Person:James Lawson (23)

James Lawson

• Harry Wright NEWMAN's To MD from Overseas

James LAWSON of Glasgow, Scotland, merchant, resided in Charles Co., MD. He became mortgagee of extensive property in western Maryland in 1769, possessed by John SEMPLE, ironmonger, originally of Dublin, IRL, late of MD & Pr. Wm. Co., VA. In 1801, a lengthy lawsuit developed. James LAWSON had returned to Glasgow, but some of his children had remained in Maryland.

In Jan. 1798, Robert LAWSON of Charles Co., MD, referred by will to his father in Scotland. His will was pr. in Fairfax Co., VA. Robert left to his sisters Agnes of Glasgow & Mary of MD, who had m. George JENKINS by 26 Je. 1798 [Chancery Lib. 46, folios 161-228, HR].

• Iron reference in the will of John Balendine to debts surrounding erection of the Buckingham Furnace

Iron by a 1786 General Court decree James Lawson, Agnes Lawson & Robert Lawson were foreclosed on serveral tracts of land containing Occoquan Works, Keep Triste Furnace & Friends Ore Bank

Locality

Loudoun Co.;

Prince William Co.;

Fairfax Co.;

MD (Georgetown);

KY;

Dumfries;

MD;

Westmoreland Co.;

Berkeley Co.;

Richmond City

• Charles County, Maryland Land Record Book O#3, 1765-1770; Page 86. Instrument of writing.

This present contract of copartnership is agreed upon among John Semple Jr., merchant in Portobacco in Maryland, son to the decd John Semple Sr., merchant in Hamilton, James Lawson, merchant in Glasgow, and John Hamilton, writer in Maihline {Mouchline). Sd persons have agreed to be in company together, to carry on a joint trade to and from Virginia or Maryland. To do so, they have already purchased a ship called the Sallie and goods to send to Portobacco, to the value of 3000 £ The goods are to be under the trust and management of sd John Semple. It is hereby declared that sd Semple [have] 6 12th parts, being the one half of the sd trade, and sd Lawson in 5 12th parts, and sd Hamilton the other 12th of the same, with the option to add another 12th to the capitol stock, and trade when he sees fit, [by] next Jan 1. It is agreed that the capitol stock shall be 3000 £ This is a 3 year agreement, starting May 20, 1757 years, and SO long thereafter as the partners shall see fit. Lawson is to have the management and disposal for the company, of all the tobacco or other effects or sums that shall be transmitted by sd Semple to him on the company account, and is to keep exact books. Each partner will receive profit in proportion to his investment.

Signed -

Jo. Hamilton,

James Lawson.

James Montgomery, master of the ship Sally, and

Joseph Marten, his mate, are witnesses to this agreement, at Maryland, on Aug 29, in the year afd [sic].

Signed -

James Lawson,

Jo. Hamilton,

John Semple.

Wit - James Montgomerie,

Joseph Martin,

David Templeton,

John Hamilton.

Recorded Jul 15, 1766.

• John Hamilton in Mauchline, Scotland, to his brother, John Semple, merchant, letter, February 17, 1769

1.   Alan L. Karras. Sojourners in the Sun: Scottish Migrants in Jamaica and the Chesapeake, 1740 - 1800. (Cornell University Press)
   Pages 93-99, 1992.

   "The Tobacco Factor Run Amok" Page 93-99
   Discusses John Semple and James Lawsons' business and mentions' James Lawsons' wife Nancy Semple, sister of John Semple. James does not blame wife Nancy for her brothers' bad business handling.

2.   Patrick Hogue (Samples). Semple & Lawson Tobacco Firm.
3.   Patrick Hogue (Samples). "Keep Tryst" Iron Works Furnace (Maryland & Virginia).
4.   "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY78-L8P : accessed 12 June 2015), John Lawson in entry for James Lawson, 20 Aug 1739; citing , reference 2:188J0V0; FHL microfilm 1,067,923.

   Name: James Lawson
   Gender: Male
   Christening Date: 22 Aug 1739
   Christening Place: , WEST LINTON, PEEBLES, SCOTLAND
   Birth Date: 20 Aug 1739
   Father's Name: John Lawson
   Mother's Name: Elizabeth Semple