Nancy J Lawson's Research

 Nancy J Lawson made several trips to Scotland in 2017.

This lady did amazing things uncovering the true identity of our William Lawson. Here is a copy of the sincere letter that she wrote to the Lawson Association. I can only hope that others will accept her research in our search for the truth. 

FINDING OUR TRUE WILLIAM 

 by Nancy J. Lawson, 13 Sep 2017 

 My name is Nancy Jo Lawson from Cross Lanes, West Virginia and I am a descendant of William Lawson of Montrose Scotland. My Lawson line is: William (1733), Travis (1766), John (1791), William Banks (1825), George Washington (1865), John Dolan (1904), and Roy Lee (1935). 

 I started researching my Lawson ancestry after stumbling upon the Lawson Family Heritage Program website in 2007. The LFHP led me to Patti Lawson’s tremendous Lawson Family Database and all the incredible research done by others, especially Bill Porter’s book, William Lawson – A Scottish Rebel (1). Like many descendants of “The Rebel”, I embraced the story of young William of Montrose and his perilous journey to America as a Jacobite prisoner aboard the ship Gildart. And although many more experienced and knowledgeable researchers had already agreed upon this narrative, I wanted to discover the facts for myself. I wanted to experience the excitement of finding those historical records on my own. In 2008 my journey began in earnest by searching in cemeteries and courthouses from Breathitt County, Kentucky to Scott County, Virginia. I wasn’t really looking for anything new; I was just following a trail that many others had traveled before me. 

 While I have been able to confirm much of what is already known about our William, there are two facts stated by many that I have not been able to reconcile. The first is that his birth year was 1731. In History of the Wood Family in Virginia, by M. B. Wood (2), three items in particular are of great significance: 

     1) "He was the only son of a widow lady, who lived at Montrose, Scotland, and was born   June 26, 1733" (pg. 35) 

     2) “He married on New River, and a few years thereafter moved to Big Moccasin Creek, where he lived till the time of his death, in 1826, in the ninety-third year of his age" (pg. 37)

     3) “William Lawson was born June 26, 1733 (pg. 79); William Lawson, Sr., died April   18, 1826”; Transcribed from Henry Wood’s Bible (pg. 81) 

 M.B. Wood, who was Scott County Clerk in the 1870’s, was William Lawson’s great-grandson. His grandparents were Henry Wood and Sally Lawson, William’s daughter. He was writing and living much closer to the time when people who actually knew our William were still around and telling stories about him. I believe most genealogists would agree that this adds credibility to the details in Wood’s book. He writes that our William died in 1826 in the 93rd year of his age, which makes his birth year 1733, not 1731. 

 I found another source in the Scott County Public Library entitled, The Quillin (MacQullin) Family by Milligan Wood Quillen and Mary Kinser Brown (3), which also confirms William’s birth and death dates: 

         “John Quillin, b. 1793 in NC acquired the land of his father in Scott Co., Va. He m. 1st Rebecca Lawson, eldest daughter of William Lawson, Jr. a Revolutionary War Veteran    whose father William Lawson, Sr., was an immigrant from Montrose, Scotland, b. June 26, 1733; d. 1826” (pg. 47) 

 Given the reliability of these two sources, I believe our William was born in 1733, not 1731. The importance of this 2-year time difference became very clear as my research progressed. 

 The second source that I question as proof of William’s provenance is Prisoners of the ’45 – Edited from the State Papers by Bruce Gordon Seton and Jean Gordon Arnot (4). Volume II, pages 334-337, lists two William Lawson’s; the first one having been identified by many as our William. 

 No. 1534 NAME: Lawson, William REGIMENT: --- (none listed) PRISON CAREER: Clackmannan, 4.5.46 Stirling Castle, Carlisle ULTIMATE DISPOSAL: Transported (we know from David Dobson’s work that the ship was Gildart (5)) HOME OR ORIGIN: Durham AGE: --- (none listed) NOTES AND AUTHORITIES: Soldier (Scots Fusiliers, Capt. Monk’s Co.), a deserter – J.R Stirling; P.R. 3621-3 (references to Jail Returns of Stirling and Patent Rolls of George II) 

 Even though many people jumped on board the claim that this man was our William, I always had my doubts. First, his home is listed as Durham which is a city and county in England over 200 miles from Montrose, Scotland. Also, this William from Durham was a soldier in the British Army; a professionally trained, uniformed, and armed soldier fighting in Captain Monk’s Company of Scots Fusiliers for the Duke of Cumberland against the Jacobite Rebels. He was imprisoned as a deserter in the aftermath of the massacre at Culloden, and transported as punishment for his crimes. This isn’t the poor, teenaged, Scottish Highland boy described by M.B. Wood and others. I really wanted the “William Lawson, Scottish Rebel transported on the Gildart” story to be our William’s story. The firsthand narrative of the Carlisle Prisoners banished on the Gildart by Alexander Stewart in The Lyon in Mourning (6) was exciting and romantic and inspiring. And even though the puzzle pieces didn’t exactly fit, like many others I chose to accept it. So much so, that in 2013 I decided to celebrate my 50th birthday by walking in the footsteps of my beloved ancestor in Scotland. I hiked up the hill behind Balquhidder Kirk to Creag an Tuirc, the rallying spot of Clan MacLaren. I wandered the narrow streets of Montrose, and drank a wee dram (or two) at a harbor side pub. I somberly walked the battlefield at Culloden, then laid flowers at our William’s memorial stone in the walkway to the Visitor’s Center (placed there by another descendant, Cary Losson, whom I’ve never met.) I even sat on the cold stone floor of an 18th century prison cell at Stirling Castle, trying to imagine what life must have been like for my 5th great-grandfather. The last few days of my trip were spent researching at the UK National Archives in Kew, England, where I found the original handwritten list of Carlisle Prisoners who drew lots for transportation on 17 Aug 1746. (7) I held the actual document in my hands and found William Lawson’s name right there, listed in the 7th group of prisoners. Amazing! That first trip began my everlasting love affair with Scotland and I return as often as time and my pocketbook will allow. Each visit I discover something new and amazing about our William, and my trip in May 2016 was no exception. 

