James Lawson of Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and His Family

A previous blog post gave information on which James Lawson in Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania was my ancestor. Although James purchased land with John Alexander in Fairfield Township in 1788, James may not have settled here with his family until later. James Lawson's naturalization dated 20 June 1805 states he was living here prior to 29 January 1795. His youngest son Hugh Lawson was born about 1792 and his birth place is listed as Ireland in the 1850 through the 1870 censuses. Family information states that they were from County Donegal in Northern Ireland and that James Lawson was born in 1747. 

James Lawson wrote his will on 18 February 1825 and named his sons, Joseph and Hugh, as his executors. It was probated in Westmoreland County on 12 April 1825. He names his wife Sarah and the following children in his will: Thomas, deceased, Robert, William, David, John, Catharine Clifford, Jane Snodgrass, Sarah McKelvey, Elizabeth Smiley as well as Joseph and Hugh to whom he leaves his land. He does not have a tombstone but his wife Sarah's tombstone gives her name as Sarah Fleming Lawson (1751-1839). She is buried in Lawsonham Cemetery in Clarion County, Pennsylvania where her sons David and Robert are buried. 

James and Sarah Lawson had the following children: 

1. Thomas Lawson (b. about 1775–1776, d. 1819) married to 1) ?Clarke (1 son) and 2) Esther Moore (5 children). Lived in Westmoreland, Indiana, and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. 

2. Robert Lawson (b. est. 1775–1784, d. aft. 18 Apr 1825) was a teacher near Lawsonham in Armstrong County (now Clarion County), Pennsylvania. 

3. William Lawson (b. est. 1775–1784, d. 1826) married Mary Johnston. Lived in Westmoreland and Indiana Counties, Pennsylvania. They had 3 known children, but early censuses indicate they had additional children. 

4. David Lawson (b. 1777, d. 1839) married Isabella Dickey (11 children). Lived in Westmoreland and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania. He served in the Pennsylvania State Legislature and worked as a land agent selling property. 

5. Catharine Lawson (b. about 1780, d. 1855) married Thomas Clifford (10 children). Lived in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. 

6. Jane Lawson (b. about 1781–1782, d. 1865) married Joseph Snodgrass (8 children). Lived in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. 

7. John Lawson (b. 1786, d. 1854) married Elizabeth Stewart. Lived in Westmoreland and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania, and Decatur County, Indiana. They had 4 known children, but early censuses indicate they had additional children. 

8. Joseph Lawson (b. 1787, d. 1872) married Rebecca McLaughlin (8 children). Lived in Westmoreland, Indiana, and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania. 

9. Sarah Lawson (b. about 1787, d. aft. 1850) married James McKelvey. Lived in Westmoreland and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania, and Fountain County, Indiana. They had 9 known children, but early censuses indicate they had additional children. 

10. Elizabeth Lawson (b. est. 1785–1790, d. unknown) married William Smiley. No further information is available.

11. Hugh Lawson (b. about 1792, d. 1872) married Nancy Murphy (10 children). Lived in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; Decatur County, Indiana; and Keokuk County, Iowa. 

I recently returned from a trip to Pennsylvania where I obtained naturalization records for James Lawson and two of his sons at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Naturalization at that time was a two step process requiring applicants to file a declaration of their intent to become a citizen before applying for final naturalization. Aliens residing in the United States before 29 January 1795 were able to naturalize without a declaration under early naturalization laws. James and his sons were able to naturalize under this exemption. James' wife as well as his children that were under 21 became citizens as a result of his naturalization. All of his sons over 21 were naturalized in Westmoreland County except for Robert. James Lawson was naturalized on 20 June 1805, William on 2 May 1798, David on 22 September 1802, and Thomas on 20 March 1804. 

The above is a brief summarization of my research on this family. Please contact me at fowler 1947@gmail.com if you would like more information or if you have any information to share.

Which James Lawson of Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Was My Ancestor?

There were two James Lawsons living in Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. One had a wife Isabella and was in the Revolutionary War, for which he received a pension. According to his pension, he was living in York County, Pennsylvania at the time he enlisted in 1776 in the Revolutionary War. There are three grantor deeds in Westmoreland County in which James Lawson and his wife Isabella sell property (see Westmoreland County deeds 1:410,1:492, and 2:35). He was living in Mount Pleasnt Township in Westmoreland County on 8 June 1788 and in Fairfield Township by 8 March 1793. This James Lawson appears in the 1798 direct tax and in the 1800, 1810, and 1820 censuses for Fairfield Township in Westmoreland County as Captain James Lawson. 

