Land Grant

Jones Family Home – 1830 – 1980

There is no exact date when the Jones family home was built. There are clues to the age from various structural changes. The house was raised around 1980.

This undated photo shows the home in what was most likely its original form (pre 1884). Note the outbuildings to the left which were most likely a kitchen and other service structures.

This later photo shows a large addition on the left where the outbuildings in the previous photo existed. A newspaper clipping from the St. Mary’s Beacon (dated July 31, 1884) indicates that Stephen Jones made a large addition to the home. This photo was most likely taken after of the completion of the addition in 1884. It also shows the amount of land that existed in front of the home on the side of the river. Those who remember the home in later years recall that most of the land was taken by erosion.

Of note, the Joseph Dixon mentioned was most likely the father of J. Thomas Dixon and future father-in-law of Lydia Jones Dixon.

A postcard of the home taken pre-1884. Stephen M. Jones wrote a note and mailed this postcard to an acquaintance in 1906 (note the Sandgates postmark).

View standing on the shore of the Patuxent in front of the Jones home looking southeast towards Broomes Island. Date Unknown.

The above two photos were taken around 1980, prior to the house being raised.

Mckendree Church – 1890-1930

On February 11, 1890, Essie Jones and Nettie Jones Starr (and husband Jesse) deed one acre located south of Sandgates Wharf to the Methodist Episcopal Church.  McKendree Church was built on this land and had an active congregation until it dwindled in the 1920s. The Methodist Church returned the land to the Dixon Brothers in 1930. The structure remained until it was raised in the late 1960s.

The Dixon and Jones families were members of the Mount Zion Methodist Church in Laurel Grove. The formation of the McKendree Church in Sandgates provided a local alternative versus traveling to Laurel Grove. The church stood just northeast of the home of Bill and Rebecca Dixon (now the home of Jeff and Claudinne Miller).

Early photo of the church perhaps when it was still in operation.

The church as it appeared in 1957. Photo taken by Diana Dixon Henderson.

Undated photo of the church taken from the water.

Sandgates School House – 1890

On February 11, 1890, Essie Jones, Nettie Jones Starr (and husband Jesse), Stephen Jones and Chloe Posey Jones grant one acre to the Board of County School Commissioners for “Public School No. 7”.  The schoolhouse in on land owned by Stephen Jones.

The school house was located on the hill where the home of Debbie Dixon Meagher and husband Wally was built. The structure existed until it was raised in the late 1960s. It is unclear when the school ceased operation.

Mildred Foxwell Jones was a teacher at the school and boarded at the Jones family home where she met her future husband, Stephen M. Jones.

Undated photo of the Sandgates school house.

Harry Dixon’s 4th grade report card. Note the Sandgates postmark (February 15, 1913).

Death of Stephen Jones – 1895

Born on October 7, 1831. Died on November 2, 1895 at the age of 64.

Son of Henry “Harry” Jones and Ann “Nancy” Worthington; husband of Mary F. Posey, who he married 2 August 1852; she died 14 April 1863; his second wife was Chloe M. Posey [1834-1908]; active in local politics; elected to the Board of Commissioners for St. Mary’s County in 1879; served a term as judge of the Orphans’ Court of St. Mary’s County.

Jones Family Photos

Undated photo (perhaps late 1890s). Far right standing is Stephen M. Jones, to his right standing is his half sister Essie P. Jones. Seated is Chloe P. Jones (second wife of Stephen Jones and mother of Lydia Jones Dixon and Stephen M. Jones). The others in the photo are not identified.

Above are undated photos of Stephen M. Jones (foreground) and his friend Mr. Spedden fishing in the Patuxent. Mr. Spedden was one of the owners of the Spedden Farm which would eventually be purchased by the Dixon Brothers in 1937.

