The first mention of Ambrose DIXON is in Accomack/Northampton County Court Records dated 7 Sept. 1640. Here are the exact words and spellings:

Forasmuch as it hath appeared unto this Court this present day that there is certen wages due unto Ambrose DIXON and unto some others For theire service and Labour done and performed [on board the] Pinnace called the Accomack which as yet remayneth unsatisfied It is thereupon thought Fitt and soe ordered By this Courte that as well the said Ambrose DIXON as allsoe the rest whose wages are remayninge behind and unpayed shall Bee satisfied and discharged unto them and eyther of them By and out of the Cargoe that lately came in the said Vessell called the Accomack as afforesaid fiz. For soe much as they and eyther of them shall justly make appeare to bee Due

29 Aug. 1642 The deposition of Thomas Savage taken in open Court.
This deponant saith that att March last was twelve month Ambrose DIXON owed unto Richard Hudson the quantitye of two barrells of Corne, And the said DIXON haveing not the said Corne came to this deponant and desired him to pay it for him which this deponant promised the said Hudson to doe, which Corne neither the said Hudson nor his Assignes came to fatch in three Months after Whereupon this deponant did give them notice divers tymes to fatch the said Corne which they never did, soe this deponant disposed of the said Corne, And further this deponant saith that Ambrose DIXON promised to give this deponant thirty shillings sterling in Goods as they Cost the first penny when Capt. Stone his Pinnace came from New England (no doubt this is the Accomack, the pinnace that DIXON was caulker/carpenter on - the court decides the same day that DIXON owes the debt plus court charges)

1 Feb. 1643/44 (they used the old calendar in those days)
Bee it Knowne unto all men by these presents That I William Scott of the Cittie of London Marriner have made constitutided and Authorized my true and loveing Friend Ambrosse DIXSON in the Countye of Northampton shipp Carpenter to bee my true and lawfull Attourney for mee and in my name place and stead all such goods debts Merchauntdizes as I have belonging to my selfe or Lawfull Attourney And to make such Returnes of the same as I shall give further order, Giveing and by these presents graunting unto my said Attourney full power and Authority to doe and deale as effectually in the promisses As I myself might or could effect (and so on) In witnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this 18th September 1643 28 July 1645  

The deposition of Ambrose Dixson taken in open Court.
This deponent saith that when hee and his mate had made an end of the boate which they built for Randall Revell Thomas Harrison asked them saying have you done And sayde I did write a noate (etc about Harrison's noate and Revell's misusing it - DIXON finishes his deposition with) And further not the marke of Ambrose Dixson 

Mary Peddington whose first husband was Henry Peddington (Pedenden, Pedlington and other varied spellings). Her husband had died by 1647, leaving her with one son - Henry Jr. As Mrs Peddington she appears twice in the early court records:

26 Nov. 1638 - Whereas Henry Peddenden made it appeare unto this court that there is 200 acres of land dew to him for the transportation of 4 persons into the Country (can't read) give him a small neck of land lyeinge in Hungars (for transportation of) Henry Peddenden, Mary his wife, Christopher Bryan, James Hardyn [so Mary was already married to him when they arrived]

20 Sept.1644 - The deposition of Thomas Clifton taken in open Court
This deponent saith that Mrs Pedenden (later Mary DIXON) lost a peece of Ribbandine which goodwife Weede Boy found and gave it to Anne Smyth Mrs Pedenden seeing the sayde Anne have it upon her head tooke her into the house by the arme and toore it out of her haire, John Hinman came to Mr Pedendens house and Fell into words of greate distaste, Whereupon the said Mr Pedenden told the said Hinman saying I never inform"d the Court with an untrust (goes on about their arguement) It is assumed by many that Mary Peddington DIXON was born Mary Wilson, sister of George Wilson. She married Peddington (or Pedenden, Pedlington, etc) in England and both migrated to Virginia where Henry died by 1647 and remarried DIXON by 1649. Her brother George Wilson later joined them in settling in Somerset Co.About 1649

Ambrose DIXON married the widow Mary Peddington, their first 6 children are born in Northampton Co. starting with Mary DIXON c1650, Thomas DIXON c1651, Sarah DIXON c1653, Ambrose DIXON c1655 (died young), Elizabeth DIXON c1657, and Grace DIXON c1659.

