Jeremiah Dixon's Biography

Regarding "An Israelite in whom there is no guile" (I think it's from John 1:47, actually), I quote from H P Hollis "Jeremiah Dixon and his Brother", JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION, v 44, #8, 1934, pp 294-9:

Jeremiah Dixon (b.1733) and his elder brother, George, were the sons of Ralph Dixon, a colliery owner of Henknowle near Cockfield in Durham. In Hutchinson's "History and Antiquities of Durham," published about 1785, they are mentioned with admiration, and it is said, incorrectly, that they were the sons of an old and faithful servant under the Raby family. The statement is apparently based on the fact that a cousin (perhaps a distant one) of Ralph Dixon held a position as sterward of seneschal at Raby Castle, the seat of the Earl of Darlington, afterwards Duke of Cleveland, and was evidently esteemed, for the his portrait still hangs in the hall at the place with the inscription, "An Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile."

Hollis apparently was just an astronomer (F.R.A.S.) who forwarded to the journal some of his reading. There are unfortunately some mistakes in the above, as adduced from H W Robinson "Jeremiah Dixon (1733-1779)--A Biographical Note", PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, v94, #3, 1950 pp 272-274:

Many members of the [Dixon] family bore the same Christian names and this has caused some confusions, as also have the intermarriages and other ramifica- tions [eh!?]. These have misled some historians, and erroneous statements, conclusions, and traditions regarding the family have appeared in the printed local histories. The father of Jeremiah has been described aas of various professions. In many ref- erences he is mentioned as the famous butler of Raby Castle, whereas in fact it was his [that is, I assume, the father's] uncle who held that position. ....

[JD's] father was George Dixon of Cockfield (1701-1755) and he was a coal-mine owner.

Robinson goes on to quote GD's will, which mentions his oldest son George, and later the two sons Jeremiah and Ralph. William Emerson gets a mention, as do some other things that a reader of M&D will find highly interesting, and which I plan to mention at the relevant times.

Steven Maas quotes from the same article:

"There is a family tradition and it has appeared in print on many occasions that Dixon wore military uniform from 1760 until his death consisting of a long red coat and a cocked hat."

[...]

"Dixon merely adopted as ordinary dress a long red coat and — as so many people of the period did — a cocked hat. This has led historians to assume that he either held commissioned rank or that he wore military uniform without permission. A 'long red coat and cocked hat' had no significance."

The following is from H W Robinson "Jeramiah Dixon (1733-1779)--A Biographical Note" PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, vol 94, no 3, June 1950, pp 272-4:

A story is told that one day, whilst in America, Dixon came across a slave driver mercilessly beating a poor black woman. Going up to him he said: "Thou must not do that!" He received the curt answer: "You be d....d! Mind your own business." Dixon's reply was: "If thou doesn't desist I'll thrash thee!" Then righteous wrath overcame his Quaker principles. He was a tall and power- ful man, and an imposing figure, so without more ado he seized the slave-driver's whip and with it gave him the sound thrashing that he richly deserved. Dixon kept the whip a trophy and took it back with him to Cockfield, where it was long regarded as a family treasure.