 At the UK National Archives again, I uncovered compelling evidence that the “Gildart” William Lawson is not my 5th great-grandfather, the man buried at Lawson Confederate Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake, Virginia. I was devastated. 

 There are two specific documents that I discovered which corroborate my claim, and finding them was not easy. Most of the UKNA documents concerning the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 are in the numbered record series entitled “State Papers, Domestic George II: SP 36.” This series contains 162 volumes, of which only the first 72 are indexed. So to browse the remaining 90 volumes, I had to visit the archives in person and painstakingly go through them, one by one. The first document I found is SP 36/88 Ext. 6/23. (8) The “Ext” stands for “extracted” meaning the document was too large to fit in the regular Archive bundles and had to be viewed upstairs in the Large Documents Reading Room. It is a very large chart of several pages listing 140 prisoners in Carlisle chosen for transport, written 26 Oct 1746 by Richard Gildart, the contractor for transporting them. The columns are as follows: Number/Their Names/ Age/ What Trade/ What Religion. #93 is William Lawson (annotated L for large), 25, Naylor (meaning nail maker), England. 

IN HER PAPER, THERE IS A PHOTOCOPY OF THIS DOCUMENT

 The second document, SP 36/88/1/140, (9) was so fragile that it could only be viewed on microfilm. It is another list of the same prisoners at Carlisle, written by Philip Carteret Webb. #48 is William Lawson of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Blacksmith. 

IN HER PAPER, THERE IS A PHOTOCOPY OF THIS DOCUMENT

 These two documents, combined, give a detailed description of the William Lawson who was transported to Maryland aboard the ship Gildart: He was a 25-year-old blacksmith, specifically a nail maker, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne in Durham County, England. He was also a member of the Church of England. Most, if not all, of the Jacobites of Angus were Church of Scotland. This man was definitely not the William Lawson described by M.B. Wood: 

 "At the age of seventeen William Lawson was allured away from home by the reports from America, and after a long and tempestuous voyage he landed in Virginia, and was bound as an apprentice to a planter by the captain of the ship, for which the planter paid him a good sum in tobacco for the expense of the voyage.” (pg. 36) (2) 

 My 5th great-grandfather came from Montrose, Scotland (not Durham, England) to Virginia (not Maryland) when he was 17 years old (not 26). He was allured away from home by reports from America (not banished as a prisoner aboard a convict ship). He was born in 1733 which means he arrived in Virginia around 1750 (not Maryland in 1747). He was bound as an apprentice (not sold as an indentured servant.) The discrepancies are too numerous to disregard. 

 I was so distraught over what I had discovered because I knew it would invalidate everything we thought we all knew about our William Lawson’s journey to America. I kept my findings to myself for a few weeks, agonizing over what I should do. In August 2016, I decided to share my discoveries with Patti Lawson and Barb Lawson from the LFHP. We had emailed a few times over the years since I began my ancestry journey. I respected and admired their dedication to our Lawson genealogy research, and I knew they would know what to do next. I sent them all of my research to see if they would reach the same conclusions. They were shocked and a little overwhelmed, but their responses were both encouraging and sympathetic. 

 Patti said, “Hang in there Nancy. I take your research quite seriously. It's not like you are just throwing together random stuff and imagining what you are seeing. I see it too. Your dedication to this research is wonderful.” 

 Barb replied, “We have said for years, that someday a researcher will show up, with the knowledge and know-how to dig in the history of Scotland and know when they find something. I think that is YOU! and we are excited and pleased to have you on board with us.” 

 Their advice and confidence in my research meant EVERYTHING to me. They suggested bringing Fran Harris, one of the original LFHP planners, into the loop because of her keen research skills and knowledge of American Colonial History. Fran is the person who found the earliest record we have of our William – the 1776 Land Deed in Fincastle County, VA. Later, Toni Beard and Julie Miller (two more original LFHP members) were included in the discussions, widening our circle of trust. We all agreed that we needed to get our ducks in a row before presenting my findings to the world. There were many, many lengthy conversations about a plan of action and future research needed. Honestly, the email chain that ensued between us over the past year has been like a Master Class in Genealogy Research for me. These women are incredible! They have encouraged me to “keep digging” and I have. 

 In May 2017 I returned to Scotland for the sole purpose of finding our true William Lawson. During my visits to the Angus Archives in Forfar, the Montrose Museum and Montrose Public Library in Montrose, and the Scotland’s People Centre in Edinburgh, I found many documents and sources for Lawson’s in Angus County in the mid-18th century. All of these new leads require further investigation. 

