Individual Details

Andrew's birth date, circa 1795, is my estimate based on the Rockbridge County tax records and his placement in his father's will.

Andrew K. Lawson married Rebecca Dale, 9 Jan 1817, Rockbridge Co VA. The minister was A. B. Davidson, Presbyterian. He is listed as a son of Isaac; Rebecca as a daughter of Samuel Dale - so they were possibly cousins, dependent on the relationship of Isaac to the elder Robert Lawson. Andrew first appeared on the tax rolls, over age 16, in 1818. His father Isaac had been counting additional males over age 16 in his household since 1802, so obviously he had been counted at home with his father prior to his marriage. He appeared until 1821, after which time the transcriptions of the microfilm end.

1820 Census, Rockbridge Co VA, Lexington
Andrew K. Lawson [indexed as "Lanner"] 2m -10, 1m 26-45. 1f -10, 1f 16-26, 1f 26-45.

In the Ancestry.com Family Data Collection is an item that states Rebecca Dale Lawson died ca 1823. Certainly she was deceased by the time of a lawsuit against her brother in Rockbridge Co in 1832 and she apparently left only two children, so a death as early as 1823 is quite possible. This lawsuit, as well as one that began in 1839, states that Andrew Lawson was living in Ohio.

4 Mar 1826 Rockbridge DB O, p.531
Deed of Trust. Andrew K. Lawson of the 1st part, James C. McCarty of 2nd part [married to Andrew's wife's sister Nancy], Alexander Dale of 3rd part [Isabella's brother]. Lawson indebted to Dale for $87.50. Signed: Andrew K. Lawson, J. C. McCarty.


In 1830, in Lemon Township, Butler Co, Ohio, I found an Andrew Lawson. He was age 50-60 and living alone. This doesn't seem to fit what is known about him, as he was about age 35 and there should have been at least two young children. If the family had not heard from him since he left Rockbridge, perhaps they did not hear from each other again. Perhaps Andrew's family had intended to go to Ohio when they left Rockbridge but either did not ever get there, choosing to settle someplace else, or did not remain in Ohio very long. I do not find any possibilities for this family in Ohio by 1840.


Rockbridge County Chancery Court
Joseph Reed v. Alexander Dale, etc
Index Case 1832-004
This case dealt with clear title to 77 acres, Alexander Dales's uncle John Dale had sold to David Lawson, Sr. The uncle had left all his estate to Alexander's father Samuel Dale, including the unpaid note for this tract of land, and Samuel Dale was also now deceased.
The heirs of Samuel Dale were listed as: Alexander Dale, James McCarty & Nancy his wife, Isabella Dale, Jane Dale, Sally Dale, Betsy Dale, and Andrew K. Lawson & Isabella, heirs of Rebecca Lawson, infants. At the time the case was heard, 20 Sep 1832, absent were the infant defendants, Andrew K. & Isabel, infant heirs of Rebecca Lawson, they were said to be in Ohio.

John Ruff, Trustee v. Administrator of Samuel Dale, etc.
Index Case 1839-009
John Ruff was Trustee on notes of James McCarty and wife.
The defendants in this case were Alexander Dale both in his own right and as administrator of Samuel Dale, deceased. Isabella Dale. Andrew Lawson. Jane Dale. Sally Dale. Harvey Dale, an infant under the age of 21 years represented by Saml. McD. Reid, guardian specially assigned, illegitimate child of Betsy Dale. Andrew Lawson [husband of deceased Rebecca Dale] and the child Harvey were said to be in Ohio.
"Rebecca, who intermarried with Andrew Lawson, has departed this life, and the said Andrew Lawson is now a resident of the State of Ohio. Betsey Deal is also dead, leaving Harvey, an illegitimate child, a resident of the State of Ohio."
Samuel Dale died in August of 1829.
James and his wife Nancy nee Dale had signed notes against her prospective inheritance but her inheritance proved not to be adequate. In an effort to collect his money, Ruff sued Alexander Dale for mismanagement of the estate of his father. Ruff lost the case, but an accounting of the estate was ordered by the court in 1837. In the documents, it is evident that Andrew Lawson, in right of his deceased wife, and Harvey Dale, in right of his deceased mother, have never been paid any part of their share of Samuel Dale's personal estate. Alexander was ordered to do so in 1839. There were adds seeking Andrew Lawson and Harvey Dale, but there is no evidence they were ever contacted.
Note: I believe there is a possibility, Alexander Dale and others in Rockbridge had no clue as to the wherabouts of Andrew Lawson since he departed from Rockbridge.



Andrew appears to have gone West to Mason Co, VA, which later became part of West Virginia, instead of to "Ohio". This county is on the banks of the Ohio River, directly across from the state of Ohio.
1830 Census, Mason Co VA
Andrew K. Lawson: 2m -5, 1m 10-15, 1m 30-40. 2f -5, 1f 10-15, 1f 20-30
There was also a David Lawson, about 10 years older, in the same census - quite possibly his brother.
Of course this Andrew doesn't seem to fit with all the children. Yet if Rebecca did die as early as 1823, he could have remarried and had several children. The male and female, each 10-15, could have been the Isabella & Andrew Lawson named as children of Rebecca in 1832, in the court case.

1840 Census, Mason Co VA
Andrew Lawson: 1m 10-15, 1m 15-20, 1m 20-30, 1m 40-50. 2f 10-15, 1f 20-30.
No other Lawsons in Mason Co

1850 Census, Mason Co VA
No Andrew found in Mason Co. A Samuel Lawson was age 32, with wife and three small sons including one named Andrew. There was also a James Lawson, born 1813 in Maryland, and a Solomon Lawson, born 1790 in VA, living in Mason Co VA.

