Update of the PAST NEWS..........13th February 1875

Catch up on the full story of last weeks NEWS...........

*Death of Bernard Dixon –

Bernard Dixon was recorded last week in the “Deaths” column, having died on 10^th February 1875 at Chesterfield aged just 35 years old.

Bernard was a provisions dealer and had a shop at 10 Burlington Street, Chesterfield.  It seems that he died suddenly and this death was not expected.  Only a few months earlier at Christmas, Bernard was advertising his wares; home cured hams, Wiltshire bacon and “monster cheeses”. 

As Bernard was a shop owner and dealer he had debts to his name and his creditors wasted no time in calling a meeting the day after his death to discuss his finances.  The meeting was held at the office of solicitor Mr Gee and it was decided that his Bernard’s business be put into liquidation.  He was stated as having liabilities of £806 and assets of £341.

As for the character of Bernard a public apology which he placed into the Derbyshire Times on 8^th April 1874 shows that he was a compassionate person.  Back in March 1874 he had accused an employee of stealing £200 from him.  The employee was named Edwin Taylor and Bernard had reported him to the police on 18^th March 1874 on a “false charge”.  Now however, Bernard was offering a public apology in his words “I am extremely sorry that I should have done such a wrong thing, and I am desirous of doing everything in my power to vindicate his character, and I further say that he may make whatever use he chooses of this apology”

Bernard was born in early 1841 into a large family; he was the son of John and Mary Dixon.  John was a farmer and the family lived at Brampton.  On the 1841 census Bernard was the youngest of 9 children ranging from Ann the eldest aged 19 years to Walter his next elder brother aged 2 years.  By 1851 Bernard is no longer the baby of the family; he now has 4 younger siblings, bringing the total children up to 13 at least.  The family address is Brampton Hall and his father is recorded as “landed proprietor and farmer of 13 acres, employing one labourer and boy”. 

Bernard is described as a grocer as early as 1861, aged 20 years old.  He never married and on his death his estate was put into administration.  I am not aware how much debt was recovered but it would appear that he may well have been better off than originally expected at the liquidation meeting the day after his death.  His administration left effects of under £200 to his mother Mary Ann Dixon.  His father John had died on 16^th December 1862; he was described as a “Gentleman” in the will.  His estate was under £3000.  His will was proved by John Clarke of Whittington County Gentleman and Herbert Dixon County Mercer and Draper and Walter Dixon Mercer and Draper, the sons of the executors.  Mary Ann was recorded as an “annuitant” on the 1871 census.  Mary’s maiden name was Clark, so the John Clark who proved the will was probably a brother or other relation of hers.

 

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*Tragic death –

 

The little girl who was scalded to death was Miriam Chambers.  She was born in 1873.  The obituary notice states the child was named “Mariance” but she is recorded in the civil registration indexes for both birth and death as Miriam.  The obituary also states that she was 1 year and 10 months old from Springwell.  She died on 6^th February 1875.



 

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