Benjamin Dix was born November 6, 1766, at Littleton, Massachusetts and died in 1863, while on a visit to his son at Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He was 96 years, 8 months, and 11 days at the time of his death.  His funeral was held at the First Congregational Church of Littleton. 

Benjamin was the son of Jonathan Dix (1710-1804) and Sarah Shattuck (1719-1775). He came from a large family of 11 siblings, Benjamin being the youngest. In April of 1792, Benjamin Dix married at Littleton, Sarah "Sally" Russell, the daughter of John and Abigail (Hildreth) Russell, also of Littleton. The couple was married by the Rev. Edmund Foster. Sarah died in 1845.

Dix owned and operated a tannery at Littleton. His son of the same name operated a tannery at Groton, Massachusetts. As well as being a tanner, Dix was also listed as a currier, applying techniques of dressing, finishing and coloring to the tanned hides to make them strong, flexible and waterproof. The leather was stretched and burnished to produce a uniform thickness and suppleness, and dyeing and other chemical finishes gave the leather its desired color. After currying, the leather was then ready to pass to the fashioning trades such as saddlery, bridlery, shoemaking and glove-making Being in the tannery business, Dix often writes about his work:

"April 2nd [1850]

Warm spring like day. Stuffing and wetting and oiling and stripping hides. Packing leather, putting the shop in order. Call on Mr. Mead at evening. Worked all day. Tuttle's wife called."

Dix was 82 years old when he begins this diary. In 1850, at the time of the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, Dix provides the following reminiscence of the historic event:

"June 17th, 1850

75 years this day since the Battle on Bunker Hill. I remember the night when it was burned. I staid on the foreground of Capt. Samuel Preston's opposite my fathers house. The light was in the direction of ferry North. I was about 8 ½ years old. Thousands were made homeless by the fire. A melancholy day being 58 days after Concord's fight."

Our diarist takes a number of trips both to nearby villages and Boston. He also does some of his own farming. There is also mention of the births, marriages, and deaths in the family as well as those of neighbors and friends. Our author's age is however catching up with him, as he recounts in his diary:

"November 6th [1849]

Cloudy and warm. A. M. jobbs. P.M. attended the funeral of Thomas Nyes's son aged 9 years. This day I'm 83 years old. Health as good as at 20 so far, as active and sleeping. My sight, limbs, memory and strength and my hearing all gradually failing but can perform considerable labor and business. The want of memory is the greatest difficulty I meet with in transacting business. Thanks be to God for health I enjoy."

In December of 1851, Dix gets very sick and for about two months he becomes deranged and has swollen limbs. There is a full page recounting these two months and his convalescent care.

Dix was an active, self reliant and hardworking octogenarian his dutiful and steady diary keeping reflects this aspect of his personality.