But in 1850, Randolph Co, IL, Hh 886 is this:
Andrew Lawson, age 55, b. VA. Martha 21, Mason 19, Sarah 17, all born in Virginia.
Next door is Henry Lawson, age 23, b. VA, Matilda 19, b. IL, and Sarah age 1.
Note: The way the enumerator in this census joins his "a's" to the preceding capital letter, plus the way the name is cramped - this name could the Harvy, not Henry.

Another Andrew Lawson is found in Randolph Co in the town of Liberty, Household 835:
Nancy Lawson, age 37, b. VA was head of household
Andrew, age 26, also born in VA [Could this be the Andrew Lawson, son of Andrew K. Lawson and Rebecca Dale? He is approximately the right age.]
Charles C. age 16, b. in Kentucky
Rebecca, age 13 and Isabella, age 11, born in Ohio

The young Andrew, as Andrew K. Lawson, apparently married to Mrs. Mary A. Boyd on 12 Dec 1851.
Martha Lawson, age 21 in 1850, probably is the Martha Lawson who married John Wood, 20 Jan 1852 in Randolph Co.

A Harvey Lawson married "Melissa" Ann Moore on 23 Dec 1848, Randolph Co - I suspect this could be "Henry" who was married to "Matilda" in the 1850 census and in one place or another the names were not transcribed correctly. Was this the "Henry" Lawson living next door to Andrew in Randolph Co IL in 1850?
However, there is another point to consider. The chancery court case, John Ruff v. Alexander Dale, 1839, in Rockbridge Co, stated that one of the heirs of Samuel Dale was Harvey Dale, an illegitimate child of Samuel's deceased daughter Betsey and that Harvey Dale was also in Ohio, as was Andrew Lawson. I would suspect that Andrew raised Harvey and perhaps Harvey adopted the name Lawson to cover up his illigetimacy.

Mason Lawson married Melvina Wood, 1 Jun 1853, Randolph Co IL.

1 Aug 1853
Land patent issued at Kaskaskia to Mason Lawson. 40 acres in Randolph Co. T36, S7, R6W. The NE quarter of the SE quarter section.
1 Jun 1857
A second patent issued to Mason for another 40 acres. It was the SE quarter of the NE quarter section.
1 Aug 1857
Land patent issued at Kaskaskia to Andrew K. Lawson. 40 acres in Randolph Co. T36, S7, R6W. The SW quarter of the NE quarter of the section.


1860 Census, Randolph Co IL, Twp 8S, Range 5W, Hh 3129
Andrew Lawson, age 66, b. VA. Sarah, age 33, b. VA. Albert, 2, b. IL.
Mason Lawson is next door in Hh 3128, age 29, b. VA. Melphina, 22, b. IN, Elizabeth 4, David 2, both born in IL

On the same page and two doors from Mason, Hh 3126 is the family of Wm. M. Jeffrys age 38 b. VA and Elizabeth age 29 b. KY. The children might not all be hers, but were all born in IL: John W. 6, Frances 14, Arena J. 14, Alice C. 4, and Robert E., age 2. Isaac Lawson, age 71, also lived with them, b. VA
Illinois marriage records online state that William M. Jeffrey married Elizabeth W. Banfield on 26 Jan 1852 in Randolph Co. So Isaac Lawson would appear to just be a boarder with this family.




Now about Andrew and Rebecca Dale's daughter Isabella. I believe she may never have left Rockbridge. It is possible that Rebecca's death is what triggered Andrew's desire to leave Rockbridge. I think it likely Isabella was left behind, or returned in young adulthood, to live with her unmarried aunt, Isabella Dale. Look at these censuses.

1850 Census. Rockbridge Co VA
Isabella Dale, age 94, b. Ireland [Isabella Lawson, Samuel Dale's widow]

Isabella Dale, age 40, b. VA. [named in Court case as daughter of Samuel]

Isabella Lawson, age 28, b. VA [right age to be the daughter of Andrew Lawson & Rebecca Dale]

Samuel Dale age 6. b. VA [probable son of Alexander Dale]

[next door to Alexander Dale]

1860 Census. 5th District; Rockbridge Co VA, P.O. Kerrs Creek, Hh 2170
Isabella Dale, age 53. Isabella Lawson, age 31. [The ladies seem to have trouble with their ages. They are different in every census - they probably didn't care to tell.]

Thomas Dale 7 and Saml Dale 16 - probably sons of Alexander, Isabella Dale's brother. Samuel & Thomas likely were counted in both households in 1860.

1870 Census. Kerr's Creek, Rockbridge Co VA Hh 47
Jane Lackey, age 71, b. VA [Samuel Dale had a daughter Jane - she was unmarried at the time of the court cases, but she would be about this age.]

Isabella Lawson, age 44
Thomas Dale, age 18
Lucinda Walters, age 18, house servant, b. VA

Birth	Abt 1795	Rockbridge County, Virginia
Marriage	9 Jan 1817	Rockbridge County, Virginia - Rebecca Dale

Spouse	Rebecca Dale ( - 1832)
Child	Andrew K. Lawson ( - )
Child	Isabelle Lawson ( - 1822)

Father	Isaac Lawson ( - 1821)
Mother	Agnes "Nancy" [surname unknown] ( - 1823)
Sibling	ROBERT Lawson Jr (1776 - 1850)
Sibling	Isabella Lawson (1780 - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Lawson ( - )
Sibling	David Lawson (1785 - )
Sibling	Agnes "Nancy" Lawson ( - )
Sibling	Isaac Lawson (1789 - )
Sibling	James Lawson (1790 - )
Sibling	Rebecca Lawson ( - )
Sibling	Jane R. Lawson ( - )