Robert Lawson Papers, 1776-1825 (bulk 1781)
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Summary
- Abstract:
- Robert Lawson (1748-1805) was an officer in the Revolutionary War who served as Brigadier General of the Virginia Militia. The collection primarily consists of letters to Lawson regarding the raising, reinforcement, and movement of troops in Virginia and North Carolina during the Revolutionary War in 1781.
- Extent:
- 0.25 Linear Feet
- Language:
- Materials in English.
- Collection ID:
- RL.11973
Background
- Scope and content:
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The Robert Lawson Papers primarily consist of letters to Lawson, Brigadier General in the Virginia Militia, regarding the raising, reinforcement, and movement of troops in Virginia and North Carolina, during the Revolutionary War in 1781. Some letters concern military promotions and family affairs. Later letters indicate that Lawson moved to Kentucky, having considered South Carolina. Several concern Lawson's possible reinforcement of Nathanael Greene's troops. Included also are a letter of America Lawson Lewis to Lafayette in 1825 sending him some of her father's papers for brief examination, and routine letters of Thomas Jefferson while governor of Virginia. Correspondents include Thomas Jefferson, Jonathan Beckley, A. L. Lewis, S. Hardy, Baron Von Steuben, John P. Muhlenberg, and Richard Henry Lee. Also included is an account book (1776 September-December) relating to Lawson's service with the 4th Virginia Battalion, military commissions, letters of introduction (1787) for Lawson from George Mason and Henry Lee to Pierce Butler, Charles Pinckney, and William Few, an 1801 receipt from Washington Tavern, Alexandria, and other miscellany.
- Biographical / historical:
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Robert Lawson (1748-1805) was an officer in the Revolutionary War who served as Brigadier General of the Virginia Militia. Lawson was born in Yorkshire, England in 1748 January 23 to Benjamin and Elizabeth Lawson. After arriving in the U.S., Robert Lawson practiced law in Prince Edward County, Virginia. In 1780, he received his commission as Brigadier General of the Virginia Militia, where he was involved in various Revolutionary War campaigns, likely including the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. In 1782, Lawson was appointed to the Virginia Privy Council, and he settled in Kentucky in about 1789. Lawson also served as a trustee of Hampden-Sydney College.
Robert Lawson married Sarah Merriwether Pierce, daughter of Sir John Pierce and Sarah Merriwether, on 1769 November 30. Robert Lawson and Sarah Pierce had five children: Sarah Merriwether Lawson (born 1770 September 13), John Pierce Lawson (born 1771), America Lawson (born 1778 January 22), Arria Lawson (born 1785 March 14), and Columbus Lawson (born 1789 August 11). Robert Lawson died in Richmond on 1805 March 28, and his wife Sarah Pierce Lawson died in 1809.
Some information provided by Mrs. Raphael H. Morvant in 1974 September 25 letter to the library, and by Walter S. Lewis in a 1938 March 29 letter to the library. Both letters can be found in the collection control file.
- Acquisition information:
- The Robert Lawson Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 1938.
- Processing information:
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Collection rehoused and finding aid updated by Elliot Mamet, January 2022.
Original spelling has been maintained.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Contents
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- Restrictions:
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
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The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.
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- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], Robert Lawson Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1x15w