James Lawson (1808 - 1811)

Born 26 Feb 1808 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Died 20 Oct 1811 at age 3 in Prospect, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

James Lawson died young.

James Lawson was born on 26th February 1808 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia – exactly one month after the military coup, the 'Rum Rebellion', that ousted the vice-regal governor of the colony, Captain William Bligh RN. James was the fourth son of Lieutenant William Lawson and Sarah Leadbeater, an emancipated convict.^[1] He was baptised James, son of William Lawson, and Sarah Leadbeater, born 26 February 1808 baptised 20 April 1809, registered in Baptisms of illegitimate children at St Philip's Church of England, Sydney.^[2]

He passed away, just 45 months old, on 20 October 1811 at Prospect, New South Wales,^[3] and was buried on 22 October 1811 in St John's cemetery, Parramatta.^[4][5] The Lawson family Bible recorded his death on 20 October 1811, "aged 3 years & 8 months".^[6] James's father was absent, in England, at the time of the young lad's death, called as a witness in one of the trials of the mutineers. James' mother was still caring for his three older brothers, aged eight, seven and five years.

The inscription on his grave (1W6) at St John's Cemetery Parramatta has been incorrectly transcribed with the wrong age:^[7]

Sacred

to the Memory

of

JAMES LAWSON

who departed this life October 20th

18-- aged 5(sic) years and 8 months son to

J--H-T(sic) LAWSON

also HANNAH ANN LAWSON

daughter to the above who departed

this life Aug 24th 1814 aged 4 years and 8 months

Also

SARAH MARIA LAWSON

who died 16 Jany 1819 aged 6 months

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #312/1808 V1808312 6
2. ↑ St Philip's Church of England, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Baptisms; ML ref: Reel SAG 90.; Volume entry number: 312
3. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #2760/1811 V18112760 2A
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/144785664/james-lawson : accessed 25 April 2022), memorial page for James Lawson (26 Feb 1808–20 Oct 1811), Find a Grave Memorial ID 144785664, citing St. John's Cemetery, Parramatta, City of Parramatta Council, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Helen (contributor 46831582) .
5. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Burials, 1790-1986 for James Lawson Vol 01, Baptisms, 1790-1825; Marriages, 1789-1823; Burials, 1790-1825 https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/60737/images/44132_1831101454_0699-00574?pId=30419
6. ↑ "Lawson family bible, birthday book and miscellaneous papers 1774-1938" ML MSS 95, Mitchell Library, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
7. ↑ Dunn, Judith (ed), The Parramatta cemeteries: St John's. Parramatta. Parramatta and District Historical Society, 1991, p.101