This story starts
in Ireland, where the family originated from. Very little is known
regarding their families before they were born, and some of what
is known is unsubstantiated.
However, we know
that a Richard Dawson, who served in Cromwell's Army, purchased
a sizeable amount of land to which he was granted legal title
in 1667. He established "Dawson's Grove" near the chain
of lakes that divides counties Monaghan and Cavan. Richard was
the grandfather of Richard of Ardee, and had been "attained"
by James the second in 1689. One of his great-grandchildren, Thomas,
received the titles of Baron Dartrey in 1770, Viscount Cremorne
in 1785, and finally Baron Cremorne in 1797.
Cromwellian
Grants
There were two
Dawson lines of that time; that of Earl Portarlington's and of
Earl Dartry's. In "Debrett's Peerage" there were two
different listings for 1770.
"William
Henry Dawson M.P. for Portarlington and for Queen's County, Ireland,
created Baron Dawson of Dawson's Court, Queen's County 1770."
County Monaghan
Estates
"Thomas
Dawson createed Baron Dartrey of Dawson's Grove 1770"
Location of
Dawson's Grove
Therefore, there
is much confusion as to where which family originated from where,
but it is believed that they may be off-shoots of each other.
Suffice to say, the Dawsons were distinguished members of soceity
in both England and Ireland.
And it is from
one of these families that it is believed Colonel Thomas Dawson
descends from, because he was born in Dawson's Grove on September
12, 1762 to Samuel Dawson and Caroline Stewart. In some accounts,
it is noted that Samuel was or came from a "Lord Portarlington"
and that Caroline's father was "Lord Bute", but these
items cannot be substantiated. Thomas was baptised in the Killcrow
Church on September 16, 1762.
Dawson Castle,
Dawson's Grove.
At the age of
16, Thomas enlisted in the army and was a non-commissioned officer
in a grenadier company, serving under Lord Charles Cornwallis
in the American Revolutionary War. He served in America until
Cornwallis' army was defeated at Yorktown by George Washington
on October 19,1781, where he was a prisoner of war for a short
period of time.
When he returned
to Ireland, he joined the Royal Irish Artillery, and later, the
Battalion of Cavan Militia under the Earl of Bellamont. He served
as paymaster, and it was during this period of service that he
obtained the title "Colonel".
After the American
Revolution, he met and in 1784 married Elizabeth Francis Tate,
who was born in Tategar, county Monaghan. The Killcrow Church
records show that she was baptised on September 5, 1768.
Thomas retired
from the army in 1799, and went to work for the same Earl of Bellamont
in Dublin. However, later that year the Earl died, and his employment
terminated, so he began entertaining thoughts of emmigrating.
It is said that his three main reasons to want to leave Ireland
were:
1. Because of
his distress over the scenes he had witnessed during the Irish
Rebellion and the hostility that was still occurring. He wished
to remove his family from such a dangerous environment.
2. Poverty was
rampant in Ireland and the possibility of obtaining suitable careers
for his children seemed improbable. He wanted to give his sons
the oppurtunity to be farmers.
3. As he had
fought against the Americans in the Revolutionary War, and had
a high regard for the Brittish Crown, he felt embittered over
the Crown's defeat, and wanted to help increase the population
of Brittish North America.
It was said that
during his younger days, Thomas was "wild and profane"
until the later part of the 18th Century, when he read "Rise
and Progress" by Doddridge, and realized the error of his
ways. It is not sure exactly when, but he became a convert of
John and Charles Wesley Methodism. He soon became a preacher,
and a Stephen Bamford had frequently heard him preach at the Blaris
Camp in Ireland, and was pleased to years later meet his sons
in North America.
Thomas began
making inquiries in Dublin, and contacted Lieutenant George Burns,
who was one of the many propietors of the 67 lots into which Prince
Edward Island, then known as the Island of St. John's, had been
divided. On March 19, 1800, Thomas purchased 500 acres of land
in lot 39, King's County, Prince Edward Island, for which he paid
135 pounds, 8 shillings, and 4 pence, Brittish sterling. He later
added another 100 acres, and named it "Dawson's Grove"
after the family estate in Ireland.
Prince Edward
Island Land Lots
By this time,
his family had grown to include the first 6 of his children, and
on March 4, 1801 he and his wife and children set sail from Dublin
to Philadelphia. At the time, the routes were very circuitous.
