The Lawson DNA Project website now only has one chart for the Y-DNA test results and it is for the first 67 Alleles with a Short Pedigree for those members who supplied one:
Lawson DNA Project 67 Alleles Spreadsheet
Unlike the previous charts using this Google spreadsheet you will now be able to scroll down or up while the headings remain in place. Also, the kit numbers on the left side will remain fixed as you scroll right or left.
As you scroll to the right hand side of the chart you will see the Short Pedigree for that member (if they provided one). To see the full pedigree then click on the kit number preceding the Short Pedigree and it will take you to the full one that was supplied. I have used the pedigrees that each member sent, so if two or more members are related to the same person, you may find that some of the names, dates or places may vary.
You can also review the Family Tree DNA’s public spreadsheet that has all 111 Alleles if you have been tested for that number.
Lawson DNA Project – Y-DNA Colorized Chart
Interpretation of the Results in the above Charts:
Groups #1, #2 and #3
A number of families have been identified in the charts/spreadsheets and the members of this large family can be found in Group #1, #2 and #3. They have been separated into three groups in the 67 markers chart located in Y-DNA Results but have been combined into one large group in the FTDNA’s public charts. The reason they were divided in the 67 markers chart is to try and identify different lines and it does to some degree. For example most of the Falling River Lawsons are located in group #2 identified by their DYS464 being a 14-14-15-16. Another line of Lawsons, Drewry Lawson, has their marker DYS437 mutated from 16 to a 17 and they are placed in Group #3.
However, care must be taken because some lines have members in more than one group. The project has two brothers and their cousin that have had their Y-DNA tested and one brother is in Group #1 and the other brother and his cousin are in Group #3. It looks like one brother had a back mutation from a 17 to 16 at DYS437. Also there is a John Lawson who died in Alabama, born in 1780 or 1787 in North Carolina that had five known sons and descendants of four of the sons have been tested. Three brothers are in Group #2 and the other brother is in Group #3. To confirm that all four are brothers a number of autosomal DNA tests were conducted and the results seems to confirm that they are brothers. Since the lines of Lawsons can be in more than one of the three groups, it was worthwhile to combine them in the FTDNA’s public chart, so the results could be reviewed.
Falling River Lawsons
The most distant relative that can be documented for this group(s) is a William Lawson of Falling River. William received a patent, 20 August 1745, of 143 acres of land on the north side of Falling River in Brunswick County, VA. The name of the county where this land was located changed to Lunenburg in 1746, then to Bedford in 1754, and lastly to Campbell County in 1782.
By 2 April 1754, William Lawson had died and his three sons, John, Jonas and Bartholomew Lawson of Lunenburg County, VA sold to Thomas Watkins of the same county, for 30 pounds, the land on the north side of Falling River, being that land where their father William Lawson did live, containing 143 acres. John Lawson executed the land sale and from this it is assumed he was the oldest of the three brothers. At this time these are the only proven sons of William Lawson of Falling River.
William’s three sons are shown in the tax records of Lunenburg County for 1748 – 1751. In these tax records John Lawson is shown to have three sons, William, John Jr. and Jonas Lawson. Bartholomew and Jonas are not shown with any males of taxable age except themselves.
The Falling River area of Lunenburg County where the Lawsons are living changes it name to Bedford County in 1754. Found in the early records of this county are John, John Jr., William, Bartholomew, Jonas and a new name, David. The “Insolvents List of 1762” and the numerous 1763 court judgments against the Lawsons indicates they were having financial problems. It is in these records we see the first use of John B. E. Lawson, which could be John Lawson Jr. Also it is found that Bartholomew Lawson was married to Susannah Simpkins, the daughter of John Simpkins when Bartholomew sold her part of her inheritance from her father in 1763.
It seems the brothers separate after 1763-64 and Bartholomew and his wife Susannah move their family from Bedford County, VA to Cumberland County, NC where Bartholomew died 1765. After his death the family moves from Cumberland County, NC to Henry County, VA, which later became Patrick County, VA. This puts them near John Lawson’s family that had moved to Surry/Stokes County, NC, which borders Patrick County, VA.
When and if John Lawson Sr. moved to the Surry and Stokes Counties area is not known but his family was there by 1772 as shown by various records. The oldest John Lawson is called John “Black Eye” Lawson or John B. E. Lawson in a number of tax records in the county and apparently the same John B. E. Lawson we found in Bedford County, VA. The Lawsons kept using the same first names, so the tax collector would use nicknames like Black Eye, Goober Pea, Bigg Head, Big Billey and Bony so he could differentiate between the Lawsons with the same first names.
