Catherine Royce/Fortune

Like the obituary in the Brockville Evening Recorder, this one appeared as a news item on the front page of the Brockville Times, on the day of his death. Both newspapers also contained regular death notices, which asked there be no flowers. Oct 6 1916 Brockville Times (Brockville Ontario Canada)

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SOME EARLY CENSUS RECORDS, DIXIE

Although there is evidence that Richard and Sarah Dixie & family resided in Yonge Township, Leeds County, Ontario from 1831 (at Lot A Concession 8), the surname "Dixie/Dixey" is not found in area census or assessment records until 1837.

It appears that, in the earlier years, the enumerators may have written the surname as the more common "Dixon"...in some years the probability is quite strong, in others a bit less certain. Note that land records and later census records suggest that from 1831, and to at least 1850, the Dixies and Richard Osborne were the only families occupying Lot A of Concession 8, which was only 95 acres in size (as compared to most lots in Yonge, which were 200 acres) .

Further as reference to the surname Dixie being recorded by others as "Dixon" is the interesting transcription, background and summary of Paul Côté regarding a petition formed in Leeds County June 1835, requesting a new povincial election. It is found here: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~onleedsg/research-court-1835petit...

To quote from Mr Côté 's observations:

"One other caveat: simply because his name is on the list does not mean he actually signed the petition." and

"In many instances the same handwriting records several names in a row before someone else takes up the pen."

We would expect the very Orange Dixie family to have added their names to this petition. The following may well be Richard Dixie and his three sons, with names in order of their age, but written by someone else:

Richard DixsonRobert Dixson William DixsonRichard Dixson

Some names found near the "Dixons" on this list are also found in early records as residents in the general area where theDixies lived. A William Hewit is listed two names above that of Richard "Dixon", and it was a Mrs William Hewit who was a witness at the marriage of Catherine Dixie in 1839.

Note the early records suggest that one of Sarah and Richard's children was mentally handicapped--assumed to be son Edward.

In Yonge township, Leeds Co, the only name provided in census records from 1831 to 1850 is that of the head of household. Most years include a record of those residing in the household, but only in total numbers by age categories, and by gender.

The 1851 census (actually taken early 1852) provides the names of all residents, but unfortunately the 1851 census for Yonge Township is lost. The only 1851/52 census record available for Richard and Sarah's descendants is that of daughter Catherine (Dixie) Fortune, who lived in Escott Township.

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YONGE TOWNSHIP

1832 census: not found. There is a Richard DIXON in the rear (north) part listed, but no exact lot and concession number is shown in the assessment record. May or may not be the Dixies:

Richard DIXONMales over 16:3 Males under 16:2 Females over 16:2Females under 16:1

1833 census/assessment: not found

1836 census/assessment: No lot or concession number is listed, but given the names and location of others listed near them, I believe this is Sarah Dixie, and son Robert Dixie, who is listed immediately after Sarah

Sarah DIXON

Males over 16: 2Females over 16: 1 Females under 16: 1Insane: 1

Robert DIXON

Males over 16: 1

1837 Census/Assessment

Sarah DIXIE Lot A Concession 8

Males over 16: 2Females over 16: 1Females under 16: 1

1838 Census/Assessment: not found, but several pages in this record are torn/damaged

1839 Census and Assessment (separate). Location suggests this is William Dixie.

Assessment: William DIXON, Lot A Concession 8

Census: William DIXON

Males: 3Females: 2

1840 Census:

Robert DIXIE:

Males over 16: 3Males under 16: 1 Females over 16: 2Females under 16: 1

1841 Census [lot A Concession 8 per separate assessment record]

William DIXIE

Males over 16: 3Females over 16: 2

1842 Census (taken February 1842)

Sarah DIXIE lot A Concession 8

Total in household born Ireland: 6 [appears enumerator later wrote 5]

Number of years in province if not native thereof: 10

Single males 21-30 =3Single females 14-45= 1 Married* females 45 or older = 1 Idiots = 1 maleMembers Church of England = 5

• The 1842 census contains no column for widow(er)s.The widowed are usually recorded as married.

1844 Census

Robert DIXIE

Males over 16:3Males under 16:1Females over 16:2

1845 Census

Robert DIXIE

Males over 16:2Females over 16:1

William DIXIE

Males over 16:1

1846 census

Robert DIXIE Lot A concession 8

Males over 16:2Males under 16:1Females over 16:2

William DIXIE Lot 23 concession 4

Males over 16:1Females over 16:1

1848 Census

Richard DIXIE Lot A Concession 8

Occupation: ShoemakerTotal in household: 4

Robert DIXIE Lot A Concession 8

Occupation: FarmerTotal in household:4

William DIXIE Lot 23 Concession 4

Occupation: Farmer total in household: 3

　http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/21648995/person/1116994263/media/6?p...

