Catherine (Taylor) Lawson (1788 - 1861)

Wife of John Lawson — married 13 Dec 1808 in Hampshire, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 6 Dec 1861 at age 73 in Greenup, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

Catherine Taylor, was born 26 Sep 1788 (per her tombstone) in Hampshire County, Virginia, probably to John Taylor & Elizabeth Foreman Taylor. She married, as his second wife, John Lawson in 1808. They had 8 children together, the first 4 born in Hampshire.

In 1816 they removed to Greenup County, Kentucky where John died in 1831. The Will of John Lawson provided "…..to my beloved wife Catharine Lawson so long as she remains my widow, the plantation on which I now live and also all the household & kitchen furniture & all thereto belonging, & all my books, also $300 in gold & $500 in silver paper to build her a house, also my wagon & her choice of 4 horses & dried grass for the same, 4 milch cows the 1st choice, also as many ploughs as she may see proper to keep, also Negro Dan, Clem, Saul, Joseph, Polly, Hagar, Jane, to hire them out, or dispose them as she may see proper according as they may conduct themselves. And if she should marry again, she is to have nothing but one bed & bedding. & all my other moveable property to be sold and also Negro Moses to be sold. ...... All the monies that may arise from the sale, and the rents of my property to be equally divided among the six youngest children, when they shall come to a lawful age, viz, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Rebecca Jane, John Taylor, Thomas, Catharine .....I give & bequest my eldest daughter Hannah Lawson, now H. McKoy one bed & bedding now in her possession and no more. ..... Likewise I constitute my beloved wife Catharine Lawson of Greenup County & State of Kentucky this my last will & testament to empower her my sole executrix..... In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of July in the year of our Lord 1831. John Lawson Senior James Lawson Clarkson Z. Smyth At a county court held for Greenup County on Monday the 7th day of November 1831, the last will and testament of John Lawson Senr. was produced in open court and proven……….. "

Catherine Lawson wrote a Will dated 25 Nov 1861, proved 6 Jan 1862. "To my beloved daughters Hannah McKoy wife of Moses McKoy and Mary Ann Culver $500 each. I also bequeath to my beloved grandchildren Thomas, Martha, John T. and Catharine Lawson $100 each, they being the children of my beloved son John T. Lawson [who shall be Trustee of their legacies until they each turn 21.] The farm and its appurtenances upon which I am now living I bequeath to [the Session of Presbyterian Greenup Union Church] of which I have been an humble member for many years......[Property in the town of Ashland, Boyd Co. KY to my friend John Clark Bayless and to friend Charlotte Wilson wife of Charles M. Wilson of Ashland] for her lifetime and then the same to her children. My black boy Wilson, who is a slave for life, I give to my beloved son Thomas Lawson……" of November A.S. 1861. Catharine Lawson Witnesses: John Gray, Charles F. Executor: beloved son John T. Lawson…… In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-fifth day Banks, Jeremiah Davidson

On 6th day of January 1862, the foregoing last will and testament of Catharine Lawson late of Greenup County deceased was produced in court and proved to be the last will and testament of said deceased….."

Catherine Taylor Lawson died on 6 Dec 1861, according to the inscription on her tombstone in Brick Union Cemetery, Lloyd KY.

Slaves

In the will of her husband, John Lawson Sr, dated 1831, Catherine received 8 slaves

• Dan
• Clem
• Saul
• Joseph
• Polly
• Hagar
• Jane
• Wilson

In 1850, Catherine Lawson held 6 slaves^[1]

Female 32

Female 22

Male 16

Male 15

Male 10

Male 8

In 1860, Catherine retained one slave^[2]

Male 23

Sources

1. ↑ 1850 Census: "1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules"
   The National Archive in Washington DC; Washington, DC; NARA Microform Publication: M432; Title: Seventh Census Of The United States, 1850; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 8055 #90423691 (accessed 8 March 2022)
   Catharine Lawson in District 1, Greenup, Kentucky, USA.
2. ↑ 1860 Census: "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules"
   The National Archives in Washington DC; Washington DC, USA; Eighth Census of the United States 1860; Series Number: M653; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 7668 #91714067 (accessed 8 March 2022)
   Catharine Lawson in Greenup, Kentucky, USA.

• Will of John Lawson, Kentucky Wills 1822-1945, Greenup Co., Book 2, pp. 111-112, Will of John Lawson Sr. 1831 (FHL#0343997, DGS4818893, image 72f).

• Kentucky Wills 1822-1945, Greenup Co. Book 5, pp. 244 Will of Catherine Lawson 5 Nov 1861 (FHL #343998, DGS4818894, image 350): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9P3F-HH6?i=349&cc=1875188&cat=89176

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104173960/catherine-lawson