In 1651 he joined Edmund Scarburgh and several others in riding against the Indians in defiance of the law. A Court Order of 10 May 1651 says:
Whereas Mr Edmund Scarburgh, Mr Thomas Johnson, Mr Richard Vaughan, Captain John Dollinge, John Robinson, Toby Norton, Richard Baily, Ambrose DIXON, Richard Hill, Jenkin Price And divers others Inhabitants and free men in the Upper parte of the parish in the Countie of Northampton Did in a Hostile manner (contrary to the knowne Lawes of Virginia And the League made with the Indians) upon the 28th day of Aprill last past Rayse a partie of men to the number of fiftie persons with Armes and ammunicon And upon the aforesaid daie marched amonge the Indians with a Resolucon to take or kill the Queene of Pocamoke, shott att Indians, slashed and cut [can't read], Took Indyans prisoner, And bound one of them with a Chayne, which said Accons caused the Indyans To Invade the Countie, to the great danger of our Lives and Estate, It is therefore ordered That the Sherriff shall forthwith Arrest the Bodies of all the abovesaid parties... (goes on to say they are to remain in custody until they post bonds to appear in person at James Citty to answer the Governor and Council on 21 May) The same year, 1651, Ambrose DIXON is among those that signed the Oath of Fidelity to the Commonwealth (The king had been beheaded and the monarchy dissolved, Cromwell was in power)

12 Oct. 1652 Ambrose DIXON and Stephen Horsely (Horsey) patent 600 acres in Northampton County for transportation of 12 persons among whom is Mary Dixon.

29 Oct. 1655 - Whereas it appeareth to ye Courte that a dogg and bitch of Ambrose DIXON followed one Tho: Ward and was by a servant of Mr Jno Tilnage found aworrying of two sheep of ye said Tilnage which dyed of the biting of ye said dogge and bitch It is ordered that ye said Tho: Ward shall forthwith make payment unto ye said Mr Jno Tilnage 360 lbs tob. and caske with court charge It is further ordered if any man or woman for further time shall walk with a dogge or bitch that shall kill any sheep that it be thereby charged that the party soe offending shall pay the full value of the sheep worried or killed

This is from Old Somerset on the Eastern Shore of Maryland by Torrence:
page 299 - "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 minister's and church dues, having been formerly ordered by the vestry to pay them. The court sustained the vestry's order."
page 303-304 - " In November, 1660, Ambrose DIXON (and 4 others) were brought before the court of Northampton County for breach of the law concerning Quakers. Ambrose DIXON was arraigned for having met with and spoken amongst the people called Quakers, while fearlessly (and perhaps stubbornly) he "acknowledged the same."... "In January 1661/2, when the delinquents in payment of minister's and other parish dues, in Hungar's Parish, were ordered by the Northampton Courtto 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 into 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 horsemen and invaded the newly formed county with an eye to forcing the inhabitants to swear loyalty to Virginia, not Maryland. The 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 hanged by the governor of MD. 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 were 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 hee could not be here permitted, Is a prater 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 bids defiance until severer course reforme him." Scarburgh then proceeded to Manokin where all but 2 of the inhabitants subscribed alligance 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 10th of November 1663 the Court at Accomack sent on officer to rally the subscribers to come together and defend themselves against the Quakers. By June, 1664 Governor Calvert complained to Governor Berkeley of Virginia of Scarburgh's invasion, beating and imprisoning the people of Annamessex and Manokin. Berkeley replied that Scarburgh had no authoriy 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 shone 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 in. Quakers refused to "swear". At a later date they were allowed to "affirm" where swearing in would be required of non-Quakers.

Since coming into Annamessex, Ambrose and Mary DIXON had had 2 more children - Alice born 14 Feb. 1663/64 and Hannah (who died young) born 9 Sept. 1666. From then until his death in 1687, DIXON appears 14 more times in the court record for various reasons. That he remained defiant and independent-minded into his old age can be seen in a court case in was involved in in 1677.

Ambrose remained an independent thinker all of his long life. When he was in his late 50's he again got into trouble with the authorities. It seems that he disposed of tobacco that the Aunder-sheriff had confiscated on his property to pay his overdue rents and taxes. The "broad arrow" that is mentioned here is the same mark that was put on the door of his house by Col. Scarburgh in 1663. Since almost no one could read in those days, a sign that everyone understood was used. The "Broad arrow" was the sign that property had been confiscated by the authorities and no longer belonged to the previous owner.