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UPPER CANADA LAND PETITION, ROBERT DIXIE: To His Excellency Sir Francis Bond Head, His ..(?).. In council Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada The petition of Robert Dixie of the Township of Yonge in the Johnstown District Humbly Sheweth That in the year 1831 your Petitioner's Father purchased from William Rickaby the place now occupied, all his title and interest to lot number or letter A in the 8th Concession of Yonge, a Clergy Reserve. That in the year 1834 your petitioner's father died, without making a will...your petitioner is his eldest son and assigned heir. Your petitioner with his mother, three brothers and one sister has ever since resided on said lot, and has made large improvements thereon, both by clearing and farming, and also in building. Your petitioner being now desirous of purchasing said lot, humbly prays that he be allowed to become the purchaser at the valuation of a Deputy Surveyor, or some other competent person, and that a Bond or Agreement of the said Lot may be given to your Memorialist, or to his mother upon the usual considerations in such cases. Your Memorialist is ready to pay the first installment on said lot as soon as a fair valuation of the same may be made. And petitoner as is duly bound will ever pray 　 Signed Robert Dixie Yonge, near Brockville 13 April 1837 　
END----------------------------------------------------------END The residents would be Robert; mother Sarah; brothers William, Edward and Richard, and sister Frances. Sister Catherine had probably married not long after their arrival. Note the document clearly shows the year of death of father Richard Dixie was 1834, but Anglican parish records show 1835. The comments of the crown land officials made after receipt of Robert's petition are difficult to read, but it appears that Mr Rickaby had applied for the lot in 1825, but never gained title to the actual property, however that Richard Dixie may have purchased the buildings from him [unclear]. There is a note that an inspector had recorded that at a visit in 1834, the lot was occupied by Richard Dixie. Within each concession of land, most lots in Yonge Township are of 200 acres, running north-south, and are numbered, with the numbers increasing to the west. Lot A of Concession 8 was in total only 95 acres--it appears to be a "left over" strip of land at the eastern edge of Yonge Township, and lies immediately next to Elizabethtown Township of Leeds County. According to comments on the above land petiton, Robert Dixie's neighbour, Richard Osborne, had purchased 10 acres at the front (south portion) of Lot A Concession 8 in 1835. This is recorded as a Crown patent in the Land Book. According to Leeds County Land Book, Robert Dixie was granted a patent, by the Crown, to the remaining 85 acres of Lot A Concession 8, 7 Nov 1851---twenty years after the Dixies had arrived in Leeds County. All records indicate the Robert Dixie remained on the property until his death in 1894, although he had sold a small parcel to his brother Richard in 1889. Robert willed most of the property to his son William Dixie, who in turn sold it to his cousin William Manford Dixie. In his will (1877), Robert Dixie made provisions for the care and housing of his wife and sister, however he outlived both.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/21648995/person/1116994263/media/7?p...

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Birth: Nov., 1807 Ferns County Wexford, Ireland Death: May 18, 1903 Junetown Leeds and Grenville United Counties Ontario, Canada

Died LEEDS COUNTY

Catherine was married first to a Mr Royce (sometimes spelled Rice), whose given name may have been Richard, and second to Francis Fortune.

Family links:

Parents:

 Richard Dixie (____ - 1835)

 Sarah Scully Dixie (____ - 1845)

Spouse:

 Francis Fortune (1803 - 1889)

Children:

 Sarah J Royce Nunn (1834 - 1922)*

 Richard Royce (1837 - 1924)*

 Robert Fortune (1838 - 1931)*

 Hannah Fortune (1839 - 1900)*

 William Fortune (1843 - 1929)*

 John Fortune (1845 - 1925)*

 Thomas Fortune (1846 - 1917)*

 Catherine Fortune (1848 - 1926)*

 Francis Fortune (1851 - 1935)*

 Jane Fortune Ferguson (1853 - 1884)*

 Margaret Fortune Morris (1858 - 1935)*

Siblings:

 William Dixie (____ - 1893)*

 Edward Dixie (____ - 1848)*

 Frances Dixie (____ - 1879)*

 Robert Dixie (1804 - 1894)*

 Catherine Dixie Fortune (1807 - 1903)

 Richard Dixie (1816 - 1916)*

• Calculated relationship

Inscription: FORTUNE Francis Fortune a native of Wexford Co. Ireland died Dec 20, 1889 - aged 86 yr 2 mo 17 days Catherine Dixie died May 18, 1903 - age 95 yr wife of Francis Fortune a native of Ferns, Ireland

Burial: Saint Luke's Cemetery Ballycanoe Leeds and Grenville United Counties Ontario, Canada

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Maintained by: Shirley Hackett Originally Created by: anonymous Record added: Mar 10, 2010 Find A Grave Memorial# 49499662

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49499662