While in Philadelphia, he was offered the position of Chaplain
on an American frigate with arrangements for his two eldest sons
Samuel Edward, age 9, and Thomas, age 7, to be midshipmen. But
he refused the position because of his regard for the British
Crown. They continued their journey to Charlottetown, Prince Edward
Island, arriving June 6, 1801, a full 3 months after leaving Dublin.
Once settled,
Thomas felt that the spiritual destitution of the Island was so
great, that he set out to become the first local preacher in the
Colony. He hoped to firmly establish the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal
Church on the Island.
During 1801 and
the following years, prayer meetings seem to have been held pretty
regularly in Charlottetown. On Christmas day of that year, Thomas
Dawson preached in the Coffee House, according to the diary of
Benjamin Chappell. This is his first recorded activity in the
field. Later references by Chappell show that he preached at the
home of Mr. Hutcheson and at the home of Mrs. Smith.
An interesting
note under the date of July 1, 1803 in the diary says "Mr.
Dawson was h e drunk with Mr. Palmer or not." If the preacher
did slip back temporarily into the wildness of his pre-conversion
days and went on a "bender" with Mr. Palmer, then two
subsequent entries may be understandable:
August 14: "Mr.
Dawson at Mrs. Smith's but no people."
September 11:
"Mr. Dawson is here but no people."
However, the
diary indicates that conditions improved during October and November.
Thomas Dawson
was determined to carry the gospel to all settlers, and provided
with a pocket compass, and often guided by blazed trails through
the forest, he frequently found his way to such places as Lot
49, Cherry Valley, Vernon River, Murray Harbour, St. Peters, and
Three Rivers. It is said that no important settlement on the Island
remained unvisited by him.
Thomas Dawson
was a man of strong constitution and powerful frame, but he could
not long sustain the rigorous tests to which he subjected himself.
In December 1803, he was seized by a severe cold, which terminated
in quinsy, and which in the absence of proper medical care, settled
in his shoulders and arms. On January 22, 1804, though very ill,
he walked from Charlottetown to his home at the Head of Hillsborough.
Colonel Thomas
had very little tolerance for anyone outside of his faith, and
this is quite evident in his will. Signed December 4, 1802, the
will completely excludes his oldest child, Elizabeth Francis,
due to the fact that she intended to marry outside her father's
Methodist Episcopal faith. The young man in question was a Baptist,
Joseph Wood of Squaw Bay, Lot 49, and son of William Wood, who
was named in Thomas' will as executor and witness. Two months
after the original will was drawn, his daughter married Joseph
Wood, and from there on the relationship between the Colonel and
the Wood family continued to worsen. On Thomas' final day on earth,
he attempted to remove the name of William Wood as a witness and
executor through a Surrogate, Col. Joseph Robinson. The Attorney-General,
instead of preparing a codicil, decided the will would have to
be rewritten, and so he made the requested alterations in ink.
When he returned later that day to have the adjustments confirmed,
the Colonel was no longer capable of signing anything. This later
left the will impossible to probate.
Thomas' wife,
Elizabeth Francis, was in her ninth month of pregnancy at the
time of her husband's death.
The story of
Colonel Thomas Dawson's remaining days can best be described through
quotes from Benjamin Chappell's diary:
February 29:
"Mr. Lard sets out to fetch Mr. Dawson. He is very sick.
Mrs. Dawson is also in a tender way."
March 2: "With
less hopes of Mr. Dawson. Last night a heavy storm of wind and
rain. Mr. Dawson lanced his arms last night. Extracted out both
times more than a quart of matter. Nautious. I prayed with him.
He appeared not very free. I fear the arm will mortify. At night
report is Mr. Dawson will not live 3 days."
March 4: "Sunday.
Fine day. Mr. Dawson his arm not mortified but a great flow of
putrid matter. At noon Mr. Dawson declined. It is finished. At
7 O'clock Mr. Dawson died."
March 5: "Monday
a sorrowful day. The gentleman masons acted on the occasion decently
and devoutly. Interred at 4 O'clock."
March 6: "Signed
Mr. Dawson's probet the will by order of Colonel Robertson. House
that is opposite little Levie Mr. Robertson and Mr. Lard hired
the same off John Hawkins at 6 pounds per year."
March 7: "Sorrowful
Wednesday. The children of Mrs. Dawson came down at 12 O'clock.
Pretty children. A sorrowful scene. Robert Chopen helped clear
the house for Mrs. Dawson."
March 11: "Mr.
Dawson was born September 12, 1762. Died March 4, 1804, Aet 41/6"
March 18: "Well
Mr. Dawson has done and gone to those happy places."
