Dawson, their son,
who married Elizabeth Hawkins Lowe. Thomas & Elizabeth
Dawson eventually settled at a plantation called "Mothers Delight"
in Montgomery Co, Md. Thomas purchased the tract in 1754. ~ Dawson Digest ~
Dawson Family of Prince George's Co, Maryland
by Mike Bailey MBailey467@aol.com
Nicholas Dawson and his wife, Mary Doyne Dawson, were
given "Saturday's Work," a plantation on Broad Creek in Prince
George's County, by Robert Doyne, Mary's father. I am descended through Thomas
Dawson, their son,
who married Elizabeth Hawkins Lowe. Thomas & Elizabeth
Dawson eventually settled at a plantation called "Mothers Delight"
in Montgomery Co, Md. Thomas purchased the tract in 1754.
Benoni Dawson, Thomas & Elizabeth's eldest son, was born 1742, and married Rebecca Mackall in 1764 in Frederick Co, Md. After removing to western Pa. in the late 1700s, Benoni Dawson died May 6, 1806, at Georgetown, Beaver Co, Pennsylvania. [Appendix] Benoni's homestead is only a mile or so from the Pa.-Ohio border. Some of his children ended up in Ohio; while some of Thomas' brother's children ended up in Indiana & Illinois. [Bev Petersen] I've found cousins in Kentucky, Michigan, Kansas, as well as Alberta, Canada.
While looking through Montgomery County's Research Center, I found an old article about the Dawson Monument dedicated to Nicholas & Mary Doyne Dawson of "Saturday's Work." It still exists and is located at the entrance to Rosecroft Shopping Center off Brinkley Road in Oxon Hill, Md. If you're driving north or south on Interstate 95 heading toward Annapolis, the Dawson Monument sits just off Exit 4 of the Capital Beltway in front of the shopping mall.
Photo right and below - Dawson Monument located at Rosecroft Shopping Center, Brinkley Rd., Prince George's Co, Md., built on the site of "Saturday's Work," the plantation of Nicholas & Mary Doyne Dawson who settled in the Province of Maryland in 1688.
Dawsonville, consisting of maybe a dozen homes, sits on the site of the plantation "Mother's Delight," which was purchased by Thomas Dawson in 1754. An old home which belonged to a Dr. Dawson in the early 1900s or late 1800s is located in the village. The Monocacy Cemetery in Beallsville, Md., holds the gravesites of many Dawsons, including the headstone of Thomas Dawson's daughter, Eleanor Dawson,. who married Lawrence Allnutt, and a slew of other Dawson allied families.
An old home in Seneca Creek State
Park is said to have been the home of Americus Dawson, the last
Dawson to live at "Mother's Delight" in the late 1800s. The
home is believed [can't verify yet] to sit on the site where Thomas built his cabin.
Speculation says the oldest part of the present home contains part of the original cabin.
The home badly needs restoration. A family cemetery on the property still contains some
Dawson headstones, although about six to ten, including Eleanor & Lawrence
Allnutt's, were moved to Monocacy Cemetery with the
family's consent.
It is rewarding to visit places where your ancestors roamed. Since I once lived in western Pa., I was able to visit a hilltop cemetery in Georgetown which overlooked the Ohio River and Benoni Dawson's original farm. In that cemetery, my fifth-, fourth-, and third-great-grandparents are all buried. As you look down upon the Ohio River, you can imagine what it must have been in the late 1700s.
Mary Doyne Dawson died between Dec. 1734 and Jan. 1735. She married by 1708 Nicholas Dawson of Prince George's Co, Md. Children mentioned in her will: John, Thomas, William, George, and Nicholas Dawson. [1 & Appendix]
On Sept. 6, 1712, Nicholas Dawson and Mary his wife sold "Saturday's Work" of 600 a. on Hanson's Branch for over 24 pounds. [2] Estate of Nicholas Dawson was appraised at 68 pounds, and was entered for probate on July 12, 1727. John & Thomas Dawson were named "next-of-kin" in the inventory, while Mary Dawson was named administrator-executrix. (3)
Harry Wright Newman, Charles County historian wrote: "The Doynes were an Anglican family from County Wexford, Ireland, who returned to Ireland, then came back to Maryland in 1680." Elise Greenup Jourdan, Southern Md. genealogist wrote: "Robert Doyne's brother, Joshua Doyne, was Catholic. " [4 & 5]
Robert Doyne married Mary Stone, widow of John Thomas and daughter of Gov. William & Verlinda Graves Stone. He married again by 1694 Anne Burford, daughter of Thomas & Ann Burford of Charles Co, Md. On Jan 1, 1675, Robert Doyne and his wife were among witnesses to the marriage of Roger Boyden and Susanna Clark at Mr. Robert Thompson's house. [Charles Co Court Records]. Robert Doyne patented land in Charles County in 1684. No will has been located for him. Children of Robert Doyne and Mary Stone from Charles Co Land Records Liber C, folio 172a: Wharton Doyne, William Doyne and Elinor Doyne all died young; Sarah Doyne, Verlinda Doyne, and Mary Doyne, their three daughters, were surviving heirs. [6]
Excerpt from "Early Families of S. Md.," Vol. 1, by Elise Greenup Jourdan on Robert Doyne and his daughter and son-in-law, Nicholas & Mary Doyne Dawson:
Ralph Dawson Family of Talbot Co, Md. by Iva Thompson
Bibliography & Footnotes
1. "Early Families of Southern Maryland," Vol. 1, Elise Greenup Jourdan, Westminster, Md.: Family Line Pub., 1993, p. 159.
2. Prince Geo. Co, Md., Land Records Liber C, folio 227.
3. "Inventories of Prerogative Court of Md.," Liber 12, folio 285.
