The Lawson family
About the same time the family of Abraham Goad moved to Tennessee, the Lawsons also arrived — perhaps making the move with the Goads.
Unlike most of the first arriving families in present-day Scott County, where men made the move solo, perhaps with their wives and children in tow, the Lawsons made the move as multiple brothers. Among that first generation of Lawsons who settled in Scott County were Randolph, David, John and, perhaps, Robert.
See Also: The Scott County Lineage Project
Origins
Randolph Lawson, David Lawson and John Lawson were three brothers who served in the Revolutionary War, along with several of their other brothers. Emerging evidence suggests that a fourth brother, Robert Lawson, joined the others in present-day Scott County.
The brothers were the sons of Bartholomew Lawson and Susannah Simpkins of Bedford County, Va. They were part of a clan that genealogists refer to as The Falling River Lawsons. The patriarch of the clan was William Lawson (about 1680 – 1754) — the grandfather of the Scott County brothers. His grandfather, also named William Lawson, migrated to Virginia colony from North Yorkshire, England, in the 17th century.
Bartholomew Lawson and Susannah Simpkins appear to have had at least six sons who fought in the Revolutionary War. In addition to the four who moved to Scott County — Randolph, David, John and Robert — there was Morman (Moorman) Lawson and William Lawson. Other sons may have included Elijah Lawson, Peter Lawson, Jacob Lawson and Phillip Lawson.
Randolph Lawson married Susannah Cross in 1791, and they settled near the mouth of Paint Rock Creek at New River before later leaving Scott County and moving to Kentucky. One of their daughters, Elizabeth “Millie” Lawson, married Joseph Phillips, who moved to present-day Scott County with the Abraham Goad caravan. Another daughter, Catherine Lakey Lawson, married Thomas Chambers, the son of Revolutionary War veteran William Chambers of Scott County.
David Lawson married Elizabeth Jeffers in 1794. They first settled on the Clear Fork in Campbell County before making their way to present-day Scott County, settling in the Winona area. David is the common ancestor of many Lawsons in Scott County today, particularly those who trace their lineage to the Winona and Bull Creek areas.
John Lawson married his first cousin, Anna Lawson, in 1775. They moved to what is now southern Scott County.
Robert Lawson married Anna Goad, daughter of Abraham Goad. They settled in the area of present-day Huntsville.
Dating the move
Robert Lawson, husband of Anna Goad, was traditionally believed to have been the son of William “the Scottish Rebel” Lawson, who migrated from Scotland to the American colonies in the 18th century. Modern DNA testing suggests no link between those two men, however, and several early tax records link Robert Lawson to the same area of Virginia as “The Falling River” Lawsons. Based on those records, the most likely connection is the brother of Randolph, David and John, though some genealogists have suggested that he might be a first cousin (the son of Jonas Lawson rather than Bartholomew Lawson, which would make him a brother to Anna Lawson, who married John Lawson).
Robert Lawson made the move to present-day Scott County with the Goad family and the Phillips in the first few years of the 1800s. Abraham Goad’s daughter, Anna, was married to Robert Lawson. Another daughter, Mary, was married to Thomas Phillips. Joseph Phillips, Thomas’s 15-year-old brother, also made the move. Tax records from Virginia and land records in Tennessee date that move between 1802 and 1807. Abraham Goad paid taxes in Virginia in 1802 and was granted 100 acres in Tennessee in 1807.
It isn’t proven that Randolph Lawson made the move to present-day Scott County with the Goads and the Phillips. However, he was Abraham Goad’s next-door neighbor on New River, and was listed as a chainman when Goad’s property was surveyed in 1808. His daughter, Millie, married Joseph Phillips after the move to Tennessee. There’s evidence that Abraham Goad, Randolph Lawson and Robert Lawson served together in the Revolutionary War.
David Lawson and John Lawson may not have been part of the Goad-Phillips-Lawson caravan to Tennessee, but likely followed a short time later.
Jehu Phillips, the son of Joseph Phillips and Millie Lawson, wrote for the Cumberland Chronicle in 1904 that Reynold Lawson built the first water grist mill in Scott County on Paint Rock Creek. This is believed to have been a reference to Randolph Lawson.
Family Tree
First Generation
Randolph Lawson (1752-1848)
Born: 1752, Bedford County, Virginia.
Parents: Bartholomew Lawson (~1720-1765), Susannah Simpkins (~1720-1787) of Virginia.
Siblings: David Lawson (1758-1852), John Lawson (1755-1838), Robert Lawson (1778-1850), Moorman Isaac Lawson (1751-1842), Elijah Lawson (1753-1834), William Lawson (1755-1811), Peter Lawson (1758-1834), Jacob Lawson (1761-1832), Phillip Lawson (born about 1761).
Married: Susannah Cross, 1791.
Children: Elizabeth Phillips (about 1786-1838), Catherine Lakey Chambers (about 1792-1838), Lucretia Lawson (about 1792-1880), Elisha Lawson (1793-1873), Mary Louise Prewitt (1798-1856), John Maxwell Lawson (1802-1872), Randolph Lawson Jr. (born about 1802), Samuel Lawson (~1802-1880), Thomas Lawson (1803-1891), Nancy Brown (1808-1900), Suzanna Hewitt (born 1810), Clarissa “Clary” Jeffries (1812-1897).
Died: 1848, Clinton County, Kentucky. Burial location unknown.
+ Susannah Cross Lawson (1765-1844)
Born: 1765, York, Virginia.
Parents: William Cross (1723-1780), Sarah Cross (born about 1725).
Siblings: William Cross (born 1759), Anne Wilson (born 1760), John Cross (1762-1830).
