Family History, Volume II The North 1 - 1 The North 1.1 Description The parishes of Andreas, Bride and Jurby are mainly flat farming land with the hills of North Barrel running along the eastern side of the parishes. The parish of Maughold is more hilly, with steep cliffs along the sea boundary. The town of Ramsey is situated at the mouth of the Sulby river in a wide, sandy bay at the boundary of Maughold and Lezayre. It has been a centre for fishing and boat building from early times. The hills of Cumberland are visible on clear days. The parish of Bride contains the Ayre, a wide, flat expanse of sand and gravel. The gravel seashore is prone to erosion and the high-water mark has changed considerably over the years. Andreas and Jurby are more fertile, farming country. 1.2 Origins 1.2.1 The name Lawson is a patronymic of Law i.e., it designates someone who is the “son of Law”. Law is probably a topographical name from the Old English hlaw, meaning a hill. This would gives us “someone who is the son of he who lives on or near the hill”. A possible alternative derivation is that Law is a Middle English pet name for Lawrence, which in turn is derived from the Middle English given name of Lorens or from the Old French name of Lawrence. Both these names designate a person from the italian town of Laurentium, named for it’s laurel or bay trees. 1.2.2 The name is common throughout northern England and Scotland. The heaviest concentrations are in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The earliest known reference is at Littondale, Upper Wharfdale, Yorkshire in the 14th century. Printed: Tuesday, 5th February, 2008 © Brian Lawson 1999, 2005 1 - 2 The North Family History, Volume II 1.3 Early Days Persistent family rumours or legends insist that the family originated in Scotland. No corroboration has yet been found for these stories, nor has their source been traced. If the stories are true, a possible candidate for the first Lawson on the Isle of Man is James Lowsone who was baptized on the 27th of February, 1568, at Perth, the son of Robert Lowsone. The source of this information is the IGI and no research has been conducted. The earliest documents that have been found on the Isle of Man for the Lawson family are the wills of James Lawson (322), his wife Isabel Cowle (323) and Richard Lawson (618). From these documents we know that Isabel, the wife of James Lawson, died on the 8th of January, 1627-8, that her maiden name was Cowle and that at the time of her death she had two unmarried children, Robert (619) and Edward (620). There may have been other, unnamed, married children, most likely Richard (618). James Lawson died on the 5th of June, 1634, some six years after Isabel. However, his Will mentions “unmarried children by the later wife” and that “ye mother refuse to take administration in the behalf of the children.” which indicates that his wife was still alive and that there were minor children. The most likely explanation of these documents is that James remarried after the death of Isabel, probably in 1628 or 1629, and that there were children of this second marriage. So far the second marriage has not been traced and only one child has been identified. Research has been limited to the Island, though it is possible that the second marriage took place off the Island. Richard Lawson in his Will of 1654 names his children Anthony, James and Ellin. The three children are named executors. As no Supervisors were appointed for the children it would appear that they were all of age, i.e., that youngest was probably at least fourteen. This means that Richard was probably born no later than 1612 and married no later than 1635. These dates could be very much earlier. As no records of any other Lawson families have been found it is likely that Richard was a son of James. Ewan Curghey, a witness to the Richard’s Will and a pledge for his inventory, was the husband of Katherine Lawson, see 1.47.2.1. If Richard Lawson was the son of James and Isabel Cowle, then he was probably married by January, 1627-8, as he is not named as an unmarried child in Isabel’s Will. This means that he was probably born before 1607. For the time being it is assumed that Richard was the eldest son of James and Isabel Cowle and that he was born circa 1603. Assuming that marriage of James and