 My search elsewhere in Edinburgh, however, was more successful. At the National Library of Scotland I was granted limited access to the original Prison Returns, which contained list after list of all the men imprisoned in Scottish Gaols (Jails) during the 1745 Uprising. (10) I confirmed in these documents all the information for the Gildart William in Seton’s Prisoners of the ’45. (4) Seton’s book also lists another William Lawson from Perthshire who was a tenant of Lord Strathallan, and I confirmed him in the Prison Returns, as well. 

 To also rule out this William as ours, I located the forfeiture records of the Strathallan Estate by the British Government as punishment for Acts of Treason, at the National Records of Scotland. (11) In these records was a deposition given by William Lawson as tenant, explaining that his family had lived on the Perthshire Estate of Lord Strathallan for generations, never in Montrose. I also found this William and other Lawson family members in Lord Strathallan’s rent rolls from the 1730’s. (12) I did not find any other William Lawson concerned in the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 in any other source that I consulted in Scotland. 

 I don’t believe our William Lawson is either man in Prisoners of the ’45. All the evidence I have found during my many trips to Scotland leads me to believe that he was just a boy of 12 or 13 during the Jacobite Uprising and didn’t participate in any of the battles, therefore not imprisoned for treason. I believe that, when he became old enough, he simply left Scotland for a better life in America as hardships in Montrose became unbearable after the Scottish Rebels were defeated at Culloden.

 I am sure that the modern-day researchers who discovered the Gildart story in “Lyon”, and the William in “P45”, then loosely connected them to the story from M.B. Wood’s book, had the best intentions. They just didn’t have access to the resources that are available now, and they forced the puzzle pieces to fit. At first I felt horrible about disproving anyone‘s hard work, until Barb Lawson put it all into perspective by telling me “when doing any Gen work, you have to be ready to accept changes as additional proof becomes so.” My new evidence proves the Gildart William is not our ancestor, and the story of William Lawson, the Scottish Rebel who fought at Culloden, is no longer ours to tell. 

 By unmasking The Rebel, I feel like I have lost a loved one. Even though we aren’t kin, I feel a kinship to him. I have prayed in his churches, stood on his battlefields, sat quietly in his prison cells, and retraced his journey from Carlisle Castle to Liverpool Harbor. William Lawson, The Scottish Rebel, had an incredible life; but, through no fault of his own, my 5th great-grandfather buried in Snowflake, Virginia has been given credit for it. I strongly believe that it is now our responsibility to correct the mistakes of the past and make this right. Maybe in the process we can uncover the incredible life led by our own true William Lawson. 

 Works Cited

 1. Porter, Bill. William Lawson, a Scottish Rebel: and other pioneer families of southern Appalachia. Johnson City, TN : Overmountain Press, 2001.

 2. Wood, M.B. History of the Wood Family in Virginia. Philadelphia : J.B. Lippencott Company, 1893.

 3. Quillen, Milligan Wood and Brown, Mary Kinser. The Quillin (MacQuillin) Family. Gate City, Virginia : Quillin Clan, 1961.

 4. Seton, Bruce Gordon and Arnot, Jean Gordon. Prisoners of the '45 - Edited from the State Papers. Edinburgh : University Press, 1928.

 5. Dobson, David. Directory of Scots Banished to the American Plantations 1650-1775. Baltimore : Genealogical Publishing, Inc., 1983.

 6. Forbes, Rev. Robert. The Lyon in mourning; or, A collection of speeches, letters, journals, etc. relative to the affairs of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Edinburgh : University Press for the Scottish History Society, 1895.

 7. The National Archives of the UK. Lotts Drawn at Carlisle 17-19 August 1746 by 140 Rebel Prisoners, Treasury Solicitor: Jacobite Rebellion (1745) Prosecution Papers, TS 20/44/6. Kew, United Kingdom : Copy of document in possession of N. Lawson, April 2014.

 8. The National Archives of the UK. List of the Names of the Prisoners in Carlisle as transmitted to Mr. Sharpe by Mr. Gildart the Contractor, 26 Oct 1746. Secretaries of State: State Papers Domestic, George II, SP 36/88 Ext 6/23. Kew, United Kingdom : Copy of document in possession of N. Lawson, July 2016.

 9. The National Archives of the UK. List of the Names of the Prisoners in Carlisle as transmitted to Mr. Sharpe by Mr. Webb, 9 Oct 1746. Secretaries of State: State Papers Domestic, George II, SP 36/88/18/140. Kew, United Kingdom : Copy of document in possession of N. Lawson, July 2016.

 10. National Library of Scotland. The Walter Blaikie Manuscript Collection. MSS-288 Jacobite Prisoners 1745-7. Edinburgh, Scotland : 1745. Copy of documents in possession of N. Lawson, May 2017.

 11. National Records of Scotland. Abstract Rental Account of Arrears for 1746 & preceedings And Report of the Survey of the Estate of Strathallan. E782-1. Edinburgh, Scotland : 1746. Copy of documents in possession of N. Lawson, May 2017.

 12. National Records of Scotland. Viscount Strathallan 1603-1751. RH15/123. Edinburgh, Scotland : 1736. Copy of documents in possession of N. Lawson, May 2017.

William Lawson Sr (1733-1826)

CAUTION

 I can only try to piece together the further information that I have about our Williams. I cannot be sure at this point if the William documented below was a Revolutionary Soldier. I believe so...but I will keep digging his roots.