Married: Randolph Lawson, 1791.
Children: Elizabeth “Millie” Phillips (about 1786-1838), Catherine Lakey Chambers (about 1792-1838), Lucretia Lawson (about 1792-1880), Elisha Lawson (1793-1873), Mary Louise Prewitt (1798-1856), John Maxwell Lawson (1802-1872), Randolph Lawson Jr. (born about 1802), Samuel Lawson (~1802-1880), Thomas Lawson (1803-1891), Nancy Brown (1808-1900), Suzanna Hewitt (born 1810), Clarissa “Clary” Jeffries (1812-1897).
Died: 1844, Clinton County, Kentucky. Burial location unknown.
Note: Millie Lawson Phillips married Joseph Phillips, who was part of the caravan to present-day Scott County between 1803 and 1807.
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David Lawson (1758-1852)
Born: 1758, Bedford County, Virginia.
Parents: Bartholomew Lawson (~1720-1765), Susannah Simpkins (~1720-1787) of Virginia.
Siblings: Randolph Lawson (1752-1848), John Lawson (1755-1838), Robert Lawson (1778-1850), Moorman Isaac Lawson (1751-1842), Elijah Lawson (1753-1834), William Lawson (1755-1811), Peter Lawson (1758-1834), Jacob Lawson (1761-1832), Phillip Lawson (born about 1761).
Married: Elizabeth Jeffers, 1797.
Children: Samuel Lawson (1802-1880), Serepta Lawson (born 1805), David William Lawson (1811-1880), Thomas Lawson (born 1812), Jacob Lee Lawson (1824-1891).
Died: March 1, 1852. Burial location unknown.
+Elizabeth Jeffers (1773-~1852)
Born: 1773, South Carolina.
Parents: Unknown.
Married: David Lawson, 1797.
Children: Samuel Lawson (1802-1880), Serepta Lawson (born 1805), David William Lawson (1811-1880), Thomas Lawson (born 1812), Jacob Lee Lawson (1824-1891).
Died: Uncertain; prior to 1852. Burial location unknown.
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John Bartholomew Lawson (1755-1838)
Born: 1755, Bedford County, Virginia.
Parents: Bartholomew Lawson (~1720-1765), Susannah Simpkins (~1720-1787) of Virginia.
Siblings: Randolph Lawson (1752-1848), David Lawson (1758-1852), Robert Lawson (1778-1850), Moorman Isaac Lawson (1751-1842), Elijah Lawson (1753-1834), William Lawson (1755-1811), Peter Lawson (1758-1834), Jacob Lawson (1761-1832), Phillip Lawson (born about 1761).
Married: Anna Lawson, 1775.
Children: Joshua Lawson (1788-1844), William Lawson (1790-1880), Henry Lawson (born 1779), Elizabeth Lawson (born 1782), Melinda Lawson, Patsy Lawson, Lydia Lawson, Staples Lawson, John Lawson, Runnels Lawson.
Died: Jan. 4, 1838, present-day Scott County. Burial location unknown.
+Anna Lawson (1757-1844)
Born: About 1757.
Parents: Jonas Lawson (1707-1771), Mildred “Millie” Blakely.
Married: John B. Lawson.
Children: Joshua Lawson (1788-1844), William Lawson (1790-1880), Henry Lawson (born 1779), Elizabeth Lawson (born 1782), Melinda Lawson, Patsy Lawson, Lydia Lawson, Staples Lawson, John Lawson, Runnels Lawson.
Died: Around 1844, present-day Scott County. Burial location unknown.
Note: John and Anna Lawson were first cousins. Very little is known about their children, and they will not be profiled further. Children’s names taken from a Geni profile managed by Erica Howton.
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Born: Uncertain.
Parents: Bartholomew Lawson (~1720-1765), Susannah Simpkins (~1720-1787) of Virginia. See note below.
Siblings: Randolph Lawson (1752-1848), David Lawson (1758-1852), John Lawson (1755-1838), Moorman Isaac Lawson (1751-1842), Elijah Lawson (1753-1834), William Lawson (1755-1811), Peter Lawson (1758-1834), Jacob Lawson (1761-1832), Phillip Lawson (born about 1761).
Married: Anna Goad (1778-1850), 1793.
Children: Sophronia Jane Griffith (1794-1860), Lucretia Thompson (1792-1880), Maxwell Lawson (1802-1872), James Robert Lawson (1803-1871), Thomas Henry Lawson (1793-1864), David Lawson (1820-1868).
Died: Between 1838-1850. Burial location unknown.
Note: Genealogists have traditionally assumed that Robert Lawson was the son of William Lawson and Anne Harvey. However, DNA testing disproves this theory. Circumstantial evidence suggests that he was connected to “The Falling River Lawsons” of Virginia, which includes the other three brothers. Some records list him as the son of Jonas Lawson and Mildred “Millie” Blakely, which would make him a first cousin to the other brothers and a sister to Anna Lawson, husband of John Lawson.
+ Anna Goad Lawson (1768-1850)
Born: 1768, Bedford County, Virginia.
Parents: Abraham Goad (1740-1816), Anne Ayres (1742-1788).
Siblings: James Goad, John Goad, Catherine Nester, Isham Goad, Elizabeth Hughett, Mary Phillips, Ayres Goad, Joshua Goad.
Married: Robert Lawson, 1793.
Children: Sophronia Jane Griffith (1794-1860), Lucretia Thompson (1792-1880), Maxwell Lawson (1802-1872), James Robert Lawson (1803-1871), Thomas Henry Lawson (1793-1864), David Lawson (1820-1868).
Died: 1850. Burial location unknown.