NICHOLAS HIXON c 1758

[IAN SUTHERLAND]

I am trying to find out details of my wife's 5th Great Grandfather's baptism, where it happened and hopefully who his parents were. The family name can appear as HIXON, HIXSON and of recent times, as HICKSON.

Nicholas Hixon married Mary MORGAN on 18 February 1801 in Saint Marys Church, Swansea, Glamorgan Wales.  They raised four children – John Robert HIXON c 1801 (my direct ancestor), Nicholas HIXON c 1804, Robert Hixon c 1807, and Mary HIXON c 1809.  All were born in Swansea and baptised in Saint Marys Church.

 He was buried on 15 October 1823 at Saint Marys Church cemetery, aged 65 years – hence a birth date circa 1758.  He was probably not from Glamorgan, as I can find no earlier records of the HIXON name.  There was a family belief that perhaps he originally came from Dorset or Devon, England. However all research to date in those localities has drawn a blank.

Can anyone assist please?  Many thanks.

[osprey]

Welcome to Rootschat!

Here's a slightly earlier instance of the surname in the area

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VFC4-MJH

and burial of the same man in same parish, could be a relative?

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VFZX-BX5

Burials for Nicholas and Robert a few days apart
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VFCC-N8T

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VFZX-3H7

[IAN SUTHERLAND]

Thank you for your research notes.  We also found the deaths of Nicholas and Robert Hixon - both of whom died at a young age, as you have discovered.

The father of Jane Hickson was James Hickson who may have been born around Loughor circa 1750 at a guess. And as you say, possibly a relative of our Nicholas Hixon who was born circa 1758.

Unfortunately, the current Hickson family thinks that Nicholas came from elsewhere. As there were a lot of Hixons centred in the Swanage, Dorset area in the 1841 England Census we tried to find him there through the Dorset FHS - no joy.

Many thanks again for your thoughts.

[trish1120]

Given his age when marrying 1801 he may have been married before.

[despair]

There are a couple of records that might be relevant but are difficult to take further:

There is a marriage of 1786 of Nicholas HIckson to Ann Shilling(or Skilling) in Plymouth with Nicholas being given as of HMS Powerful

There is a death of Ann Hicks in Plymouth in 1799,given as born 1770(and therefore 16 at marriage if it is the same person,with Nicholas just under 30)

The timing of this death and nature of his profession could be consistent with an 1801 Swansea marriage.

There was a HMS Powerful launched in London in 1783 but I can't find if any crew lists exist.

Regards
Roger

[IAN SUTHERLAND]

The scenario that you have outlined Roger certainly seems feasible. It ‘ticks the boxes’ on where he came from (possibly Plymouth, Devon), why he was 43 years when he married Mary Morgan in 1801,and how he was able to get from Plymouth to Swansea on board the HMS Powerful. If a crew list was found for HMS Powerful, and he was listed together with his age, it may at least confirm or otherwise, whether it’s our Nicholas Hixon c 1758.

[Bellou]

Did you get any further with finding out about Nicholas Hixson? He was my Gr x 3 Grandfather . I have been trying to find out about him for many years, but nothing definite before his marriage in 1802 in Swansea. Someone said he was a smuggler as were later family members! The Dorset idea does seem a possibility. although our family myth is he was a sailor from the North of England.

[IAN SUTHERLAND]

Unfortunately no further progress.  A visit to the National Archives last year looking at documents related to HMS Powerful found that there were in fact two Nicholas Hixons on that ship at different times - one from Tralee Ireland (but not ours), and another whose birth place was recorded as 'Venus Brigg'.  That doesn't appear to be a place, but a ship! So end of road??