March 20: Tuesday
morning at nine o'clock. Mrs. Dawson safely delivered of a son.
Mother out at Mrs. Dawson's all day. A great snow storm."
March 21: "Mother
not home till this evening. The snow is deep. Mrs. Dawson finely."
April 1: "Sunday.
A dull morning. Mr. Desbrisay baptised Mrs. Dawson her little
son named Benjamin."
Elizabeth had
named her son, born 16 days after his father's death, Benjamin
Chappell Dawson, after his late father's best friend.
Colonel Thomas
Dawson had tried to be a good man and his intent may have been
to bring the gospel to Prince Edward Island... but his interpretation
of that gospel seems to have fallen short based on the vindictiveness
of his will:
"In the
name of God, Amen, I, Thomas Dawson of Dawson's Grove in King's
County, Prince Edward Island, North America, being in perfect
health, but remembering that it is appointed for all men to die,
do make this my last will and testament. First, I leave and bequeath
my sould to Jesus Christ, and my body to be interred by my friends
and successors in that part of my land which I shal hereafter
appoint for that purpose, in humble hope that, through His all-atoning
Blood my soul and body shall be reunited in a joyful resurrection
when He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
As to my temporal
affairs, all debts and funeral expenses to be paid, then to wife
Francis, one-third of all rents, profits, or commodities which
may arise from my estate in Dawson's Grove, for all her material
life, she to remain unmarried. She shall dwell upon said estate
with her sons until they are married. If she marries again to
receive no part of property or privileges, except her bed and
wearing apparel. To my three sons, Samuel Edward Dawson, Thomas
Dawson, and Richard Dawson, all my estate, containing land on
which I dwell, in all 600 acres, share and share alike, subject
at present only to the King's rent, provided they pay their mother
one-third in cash or produce. If any of them die under age, or
without male issue lawfully begotten, said division of land shall
go to surviving son or sons. In case all said sons shall die without
male issue, then said estate should descend to male issue of daughter
Anna Margaret on condition of his being a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and unconnected with Popery and upon his coming
into the inheritance he must assume the name of Dawson, his heirs
and successors like-wise bound. All heirs and successors to hold
this estate as tenants for life, not having power to sell or mortgage
any part, or grant lease or rent, except for their natural life,
at end of which time it may come without encumbrance to surviving
heirs.
To my daughter
Anna Margaret one-sixth of living stock with privilege of dwelling
with brothers, and keeping her stock there till she is twenty-one,
if not sooner married. To daughter Francis one-sixth of living
stock with same privileges. To my youngest daughter one sixth
of living stock with same privileges. To my eldest son, Samuel
Edward, my watch, a feather bed, my carbine and pistols, my own
chest, and one-sixth of living stock. To my second son, Thomas,
all my library and articles of silver-plate, containing six spoons,
butter boat, and one sugar bowl, my writing desk, and one-sixth
part of my living stock, and a feather bed. To my youngest son
Richard, all wearing apparel and Gardavine with one-sixth of my
living stock.
My will is that
my three sons shall live together till they are married till there
is a quantity of land cleared upon, of the divisions, not less
than twenty acres, a house built and orchid planted at the joint
expense of the three brothers. Upon division of the estate, each
of the divisions shall be bounded on the West by Hillsborough,
then the line running due east till it strikes upon the boundary
line and that the two south divisions shall have the privilege
of a road through the north division in such direction as will
communicate with the Great Road without being detrimental to labour
or meadows. All other furniture, etc. to remain with my wife,
then divided in sixths. All my children, heirs, and successors
shall strictly adhere to the Methodist Episcopal Church as established
by Rev. John Wesley and his successors, and they shall not mix
or marry or intermarry with any other denomination, and that the
preacher of that community shall always be entertained by my heirs
and successors, and if at any time thereafter it should be found
necessary to build a church or meeting-house for that community
of people, my heirs and successors shall give for that purpose
two acres of ground in the most convenient place, and liberty
to cut timbers for the building of said church. The persons who
shall be found among my heirs and successors to deviate from this
clause shall be excluded from all claim, right, title, and their
heirs forever.
James Leard,
of Vernon River, William Wood, of Squaw Bay, and Joseph Rovinson
of Charlottetown, executors.
In the presence
of the undersigned I do set my hand and seal this 4th day of December,
one thousand eight hundred and two.
Signed, sealed,
and delivered in the presence of William Wood, Benjamin Chappell,
James Leard."
Even though his
will was quite lengthy and precise, very little was followed.
