John Dickson, was an early settler of Onslow. He was born in Scotland. He was married before he left Scotland to Margaret Burn, February 1st, 1757. They came out from Scotland, about the year 1773, and settled on the farm that his grandson, John Dickson, and his great-grandson, George Philips, now reside upon, at North River, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their earthly existence. He died 1801, and his widow died 1822.
Jane, their eldest daughter, was born in Scotland, December 7th, 1757. She lived to be pretty old, and died unmarried, about 1832, aged 75 years. Margaret, their second daughter, was born January 8th, 1760. She was married to James Downing, November 22nd, 1787. They had two children, and they died when young. She died February 15th, 1790, aged 30 years. Her husband died February 21st, 1788.
John, their eldest son, was born in Scotland January 10th, 1863*. He was brought by his parents to Nova Scotia, and was married to Mary, the third daughter of Thomas Baird and Margaret Barnhill, November 4th, 1790. They had four sons and two daughters, who appear among the Bairds. Mrs. Dickson died suddenly, November 23rd, 1803. He was married again to Elizabeth, fourth daughter of Hugh Moore and Janet Logan, November 6th, 1804. [*probably a typo, should be 1763]
Mary, their eldest daughter, was born August 27th, 1805. She was married to Simon McKenzie, March 1st, 1832. They had two sons and three daughters. Robert, their eldest son, was born July 9th, 1807. He removed to the United States, when he was a young man, and joined the Mormons, and removed to Salt Lake, and was married there to Lydia Virginia Schnider, 1863. They had one son and one daughter. Hugh, their second son, was born July 1st, 1809. He was married to Rachel, the sixth daughter of James McCurdy and Agnes Archibald, November 4th, 1834. They had six sons and four daughters. He inherited his father's farm on Onslow Mountain, the same that his son William now resides upon. Their son, Henry C., was drowned at the board-landing bridge, June 20th, 1862, aged 26. Nancy, the second daughter of John and Elizabeth Dickson, was born June 17th, 1811. She was married to Charles, son of Daniel McKenzie and Sarah Moore, of the West River of Pictou, March 17th, 1831. They had three sons and seven daughters. Mr. McKenzie died October 25th, 1856, aged 54 years, leaving a widow and nine children to bemoan their sad bereavement. She is still living a widow. Alexander, the third son of John and Elizabeth Dickson, was born November 12th, 1813. He learned the blacksmith trade, and removed to Boston, Mass., and settled there, where he carried on his business extensively. He was married there to Susan May, September, 1842. They have two sons and four daughters. Elizabeth, their third and youngest daughter, was born September 18th, 1816. She was married to David King, October, 1844. They removed and settled at Wallace Harbor, where he carries on his business as a tanner and shoemaker. They have one son and two daughters. John Dickson died May 25th, 1855, aged 92 years, and his second wife died May 17th, 1842, aged 68 years.
Elizabeth, the third daughter of John Dickson, Senr., and Margaret Burn, his wife, was born April 6th, 1765. She died unmarried. Janet, the fourth daughter, was born March 21st, 1768. She was married to John Baird in the year 1793. They had one son. She died December 4th, 1794, aged 26 years. Myze Ann, their fifth daughter, was born March 6th, 1771. She was married to Samuel McNutt, May 13th, 1790. They settled in the Lower Village of Truro, and had one daughter, She died November 24th, 1790, aged 20 years. Mr. McNutt was married again to Margaret Savage, of Great Village, Londonderry, March 8th, 1792. They had six sons and four daughters. Magdalen, their sixth daughter, was born August 22nd, 1773. She was married to Thomas, the eldest son of Thomas Baird and Margaret Barnhill, in the year 1793. They had three sons and four daughters, who appear among the Bairds. She died January 29th, 1849, aged 76 years, and her husband died January 7th, 1837, aged 75 years. Isabell, their seventh daughter, was born July 5th, 1776. She was married to William McNutt in 1798. They had three sons and three daughters. They lived, reared their family, and died in a house that stood about thirty rods east of the house in which their son, James, now lives. Mr. McNutt died April 3rd, 1841, aged 73 years. His wife died October 9th, 1844, aged 68 years. Nancy, their eighth and youngest daughter, was born April 4th, 1778. She died at the house of her brother, John, unmarried, in the year 1840, aged 62 years.
James, their second and youngest son, was born April 30th, 1780. He was married to Sarah, daughter of Luke Upham and Grace Locker, his wife. They inherited his father's property, where they reared their family and spent their lives. He died there February 6th, 1856, aged 75 years, and his wife died February 24th, 1859, aged 80 years. Margaret, their eldest daughter, was born February 16th, 1799. She was married to David Philips, who came from Scotland but a short time before, February 25th, 1820. They had five sons and three daughters. She died October 20th, 1851, aged 52 years, and her husband died January 22nd, 1862, aged 65 years. John, the only son of James and Sarah Dickson, was born December 10th, 1801. He was married to Hannah Jerusha Faulkner, of Economy, November 1st, 1832. They had three sons and three daughters. He inherits a part of what was his father's farm, which belonged to his grandfather. Elmira, their second daughter, was born January 2nd, 1803. She is living unmarried. Mary Baird, their third daughter, was born August 24th, 1804. She was married to David Murray, January 26th, 1824. They had four sons and five daughters. She died December 20th, 1854, aged 50 years. Olive, their fourth daughter, was born April 28th, 1808. She was married to S. S. Nelson, merchant, of Truro, February 9th, 1837. They had three sons and three daughters. She died November 10th, 1872, aged 64 years. Grace, their fifth daughter, was born March 10th, 1810. She was married to John Philips, 1830. They had three sons and seven daughters. They now reside at River Philip, County of Cumberland. Elizabeth, their sixth daughter, was born December 17th, 1812. She was married to Richard Upham, of Truro, February 11th, 1841. She died July 17th, 1862, aged 48 years. Sarah, their seventh and youngest daughter, was born July 18th, 1815. She was married to Edward Faulkner, January 25th, 1844. They had two sons and three daughters.