WILLIAM LAWSON, SR.

b. 26 June 1733 in Montrose, Scotland

d. 18April 1826, Snowflake, Scott Co., Virginia

**Revolutionary War Patriot

 SOURCES:

https://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=patti%2Dlawson&id=I00086

This is a huge RootsWeb compiled by Patti Lawson and Barb Lawson. I have been in touch with them and have supplied information and sources for my Quillin line. Their research is highly documented. I’m building this biography based on their research. I’m leaving out much detail from the website, but encourage family members who are interested in documentation to visit this site.

William Lawson, Sr. was at one time thought to be the Scottish Rebel who notoriously fought at the Battle of Culloden, but in 2016, an excellent researcher, Nancy J. Lawson travelled to Scotland, did extensive research and determined that he was NOT our ancestor. It was a very rich history and one that is difficult to let go, but it is better to let go and document our true line than to jump track and claim a glorious story as ours. I have actually visited that sacred battleground in Scotland and was awed by this man who at first was deemed my ancestor. (see the letter Nancy Lawson sent out to the Lawson Family Heritage Assoc.) It is definitive. Some persist to attach our family to The Rebel or another William that was a prisoner during the Uprising, but neither of these are the correct age.

William Lawson’s story leads to the same area where my Quillin roots are found in Virginia. This brings together the lives of my John Quillin and my Rebecca Lawson.

 William Lawson, our William, was born 26 JUN 1733 in Montrose, Scotland. The Jacobite rebellions or the War of the British Succession were a series of uprisings and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. William would have been a child about 12 years of age and he would have vivid memories of this brutal time. He sought for passage to the New World to escape these atrocities and arrived in the American Colonies in 1750. I have no information about his immigration.

From Bill Porter's works:
“William was bound out to a plantation owner for what we assume was seven years of indenture. Family tradition holds that he was treated unkindly and ran away after a year or so. We have been unable to determine his exact location of indenture but his known children were born in North Carolina where we have strong reason to assume he went when he ran away.” I’m not positive if this is our William or one of the others, but this information is still up on the Lawson website and my William Lawson Jr was born in NC.

 In early American history, indenture was a form of labor contract. Beginning during the colonial period, employers in the largely agricultural economy faced a labor shortage. They addressed it in two ways: by buying slaves and by hiring indentured servants. The former were Africans who were brought to the colonies against their will to serve for life; the latter were generally Europeans from England and Germany who had entered a multiyear employment contracts. From the late 16^th c to the late 18^th c, approximately half of the 350,000 European immigrants to the colonies were indentured servants. During the 17^th c, these servants outnumbered slaves. An indentured servant agreed to a 4-7 year contract, and in return received passage from Europe and guarantees of work, food, and lodging.  Colonial courts enforced the contracts of indentured servants, which were often harsh. Employers were seen as masters, and the servants had not only to work for them but also to obey their orders in all matters. For some, indentured servitude was not a voluntary act. Impoverished women and children were pressed into servitude, as were convicts. Nevertheless, this servitude was not equivalent to slavery. Slaves remained slaves for life, whereas indentured servants were released at the end of their contracts.  Moreover, as parties to a contract, indentured servants had rights that slaves never enjoyed. The practice of indentured servitude persisted into the early 19^th c.

 It is said that he was married before 1761 on New River in either North Carolina or Virginia. Nothing is known of his first wife, but she was the mother of all of his children. There is no documentation of this part of his life.  His children were born before the Revolution, all said to be born in NC. He married his second wife sometime after 1773. Her name was Rebecca and no marriage record has been found, so her last name remains unknown. Some family trees continue to confuse her with Jane Banks and they list our William as married to Rebecca Jane Banks.  That is NOT correct. There is another William Lawson in the area that is married to Jane Banks.

 THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

 William Lawson, Sr. was sworn into Capt. Daniel Trigg’s Company on 13 Sep 1777 in Montgomery County, VA. This would have placed him at the Battle of King’s Mountain on October 7, 1780. The battle took place 9 miles south of the present-day town of Kings Mountain, NC, in what is now rural Cherokee County, SC. The Patriot Militia defeated the Loyalist Militia commanded by British Major Patrick Ferguson of the 71^st Foot. He would have been nearly 50 years old at this time of service.

 March 31, 1781 – William is listed as a Sergeant in Capt. Daniel Trigg’s Company in Montgomery Co, VA. From the notes of Daniel Trigg’s Company: “Of those who were not fit were William Lawson, et.al.” It is presumed he may have had a temporary illness or injury.

Nov. 12, 1782. Montgomery Co.,Va. –  There had been a tax imposed at a late assembly for the purpose of recruiting troops to serve the Continental Army. William must have been delinquent in paying his taxes and was ordered to do so by Nov 20. Source: Written by Col. William Preston to a Collector, Nov. 12, 1782, published in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography by the Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Va., January, 1920. Land records reveal that William promptly paid 15 pounds for 100 acres and another 15 pounds for 260 acres.