A James Lawson received a warrant for 300 acres in Fairfield Towship, Westmoreland County dated 9 March 1789 and patented it on 25 July 1817 for 330 acres and 134 perches.  He sold it to Alexander Love about 1817 according to the deed from Samuel Guthrie to Alexander Love dated 1821 (see Westmoreland County deed 15:69). The description of the land in deed 15:69 and for the survey that was completed after he obtained the warrant (see survey 131-31 online at the Pennsylvania Archives) said it adjoined land of Edward Halferty. The land taxed to Captain James Lawson in the 1798 direct tax also said that his land adjoined that of Edward Halferty. The James Lawson that patented 330 acres and 134 perches on 25 July 1817 is the same person as Captain James Lawson based on this. The published Pennsylvania Archives list members of Captain James Lawson's Pennsylvania Militia in 1794 (see Series 6, Volume 5, pages 781 and 785). This is believed to be him.

The other James Lawson living in Fairfield Township, who is my ancestor, died in 1825, and left a will naming his wife Sarah and his children. He and John Alexander received a warrant dated 7 Feburary 1788, for 400 acres that was surveyed on 10 December 1788 for 302 acres and 54 perches. It was patented on 17 February 1806 by James Lawson and his son, Thomas Lawson. James Lawson and Sarah his wife and Thomas Lawson sold 206 acres for $826 to Harry Tolbot on 5 May 1806 and 123 acres for $246 to Joseph Snodgrass on 15 July1807 (see Westmoreland County deeds 7:666 and 11:371). Joseph Snodgrass was the husband of Jane Snodgrass, a daughter of James Lawson. The above survey for 400 acres adjoined Nicholas Lute as did the 1798 direct tax for 400 acres owned by James Lawson and Co.

Samuel Findley and Mary his wife sold 303 acres and 51 perches (for 106 pounds, 11 shillings, and nine pence) to James Lawson on 6 January 1795 (see Westmoreland County deed 2:387). Samuel Findley received a warrant for 300 acres dated 20 December 1786 that was surveyed on 22 November 1787 for 303 acres and 51 perches (see survey A60-61 online at the Pennsylvania Archives).. It was patented on 7 September 1791 to Samuel Findley. James Lawson left this property to his two youngest sons, Joseph and Hugh, and his grandson, James Barber Lawson, in his will. His sons and grandson sold this property after his death.The above Westmoreland County deed (2:387) adjoined that of of James Updegraff as did the 1798 direct tax for James Lawson, Jr.

James Lawson wrote his will on 18 February 1825 and named his sons, Joseph and Hugh, as executors. The witnesses to his will were Thos Pollock and Charles Clifford. It was probated in Westmoreland County on 12 April 1825. He leaves 150 acres to his son Joseph Lawson and 30 acres to James Barber Lawson, the reputed natural son of his son, Hugh Lawson. He leaves the remainder of his land to his son, Hugh Lawson. He specifies in his will the items that his sons, Joseph and Hugh, are to provide for their mother who can live with one of them. His son, Robert, is to receive his wearing apparel. He leaves two dollars to each of his other children: the representatives of Thomas, deceased; Robert; William; David; John; Catharine Clifford; Jane Snodgrass; Sarah McKelvey (my ancestor); and Elizabeth Smiley. See the two previous blog posts for more information on Sarah who married James McKelvey (Junior): "Who is the Father of Mary McKelvey, Wife of Jacob Bash?" and "The McKelvey Family of Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County, and Wheatfield Township, Indiana County".

Joseph Lawson sold 25 acres for $214 to John Ramsey on 9 March 1828 (see Westmoreland County deed 17:199). Joseph Lawson and Rebekah his wife sold 125 acres for $600 to Henry Noble on 20 April 1832 (see Westmoreland County deed 20-191). Hugh Lawson and Agness his wife sold 182 acres for $2,184 on 22 July 1837 to Charles Ramsey (see Westmoreland County deed 23:304). James Barber Lawson, the son of Hugh Lawson, sold 30 acres for $360 to Charles Ramsey on 13 August 1844 (see Westmoreland County deed 27:473). This 30 acres was included in the 182 acres his father had previously sold to Charles Ramsey.

James Lawson had two grandsons named James Barber/Barbour Lawson. Hugh Lawson, named a son, James Barber Lawson and David Lawson, named a son, James Barbour Lawson. Online family trees give James Lawson name as James Barbour Lawson. The tombstone for James Lawson's son, Robert, states he  is a son of J. B. and S. F. Lawson. He appears as James Lawson in deeds and signs his will as James Lawson. 

Online family trees show that James Lawson with wife Sarah is a son of Captain James Lawson and Isabella with both James Lawsons being named James Barbour Lawson. This is incorrect since there is no evidence that the two James Lawsons living in Fairfield Township in the early 1800's were related.