Isabel occurred shortly before the birth of the first child and when both parties were of full age, it is calculated that James and Isabel would have been born in approximately 1580 and married in approximately 1602. No records of these events have been found and the calculated dates given here could well be out by ten years either way. © Brian Lawson, 1999, 2005 Printed: Tuesday, 5th February, 2008 Family History, Volume II The North 1 - 3 1.4 The First Manx Lawson 1.4.1 James Lawson (322) was born circa 1570 in northern England or Scotland. He moved to the Isle of Man as a young man, settling in Ramsey.He married twice, first to Isabel Cowle circa 1605 and secondly circa 1628 to an unidentified person. He was buried at Bride on the 6th of June, 1634. See 1.5 and 1.47 for details of his descendants. 1.4.2 Isabel Cowle (323) would have been born in approximately 1580. She died on the 8th of January, 1627–8. Nothing is known of the parents of Isabel Cowle, however, in the light of the fact that her grandson, Richard (311), was the miller at Lhen Mooar (see 1.17.1 below) it is interesting to note that the wife of Marghad McCowle is listed as the tenant of the mill at Alia Altadale (Lezayre) in the Manorial Roll of 1511-15. See 1.5 for details of her descendants. 1.4.3 The as yet unidentified second wife of James, (1718), was born probably around 1600, maybe in Douglas. It is believed that her christian name may have been Isabel. She married James Lawson circa 1628, but no other details of her life have, as yet, been verified. See 1.47 for details of her descendants. Birth or christening records for the children have not yet been found. Considering that they were all married in Andreas, it is likely that the family lived in Andreas, probably at The Lhen. 1.4.4 There was a burial at Andreas on the 8th of November, 1663, of Catherine Lawson, orphan. This indicates that at least one parent was dead. See also 1.47.2 1.5 The Children of James Lawson & Isabel Cowle continued from 1.4.1, and 1.4.2, FGF 22. Number & Name Type & Birthdate Place/Notes 618 Richard C 1603 Maughold?. Died 1654 619 Robert C 1605 Maughold? 620 Edward C 1607 Maughold?. Died 1668 1.5.1 Richard Lawson (618) was born circa 1603. From his Will in 1654 we know that he had at least three children, Anthony, Ellin and James, while Ellin’s Will of 1669 mentions her brother Anthony and her sister Ann Lawson. The name of Richard’s wife is not known. See 1.6 for further details of his descendants. 1.5.2 Robert Lawson (619) was born circa 1605. He is named as an unmarried child in his mother’s Will of January, 1627–8. Robert is believed to have married circa 1640, though the name of his wife has not yet be determined, and to have had at least one son. In all likelihood he was the ancestor of the Lonan branch. See 4.2 for further details. 1.5.3 Edward Lawson (620) was born circa 1607. He is named as an unmarried child in his mother’s Will of January, 1627–8. He married Jony Christian in approximately 1628 at Andreas. The dates for these events have not been confirmed. Edward’s occupation has not been determined. He died at Lezayre in 1668. See 1.17 for details of his descendants. The Bishop’s Court of the 11th of January, 1637, held at Jurby, records the divorce of William Gawen and Ann Kellie (1888). Ann was accused of adultery with Edward Lawson of Andreas, by whom she had two children. She also had a third child by Thomas Kellie of Jurby. One of these children appears to have been John Lawson Printed: Tuesday, 5th February, 2008 © Brian Lawson 1999, 2005 1 - 4 The North Family History, Volume II who was baptized on the 9th of January, 1631–2, at Jurby “the bastard son of Edward”. 1.5.3.1 Jony Christian (621) was born circa 1610. Nothing is known of Jony’s parents. Considering that her grandson Edward became the miller at Lhen Mooar, it is interesting to note that a John McCristen was the miller at Breryk and Altadale in 1515. She died on the 26th of April, 1670. See 1.17 for details of her descendants. 1.6 The Children of Richard Lawson & … continued from 1.5.1 Number & Name Type & Birthdate Place/Notes 411 James C 1630 623 Ellin C 1632 622 Anthony C 1634 2244 Ann C 1636 1.6.1 James Lawson (411) was born circa 1630. He was a miller at Andreas. He is named executor in his father’sWill of 1654 but there were no bequests.