Individual Details

David was named in his father's will as the oldest son; he may not have been the oldest child. David must have married his cousin a daughter of James Lawson, because in a chancery court case he is referred to several times as a son-in-law of James.

Chancery Court Case, Rockbridge Co VA
Samuel Dale v. David Lawson Jr
Index 1830-006
A summons was issued to David Lawson Jr, dated 10 May 1826.
Complaint of Samuel Dale made May 1830:
In 1793, John Deal [the name is spelled variously Deal, Deale, Dale, all on the first page of the complaint of Samuel Dale] now deceased, sold to David Lawson, now deceased, a tract of land of 77 acres near the foot of North Mountain on the head waters of Kerrs Creek for ninety pounds. One half was to be paid in bond; the other half to be paid in twelve months. The first installment was paid by the delivery of a horse and bond was made for the balance, payable 1 May 1794. John Dale retained the title. Samuel Dale is now the legal representative as John Dale was a brother to Samuel. John Dale has departed this life leaving all his property to Samuel. John Gilmore is the executor for John Dale and furnished a copy of John Dale's will [not found in the file]. David Lawson has died leaving the same tract of 77 acres to his son David Lawson Jr who lives on it and is the executor of his father's estate. John Dale never enforced his claim on the tract in his lifetime and difficulties of his widow and children prevented them from doing so. [it wasn't clear if “his” referred to John Dale or to David Lawson but I suspect it was David. I doubt that John Dale had a wife or children since he left his property to his brother.] The balance of the purchase money constitutes a lien on the tract and he [Samuel Dale] has made repeated application to David Lawson Jr for payment but he refuses. David Lawson Jr. claims he has been so long in possession that he believes he holds a good and legal title. Samuel is willing to make title to David Lawson Jr upon receiving the balance of the purchase money plus interest since 1 May 1794.

Note: Samuel Dale was married to Isabella Lawson, sister to David Lawson Senr.

A copy of the original bond was included although final disposition of the case was not:
David Lawson was bound to John Deal for thirty pounds to be paid on the 1st day of May 1794. The bond was dated 24 Jan 1793. This seems to be a copy of the original, not the one by the court clerk and contains the signature of David Lawson [Senr].
Witnesses to the bond were Samuel Deal, and Isaac Lawson

The personal property tax rolls for 1822 through 1824, show a David Lawson Senr. He had 4 horses in 1822, 2 horses in 1823 and only a single horse in 1824. Strangely a David Lawson was listed in 1822 with the note "Jas. son" - I believe the tax collector may also have been confused and this was likely James' son-in-law as found in some of the chancery court cases. In 1823 and 1824, he was listed as David Lawson "Jr" - he always had 2 horses. In 1825, only one Davod Lawson was on the rolls [David Sr was deceased] and he had 3 horses; in 1826 he was again noted as David Jr. No David Lawson appears after 1826.

A chancery court case contains a summons for David Lawson and the sheriff noted that he was "not of the commonwealth". However, that was circa 1821.

Father	David Lawson (1763 - 1823)
Mother	Hannah Dale ( - )
Sibling	Susan/Susannah Lawson ( - )
Sibling	Hannah Lawson ( - )
Sibling	Alexander Lawson ( - )
Sibling	Ann Lawson ( - )
Sibling	Jane Lawson ( - )