The immigration of John Dixon and family

We have new evidence, thanks to Gary Whisenhunt, who is working on a book about his Etheridge, Dixon and Shaw relatives. Several records show that these families and the Hodgson family, were friends and relatives in the Albion area and probably in England. John Dixon plus his wife and possibly two children came to America before the remaining children. Gary found names of three boys matching John Dixon Jr., Joseph Dixon (later to be Joseph Sr.,who was George Dixon’s grandfather) and Alfred Dixon arriving on the Kensington, a steamship, in New York in 1841. They appear to have been escorted by John Hodgson, the brother of Grace Shaw, the future wife of Joseph Dixon (Sr.). Grace’s mother sailed with her other nine children aboard the Globe, leaving Liverpool on June 20, 1842 bound for Philadelphia. Her husband was deceased. Her son John was 23 years old and was probably sent ahead to prepare for the arrival of the rest of the family. And, of course, Grace’s mother was Alice Stead Hodgson... sound familiar? John Dixon’s wife was Ann Stead Dixon! Gary’s great grandmother was Eliza Hannah Dixon Etheridge, the daughter of Joseph Dixon Sr and Grace Shaw Dixon, making her George Dixon’s aunt!