Dixon Family Home 1898

In a deed dated June 24, 1898, Essie Jones and Nettie Jones Starr (and husband Jesse Starr) sell 2 and ¾ acres known as School House field to Joseph Thomas Dixon and Lydia Jones Dixon in consideration of $41.25.  This appears to be land that is part of the farm that Essie and Nettie inherited from their grandfather Henry Jones in 1881. The deed contains the following clause: “there shall never be erected or kept on the above-described parcel of land, by any party whatever, any store, shop, or place for the sale of or traffic in intoxicating liquors, a violation of this provision will make the above title null and void.”  The deed also provides that if the land is offered for sale, heirs of Stephen Jones shall have the right of first refusal.

Soon after the purchase, Thomas and Lydia Dixon construct a two-story, T-shaped, clapboard home on land west of South Sandgates Road.  (Lydia maintains a 1/5^th ownership of the farm inherited from her father, Stephen Jones upon his death in 1895.  This house is presumably built on the 2 and ¾ acres (School House field) obtained in 1898.) This is where they raise their six children (Raymond, May, Gladys, Edgar, Bill and Harry).

Thomas died in 1908 and Lydia died in 1948. It became the home of Harry and Edna Dixon (married 1936) and children Diana, Harry O, and Chloe. Harry lived in the home his entire life until his death in 1987, Edna remain in the home until 1994. The home was raised in 2012 and a new home was built by Diana Dixon Henderson and her husband Wally.

Dixon house and farm 1990s.

Dixon/Jones Family Photo – circa 1906

This photo shows members of the Jones and Dixon families on what appears to be the porch of the Jones family home on the Patuxent River in Sandgates.

Rear L-R: J. Thomas Dixon, Lydia Jones Dixon, Chloe Posey Jones, Stephen M. Jones

Front L-R: Essie P. Jones, Gladys Dixon (Dean), May Dixon (Knott), Harry O. Dixon, Bill Dixon

The photo could have been taken on a Sunday after church or maybe Easter Sunday (note the hat on Gladys and shirt on Harry). Both Thomas Dixon and Chloe Posey died in 1908, so the photo most likely was taken in 1906/1907. This could be the only known photo of Thomas, Chloe and Essie.

Marriage of Stephen M. Jones to Mildred Foxwell – 19XX

(Need Jan Brown to provide detail, other photos)

L-R: Horace Graves, May Dixon, Essie Jones, Mildred Foxwell Jones, Stephen M. Jones

Jones/Dixon Farm – circa 1950

This aerial photo was taken around 1950. In the forefront is the Jones family home and in the upper right hand corner is the home and farm of Harry and Edna Dixon. The homes of Ed and Carrie Dixon and Bill and Rebecca Dixon would be to the right. At this time, Sandgates Road was routed by the Jones home and followed the river. In 1954, Hurricane Hazel made the river portion of Sandgates Road impassable. The county negotiated with the Dixon/Jones families to re-route the road to where it exists today.

Stephen M. Jones and Mildred Foxwell Jones maintained ownership of the Jones home. However, they lived in Leonardtown. Raymond Dixon and Mary Fish Dixon and sons Johns, Bill, and Bob lived in the home for a period of time until they built a new home on the farm.

Tobacco Farming

Tobacco was the primary crop of the Jones and Dixon farms. Tobacco was grown until the early 2000s when the Maryland Tobacco Buyout incentivized farmers to grow other crops.

Tobacco planting in the Spring 1950s. Raymond Dixon is on the tractor with Diana Dixon on the planter.

Cured tobacco was packed in wooden barrels called “hogsheads” for shipment to the auctions. (1950s – photo may have been taken in front of Harry and Edna Dixon’s home with Sandgates Road in the background.)

Christmas 1950’s

Chloe, Carol Ann, and Joan Dixon at Harry and Edna Dixon’s home.

July 1971

Death of Edgar Dixon – Edgar had not yet shown up on the farm with the others and was found in the living room on the sofa. A candle was still burning, and tobacco money was found in the chest freezer in the hallway.

December 2019

Jeff and Claudinne Miller purchased 27075 S. Sandgates Rd from Joan Bailey