4. "To Maryland From Overseas," Harry Wright Newman.
5. Jourdan, op. cit., p. 155.
6. Ibid.
Appendix
Mary Dawson, widow, Prince George's Co, Will dated Dec. 14, 1734; probated Jan. 24, 1734/5:
to son John Dawson & heirs, rights & titles to dwelling plantation "Saturday's Work"
to son Thomas Dawson & hrs. rights & title to "Constant Friendship," Bush River, Baltimore County, Md.
to sons William & George Dawson & hrs. rights & title to "Spring Banks," Somerset Co, Md.
to son Nicholas Dawson & hrs, rights & title to "Slego" nr. e. branch of Potomac River, said tracts coming to testatrix from her father Robert Doyne, dec'd.
Sons George & Nicholas Dawson being minors to choose which of their brothers they will live with.
Son, John Dawson, resid. legatee
Wts: John Lowe Sr., John Lowe Jr., Thos. Grenehalgh
Source: Md. Cal. of Wills, Liber VII, p. 125; Wills Liber 21, folio 311.
Benoni Dawson [Thomas3, John2, (?)1] b. 1742 Md; d. May 6, 1806 at Georgetown, Beaver Co, Penn. ; mar. Rebecca Mackall in 1764 at Frederick Co, Md. She was born in 1741 in Frederick Co Md., and died in Beaver Co, Penn., in 1816.
Service: Patriot. Took Oath of Fidelity & Support in Montgomery Co, Md. before the Hon. Elisha Williams Mar. 2, 1778.
Children: Thomas b. c1765, mar. Nancy Dawson; Benoni, b. Aug 20, 1769, mar. Katherine P.D. McKennon d. Nov. 14, 1844 at Georgetown, Luzerne Co, Penn. at age 75; George mar. Jane Mackall; Mackall; Nicholas b. 1772 mar. Rachel Moore d. 1855 Calcutta, Columbiana Co, Ohio; Henry; Mary mar. James Blackmore; Elizabeth mar. Chas. Blackmore; Rebecca Mackall mar. Wm. White; Nancy Brooks mar. John Bever; John L. mar. Mary Cotton d. Wooster, Wayne Co, Ohio ; Benjamin mar. Elizabeth Wilkinson; Robert D., and James M. Dawson.
DAR Members: Elizabeth Wright Daniel McFall No. 314502; Margaret Dawson Daniel Okie No. 314503; Nancy Elizabeth Dawson No. 315247; Bell Dawson Daniel No. 312995
Thomas Dawson Sr. [John2, (?)1] b. c1708 at Broad Creek, Md.; d. c1800 Dawsonville, Md.; mar. Elizabeth Lowe of Prince George's Co, Md. c1740, d/o John Lowe. She was born c1702, d. c1800 at Dawsonville, Md.
Service: Patriot. Oath of Fidelity & Support. Dawsonville, Montgomery Co, Md.
Children: Benoni b. c1742 mar. Rebekah Mackall; Mary mar. Benjamin Mackall; Eleanor b. c1750 mar. Lawrence Allnutt Jr.; Sarah mar. Wm. Blackmore; Nicholas Lowe b. c1750 mar. Mary Mackall; Robert D. b. c1758 mar. Sarah Newton Chiswell; Elizabeth Lowe; Verlinda Hawkins b. 1755 mar. James Allnutt II; Rebekah mar. Benjamin Mackall; Jane mar. Weaver Johns.
DAR Member: Katherine Barbee Gaines Lumpkin No. 449730/
"Military Records of Rev. Patriots MD & DE 1775-1783" by FTM's Family Archives CD #133 for Montgomery County, Maryland:
Benoni Dawson, s/o Thomas & Elizabeth Dawson, Pvt. 2nd Company, Middle Battalion, Maryland Militia, Sept. 4, 1777. Took the Oath of Allegiance before the Hon. Elisha Williams on Mar. 2, 1778. Rendered aid by providing corn for use of the military in 1780. Lived in Sugar Load Hundred. Three Taxables in 1777.
Thomas Dawson (d. 1800) Pvt. 7th Company, Lower Btn. Md. Militia, July 15, 1780. Took Oath of Allegiance before the Hon. Elisha William's Mar. 2, 1778. Lved in Sugar Loaf Hund., six taxables, in 1777. Died 1800 testate in Montgomery Co Md. Elizabeth Dawson, wife.
Nicholas Dawson, s/o Thomas & Elizabeth Dawson, Pvt. 3rd Company, Upper Battalion. , Md. Militia. Aug 30, 1777. Took Oath of Allegiance before Hon. Elisha Williams Mar 2, 1778. Lived Sugar Loaf Hundred, two taxables in 1777.
Robert Doyne Dawson (July 10, 1758 to Aug 13, 1824), s/o Thomas & Elizabeth Dawson, took Oath of Allegiance bef. Hon. Elisha William's Mar. 2, 1778. "Robert Den Dawson" was Pvt. 3rd Company Upper Btn. Md. Militia Aug 30, 1777. "Robert Doyne Dawson" mar. Sarah Newton Chiswell in Montgomery Co Md. on Oct 25, 1782. He is buried in Monocacy Cemetery. William C. Dawson (1791-1845), s/o Robert, mar. Mary Darby and removed to Logan Co, Ky. in 1810 where their son George C. Dawson was b. April 6, 1815.
John Dawson took Oath of Allegiance bef. Hon. Joseph Wilson Feb. 28, 1778. "John Dawson" was Pvt. in 7th Maryland Line who was reported missing on Aug. 16, 1780, at the Battle of Camden.
Benjamin Dawson took Oath of Allegiance in 1778.
Eleanor Dawson. See "Lawrence Allnut".