In 1677 (from Judicial Records 1675-1677) it says:
Whereas complaint hath this day beene made to me against Ambrose DIXON of the county of Somerset planter did in or neare about in month of ffebruary last past at ye tobacco house of ye said DIXON upon his plantation after ye marke and dispose of 5 hogsheads of tobacco which was by William Stevens undersheriff to Captain Thomas Waller of Somerset County marked with an broad arrow and intended to be weighed and received of him ye said DIXON towards defraying of his publick dues and his lordships rents and that when ye said William Stevens did accordingly goe about to weigh ye same and to take an exact accompt thereof both for his owne satisfaction and for ye satisfaction of him ye said DIXON that then ye said DIXON (in contempt of ye power and authority of ye said Stevens) did openly and violently by force of armes and divers threatening and abusive speeches withstand and oppose ye said undersheriff and would not suffer him to execute his office but disposed of ye said tobacco aforesaid If therefore ye said DIXON shall not attend ye next county court to bee held in ye said county repaire to it ye said court and therefore before ye commissioners of ye same openly and in public view of ye whole court prostrate himselfe upon his knees and acknowledge his great error to his said Lord Proprietor and crave pardon and forgiveness for ye same promising ammendment for ye same and ye future then and you are hereby strictly willed and required to have ye body of him ye said DIXON at ye next provincial court to bee held att St Maries on ye 19th day of June next to suffer such punishment for ye same as his said Lordships Justices shall think fitt to inflict upon himAmbrose DIXON openly and in publique view of ye whole court did acknowledge his great error and humbly craves pardon and forgiveness for ye same DIXON had clearly gotten in over his head this time and the justices were quick to make an example of him. Whether they then sent him to St. Marys is never said, but probably they made do with his apology.

Ambrose Dixon had his will written the 7th of April 1686:
Dau Elizabeth wife of Robert Dukes one negro woman Called Betty Ginney and her increase also 1 horse
grandchild Thomas Potter sonn of Henry Potter 1 cow and calf 1 mare and her female increase 1 young female negro Thomas Potter to be put to scoole there to learne reading and writting and arethmatik
son in law Edmund Beauchamp 1 cow and calf 1 young black mare called Ginney ye Younger
Elizabeth Willson ye wife of George Willson mare of ye bay coller with a white star in her forehead called by ye name of Jinneywifes son Henry Penington one negro girl about 10 years old
James Brown 1000 lbs of good Merchantible tobacco in caskrest to wife Mary Dixon except part Thomas Dixon lives onson Thomas Dixon, son in law Thomas Cottingham, son in law Edmund Beauchamp, son in law Robert Dukes, son in law John Richards, son in law Henry Potter after decease of Wife to be equally dividedif Mary intermarry she is to injoy and posess 1/3 only promised to make over to friends 1 acre of land for ye consideration of 12 pence in money received where meeting house now is
Mary Dixon executrix
Signed with his marke A
codicil - if any of my said children and sons in law shall in any way trouble or molest illegaly my beloved wife, my executrix Mary Dixon in or about or concerning this my last will and testament their shares to be void
Ambrose Dixon
AD
his marke

