| Notes |
- Nicholas Dawson, a probable son of John Dawson and Rebecca Doyne, was born in Charles County, Maryland. He was later married in about 1704 to his cousin, Mary Doyne, at “Fendall’s Delight,” a plantation in Charles County which had been acquired by Mary’s father shortly before his death in 1689. Mary, who was also a native of Charles County, Maryland, had been born there in about 1682/1683. She was the daughter of Robert Doyne and Mary Stone. Mary’s mother, Mary Stone, was the daughter of William Stone, the first Protestant governor of Maryland.
Although Nicholas and Mary resided for a few years after their marriage at “Fendall’s Delight,” in 1710 they sold their interest in this plantation, as well as an adjoining plantation named “Lyon’s Denn,” to William and Sarah (Doyne) Hutchinson. Sarah (Doyne) Hutchinson was Mary’s older sister. Nicholas and Mary subsequently moved to a plantation called “Saturday’s Work,” where they appear to have resided for the remainder of their lives. 1 “Saturday’s Work” had been acquired by Mary’s father in 1688, and was situated in that part of Charles County that was later formed into Prince George’s County, Maryland in 1695.
It is interesting to note that when “Saturday’s Work” was first granted, the Lord Proprietor offered those wishing to settle in Maryland all the land they could ride around in one day. James Bodkin, the original grantee, acquired his plantation in that manner on a Saturday, and hence the name “Saturday’s Work.” This land was situated approximately six miles south of present-day Washington, D.C.
Aside from “Saturday’s Work,” “Fendall’s Delight,” and “Lyon’s Denn,” Mary also inherited several other plantations from her father which she later left by will to her children. These were “Constant Friendship” along the Bush River in Baltimore County, “Spring Banks” in Somerset County, and “Sligo” in Prince George’s County, Maryland. In addition, Nicholas and Mary petitioned the proprietary government for the right to take up lands for which warrants had previously been issued to Mary’s father, Robert Doyne, but which he had not executed.
As a result of their petition, Nicholas and Mary were allowed to claim 2,000 acres “in any part of the Province not formerly laid out nor cultivated by any person, nor reserved for the use of his Lordship.” Although a portion of this acreage was taken up near Port Tobacco in Charles County, it appears to have been sold shortly thereafter. The remainder was not taken up during Nicholas Dawson’s lifetime, but was eventually acquired by his eldest son, John.
Nicholas Dawson died in 1727 in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Although Nicholas does not appear to have left a will, an inventory of his estate was completed on 12 July 1727, with John Dawson and Thomas Dawson identified as nearest of kin, and his widow, Mary Dawson, as Executrix of his estate. Nicholas Dawson’s widow, Mary, subsequently acknowledged that the inventory of goods and chattels was “just and perfect” on 29 September 1727.
Mary, on the other hand, appears to have died in 1734 in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Her will, which was dated 14 December 1734, was subsequently probated in Prince George’s County on 24 January 1734/1735. 7 Although Nicholas and Mary are believed to have both been buried on their home plantation, “Saturday’s Work,” a Dawson family memorial monument currently stands at Oxon Hill in Prince George’s County, Maryland. - The Dawson Family of Maryland.....and elsewhere, Jack MacDonald, 2015
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Abt 1670 - 1727 (~ 57 years)