24 August 1786 – Col. Daniel Trigg and James McCorkle were ordered to divide the militia in the bounds of Lorton's Company, equally between Capt. Lorton and Capt. Englis. Minutes in the Court Order Book 1, page ? , show William Lawson named Lieutenant in Lorton's Company. (There has been some confusion as to which William Lawson was appointed Lieut. William Sr. was a Sergeant in Trigg's 1781 militia and this appointment represents a promotion in the newly formed militia. It would be highly improbable for William Lawson Jr., who had only six months of service at the age of 16-17 as a substitute who did not rise above the rank of Pvt., to be promoted to Lieutenant with command over this group of seasoned, experienced militiamen. William Lawson Sr. is first shown on Trigg's militia swearing oath in 1777.)
************

 1776-1797

Prior to the War, William Lawson Sr. had settled 300 acres in Montgomery County, Virginia, in 1776. This land was on Laurel Creek, a small branch of the Little River (Laurel Creek is located in present-day Floyd County, VA.)

 William fought in the Revolutionary War and was granted land for his service. On 3 Aug 1782, William received 200 acres from Israel Lorton. William was a Lieutenant in Lorton’s Company. This land transaction is detailed on the RootsWeb site. These 200 acres were on Sugar Run another branch of Little River, several miles north of his original Laurel Creek property. (Sugar Run is located in present-day Pulaski County, VA.) On 2 Dec 1785, the land grant for Sugar Run was signed by Patrick Henry, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. William Lawson Sr. paid Land Taxes and Personal Property Taxes in Montgomery Co. VA from 1782-1796.

 William continued to serve in the Militia, and in 1786, research indicates that he was promoted to Lieutenant in Lorton’s Company. Once again it appears that he was granted land for his service and he expanded his property on Sugar Run by 200 acres that was assigned to him by James Hines. This adjoining land ran north to Tarepine Run, and the land grant for this property was signed by Henry Lee, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia on 15 February 1793.

 On 26 July 1788, William sold 105 acres of Sugar Run to Eliazer Cole and it appears he sold the rest of it to Eliazer Cole on 14 Nov 1796. This coincides with William’s move to Russell County.

 1797-1826

William paid property taxes in Russell Co from 1797-1810.

William’s son, William Lawson Jr (my ancestor), had married in Montgomery Co, but he moved to Russell Co VA around 1794. William Lawson Sr. also purchased land in Russell County in August 1798 from John and Mary Frazer. (Russell County later became Scott County.) This purchase was for 155 acres on Big Mockason (Moccasin?) Creek, on the north fork of Holstein (Holston?) and known by the name of the Little Valley at the foot of Clinch Mountain. He later sold 75 acres of this land to John Wood. (1807) On June 3, 1816, his second wife Rebecca (maiden name unknown) was part of a transaction to sell 50 acres to John Smith, documented in Scott County Deed Book 1, pp 249-250. In Oct 1816, it read, “being of age she was separated and examined apart from her husband and gave voluntary deed consent.”  Did this mean that she had consolidated her property with William after their marriage? It’s unclear to me why she would have to give separate consent.

After his move to Russell Co VA, William is found in two separate volumes of VIRGINIA LAW ORDER BOOK (see website). These entries reveal that he received a servant on two separate occasions from John Frazer. William had purchased his land from Frazer so he probably inherited the servants, as well. It appears that William Sr also gave his son William Lawson Jr. three servants. These Law books show that William Sr and several others were called to appraise the slaves and personal estate of Jonathan Wood, Sr., decd.   Then some time after that, William received a servant from Jonathan Wood.

 William Lawson Sr was found in the 1820 Census dated August 7, 1820 in Scott Co.VA. He is engaged in agriculture and there are 2 free white persons living in his household. This would be in reference to William and his second wife, Rebecca. He was 87 at the time of this census. He would have been living very close to his son, William Lawson Jr (my ancestor).  It is said that he died 18 April 1826 in Snowflake, Scott Co. VA at the age of 92 and is buried in the Lawson Confederate Cemetery just outside of Snowflake.

LAWSON RESEARCH FALLS APART

https://colin-butler.squarespace.com/news/2021/3/1/scotland-special-event-gb2cr

 As with any genealogy project, we have to be ready to change directions when new records are discovered. And as we know with all the sources online now, it is difficult to set the record straight once information is published on the internet.

My journey with the Lawson line began with two special Lawson family researchers, Patti Lawson and Barb DeCainy Lawson. I found evidence that our John Quillin was married to Rebecca Lawson, and I found a tremendous website managed by Patti Lawson. She was an extreme genealogist who took much pride in her research, as did Barb. Together they had created an extensive website including many lines of the Lawson families. 

As usual, I was very timid and unsure about my skills (I never give myself enough credit), so I was reluctant to contact them. I finally got up the nerve and they investigated my claims, and I was definitely accepted into their database. They even included the information down to B.J. Quillin, my great grandfather.

However, in 2017, another dedicated researcher, Nancy J Lawson, made several trips to Scotland and spent many days in the archives there. She struggled with what she found. It definitely revealed that our ancestor was NOT the William Lawson... known as THE REBEL. That was a glorious story and we all were proud of that history. Derek and I had even travelled to Culloden and I felt a total connection with this history....Yet true research revealed that this man was JUST NOT our ancestor. There had even been a huge monument erected for him on his gravesite, to which our family had connected its roots.

