Rowland Lawson was born sometime before 1635, likely in England.[1] As reflected in the Research Notes, below, the identity of his parents isn't clear.
Rowland and his (apparent) brother Epaphroditus patented 1300 acres in Lancaster County, Virginia Colony.[2]
Rowland paid taxes in Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, based on his labor force. The county assessed him for three tithables, 6 Feb 1655,[3] for four tithables, 7 Dec 1655,[4] and for three tithables, 5 Nov 1656.[5] His fortunes continued to improve. Lancaster County assessed him, 31 Oct 1658, for five tithables.[6] Lancaster County assessed him again, 30 Nov 1659, for three tithables, two fewer than the year before.[7]
Rowland served as a judge in Lancaster County between 1652-1655[8]
Some claim he was the second of three known children, all sons, of John Lawson and Sarah Rowland, but no evidence for that has been seen. Others claim he was born in Brough Hall, Catterick, Yorkshire, England in 1609, the youngest of three known children, all sons, of Sir John Lawson, but likewise no evidence for that has been seen.
Marriage, Children
In 1641, when he was in his mid-twenties, he married Letitia Wales. She bore him four known children, three sons and one daughter:
The document quoted proving that Elizabeth Lawson Jr. was heiress to both her father, Epaphroditus, and her uncle, Richard, is the clarifying link which proves Rowland Lawson the brother of both, when he speaks of his "loving brother Richard." Neither Epaphroditus nor Richard left any heirs male. The much discussed point as to whether the immigrant Lettice Lawson was sister or wife is settled at Rowland's death when she is "granted a probate of the will as widd & relict of the sd. Rowland," and is recorded by the Court of May 8, 1661, as the mother of his orphans. (Lanc. Co. Order Book, 1655-1666, p. 142.)[10]
These five "orphans" were not all of Mr Rowland Lawson's children, however, as has been generally believed. There were, in fact, eight children born to Rowland and Lettice Lawson.
EPAPHRODITUS 2
Epaphroditus was probably the eldest son, since otherwise he would hardly have been old enough to have had an estate which the court awarded to his mother. It is possible, however, that he was not twenty-one since he could have had a headright grant at sixteen years. If Rowland II was "not of age in 1661," he became so in a very little while, as he petitioned to be allowed to sell cattle, "having a considerable quantity" in 1661, "to procure me a servant." In another document dated 1665 (LC Order Book 1655-1666, page 353, Court of Sept 14), his estate is ordered delivered to him, his majority having been attained. In 1668 he gives a plantation to his younger brother, Henry - not then twenty-one.
RICHARD LAWSON 2 is identified as "the son of Mr Rowland Lawson" on a deed of gift by which Teague Floyne bestows upon him "a cowe-calf," 27 May, 1658. (LC Order Book 1654-1702, Re-recorded Deeds and Wills, p 155.)
The orphans are listed in 1665 by their mother, probably in the order of their ages, as owning certain cattle: Elizabeth, John, Henry and Letitia (LC Order Book, 1655-1666, p 353). Rowland II's deed prove John and Henry to have been his brothers, as has long been known from Mr Stanard's notes.
The eighth child was Joanna Sockwell, as appears from three court orders in which she is named as "one of the orphans of Mr. Row. Lawson deceased." [20] At the court of July 8, 1668, Joanna relinquished her right of administration in the estate of her husband, Lancelot Sockwell, to Hugh Brent, who was the heaviest creditor.
See this excellent web page for transcriptions of other legal documents involving Rowland Lawson: Lawson Surname DNA Project, Lancaster County, Virginia [12]
John Lawson's will, probated in Richmond County, Feb. 2, 1761, names the following children : Christopher, Elizabeth Barber, Joana Hobson, (wife of Adcock Hobson), Catharine White, (wife of Col. John Lawson White), Lucy Lawson, (married later George Booker). Son Christopher and son-in-law Adcock Hobson executors. Like the Hobsons and Carters the Whites and Bookers removed to southern Virginia where they have many descendants of considerable prominence. John Lawson of Richmond County was probably a son of Rowland Lawson (III) whose will probated in Lancaster County, Jan. 17, 1717, names wife Jane and children Rowland, Thomas, John, Anthony, Sarah, Joana, and Elizabeth. This Rowland Lawson was a son of Rowland (II) who was a Justice of Lancaster in 1684, and whose will probated Sept. 7, 1706, names sons Henry, John and Rowland. Rowland Lawson (II) was a son of Rowland Lawson, Sr., who emigrated to Va. with wife Lettice prior to 1637 (Head rights). He was a Justice of Lancaster, 1652-1655; and his will probated May 8, 1661, names wife Lettice, and children Rowland, Jr., Elizabeth, John, Henry, — all but Rowland were minors in 1668. Lancaster deeds show that Rowland Lawson, Sr., had brothers Richard and Epaphroditus, who also left descendants in Lancaster. Rowland Lawson, Jr.'s will in 1706, bears a seal showing arms — a chevron between three martlets. Burke gives the arms of Lawson, of Brough Hall, Yorkshire, and of Lawson, (Baronets) of Longherst and Cramblington Co., Northumberland, England, as — Arg. a chevron between three martlets sable. For further history of the Lawson family see the interesting notes of Mr. Stanard in Vol. IV., Virginia Magazine.[13]
Sources
General Citations(inherited by current profile manager)
"Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents." The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 4, no. 3 (1897): 313-18. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4241966.
↑ He would have been at least 21 in 1655 when he was assessed for taxes.
↑ Citation of prior profile manager: Bridgforth, Allan Cabaniss, comp. McConnell Genealogy. (Self-published, c1965; Typescript, mimeographed.), pp 77.
↑1655 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 6 Feb 1655. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Deed & Will Book 1, 1652-1657, pp. 174-178. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearchhere. Accessed 8 Feb 2024. To see what others appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces, visit Lancaster County Tax Records.
↑1655 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 7 Dec 1655. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Deed & Will Book 1, 1652-1657, pp. 234-239. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearchhere, as transcribed in 1961 Transcription. Fleet, Beverley. 1961. Virginia Colonial Abstracts: Vol. XXII, Lancaster County 1652-1655. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Pages 106-109. Available online without restriction courtesy of HathiTrust here. Accessed 29 Jan 2024. To see what others appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces, visit Lancaster County Tax Records.
↑1656 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 5 Nov 1656. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Deed & Will Book 1, 1652-1657, pp. 302-307. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearchhere. Accessed 23 Mar 2024. To see what others appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces, visit Lancaster County Tax Records.
↑ "Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents." The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 4, no. 3 (1897): 313-18. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4241966.
↑ Here's what prior profile manager reported: "Lancaster County, VA, Orders and etc., Book 1655-1666, page 130 - 15 November 1660 Court. In the year summary it had - To Mrs. Lawson the widow of Mr. Rowland Lawson, deceased towards her great _____ and order. On page 32 of the same Court it had the tithes. List Mrs. Lawson, 2 tithes.
↑ 10.010.1 Bulkley, Caroline Kemper. "Notes on Immigrant Lawsons of Tidewater: A Search for Clues to the Illustration of Origins." The William and Mary Quarterly 13, no. 4 (1933): 242-53. doi:10.2307/1919771. (JSTOR – requires free registration)
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