanied that Corps under Major Joseph Gorham on an expedition to Havana and the West Indies.  On his return he continued to serve under General Amherst and, in November 1763, acting under General Amherst’s direct orders, he convoyed a detachment of soldiers, by boat and trail, to Fort Stanwix.

Shortly after this he appears to have returned to Beausejour, then called Fort Cumberland, and took up a tract of land at Pointe de Bute, and engaged in farming, and was there when the Revolutionary War commenced in 1775.  He was among the defenders of Fort Cumberland the next year against the attacks of Eddy’s rebel forces and, fearing that the small garrison would, without help, be unable to hold out much longer, he volunteered to make the long and trying journey to Halifax to obtain assistance.  Accompanied by two others, he evaded the enemy outposts and, by boat and trail, made the hazardous trip.  A sufficient detachment of soldiers was dispatched and reached the fort, saving the situation.  The enemy abandoned the siege and were finally chased out of British territory.  Major Dickson’s exploit probably saved Nova Scotia for the Empire.

On April 9th, 1761, he married, in Boston, Catherine Wethered, of that place.  By this marriage there was a family of six sons and four daughters.

The Nova Scotia Parliamentary Journals show that Thomas Dickson was returned to the House of Assembly, as member for Cumberland, June 20th 1777.  The province of New Brunswick was formed after splitting from Nova Scotia in 1784.

Unsuccessfully contested Westmorland County for the House of Assembly of New Brunswick at the first G.E. in the newly constituted province, November 1785.

First elected to the House of Assembly of N.B. as one of the members for Westmorland County at the G.E. of 1792.  Re-elected at the G.E. of 1795, and sat as a member until the dissolution of the Legislature in 1802, when he retired from active political life.

He dies, November 8th, 1809, at Westmorland (Pointe de Bute), aged seventy-seven years.  Survived by his widow and several children.

Mrs. Dickson died May 12th, 1826, aged eighty-five years.  She was buried in Mount Whatley Anglican Cemetery, where a monument bearing date and inscription marks her grave.

(Through the efforts of the late Dr. J.C. Webster, Major Dickson’s grave and original tombstone was discovered.  A memorial to his honour was erected in the grounds of Fort Beausejour, and on July 24th, 1938, his ashes were removed and interred with military honours.  The memorial was unveiled by His Honour Lieut. Governor Murray McLaren.)

(Conveyances show that Thomas and Catherine Dixon were living in the Town of Hopewell, 1790 – 1792.)

(Will of Thomas Dixson of Westmorland, dated November 8th, 1809, proved March 31st, 1810.  Witnessed by Rufus Smith, Mr. Hawks, Val Woods, Titus Knapp, and Thomas L. Dixson, Executors. (Wife, Catherine).

FAMILY:

  1. Dau: Catherine – (d. 1841) Mar. Titus Knapp (q.v.) (1757 – 1828), M.L.A. Westmorland, 1802 – 1816
  2. Son: Dalton –
  3. Dau: Sarah – Mar. (1st) Mr. Allen (Brother of Col. John Allen).  (2nd) Thomas Roach, Fort Lawrence
  4. Son: Thomas Law – Amherst , N.S. (M.L.A. Nova Scotia)
  5. Son: James – Mar. Susannah Dixson
  6. Dau: Nancy – Mar. April 27, 1798, John Glennie
  7. Son: Charles – British Navy – Madras
  8. Son: John – British Navy – (killed)
  9. Dau: Mary – Mar. William Harper, the Bend.
  10. Son: Robert – British Navy (drowned)