There was much trouble in correcting this information, and it may never be totally turned around. Patti and Barb have dropped out of the scene. I stayed in close contact with Barb for several years, but we have dropped away from our work together. Patti was a little fierier...and more difficult to correspond with. I think when this happened, she threw in the towel, so to speak. Now these websites have been gobbled up by larger entities like Ancestry...which is wrong in my opinion. We may never be able to access the work that has been done. Many genealogists are just not willing to let go of what they feel is correct. But for me, Nancy Lawson's research cannot be refuted. We must make changes on our tree. 

See her letter to the Lawson Association in the next blog.

Transcription of William Lawson's Will 1852

 

William Lawson, Jr. 1763-1852

Last Will and Testament

Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 for William Lawson. Scott County, Virginia; Wills, Vol 1-4, 1816-1860, pp.293-294 [online database: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2021]

 Transcription:

 I, William Lawson Sr. of Scott County in the State of Virginia, being of sound mind and memory knowing also how uncertain is human life, and wishing to make a disposition of my estate, which in a proper condition to so, do hereby make and declare This as my last will and Testament. First, I direct my executor herein after named to collect in all debts which may be owing to me at my death, and out of the same to pay all my just debts, and my funeral expenses. If my debts should prove insufficient for the above purposes, then I desire that my executor, hereafter named may sell so much of my perishable property as will be of value sufficient to satisfy my just debts, and my funeral expenses – 2^nd After the payment of my debts and funeral expenses, I give to my dutiful and my Obedient son Henry Lawson all my lands in the County of Scott and State of Virginia to him and his heirs forever. – 3^rd. I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Ratliff a fifty dollar promissory note payable at my death, due from my son Henry Lawson. – 4^th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Rebecca Quillin a fifty dollar promissory note, executed by my son Henry Lawson payable at my death. – 5^th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Levina Fulkerson a fifty dollar promissory note, executed by my son Henry Lawson payable at my death. – 6^th I give and bequeath to my daughter Catharine Henry a fifty dollar promissory note, executed by my son Henry Lawson payable at my death. – 7^th I give to my son Jeremiah Lawson a fifty dollar promissory note, executed  my son Henry Lawson, payable at my death – 8^th I give to my son William Lawson a fifty dollar promissory note, executed by my son Henry Lawson, payable at my death --- 9^th, I give to my daughter Rhoda Hilton a fifty dollar promissory note, executed by my son Henry Lawson, payable at my death – 10^th I five to my daughter Servina Cox a fifty dollar note, executed by my son Henry Lawson, payable at my death – 11^th I give to my sons James Lawson & Hiram Lawson one dollar each payable at my death by my son Henry Lawson one dollar each payable at my death by my son Henry Lawson – 12^th I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Addington one payable by my son Henry at my death – And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Henry Lawson my executor of this my last will and Testament, hereby revoking all other or former Wills or Testaments by me heretofore made.  In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal, this 5^th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.

Signed, sealed and acknowledged by the Testator in our presence, who have witnessed it in his presence and at his request.  Signed ~ William Lawson

J.S. Shoemaker, S.A.J. Morison, J.O Wood

 

Virginia: Scott County Court 10^th February 1852 __ The last will & testament of William Lawson deceased was proved by this oath of James S. Shoemaker, James O. Wood and Silburn A. J. Morison witnesses thereto, and is ordered to be recorded __ Testee: __J. O. Wood CSC

 

William Lawson's Will (1763-1852)

 Imagine my excitement when I found Rebecca's father's last will and testament. It was just downloaded on Ancestry.com in 2021....and it takes a while to find these treasures. It certainly determines Rebecca's father and her brothers and sisters.

TAKE A LOOK !

William Lawson Jr Marriage Record

 4 Jan 1788

William Lawson, Jr Married Nancy Baker

This handwritten document was signed by his brother, Travis and his brother-in -law Thomas Mallet. Thomas married William's older sister, Ann.

Sources for William Lawson Jr

Source Report: William Lawson Jr. 1763-1852

 

1820 United States Federal Census. “William Lawson Junior,” Scott, Virginia; Roll: M33_139; [Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.]

1830 United States Federal Census. “William Lawson,” Scott, Virginia; Roll: ; Page: .[ Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.]

1840 United States Federal Census. “William Lawson,” Scott, Virginia; Roll: ; Page: .[ Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.]

1850 United States Federal Census. “William Lawson,” Western District, Scott, Virginia; Roll: M432_975; Page: 355B; Image: .[Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009]

Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1769-1800. Montgomery County, Virginia--Minute of the County Court. From 1777 to 1800: p 835, Filmstrip # 867.

Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1953. “James Lawson,” son of William and Nancy. Kentucky. Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records – Microfilm (1852-1910). Microfilm rolls #994027-994058. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort.

Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900. “William Lawson,” Pension Year 1834, Virginia; Survivor’s Pension Application File; Archive Publication Number M804, Archive Roll Number 1533.

