Through my mum’s side of the family, I’m a descendant of the convicts, James Rixon and Amelia Goodwin, who came (were sent) to Australia in 1798 and 1800 (respectively). For many years, James was buried in an unmarked grave at Windsor in the (now) western suburbs of Sydney, until a couple of years ago when a plaque was placed on the nearest approved approximation known to where he was actually buried.

In a few weeks time, I’ll be heading back to Windsor for a family reunion, which I’m quite excited about. For anyone else with a connection to this family, here’s the latest information.

THE LATEST NEWSLETTER FROM JOYE WALSH

Our Reunion date of 20 May is rapidly approaching.

I hope if you are able to attend you have made your plans, are looking forward to meeting up with lots of new “cousins” and have begun to gather your display charts, photo albums and stories.

Please see the attached PDF for some extra information.Rixon Reunion 20 May 2018

Many descendants have already indicated their intention to attend or inability – because of distance, health, travel etc.

If you have not already done so could you please let me know your intention so we know

1. To have enough cups ready for morning tea
2. You have received the message.
3. We have sufficient souvenir lanyards and name badges prepared [Lanyards for a small donation]

The more attendees the merrier!

Lots of extra names, details and photos have been gathered for the updated version of More a Forest than a Family Tree to be published after the Gathering. A preliminary preview copy will be available for browsing at the Gathering.

Thanks to all those family members who have already supplied correction/ and updates and photos. The final date for additions for the preview copy is May 6.

Thanks

Second Reunion of Descendants of James Rixon & Amelia Goodwin
20th May 2018, 10am – 4pm
St Matthews Church Parish Centre Windsor, NSW

All descendants of James & Amelia are invited to gather at Windsor to celebrate 220 years of Rixons in Australia. They had 5 sons William – b.1802, Benjamin & James – b.1806, [3rd triplet did not survive] Thomas – b.1808 and Henry John – b.1810 and 58 grandchildren – the start of the ever growing Rixon Forest.

The day will begin with morning tea in the Parish Hall where there will be tables available to display any historical information, albums, photos etc you may like to bring. Time will be available for anyone to talk about their family or make a presentation. Your picnic lunch can be enjoyed in the Parish Hall or in McQuade Park [opposite the Church]. Reminiscences over afternoon tea from 2pm will conclude the day.

If you are interested in either attending or having your name on the mailing list, please reply ASAP to joye_walsh@yahoo.com or
Joye Walsh
19 Wandella Ave
Roseville 2069
02 94171043 or 0402 419301

PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON TO OTHER RIXON FAMILY MEMBERS – EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

Everyone has their own story to tell about How, When & Why they became interested in their family history. Hopefully a few people will be prepared to tell their own story and perhaps have a few photos, charts, books or whatever – to show.
Appropriately – as we approach Anzac Day – my own story revolves around the 38 Soldiers Photo – “Descendants of the Late Benjamin Rixon of Illawarra”. Really it is “37 soldiers” as one soldier’s photo is there twice. No 24. Pte Arthur Rixon and 35. Pte AJ Rixon are the same person.

This picture was originally published in the Sydney Mail on 24 July 1918 and a framed copy was proudly hanging on the wall in my grandparent’s lounge room. Benjamin and Annie [Sleep] Rixon lost their son Bertie on 14 July 2018 after this photo was compiled and just before it was published.

As youngsters we would look at all those names other than Rixon – Murray, Jones, Holland, Clarke, Gribble, Donald, Bailey, Barlogio, Simpson, Salisbury, Maguire, Thwaite, Haines, Kirk, McGoldrick, Crane, Morris – and wonder who they were. We had been told we belonged to a very small group of Rixons!

How could there be so many names that were not Rixon! Little did I realise then just how the Family Tree would expand into an Ever-Growing Forest. Our Rixon story is certainly not a bunch of old twigs!

Discovering who compiled the montage was exciting – thanks to Judy Hatty and the time she spent scouring old newspapers on Trove.

Benjamin’s granddaughter Lucy Murray gathered the photos to create a Roll of Honour. The remnant of that original “Family roll of relatives” is still proudly in the possession of Lucy’s g’g’daughter Heather Salisbury.

My focus has certainly widened from one soldier – No 38 Tpr BG Rixon, [in the bottom right hand corner], to encompass the descendants of Benjamin’s 4 siblings – William, James, Thomas and Henry John.

DO YOU HAVE A CONNECTION to WEST DAPTO CATHOLIC CEMETERY?

Wendy & Terry Nunan are researching those buried in West Dapto Catholic Cemetery with the aim to publish a series of books on these people. Wendy sent this message:

With over 1060 burials, we know that this will result in at least 2 if not 3 books. Amongst the burials are some connections to the Rixon Tree, notably John and Elizabeth Hore, and James, James and Letitia Head. The Heads do not have headstones. There may be other connections we are not at present aware of. To keep people up to date with the research we have a newsletter which we will email to anyone who is interested. If you are interested in receiving the newsletter, please contact Wendy & Terry Nunan at wich53@gmail.com. If you have any particular connections in the cemetery, please let us know in case we need to chase information on those people. If you have no relatives but are just interested, that is also fine. wich53@gmail.com

FACEBOOK GROUP AHEAD OF REUNION

The Facebook site Descendants of James Rixon c1770 – 1811, Convict, Soldier, Settler now has 115 members. It is a closed group so only visible to members. You can join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/341925962919769/

RIXON FAMILY BOWLERS WIN BRONZE MEDAL

Rosie, Connie & Rebecca Rixon from the Sunshine Coast, descendants of triplet James Rixon, competed for Malta in the recent Commonwealth Games.

We can proudly claim them all as part of “our” Rixon family and congratulate them on winning the Bronze Medal.

OTHER PHOTOS

St Michaels Church Lichfield, where James Hickson may have been baptised in the font which carries the date 1669.

The image above shows Port Jackson in 1807.