Colonel Thomas Dawson

and

Elizabeth Frances Tate

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!