1688 (on August 14) the appraisers of his estate took their inventory room by room. Here it is, let's take the tour:
In Ye Hall
Ambrose Dixon's bed and furniture (that means blankets, sheets, pillows, etc)
13 yards of single serge (fabric)
8 3/4 of course kearsey (more fabric)
1 small carpett, 3 cupboard clothes
12 old turkey worked chairs (meand tooled leather)
6 old leather chairs
5 small pieces of old pewter
1 pair of iron doggs (you lay logs on them in fireplace)
1 warming pann (to warm the bed before you get in)
1 small round table and cupboard
3 old chests In ye Closset adjoining to ye Hall
1 match coat (heavy wool coat)
1 chest and 8 botles
1 ild baskett and a littel yarneIn the other little closset
15 nailes (these were very valuable)
1 little sauce pann and skilettIn ye Kitchen
1 old chest and table 1 bread tray and sifter and pillian
(as you can see this was a winter kitchen - in August and during hot weather all cooking was done in the negroes quarter as you can tell from the inventory there.)
In ye Milke House
3 peuter dishes one little bason
1 frying pan
5 narrow axes and 1 grubbing how
1 box and 8 botles
(hard to tell if this was a shed attached to the house as they often were or a separate building. My money's on shed because it's listed in the middle of the listings of rooms in the house. This concludes the downstairs, then then went upstairs)
In the Porch Chamber
1 feather bed and furniture
1 feather bed and furniture
2 diaper table clothes 14 napkins 2 towells (diaper was a type of cloth)
1 small parcell of silke
1 chest and box
3 chaimber potts
(the word chamber always meant an upstairs room, in this case we know he had a porch because this chamber was over it...also you'll notice Dixon's own bed was downstairs, again because it was summer and it would be cooler downstairs)
In ye Wainscott chaimber
1 old feather bed and furniture
In ye Chaimber adjacent
1 old small feather bed
6 diaper napkins
3 pewter dishes 10 plates
1 head of a still and 6 spoons
1 iron box with heaters with several trifling things
(the "iron box" was a box iron with heaters used to iron material - wondering why only spoons? forks were not in use in America at this date. There were a few in England but they hadn't made it to the colonies yet)
In the nigroes quarter
8 iron potts
3 old kettles
2 racks
2 spitts
5 paire pott hooks
1 brass mortar and pestle
1 old tankard
4 wedges
1 driping and 1 frying pan
1 peicher (pitcher) basin and 2 pr tongs
1 old caske
1 broken kettle 1 gring stone
1 broken iron pott
1 white servant his time 1 year
1 nigroe man named Watt
1 nigroe woman and 3 children
1 nigroe woman and 5 children
1 hand mill and 2 old gunns
(so 11 people all slept in the quarter and you'll notice there are no beds)
Without Doors
1 mare, 1 colt, 1 horse, 3 yearlings, 1 two-year old
3 cowes and calves
3 cowes and yearlings
2 drought oxen
28 young cattele
8 sheep
1 parcel of hoggs
1 cart and wheeles
sum 328-3-0 (pounds-shillings-pence) This was a well-to-do amount

Are you wondering why he had 18 chairs, but only "1 small round table"? In those days boards were usually laid across chests or cross-bucks and covered with a cloth for meals. Also children were usually expected to stand during meals while adults sat. The large number of chairs are because Quaker "meetings" were held at his house although a meeting house had recently been built on an acre of ground near DIXON's own house.

Remember in the will that Ambrose DIXON wrote he added a codicil stating that if any of the children or sons-in-law bothered his wife in any way they would forfeit their part of his estate? It would seem their son Thomas DIXON did not want to take any chances. About 6 years after his father's death Thomas had drawn up the following "obligation" to make it clear to the law that he had done all he could to make his mother comfortable in her old age. The understanding was that he could then run the plantation on his own and not be accused of "troubling or molesting her".

From Judicial Records 1693-1694
Know all men that wee Thomas Dixon and John West both of Somerset County and Province of Maryland doe acknowledge and confess our selves to owe and are indebted unto Mary Dixon relict of Ambrose Dixon the just sum of 300 pounds sterling money of England which we promise to pay the said Mary
28 July 1694
The condition of this obligation is such that if ye above bound Thomas Dixon doe forthwith build or cause to be built one sufficient good 20 foot square house or room with a chimney therein well fitted and furnished by all consement speed at ye proper cost and charge of him the said Thomas Dixon which said house or room to be for ye proper use and benefit and behoof of her ye said Mary Dixon during her natural life as also ye said Thomas Dixon shall find and allow to the said Mary one sufficient servant to attend her the said Mary during her life as said with sufficient of entertainment of meate drinke washing lodging apparell or other neccessaries fitting and convenient for the said Mary during her natural life as also the said Thomas Dixon doe well and truly perform the last will and testament of the said deceased Ambrose Dixon so far as is to be fulfilled and the Law require then the said obligation to be void and of none effect signed Thomas Dixon J. West (In other words Mary either got her room, servant, etc. for the rest of her life or they forfeited 300 pounds sterling to her and Thomas lost his inheritance. I have a feeling she had a very comfortable old age.

Known children of Ambrose and Mary Dixon were:
1. Mary Dixon, b. c1650, d. ?; mar. (1666) Thomas Cottingham
2. Thomas Dixon, b. c1651, d. 1720; mar. (12 Aug.1672) Christianna Potter
3.Sarah Dixon, b. c1655; mar. 11 Jun. 1668 Edward Beauchamp
4. Ambrose Dixon, b. c1655, died young
5. Elizabeth Dixon, b. c1657, d. 28 Feb. 1687/8; mar. (1674) Robert Dukes
6. Grace Dixon, b. c1659; mar. (1676) John Richards
7. Alice Dixon, b. 14 Peb. 1663/4; mar. (1679) Henry Potter; mar. 2nd Randall Minshull
8. Hannah Dixon, b. 9 Sep. 1666, d. Oct. 1667

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