It is difficult placing the third brother, Jonas Lawson. It looks like he is in the 1763 Bedford County tax list and he has a court judgment the same year in Bedford County, VA. Could he be the Jonas Lawson we find in Pittsylvania County, VA with a William and John Lawson? Not sure at this time and will need to find additional documentation to sort out the Lawsons in Pittsylvania County, VA.
Many of the Lawsons living in the Surry/Stokes Counties, NC and those in Patrick County, VA moved on west into Lee County, VA and the eastern part of Tennessee after the Revolutionary War and before 1800.
Jonas and John Lawson
Searching the records prior to 1745 to establish where William of Falling River may have come from, we find a William Lawson living in Goochland County, VA. Together with William there is a Jonas, John and David Lawson that are documented in this county. As mentioned above, the Falling River William named one of his sons Jonas and another John. Also, Bartholomew Lawson married Susannah Simpkins, the daughter of John Simpkins and we find the Simpkins family living in Goochland County before moving to the Falling River area.
John Simpkins obtained a patent in 1731 in Goochland County, VA, purchased additional land from Thomas Owen in 1737 and sold his land in 1742/43. He then obtained a patent, July 1746, for 200 acres on Falling River about 11 months after William Lawson acquired his patent.
The William Lawson that is found in the Goochland County records started in 1732 and lasting through 1743. In the majority of these 30 entries, it states William Lawson can not be found in the county, which suggest that the William they are looking for is travelling a great deal. Also one entry 1732 states: – “The action of trespass on the case between Tarlton Fleming, Plaintiff and William Lawson Sen. Defendant is dismiss, the Plaintiff not prosecuting the same.” The senior implies that there were two William Lawsons in the county at that time.
In 1743 the Sheriff of Goochland County was looking for William but reported that he could not be found in the county. We do find three entries, 1741-1742 in Brunswick County, VA for a William Lawson having some of the same problems that the William in Goochland was having, ie. trespass, assault and battery cases. Then on the 20 August 1745 William Lawson obtains his patent for 143 acres of land on the north side of Falling River. This William is dead by April 1754 leaving at least 3 sons.
Since William named one of his sons Jonas and a second one John, it is not hard to believe that William Lawson of Falling River is relative to the Jonas and John of Goochland and New Kent County, VA. Adding weight to this argument is the family of John Simpkins being in Goochland and moving close to William Lawson of Falling River.
Jonas Lawson is first found in New Kent County, Virginia March 1708/09. There are also two other Lawsons living in New Kent during this period. They are John and Nicholas Lawson. What relation to Jonas is not known? Documentation from New Kent shows that John was married to a Judith and they had a son named John, who was baptized 8 May 1690 and a daughter Elenor, who was baptized 10 July 1698. There is little information on Nicholas Lawson except a statement by him stating that he did not live in the parish where we find John and Jonas living.
There is no documentation on the birth date of Jonas, but since he is found owning land in New Kent in 1709, it can be assumed he was born on or before 1688. The wife of this Jonas is Elizabeth as shown by a number of documents found in Goochland County, VA.
John Lawson, who was living in New Kent, seems to be older than Jonas and is listed on the Rent Roll of the Lands held by Her Majestic in the Parish of St. Peters and St. Paul’s in 1704 when he paid rent on 50 acres. John and his wife are mentioned a number of times in the St. Peter and St. Paul’s Vestry Book between 1690 and 1709 when Jonas Lawson is mention in the Parish documents.
Jonas Lawson obtains a patent 16 June 1727 for 400 acres on the north side of the James River, on Byrd Creek in Henrico County, VA. In 1728 this land ends up in Goochland County when the county name was changed. A number of other men from the same Precincts in New Kent County as Jonas and John Lawson end up obtaining or purchasing land on the Byrd Creek. They were Andrew Moorman, Robert Horsley and John Bostick.
There is a David Lawson, a son of Jonas, living in Goochland County near his father and he names one of his sons Jonas. There is a John as well as William Lawson living in Goochland County, VA, but it is not clear what relation they are to Jonas but could be his brothers, uncles or cousins.
The John Lawson could be the John and Judith Lawson of New Kent or their son? We find John Lawson mention in the Goochland County court records starting in 1728 and ending in 1738. However, we never find a John Lawson obtaining land, which is what would have expected if he were the older Lawson. There are a couple of interesting entries that are found that may explain why the John Lawson disappears from the records. Here are the two entries: –
- Goochland County, Virginia Wills and Deeds 1734-1736, Book 2, Page 230, dated 20 February 1735/36 Noble Ladd of Goochland County, planter, to James Nevill of same, planter, for 10 pounds, one hundred acres, bounded by Point of Rocks where the Indians shot John Lawson, near the Seven Islands and the (James) river. Recorded 15 June 1736.
