Re: Bastardy Bonds of Elizabeth Lawson - Stokes Co. NC & Hawkins TN
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In reply to:
Re: Bastardy Bonds of Elizabeth Lawson - Stokes Co. NC & Hawkins TN
gayle ellison 12/02/11
Let's try another approach.
It can easily be determined (after much study) that there were 2 Cynthia Lawsons. One is identified as Elizabeth Lawson's bastard child in the bond in Stokes county NC, 8-9 years old in 1804, so born about 1795.
The other born about 1809 in Surry Co., NC, the daughter of Thomas Lawson & Sarah Bryant. Cynthia from Surry County married John Riggs in Surry County in 1826. A biography of their son, William M Riggs, states that Cynthia had 2 Bryant uncles in the REV WAR. Cynthia's mother, Sarah Bryant who married Thomas Lawson, gave a deposition for her brother's REV WAR pension application, Thomas Bryant, who she lived next door to in 1830 (as a widow - head of house) in Surry County. In 1810, Sarah's husband Thomas Lawson was next door to Thomas Bryant. Thankfully, these 2 census records were NOT alphabetized, circumstantially proving the marriage of Thomas Lawson & Sarah Bryant.
FROM THOMAS BRYANT'S PENSION STATEMENT: (Note that Sarah Lawson had 2 brothers in the REV WAR)
State of North Carolina
Surry County
Personally appeared before me William G. Haynes one of the acting Justices of the said County, Sarah Lawson who being duly sworn, deposeth and sayeth that she, though young at the time, well recollects that her brothers Thomas and John Bryant were both soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Recollecting that at one time they came home and told their parents they had entered during the war and it occurred them to grieved boys much on the account of doing so. Recollected their father going with them some distance when they went again into the service. They all at this time lived with their father and mother in Halifax County, Virginia. Recollected when her brother Thomas Bryant, the applicant, came home from Gate’s defeat, her brother John never returned and she has never seen him since that time, it was approved and believed by the family he was killed. That his father at this time lived in Randolph County, NC, having removed from Halifax, VA. She well recollects his tour of service after the battle of Guilford, under Captain Joseph Clark and Alexander Smith who with _____ as she understood Col. Collins. These officers names she was quite familiar with for they lived in the settlement of her father in Randolph County, NC.
Signed - Sarah her X mark Lawson
Sworn to and subscribed before me
May 16th, 1833
W. G. Haynes J.P.
FOLLOWING IS A RESEARCH NOTE & A BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN RIGGS & CYNTHIA LAWSON'S SON. (NOTE that Cynthia Lawson, wife of John Riggs had 2 Bryant uncles in the REV WAR)
NOTE: There is a discrepancy as to whether John Riggs was a son of Zadock as stated in this biography. Zadock left a will in Boone County Missouri and he didn't mention a son named John. However, Lott did have an heir named John, who lived in Surry County.
Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed., 1886. Metcalfe County.
WILLIAM M. RIGGS was born November 25, 1826, in Surry County, N. C.,near the town of Dobson. In 1852 he removed to Clinton County, Ky.; after six years' residence there he went to Cumberland and Monroe, in each of which counties he remained a short time, and in 1870 removed to Metcalfe County where he now resides. He served over a year with the Thirteenth Kentucky Cavalry, without being mustered into the service or getting pay. His father, John Riggs, was also a native of Surry County, N. C., born February 8, 1804; in 1852 he came with his son and settled in Kentucky. During the war, to avoid capture by the guerillas, he was
compelled to leave home and take to the woods, and was killed by falling from a precipice in Wayne County, while traveling at night to escape them. He was a son of Zedock Riggs, who was of Scotch descent. John Riggs was twice married; first, in 1825, to Cynthia Lawson, who had two uncles (Bryants) in the Revolutionary war, and he had seven (Rosses). From this union sprang William M., James M. (who died in the Mexican war), John B., Rebecca E. (Boyter), Sarah M. (Phemister), Frances (Hopkins), Mary U. (Snow), Cynthia J. (Grider), Thomas D. and Martha C. William M.'s early advantages for obtaining an education were limited, but by study he procured a good English education and is a man well posted in the current literature of the day. His prosperity is the result of his own industry. He has been twice married; first, May 21, 1870, to Mary E., daughter of Joseph and Lucinda S. (Pace) Glazebrook. Joseph Glazebrook was one of the first Abolitionists in all this section, and was one of the first electors ever nominated by the Abolitionists. Mrs. Mary Riggs had no children. His second marriage took place July 21, 1874, with Josephine, daughter of John S. and Rebecca (Freeman) Sanders, of Barren County. To them four children - John H., William M., Joseph B. and Annie - have been born. Mr. Riggs and wife are members of the Christian Church. He began life as a farmer and school teacher, which latter profession he followed for fifteen years; was afterward elected county surveyor of Monroe County. After finishing his term of office he removed to Metcalfe County, where he bought a farm and commenced merchandising in Summer Shade, where he has met with more than usual success. He has been notary public and postmaster; politically is a Republian, and is now a member of the Legislature from Metcalfe and Monroe Counties.