U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900. “Nancy Baker & William Lawson,” Source number: 904.002; Source type: Pedigree chart; Number of Pages: 3; [Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004]

Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940. “William Lawson & Nancy Baker,” Montgomery County, Virginia; FHL Film Number 32633, Reference ID P 22 [Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014]

U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006. Birth date: 1763 Birth place: Death date: 1852 Death place: TN [Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006]

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~cwbush/genealogy/burk.htm?_

https://www.lfhp.org/index.html

https://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/minibios/l/lawson_william.htm **this information has been proven incorrect

https://lawsondna.org/home/genealogy/

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~tootsie/computers/WmAddingtonPDF/WmAddingtonFamilyTree.pdf?_

 

 

 

Family Group Sheet _William Lawson 1763

 

History Sheet for Rebecca Lawson

 

Rebecca Lawson **

 

Rebecca Lawson ** was born in 1792 in Montgomery County, Virginia, USA as the third child of William Lawson Jr. ** and Nancy Mary Baker. She had eleven siblings, namely: Catherine, Elizabeth, Lavina, Jeremiah, William III, Rhoda, James H., Jane, Hiram, Henry, and Servina "Linna". She died in Jan 1861 in Copper Creek, Scott, Virginia (Thrown from a horse). When she was 22, she married John W. Quillin Sr. **,son of TEAGUE "Timothy" Quillin V and Margaret "Peggy" Nation**, in 1814.

 Rebecca Lawson ** lived in Scott, Virginia, USA in 1830. She lived in Western District, Scott, Virginia in 1850. She lived in Scott, Virginia, United States in 1860.

 John W. Quillin Sr. ** and Rebecca Lawson ** had the following children:

         1.    Anderson C. Quillin was born on 14 Nov 1816 in Scott County, Virginia, USA. He died on 20             Jul     1883 in Hancock County, Tennessee, USA. He married Mary "Polly" Addington on 23 Jan             1836 in     Scott, Virginia, United States.

2.    Martin Bird Quillin was born on 21 Jul 1818 in Scott County, Virginia, USA. He died on 28 Jun 1885 in Scott County, Virginia, USA. He married Anna Doty Addington on 16 Jun 1838 in Scott Co, Virginia, USA.

3.    Thomas M. Quillin was born on 20 Aug 1819 in Scott Co, Virginia, USA. He died on 16 Nov 1896 in Scott Co, Virginia, USA. He married Eleanor Spillson Spencer on 06 Apr 1842 in Scott Co, Virginia, USA. He married Rachel Louise Cleek on 03 Mar 1886 in Scott Co, Virginia, USA.

4.    Nancy Baker Quillin was born on 15 Sep 1824 in Scott County, Virginia, USA. She died on 20 Jul 1891 in Scott Co, Virginia, USA. She married William K Starnes on 09 Apr 1837 in Scott Co, Virginia, USA. She married Abraham Zachery Lane on 14 Feb 1882 in Scott, Virginia.

5.    Jackson Lawson Quillin was born in 1826 in Scott Co, Virginia, USA. He died in 1905 in Whitesburg, Hamblen, Tennessee, USA. He married Eliza B Housley in 1852.

6.    James Henry Quillin was born in 1828 in Scott County, Virginia, USA. He died on 21 Nov 1906 in Scott County, Virginia, United States of America. He married Sarah Greear on 17 Jan 1847 in Scott, Virginia.

7.    Henry S Quillin was born on 06 Feb 1830 in Copper Ridge, Scott Co. VA. He died on 06 Dec 1862 in Washington County, Virginia, USA (died in Civil War). He married Nancy Davidson on 15 Jun 1847 in Scott Co, Virginia, USA.

8.    IRA D. Quillin ** was born in 1831 in Scott, Virginia. He died between 1862–1863 in Near, Manassas, Virginia, USA. He married Edna Vineyard ** on 18 Oct 1849 in Scott, Virginia.

9.    Mary Ann 'Polly' Quillin was born on 07 Dec 1834 in Scott, Virginia, United States. She died on 26 Oct 1886 in Fort Blackmore, Scott, Virginia, United States. She married Johnson Starnes on 25 Mar 1851 in Virginia, United States.

 

Her death was stated on the Death Register as being thrown from a horse at the age of 69. She and John were living on Copper Creek in Scott County, Virginia at the time.

Sources for Rebecca Lawson

Personal Interviews: Barb and Pattti Lawson. They had an EXTENSIVE website of research. I lost touch with Patti when it was discovered that William Lawson was NOT the REBEL Lawson. Substantial Research was done by Nancy J Lawson in 2017 when she went and spent a long time in the archives.

 Nancy J Lawson’s Research Paper

 1830 United States Federal Census: Scott, Virginia; Series: M19; Roll: 200; Page: 25; Family History Library Film: 0029679

 1850 United States Federal Census: Western District, Scott, Virginia; Roll: M432_975; Page: 428B; Image: .

 1860 United States Federal Census Place: Scott, Virginia; Roll: ; Page: 381; Image: 393.

 Ancestry.com, Virginia, Deaths and Burials Index, 1853-1917 (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - "Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853–1912." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2010. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.), Ancestry.com, Birth date:  abt 1792  Birth place:    Death date:  Jan 1861  Death place:  Copper Creek, Virginia.

 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 (Provo UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2014)

 Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

 Virginia, U.S., Death Registers, 1853-1911. Library of Virginia, Richmond, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2022

 https://lawsondna.org/home/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/FindingWilliam.pdf

https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/q/u/i/Ronnie-Quillin/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0802.html

Ancestors of Rebecca Lawson

 

Rebecca Lawson Family Group Sheet

 

Rebecca Lawson Pedigree

My Lawson Line begins with John Quillin's first wife. They were the parents of my great-great grandfather Ira D Quillin. 

When Rebecca died, John married a second time to Martha Jewel to which he had 5 more children.

