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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Vendee on Sunday 04 May 25 20:48 BST (UK)
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A bit of an odd one but this is related to where I grew up and not my own family tree. I grew up in the Govanhill area of Glasgow. I lived in Daisy street and a couple of streets down there was Annette street. The story that is widely told is that these two streets were named after a prominent industrialist's daughters. The only problem is that there is no evidence behind this story.
The industrialist was William Dixon and in fact there was three generations of them:- William Dixon 1753-1822, his son William Dixon 1788-1859 and his son William Smith Dixon 1824-1880. The Dixons were really big in the area, owning collieries and iron works. They had a reputation of looking after their workers and were well respected. In Govanhill we have the Dixon Halls, Dixon avenue and Dixon road. There are also three further streets named after his ironwork factories outside the city. So its not unreasonable that Daisy and Annette streets are connected to the Dixons. These streets appear on the maps about 1880-85, just after William Smith Dixon's death. William Smith Dixon had no children but he had a wife and an unmarried sister. His wife's maiden name was Napier and was apparently out of Singapore. So it would be nice to find out if the wife and sister were Daisy and Annette.
Thanks in advance for any help.
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Hi,
As can be seen from a quick SP index lookup, Willian Smith Dixon’s wife was Catherine Ann Napier.
She was the daughter of late David Skene Napier, Singapore at her marriage in 1851, various notices in papers.
David Skene Napier was one of Macvey Napiers son’s.
If they did not have children, perhaps the children’s names they would have chosen?
David Skene Napier married Ann Margaret Dixon.
Not sure that it gets you much further with street names.
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I think Daisy is often a ‘Nick name’ of some one called Margaret/Marguerite as in Marguerite Daisy
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Thank you both for your help. David, I had to read your post several times. You are saying that David Skeene Napier married someone called Dixon and their daughter also went on to marry someone called Dixon. Its a big coincidence but I guess sometimes these things can happen.
The Margaret/Daisy link is helpful. I wonder if the "Ann" in Catherine Ann Napier might be a contraction of Annette? Certainly something to think about. Thanks again.
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But if this were true, why would the two streets be separated by Garturk Street?
You may have to look further afield: in the town where I grew up the local industrialist ran out of relatives names and started on the names of his racehorses. I was born in one of those streets.
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Daisy Street first appears in the Valuation Rolls in 1875. At that time the entry under “Proprietor” is Joseph Turnbull and Miss Adam.
What is the evidence that the streets were built by Dixon?
The first newspaper reference that I can see to Daisy Street (“off Cathcart Road”) is in 1872.
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According to the author Aileen Smart in her book Villages of Glasgow (South of the Clyde) a number of streets in the area were named after connections to the Dixon family. Daisy Street, Annette Street Calder Street Hickman Street and Morgan Street (now Morgan Mews). Not all of these were direct connections - Calder Street after the Dixon estates in Lanarkshire, Hickman & Morgan Street after a relation (Mrs Hickman Morgan).
Given that the Dixon family owned the land and were the feudal superiors to the builders this would be perfectly normal.
Dixon Halls were originally built on land gifted by William Dixon for the purpose of joint Burgh Halls between Govanhill and Crosshill - built straddling the boundary between Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire both Burghs had separate entrances in their respective Counties.
One of my main lines hailed from the "original Govanhill" - Fireworks Village - Colliery Houses built by the Dixons and strictly regulated by them - in favour of the Dixons not the Colliers.
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What is the evidence that the streets were built by Dixon?
The Dixons did not build the Houses but feued the land to the builders for the purpose of building the tenements. There is some anecdotal evidence that they had some element of control re the standard of the buildings but no definitive proof. Although the fact that these buildings are considered Classics of the genre may be some testament to the building quality.
The history of Govanhill is quite complex originally there was Fireworks Village - a small Colliery Village built by the Dixons but when the Coal started running out around the 1860's the area went downhill. Several reports referred to it as "No Mans Land" as it was too small to achieve Burgh Status unlike neighbouring Crosshill. The Dixons are credited with the explosion in growth of the area as the landowners they took the decison to feu out the land for building purposes - this helped it achieve Burgh Status in its own right but by 1891 Glasgow succeeded in annexing the areas.
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Thanks for the information about the Aileen Smart book. It is available to view at archive.org if you register (for free). Here is the relevant passage:
Several new streets were named after persons and places connected with the Dixon family: Calder Street after Dixon's Lanarkshire estate; Belleisle Street after the estate of William Smith Dixon near Ayr; Annette Street and Daisy Street after his daughters; Hickman Street and Morgan Street after a member of the family, Mrs Hickman Morgan. Allison Street is thought to be associated with Sir Archibald Allison, Sheriff-Principal of Lanarkshire.
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What is the evidence that the streets were built by Dixon?
The Dixons did not build the Houses but feued the land to the builders for the purpose of building the tenements.
How likely is it, do you think, that the builders were allowed to name some of the streets?
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How likely is it, do you think, that the builders were allowed to name some of the streets?
Given the preponderance of Dixon connections it's difficult to separate and establish what was freely named and what element of tugging the proverbial forelock was involved. In addition to this Glasgow by annexing the surrounding areas found itself with many duplicated street names and set about a major renaming operation in the early 1900's.
Added: Strangely in two books about the origins of Glasgow Street Names published in 1899 & 1902 respectively there are no listings of streets in the Govanhill area.
