Hi Jax,
I've just seen your query about the Dixon family. I have a passing interest as I was born and grew up in Exmouth, Devon where their business was, and my father worked for them after leaving school.
Sarah's first husband was Joseph Dixon (1853-1881) - they married in 1876 (the relevant district is St Thomas, Devon). In 1893, she married his elder brother, James George (1851- 1900). Due to the dates of their deaths, neither show up as Sarah's husbands in the censuses. James's occupation is given as mariner in the 1871 census, and given that Joseph is missing from it, I suspect he was a mariner as well. Several of the Dixon family were involved with maritime occupations of one sort or another.
The boatbuilding business was started by Thomas Dixon (1820-1896) and eventually passed through the generations to his great grandson Reginald Dixon (1897-1986) and was their nephew. Reg's son John then took over the business in partnership (I think) with his cousin Peter.
Regards,
Andrew

Thank you so much for your reply, and all so helpful. I can update my tree now. I assume that Thomas Dixon was the two brother's father? And as the two brothers (as far as I know had no children) how did the business pass down?
Like you, I was born in Exmouth (1951), as was my mother and my Grandad Harry Taylor. Depending on your Dad's age, he may have known of my Grandad, as Harry lived in Exmouth his whole life.
Again thank you so much.

England and Wales Marriage Registration Index
Name Sarah Jane Towning
Event Type Marriage
Registration Quarter Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration Year 1876
Registration District St. Thomas
County Devon
Event Place St. Thomas, Devon, England
Volume 5B
Page 147
Line Number 71

Spouse's Name Joseph Dove Dixon

1871 England Census

Name: Sarah Jane Townsend [Sarah Jane Towning]
Age: 15
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856
Relation: Daughter
Father's name: John Litten Townsend
Mother's name: Sarah Jane Townsend
Gender: Female
Where born: Exmouth, Devon, England
Civil Parish: Withycombe Raleigh
Town: Exmouth
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Address: Theatre Place, Withycombe Raleigh, St Thomas, Devon
Occupation: Honiton Lace Maker
Registration district: St Thomas
Sub-registration district: Exmouth
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Household schedule number: 8

John Litten Townsend 56
Sarah Jane Townsend 49
Pamelia Townsend 22
Adelaide Townsend 20
Sarah Jane Townsend 15
Beatrice Townsend 7
..................................................................................
1881 England Census

Name: Sarah J .D. Dixon [Sarah J .D. Towning]
Age: 24
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
Relationship to Head: Daughter
Father: John J. Townin {spelt Towning on census form]
Mother: Sarah J. Townin
Gender: Female
Where born: Exmouth, Devon, England
Civil Parish: Littleham
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Street address: Reeds Cottage ?, Littleham, St Thomas
Occupation: Honiton Laceworker
Marital Status: Widow

John J. Townin 60
Sarah J. Townin 59
Beatrice Townin 17
Maud E. Townin 9
Sarah J.D. Dixon 24
.................................................................
1891 England Census
Name: Sarah J Dixon [Sarah J Towning]
Age: 34
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
Relation: Daughter
Father's name: John L Towning
Mother's name: Sarah J Towning
Gender: Female
Where born: Exmouth, Devon, England
Civil Parish: Littleham
Ecclesiastical parish: Littleham
Town: Exmouth
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Street address: 49 Bicton Street
Occupation: Honiton Lace Manufacturer
Registration district: St Thomas
Sub registration district: Exmouth
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Married [widow]

John L Towning 70
Sarah J Towning 69
Sarah J Dixon 34
Beatrice Towning 27
Maud E Towning 14
................................................................................
1901 England Census

Name: Sarah Dixon [Sarah Towning]
Age: 44
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
Relation to Head: Daughter
Gender: Female
Father: John Towning
Mother: Sarah Towning
Birth Place: Exmouth, Devon, England
Civil Parish: Littleham
Search Photos: Search for 'Littleham' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
Ecclesiastical parish: Littleham St Margaret
Town: Exmouth
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Street address: 49, Bicton Street, Exmouth, Littleham, St Thomas, Devon
Occupation: Lace Dealer (Honiton)
Married: Widow

John Towning 80
Sarah Towning 79
Sarah Dixon 44
Maud Towning 24
................................................................................

1911 England Census

Name: Sarah Jane Dove Dixon [Sarah Jane Dove Towning]
Age in 1911: 54
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
Relation to Head: Daughter
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Exmouth, Devon
Civil Parish: Littleham
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Street address: 49 Bicton St, Exmouth, Devon
Marital Status: Widowed
Occupation: Honiton Lace Manufacturer
Registration district: St Thomas
Registration District Number: 270
Sub-registration district: Exmouth
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Household schedule number: 217
Piece: 12574

John Letten Towning 90 Occupation: Retired Trinity Pilot [father]
Sarah Jane Towning 89 Wife, number of years married 66. 8 children 4 still living
Pamela Gosling 62 Occupation: Honiton Lace Maker [married] number of years married 36
Sarah Jane Dove Dixon 54 states married 7 years
...............................................................................................

Devon Baptisms
Name Sarah Jane Towning
Baptism year 1856
Baptism date 06 Jul 1856
Denomination Anglican
Baptism place Littleham (near Exmouth)
Father's name John Letton
Mother's name Sarah Jane
County Devon
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Archive reference 2932A/PR/1/6
Record set Devon Baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
..............................................................................................

England and Wales Marriage Registration Index
Name Sarah Jane Dixon
Event Type Marriage
Registration Quarter Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration Year 1893
Registration District Exeter
County Devon
Event Place Exeter, Devon, England
Volume 5B
Page 121
Line Number 76

Spouse's Name James George D Dixon
............................................................................................

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
Name: James George Dixon
Registration Year: 1851
Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration district: St Thomas
Inferred County: Devon
Volume: 10
Page: 248
.............................................................................................

England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915
Name: James George D Dixon
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1851
Registration Year: 1900
Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at Death: 49
Registration district: St Thomas
Inferred County: Devonshire
Volume: 5b
Page: 21
...........................................................................................

England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915
Name: Joseph Dove Dixon
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Registration Year: 1881
Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at Death: 27
Registration district: St Thomas
Inferred County: Devonshire
Volume: 5b
Page: 26
..............................................................................................