Thomas John Dixon Ms

Eldest son of Lincolnshire landowner William Dixon (1756-1824), Thomas John was born in 1785 at Holton Hall, Holton-le-Moor, a few miles north of Market Rasen. He took over the running of the estate after his father’s death, extending it from 3,000 acres to over 5,000 in 1870. He was a prosperous and influential country gentleman, who served as High Sherrif for the county in 1862, although the vicar of nearby Caistor, in a letter to Lord Brownlow, considered him “not suitably educated for magisterial duties.” The family papers were deposited in the Lincolnshire Archives in 1972-3. The extensive collection of deeds, account books, diaries etc. give a clear picture of estate and county history during the period. Dixon 21/1 includes 8 musical items from various family members, including his daughter Annie. The first two are Thomas John’s personal music books, dating from 1798, when he was 14 years of age. They may well have been used as part of his musical education. The first, TJD.1-39 mentions the clarinet and the second, TJD.40-74 includes instructions for learning to play the violin. Some titles are duplicated between books. A range of tune types are included, from quick steps to reels, song airs to jigs and marches. Fourteen of the 74 tunes are also found in the Gibbons MS.