Eric Miller's Family Tree

URL: Ambrose Dixon, Quaker Leader

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Ambrose Dixon Sr.

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Ambrose Dixon, Quaker Leader The early histories of Northampton County, Virginia and Somerset County, Maryland are filled with references to Ambrose Dixon. He and Stephen Horsey were outspoken Quakers in Virginia, which eventually led to them moving to the religious freedom offered them in Maryland. For a history of the Quaker movement, see http://baker.canavancentral.com/John111.html . ------------------------ Behr, Steve. Dixon Family 1598-2000. 2000. Loran, Ohio. From the Nabb Research Center: 1658 (Old Somerset on the Eastern Shore by Torrence) [N.B. Would seem to imply that the following section is taken from Torrence, either directly or summarized.] "As early as November 1658, Ambrose Dixon (and 3 others) was before Northampton Court at the suit of the Reverend Thomas Teackle, rector of Hungar's Parish, for non-payment of the minister's and church dues, having been formerly ordered by the vestry to pay them. The court sustained the vestry's order. (page 303-4) In Nov 1660 Ambrose Dixon (and 4 others) were brought before the court of Northampton County for breach of the law concerning Quakers. Ambrose Dixon was arrainged for having met with and spoken amonst the people called Quakers, while fearlessly (and perhaps stubbornly) he acknowledged the same. In January 1661/2 when the delinguents in payment of minister's and other parish dues, in Hungar's Parish, were ordered by the Northampton Court make payment of amounts that appeared to be due by them from the year 1654, Ambrose Dixon was among those who were returned by the authorities as non est inventus (he had left Virginia and could not be found). Dixon moved to Maryland, settling in Annamessex in 1661. Resentment was very strong in Virginia over the encouragement the governor of Maryland was giving to people to come and settle in Somerset County. Col Edmund Scarburgh swore that this part of the Eastern Shore really belonged to Virginia. In 1663 he took some of the commissioners and 40 horsement and invaded the newly formed county with an eye to forcing the inhabitants to swear loyalty to Virginia, not Maryland. This party reached Annamessex on Sunday night the 11th of October. The next day they went to the house of one of the commissioners, Stephen Horsey, and demanded he swear his obedience to Virginia. Horsey said he could not because he could be hanaged by the governor of Maryland. The broad arrow of confiscation was placed on his door and he was arrested. The party next proceeded to the house of Ambrose Dixon. Two other Quakers who had fled Virginia wre there with him. Scarburgh again demanded submission, but Dixon refused. In Scarburgh's own words Dixon was a 'caulker by profession that lived longe in ye lower parts, was often in question for his quaking profession, removed to Anamessicks, there to Act what he could not be here permitted. Is a parter [sic] of nonsense, and much led by ye spirit of Ignorance for which he is followed, a receiver of many quakers, his house ye place of their resort and a Conveyor of our ingaged persons out of the County, averse to Government, for which hee stands arrested, and ye broad arrow on his doore, but bides defiance until severer course reforme him.' "Scarburgh then procceded to Manokin where all but 2 of the inhabitants subscribed allegiance to Virginia. In all of the about 50 freemen living in the area only 8 refused to give in to the colonel. He then left feeling that he had secured the area for Virginia. On the 19th of November 1663 the court at Accomack sent an officer to rally the subscribers to come together and defend themselves against the quakers. By June 1664 Governor Calvert complained to Governor Bexley of Virginia of Scarburgh's invasion, beating and imprisoning the people of Annamessex and Manokin. Berkleley replied that Scarburgh had no authority and had acted alone. The boundary was finally settled at a later date, and even later Scarburgh was finally reprimanded for his actions. The high regard in which Dixon was held was shown when he was named in 1666 one of the first surveyors of the highways for the county. The same year he was elected to represent the county as a delegate in Annapolis. He did not go, however, perhaps because as a quaker he could not be sworn it. At a later date the Quakers were allowed to 'affirm.'" (pages 17-18)

Ambrose Dixon, Quaker Leader
The early histories of Northampton County, Virginia and Somerset County, Maryland are filled with references to Ambrose Dixon. He and Stephen Horsey were outspoken Quakers in Virginia, which eventually led to them moving to the religious freedom offered them in Maryland.