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Thanks again to everyone... so much information. I knew that several streets were named after Dixon's ironworks, namely Gartuck street, Carfin street and Calder street. I knew that Belleisle street was named after Dixons residence in Ayrshire. I knew that Allison street was named after Sir Archibald Allison and predates the other streets above that lead off it. I've seen reference to the Ailleen Smart book before and its nice to learn that it can be downloaded but her assertion that Daisy and Annette were William Smith Dixon's daughters are at odds with this reference :- http://www.glasgowwestaddress.co.uk/100_Glasgow_Men/Dixon_William.htm which states of Dixon:- He died in London in June, 1880, having married in 1851 Catherine Anne, daughter of David Napier, merchant, of Singapore, by whom he had no children, and who died in 1884
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I would be more inclined to trust Aileen Smart although I would seek other verification. The Book 100 Glasgow Men is a splendid example of Victorian whitewashing - not just in the case of William Dixon.
What it does show for William S. Dixon is that he comes across as what in modern terms would be described as a micromanager and control freak and it is this aspect of his personality which may have lead to the abundance of Dixon connections in the street names of Govanhill after all he did retain ownership of all of the lands of Govanhill
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I understand what you are saying RJ. Most of the streets in that part of Govanhill have a connection to the Dixon family. Belleisle, Daisy, Gartuck and Annette streets are all consecutive to each other. Daisy and Annette must have some relevance to William S Dixon, I accept that. Its just that if Dixon did have a couple of daughters, there would surely be birth records. He married in 1851. There is an entry in the 1851 census that shows a William S Dixon aged 26 registered in the Gorbals district. Record keeping was quite good in those days. I remember reading a claim online somewhere that Daisy was the name of Dixon's dog. I thought that was ridiculous but now I wouldn't rule it out.
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I understand what you are saying RJ. Most of the streets in that part of Govanhill have a connection to the Dixon family. Belleisle, Daisy, Gartuck and Annette streets are all consecutive to each other. Daisy and Annette must have some relevance to William S Dixon, I accept that. Its just that if Dixon did have a couple of daughters, there would surely be birth records. He married in 1851. There is an entry in the 1851 census that shows a William S Dixon aged 26 registered in the Gorbals district.
Pre 1851 birth records rely upon Church records and as the Dixons built a Methodist Church in Fireworks Village its possible that this may be the reason that no records exist in the Cof S records.
There is also the possibility of other family members having Children, Williams brother John had no interest in the family business and is reputed to have sold his shares to William.
I remember reading a claim online somewhere that Daisy was the name of Dixon's dog. I thought that was ridiculous but now I wouldn't rule it out.
;D Having read quite a bit about the Dixons when I was researching Fireworks Village I wouldn't either. ;D
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Hmm... I'm just reading Aileen Smarts book at the moment and it refers to the land the Dixon Halls was built on being donated by James Smith Dixon in the 1870's. So either that is a typo or... it means that William Smith Dixon wasn't childless and had a son. And if that is true, there is a chance that he had a couple of daughters too. It would be nice to see the records that confirm that though.
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the section on page 106 of the copy of the book I have referring to Dixon Halls states that William Smith Dixon donated the land.
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Ah yes I see that under the illustration but at the bottom of page 104, continuing onto page 105 it says" James Smith Dixon gifted a site at the junction of Dixon avenue and Cathcart road for a burgh hall". I wonder which statement is correct?
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Ah yes I see that under the illustration but at the bottom of page 104, continuing onto page 105 it says" James Smith Dixon gifted a site at the junction of Dixon avenue and Cathcart road for a burgh hall". I wonder which statement is correct?
Not on my copy - William Smith Dixon is mentioned on page 105 (not on 104) but as the feuer of the lands of Govanhill. The first mention of a gift of land for the Halls is on page 106.
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Ah yes I see that under the illustration but at the bottom of page 104, continuing onto page 105 it says" James Smith Dixon gifted a site at the junction of Dixon avenue and Cathcart road for a burgh hall". I wonder which statement is correct?
Not on my copy - William Smith Dixon is mentioned on page 105 (not on 104) but as the feuer of the lands of Govanhill. The first mention of a gift of land for the Halls is on page 106.
That's odd. My online edition is a reprint dated 1998.
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OK, just realised that Aileen Smart changed the titles of her books in the later edition. They started off as Villages of Glasgow Vol 1&2. Now they are Villages of Glasgow North of river and South of river. I'm reading the earlier version and you have got the later one.
I've just found some info from the 1871 English census. William S Dixon was spending a lot of time at his London home by then. He is listed (age 46) along with his wife Catherine Ann Dixon (age 40) but there is also a Janel Dixon (age 44) listed on the entry. I think "Janel" might be a transcription error but its possible that W S Dixon had a younger sibling.
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The Census '71 describes Janet as "sister, unm, age 44, born Scotland"
The Glasgow Evening Citizen, 16 Jun 1880, re. William Smith states "He was married, but leaves no family". This does not rule out children predeceasing him.
His obit in the Times mentions no family.
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its possible that W S Dixon had a younger sibling.
Janet Dixon, born 7 March 1827, Gorbals (some mix ups with the dates on FS on some of these)
parents William Dixon and Elizabeth Strang
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X1SY-GBC
Earlier one in 1822, Janet Smith Dixon
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X1SY-GB3
William Smith Dixon, born 3 October 1824
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X14W-F6T
Elizabeth in 1821
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X1ST-231
Marriage William Dixon and Elizabeth Strang, 27 March 1820, Gorbals
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTYG-HJF
Entry here for 25 March
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTB6-XBW
See also ScotlandsPeople, Church of Scotland, Old parish registers
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The Glasgow Evening Citizen, 16 Jun 1880, re. William Smith states "He was married, but leaves no family". This does not rule out children predeceasing him.
That's a good point and I suppose if you had lost two young daughters, you might want them memorialised as street names.