His body was not interred in his land as was custom in his native
Ireland, but in an, until recently, unmarked grave in the Old
Protestant Cemetery on Elm Avenue in Charlottetown. Three days
after his death, his widow Francis left the estate with the family
for a house opposite little Levie in Charlottetown which Benjamin
Chappell had rented for her the previous day from John Hawkins
at the rate of 6 pounds Sterling per year. She opened a small
private school in the house in order to maintain her family. When
her sons grew old enough, she apprenticed the three eldest to
learn millwrighting, tanning, and shoemaking. She further transgressed
two years later by remarrying to a Corporal Johan MacDonald. He
gave her two more mouths to feed, and then died himself 2 months
after the birth of the youngest. She then went to live with her
daughter, Mary Dawson, in Tryon. But she soon remarried again
to Widower Stagman.
Thomas' estate
didn't stay long in the hands of the Dawsons either. An advertisement
for lease in the February 5, 1825 issue of the Charlottetown register
reads:
"To be let,
farm on lot 39, known by the name of Dawson's Grove, at Head of
Hillsborough, between 30 and 40 acres cleared--other 160 acres
good land. On premises a house and out building and sufficient
manure for year's use. Apply to Mr. Thomas Dawson, Charlottetown
Royalty, and Samuel E. Dawson, Elliot River."
We do know that
by the time the Meacham Atlas was published in 1880, no part of
the estate was held by a Dawson.
And we also know
that although Thomas Dawson successfully managed to help propogate
not only Prince Edward Island, but also America with the Dawson
name... many did not adhere to the Wesleyan Methodist faith, and
can today be found in many other Protestant religions as well
as the Roman Catholic faith.
Although his
gravesite went unmarked for more than a century, it was later
provided with a headstone that reads:
"Placed
in memory of Colonel Thomas Dawson (1762-1804) whose spiritual
nourishment fanned the flame of the Methodist Religion, leading
eventually to the estalblishment of The United Church of Canada,
the largest branch of the Protestant tree in Charlottetown, and
his wife Elizabeth Francis Tate (1766-1849) by the descendants
of their eight children this second day of August 1997."
There was also
a headstone placed in memory of their children.
In my entire
family history that I have researched so far, Colonel Thomas Dawson's
is by far the most interesting and that is why I chose to relate
everything that I have learned about him first. I, however, have
not had the oppurtunity to go to Prince Edward Island to actually
read the many volumes of information I have learned are there
to be read. Nor have I been lucky enough to go to Ireland. Therefore,
I have many people to thank that have provided most of the information
I have so far.
Special Thanks
and Bibliography
-Many thanks
to Edie Eldershaw. She is a relative of my Grandfather William
Frances Dawson, and years ago when I first became interested in
my genealogy, my Grandmother put me in contact with her. She wrote
me pages of information numerous times by hand, before I ever
had access to a computer... And from her I first learned of Colonel
Thomas' existence.
-A lot of my
reference is taken from a book entitled "Leaves From Dawson's
Grove, A Tree That Became A Forest" by Clara E. Dawson. I
only have seen the first 20 pages or so of the first volume, which
was graciously photocopied for me by a research assistant, Charlotte
Stewart, from the Prince Edward Island Archives and Record Office.
I received the copies probably about 6 years ago, and still haven't
been able to locate the rest.
-Special thanks
to Jane (sinenic@pei.sympatico.ca) who sent me a packet of information
that was very helpful! It included numerous photocopies about
Colonel Thomas and his clan. Unfortunately the copies did not
note where they came from, so I cannot note the sources.
-A lot of thanks
to Dave Hunter and the Island Register.com. The number one resource
for PEI genealogy on the net, and a very helpful webmaster!
-More thanks
to Alan Beagan and his website "Alan Beagan's Genealogy Notes".
He has done extensive research on not only the Dawson family,
but many, many more.
-And all the
thanks in the world to my many new-found "cousins" here
on the net... Sylvia MacDonald (nana@pei.sympatico.ca) who has
been helping me untangle the web of the hundreds of Col. Thomas'
descendants., Jenny Swanner-Terry (luvgwife@gte.net) who has offered
Email help in the past, Don Dawson (ddawson@mail.cr.island.net)
who I have corresponded with in the past and who I believe knows
where I can get copies of that book, and so many, many more...
if I have forgotten you, Please let me know!
If anyone has
more to add on this family story, or more detailed info on Colonel
Thomas' children (particularly Richard and his wife Mary Ann Pooley),
please Email me! My interest is in continuing to learn more about
the people who were my ancestors... not just names and dates!