For a history of the Quaker movement, see http://baker.canavancentral.com/John111.html .

------------------------

Behr, Steve. Dixon Family 1598-2000. 2000. Loran, Ohio. From the Nabb Research Center:

1658 (Old Somerset on the Eastern Shore by Torrence) [N.B. Would seem to imply that the following section is taken from Torrence, either directly or summarized.]

"As early as November 1658, Ambrose Dixon (and 3 others) was before Northampton Court at the suit of the Reverend Thomas Teackle, rector of Hungar's Parish, for non-payment of the minister's and church dues, having been formerly ordered by the vestry to pay them. The court sustained the vestry's order. (page 303-4) In Nov 1660 Ambrose Dixon (and 4 others) were brought before the court of Northampton County for breach of the law concerning Quakers. Ambrose Dixon was arrainged for having met with and spoken amonst the people called Quakers, while fearlessly (and perhaps stubbornly) he acknowledged the same. In January 1661/2 when the delinguents in payment of minister's and other parish dues, in Hungar's Parish, were ordered by the Northampton Court make payment of amounts that appeared to be due by them from the year 1654, Ambrose Dixon was among those who were returned by the authorities as non est inventus (he had left Virginia and could not be found). Dixon moved to Maryland, settling in Annamessex in 1661. Resentment was very strong in Virginia over the encouragement the governor of Maryland was giving to people to come and settle in Somerset County. Col Edmund Scarburgh swore that this part of the Eastern Shore really belonged to Virginia. In 1663 he took some of the commissioners and 40 horsement and invaded the newly formed county with an eye to forcing the inhabitants to swear loyalty to Virginia, not Maryland. This party reached Annamessex on Sunday night the 11th of October. The next day they went to the house of one of the commissioners, Stephen Horsey, and demanded he swear his obedience to Virginia. Horsey said he could not because he could be hanaged by the governor of Maryland. The broad arrow of confiscation was placed on his door and he was arrested. The party next proceeded to the house of Ambrose Dixon. Two other Quakers who had fled Virginia wre there with him. Scarburgh again demanded submission, but Dixon refused. In Scarburgh's own words Dixon was a 'caulker by profession that lived longe in ye lower parts, was often in question for his quaking profession, removed to Anamessicks, there to Act what he could not be here permitted. Is a parter [sic] of nonsense, and much led by ye spirit of Ignorance for which he is followed, a receiver of many quakers, his house ye place of their resort and a Conveyor of our ingaged persons out of the County, averse to Government, for which hee stands arrested, and ye broad arrow on his doore, but bides defiance until severer course reforme him.'

"Scarburgh then procceded to Manokin where all but 2 of the inhabitants subscribed allegiance to Virginia. In all of the about 50 freemen living in the area only 8 refused to give in to the colonel. He then left feeling that he had secured the area for Virginia. On the 19th of November 1663 the court at Accomack sent an officer to rally the subscribers to come together and defend themselves against the quakers. By June 1664 Governor Calvert complained to Governor Bexley of Virginia of Scarburgh's invasion, beating and imprisoning the people of Annamessex and Manokin. Berkleley replied that Scarburgh had no authority and had acted alone. The boundary was finally settled at a later date, and even later Scarburgh was finally reprimanded for his actions. The high regard in which Dixon was held was shown when he was named in 1666 one of the first surveyors of the highways for the county. The same year he was elected to represent the county as a delegate in Annapolis. He did not go, however, perhaps because as a quaker he could not be sworn it. At a later date the Quakers were allowed to 'affirm.'" (pages 17-18)

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