 

John Quillin's Second Wife - Martha Jewel

 

Scrapbook Memories by June Presley

Taken from Scott County historical Society

Scott County, Virginia

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaschs2/june_presley.htm

 

This is a website filled with wonderful family recollections.  I have lifted only the information that relates to my tree.  My great-great-great grandfather, John Quillin, married Rebecca Lawson.  After her death, John married Martha Jewel and raised another young family.  Many thanks to the Jewel family for preserving these memories. 

 

Martha Jewel Quillen and the Jewel Family pp. 3-5 of 12 pages

Recorded by Wayne V. McConnell in 1993

 

Page 3 (starting at the bottom)

Martha was married to John W. Quillen, Sr., on March 31, 1863.  It is likely that John and Martha had been acquainted for a few years.  The David Webb family was living on a farm located within a quarter of a mile from John's farm.  These properties are in the section of Scott County known as Alley Valley. The Quillen farm is on Route 619, and is 3.4 miles from the intersection of this road with Route 71 in Gate City.  Martha Jewel, her mother (Martha A.), and her

Page 4

brother (William) probably lived in this same community since about 1860, and it is thought that during at least part of this time they lived with the Webb family.  My anut, Bertha Starnes, told me that it had been related to her that John Quillen met Martha when she was living at the home of her sister (Louisa Webb).

 

John W. Quillen was born in Surry County, North Carolina in 1793.  He was a son of Teague Quillen V and Peggy Nation.  At about the time of John's birth, Teague sold his land in North Carolina and moved into a section of Russell County, Virginia which is now a part of Scott county.  He bought four tracts of land on the waters of Obey, Copper, and Plank Creeks.  Thus, John probably lived almost all of his life on the land that Teague had purchased in Virginia.  He married Rebecca Lawson in 1814.  They had nine children.  Their sons were named Anderson, Martin Bird, Thomas M., James H., Henry, Ira, and Jackson.  Their daughters were Polly and Nancy.  These children and their descendants became recognized as leaders in Scott County in business and professional fields and as prominent farmers and educators.  By 1860, all of their children had their own families and domiciles; only John and Rebecca remained at the home place.  It would appear that they had lived during their entire married life on a farm which was part of the previously mentioned land purchased by Teague Quillen.  The title for this property was transferred from Teague to his son, John (the first son of a second marriage to Martha Jewel), in 1846.  Rebecca died in January, 1861.

 

It was about two years after Rebecca's death that John and Martha Jewel were married.  They made their home on John's farm.  This was during the Civil War, a time when there was  continual crises and turbulence.  One can imagine the challenge faced by a 70-year old man and a 27-year old woman as they operated their large farm.  The war would have greatly reduced the farm labor force.  This challenge became greater as the children began to arrive.  John W., Jr. was born in 1865, Peggy in 1866, and Elizabeth (Betsy) in 1868.  It may also be noted that in about the same time frame, Louisa Webb gave birth to Rebecca (1861), Ira D. (1865), Elizabeth (1868), and Robert Lee (1871).  (Robert Lee Webb was the father of Jewel Webb Jones). With their apparent close family bond, one might surmise that Louisa and Martha would have spent much time together helping each other as they reared their young children.  Further assistance probably came from their mother, Martha A., who was still in the area.  It is likely that Martha A. shuffled back and forth between Louisa's and Martha Quillen's households depending where she was needed the most.  It is probable that these three women served as each other's councilors, encouragers, nurses, doctors, and teachers for several year.  Another person who may have been present to assist was Sally Edwards.  As noted before, she had lived with the Jewel family in North Carolina, and she may have moved with them to Scott County.  It is known that she married William R. Hammonds in Scott County in 1869.  Sally and her husband resided in the Alley Valley section near the Quillen and Webb residences.

 

John Quillen wrote his will in October, 1869.  he "bequeathed to my dear wife, Martha," for possession during her natural lifetime, or until she remarried, the tract of land (about 150 acres) on which they lived and another adjoining parcel of land containing about three acres (where their spring was located) and other appurtenances on these properties.  (The property described here would not be all of the property deed to John from his father, Teague.  Their property described in this will was bounded on one side by Plank Creek and extended in an easterly direction toward and beyond their farmhouse, the chimney of which was still standing in 1993.) In addition, he bequeathed to Martha their farming equipment, tools, furniture, and all household items (dishes, cooking utensils, large kettles, books, spinning equipment, etc.).  She was to receive two cows, eight sheep, eight hogs, one "good" workhorse, and forage and crops which would be present at the time of his death.  Martha was also to possess all of the personal property which belonged to her before their marriage (quoted in the will as "a portion of which was brought to my house, and the remainder left with her mother").  Upon Martha's death, these possessions were then bequeathed

Page 5

"to my son, John W. Quillen, daughters, Peggy C. Quillen and Betsy Quillen, children of my second marriage, and any other legal heirs" born to Martha after the writing of the will.  John owned real estate and personal property other than that bequeathed to Martha.  He directed that these other possessions were to be sold and the proceeds distributed equally among the heirs of his first marriage.  More heirs were born after John's will had been written.  Eliza arrived in 1870 and Charles F. in December of 1871.

 

John Quillen, Sr. died in 1872 - probably in March or early April.  The time of his death is based on the recording of his will on April 9, 1872.  At this time, Martha found herself in a difficult world where she would be a widow at the age of 36 with a farm to manage and with five young children, all under seven years old.  The youngest, Charles Fairbanks, was a very young baby born on December 27, 1871.