Captain Anthony Dawson, son of William Dawson, of Dorchester Co., Maryland
Anthony Dawson was
transported to Maryland in 1665 by his father, William Dawson Sr., along
with William Dawson Jr., Samuel Abbott Sr., and Jane Abbott. [Patent
Liber 8 f. 89] William Dawson, father of Anthony, made his will
Dec. 19, 1666, probated July 21, 1688. [Will 1:327] In the will he named sons: Anthony
Dawson & William Dawson Jr., daughters: Jane & Joice Dawson;
Samuel Abbott Sr. and Samuel Abbott Jr., and Anthony Cox, son of
Joseph Cox.
Anthony Dawson married Rebecca Osbourne, daughter of Henry Osbourne of Calvert Co Md. [Patent L WC2 f. 391] On April 13, 1667, Henry Osbourne, Thomas Walker and Anthony Dawson surveyed 650 a. tract called "Alexander's Place," located on the westernmost side of the NW Branch of the Transquaking River. [Patent L11 f. 45]
Thomas Walker and Anthony Dawson both married daughters of Henry Osbourne. Henry Osbourne died c1678.
In 1678, Capt. Anthony Dawson was paid 1800 pounds of tobacco for his service in Md. Militia for an expedition against the Nanticoke Indians. [Arch. of Md., Vol. VII, pp. 92-94] In 1683, Anthony Dawson was named a member of the Commission to lay out ports and towns in Dorchester County, Md.
On Feb. 16, 1683, "Dawson's Chance," 300 a., was surveyed for Anthony Dawson located between "Maulden" and "Cedar Pont" on the s. side of Great Choptank River. [Patent L29 f. 72] Anthony Dawson sold this tract Aug. 4, 1678, to John Brooke [DLR Old 3:183]
On Jan. 11, 1683, Thomas & Sarah Walker, Kent Co Pa./Del., sold their half-interest in "Alexander's Place" to Anthony Dawson, carpenter, of Dorchester Co. Anthony Dawson pledged "Alexander's Place" on a performance bond to build a courthouse in county seat, Cambridge. He reneged on the contract; the county sold "Alexander's Place" June 3, 1700, to Hugh Eccleston. Rebecca Dawson, Anthony's wife, said: "My husband estranged himself from the county." [Addendum DLR 4 1/2:44]
Following his departure from Dorchester Co Md., Capt. Anthony Dawson removed to North Carolina. His exploits in NC included "privateer." He barely escaped the hang-man's noose, having been granted a pardon by the governor of NC, afterward removing to Burlington Co., NJ, to live out his life with John Dawson, his cousin. His will dated October, 1717, may be found in Burlington wills. [Cal. of NJ Wills-Part I:128]
For North Carolina info on Capt. Anthony Dawson of NC, contact John M. Dawson JDawson784@aol.com
For details on Francis Dawson family in Burlington Co., New Jersey, contact Miriam Bertelson at Miriamber@earthlink.net
Bibliography:
Dawson, Charles C. "Dawson Collection," Salem, MA: Higginson Bk Co, reprint 1994, "Francis Dawson of Burlington Co NJ, on pp. 182-186.
McAllister, James A., compiler, "Abstracts from the Land Records of Dor. Co Md.," Vols. A,B,C; Westminster, Md.: Family Line Pub, 1962.
Mowbray, Calvin W., "First Dorchester Families," Westminster, Md.: Family Line Pub., 1984, pp. 26-27.
Nelson, Wm., "Calendar of New Jersey Wills," Vol I. 1670-1730, Part I, Heritage Bk. Co, 1901, p. 128.
Appendix:
Oct 2, 1717: Anthony Dawson "will." Newtown Twp, Gloucester Co, NJ. Cousin John Dawson, Burlington Co, sole heir and exec. of "all my goods & estates." Wits: Joseph Lowe, Thomas Robson, David Arnold, Simon Breach. Proved Oct. 24, 1717. Inventory Oct 18, 1717: Personal estate worth L16.17.6 made by Simon Breach & John Siddals. Liber I, p. 81, Burlington Co NJ Wills.