Rowland Lawson

Rowland Lawson was born about 1609 at Brough Hall in Catterick, Yorkshire, England. He was the second son of John Lawson and Sarah Rowland. All three of Rowland's brothers came to Virginia starting with his oldest brother, Epaphroditus who received many land patents, the earliest appearing to be 1635 on Back River, with others in Poquoson, Isle of Wight and Upper Norfolk Counties. Rowland married Lettice Wale, daughter of George Wale south of the Potomac River in 1655. In a 1643 patent Epaphroditus received 1,400 acres in Upper Norfolk in part for the transport of himself, William Lawson, Rowland Lawson and Lettice Lawson. Some accounts state that Rowland was with Epaphroditus as early as 1636 in Isle of Wight County. In another 1643 patent Epaphroditus received 450 acres in Old Rappahannock County on the south side of the Rappahannock River and in 1649 received 700 acres on the north side of the river 12 miles up. Before Epaphroditus' death in the winter of 1652/53 he transferred some, if not all of his land to Rowland.

Rowland's first patent appears to have been in June of 1651 when he received 1,300 on the north side of the Rappahannock beginning "on a Sandy Point and on the eastward side of the mouth of a small creeke called Cherry Point Creeke." Rowland served as a Justice in Lancaster County from 1652 to 1655. In 1654 he was counted with three tithables and four in 1657.In 1654 Rowland received 470 acres "neare the head of Tabb's Cr., to Sw. of Nantipoyson Cr., both Crks. issuing out of Fleet's Cr., to land of Rowland Lawson." In 1655 Rowland received 400 acres from Richard Bennett and transferred the land to his brother Richard Lawson. A final patent for an additional 1,000 acres on Cherry Point Creek was issued in Rowland's name in 1662 after his death.

The Lancaster County Court orders from November 15th, 1660 Mrs. Lawson the widow of Rowland Lawson. On May 8th of 1661 "a probate of the will of Mr. Rowland Lawson, deceased, is granted unto Lettice the widow and relict of the said Rowland." An inventory of Rowland's estate was also ordered. By Court Orders in March and July of 1665 the cattle due from Rowland's estate were transferred to Lancelot Sockwell who married his daughter, Johanna. Rowland's estate was then divided into three parts, with one part going to Lettice Lawson, 500 acres "to be laid out according to the will of the said Lawson," and the remainder divided into five parts with Lancelot Sockwell to have one part in the right of his wife.

Despite the mention of Rowland's will and inventory in the Court Orders neither one can be found as recorded.