Genealogy

My Lawson Line

To explore my Lawson family line, visit my website on Ancestry.com, where you can meet my relatives from Walker County, Alabama. The oldest documented and confirmed member of my Lawson family is John Lawson, who was born in North Carolina. John and Sarah Lawson represent a ‘brick wall’ in my research, which is why I joined the Lawson DNA Project.

The Lawson Letters

Many people have wanted to see the Lawson Letters published by Mary Alice Lawson who lived in California, but who is no longer with us.  I have copies of all these 64 letters and they are available as a PDF file here: The Lawson Letters (64MB sized file)

The Lawson DNA Project

Visit the Lawson DNA Project website, where you can get information about our project, what our objectives are and how to join the Project. It is a standard surname project, where we hope to connection those of us with the surname of Lawson or it’s various spelling.  We believe that there are a number of clusters of Lawsons that share a common ancestor.  By grouping the various lines of Lawsons in a database by their Y-chromosome DNA signature and then comparing their submitted pedigrees, we hope to be able to make additional connections for our families and push back the “brick walls”.

Another site to visit and get an idea of the information that we collect and share with each member, is the Working Chart for the DNA Project. This chart has the first 67 Alleles and also contains a Short Pedigree for those members who supplied one.

To join the Lawson DNA Project visit the FamilyTreeDNA site “Join the Lawson Surname Project” and sign up. By joining through a surname project you will get a group discount on the cost of joining.

Lawson One Name Study

Gerald D. Lawson has an excellent site for those researching the Lawsons in the US and the United Kingdom. Check out this excellent website.

William Lawson, A Scottish Rebel

A notable group of Lawsons can trace their lineage back to William Lawson, known to many as “The Scottish Rebel.” This family has created several excellent websites, which can be found through a quick Google search, providing extensive information on many of William’s descendants. One member, Nancy Lawson, who has conducted thorough research on William Lawson, has gathered sufficient documentation to conclude that their William is not the same William Lawson who was “transported” as a prisoner on the ship Gildart on 5 August 1747. They now refer to their ancestor as “William Lawson from Montrose, Scotland.” Nancy’s detailed findings can be reviewed in her publication titled “Finding Our True William.”

Falling River Lawsons

We have another cluster of Lawsons that lived in the Lunenburg/Bedford Counties, VA area and they are referred to as the Falling River Lawsons. This seems to be the largest group of Lawsons that we have in the Lawson DNA Project and they trace their line back to a William Lawson also.
William Lawson – born about 1680 and died about 4 February 1754.
Bartholomew Lawson – son of William Lawson of Falling River, born about 1720 and died 1765.
John Lawson – son of William Lawson of Falling River, born about 1713 and died after 1758.

Just north of where William Lawson of Falling River lived is Goochland County, VA and where a Jonas Lawson and his family lived. I believe Jonas and his family were related to the Falling River Lawsons. The following is timeline this Jonas Lawson.
Jonas Lawson – of New Kent, Hanover and Goochland Counties, Virginia

Another interesting Lawson is Drewry/Drury Lawson who was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. DNA shows that he is also a member of the Falling River Lawsons but as of yet no documentation of his father has been found.
Drewry/Drury Lawson – born Pittsylvania County, Virginia about 1756, died 1847 Claiborne County, Tennessee.

Timelines For Lawsons In Virginia

Timelines for Lawsons in Virginia
County County County County
Eight Original Shires Gloucester Lee Pittsylvania
Accomack Goochland Lunenburg Princess Anne
Albemarle Grayson Middlesex Prince Edward
Amelia Halifax Montgomery Prince William
Bedford Hanover Nansemond Richmond
Brunswick Henrico New Kent Rockbridge
Caroline Henry Norfolk Russell
Charlotte Isle of Wight Northampton Scott
Culpeper James City Northumberland Stafford
Elizabeth City King and Queen Old Rappahannock Surry
Essex King William Orange Westmoreland
Fauquier Lancaster Patrick York

Maps Of Virginia Counties 1634-1800

 
Virginia Counties 1634-1640 Virginia Counties 1641-1650
Virginia Counties 1651-1660 Virginia Counties 1661-1670
Virginia Counties 1691-1700 Virginia Counties 1701-1710
Virginia Counties 1721-1730 Virginia Counties 1731-1740
Virginia Counties 1741-1750 Virginia Counties 1751-1760
Virginia Counties 1761-1770 Virginia Counties 1771-1780
Virginia Counties 1781-1790 Virginia Counties 1791-1800

Timelines For Lawsons In North Carolina

Timelines for Lawsons in North Carolina
Cumberland County, North Carolina
Stokes County, North Carolina
Surry County, North Carolina

Maps Of North Carolina Counties 1700-1912

North Carolina Counties 1700-1790
North Carolina Counties 1800-1912
Dates for North Carolina County Development