Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

She came from Ireland.

That pretty much sums up what I know about Isabella Porter before she married my 2x-great-grandfather, John Dixon. Every census record that I have for her between the years of 1870 and 1910 give Ireland as her place of birth.

She is, most likely, the ancestor with whom I share my tiny bit (2%) of Irish DNA.

John Dixon m. Isabella Porter (my 2x great-grandparents)

William A. Dixon m. Mary Elizabeth Klein (my great-grandparents)

Wallace B. Dixon m. Sophie Karvoius (my grandparents)

 

Welcome to the Family

Isabella Porter and John Dixon were married in "E Town," Elizabeth, New Jersey, on May 22 by Squire Price, a justice of the peace. John was 24, Isabella was 18, according to the marriage register. In the register, her father's name is given as W. Porter. (1) [Note that in the certificate below the marriage date is given as 20 May 1861, perhaps the clerk entering the marriage in the register made a transcription error.]

Marriage "certificate" of John Dixon and Isabella Porter, 20 May 1861. (2)

Hopefully, by next St. Patrick's Day I'll know more about Isabella and her life before and after she became a Dixon!

Sources

(1) Marriage record for John & Isabel Dixon. Return of Marriages, City of Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey. Volume AG, p. 273, from 1 May 1861 to 1 May 1862. New Jersey State Archives, Trenton, NJ.

(2) Marriage record for John Dixon and Isabella Porter. "New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VWR3-C6J : accessed 14 February 2016), John Dixon and Isabella Porter, 20 May 1861; citing Union, New Jersey, New Jersey State Archives, Trenton; FHL microfilm 1,301,706, Digital Folder Number 004541263, Image Number 00214.