- Albemarle Deed, Book 1, page 316, 14 May 1751, Noble Ladd to son, Amos Ladd: love – 300 acres north side Fluvanna adjacent New Breamer (Bremo) Creek, head of branch that “Indian shot John Lawson at”. Witnesses: John Peter, Amos Ladd and John Moor.
Checking the Internet you will find Seven Islands, which is located in present day Fluvanna County, VA and about 20-30 miles up the James River from Byrd Creek, where Jonas and David Lawson had their patents. This indicates that there was a John Lawson living in the area who was shot by the Indians some time before June 1736 and could be the reason we do not find him obtaining a patent about the same time as Jonas Lawson.
The records of Albemarle County, VA do show another John Lawson who obtained patents and sold land on the Mechums River. Also a Thomas Lawson in his Iredell County, NC Revolutionary Pension Application indicted he was born in Albemarle County December 1752. John or members of his family may have moved to Bedford, then Pittsylvania and Halifax Counties, VA and lastly further south into NC and SC.
The older Jonas Lawson and his family lived in Goochland County, VA for at least 40 years, 1727-1767. He and his son, David and grandson Jonas Lawson then sold their land in Goochland County in 1767 and moved to Bedford County, VA and then maybe into Pittsylvania County, VA.
Jonas Lawson made a will 5 April 1770 in Bedford County, Virginia and it was filed 24 September 1771. Jonas mentions a son named David and grandsons, David, William, John and James Lawson. Grandsons David and William Lawson were the executors of the will, which implies that Jonas’ son David is dead.
It is believed that most, if not all of older Jonas Lawson’s family moved on to South Carolina.
There are a number of members located in Group #1 with documentation that does not lead back to the above mention Lawsons or to the area where we find these Lawsons. The Y-DNA shows they are related but how is not known at this time.
Groups #8
This group is sometimes referred to as Mary on the Dan’s Lawsons. She completed a will 15 October 1749, which was recorded 2 April 1751 in Lunenburg County, VA. (Note: The part that she lived in is now in present day Halifax County, VA.) She had seven known children. The names of the males were Francis, John, David and William.
It is believed that the family came from Antrim County, Ireland to present day Carlisle, Pennsylvania where they first purchased land. They moved on to Lunenburg County, VA where all four brothers purchased a number of tracks of land from William Byrd or from his estate on or near the Dan River, in present day Halifax County, VA.
Francis, John and David died in Halifax County. Francis’ son John moved south into Caswell/Person County, NC where you can find his well documented family. The older John and his family remained in Halifax County for at least one generation and he died there about 1782. David died November 1774 and after his estate was divided his children moved west into Kentucky and Illinois.
The youngest son, William Lawson married Jane Banks, 1758 in Halifax County, VA and after serving in the Revolutionary War he was granted land in Georgia. He moved there with all his family and died October 1800 in Hancock County, Georgia.
Groups #12
This is William Lawson “The Rebel” line. There is an excellent website that you can visit to learn more about this Scotsman. He was born in Montrose, Scotland 1731, was in the Battle of Culloden, Scotland 1746, transported to the colonies 1747. He settled in Fincastle County, VA, and the area he was living later became Montgomery County. Later obtain land in Russell County and then Scott County, VA where he died 1827.
The Rebel had at least 3 sons, William II, Travis and Jeremiah Lawson. You can find documentation on all his family members on the above mention website.
Groups #15
The members of this group trace their line back to a Jincy or Ginsey Lawson through Andrew Jackson Lawson who lived in St. Clair/Etowah County, AL. Some believe Jincy never married and that her children took her maiden name. A second son, Pickens Lawson was tested and he is located in Group #4.
Groups #17
This is John Lawson who was born in Annapolis, Maryland or Scotland and married a Rebecca. It is believe he has the following male children, John, Alexander, Theophilus, William and Holsey or Holzen Lawson. Most of them remained in the West Virginia area.
Groups #19
This is William Lawson of Union County, South Carolina. Believe he was married at least twice, first wife unknown and second was Susannah Bailey. He was born about 1740 and died 1827 in Union County, South Carolina. His sons may have been Sion, Reuben, John, Jacob, Bailey and Julius. Most of them lived and died in Union County and their children then moved west as did most of our Lawsons.