Early Dawson Family

Joseph Dawson was one of the first settlers in what is now Wayne County. 
You can see by the names of his married daughters that they married men who 
were there early as well.

1783, January 20.  NC Archives CR.103.801.5.  Wayne Co. Wills
Will of Joseph Dawson, Sr. Proved April Court 1784.  Wife:  Patience.                   
Children:  William Dawson, Isaac Dawson, Joel Dawson, Thomas Dawson, Jesse              
Dawson, Grace Hinds, Esther Prescott, Rachel Parsons, Lany Dawson, Mary 
Aldredge, Sarah Waterer, Rebecca Smith, Selah Waterer.

        In the name of God amen the 20th day of January one thousand seven 
hundred and eighty three. I Joseph Dawson of Wayne county and the State of 
North Carolina being weak of body but of sound and perfect mind and memory. 
Thanks be given to God for the same and calling to mind the mortality of my 
body and knowing that His appointed for all men once to die do make and 
ordain this Instrument to contain my Last Will and Testament in manner 
following  To Witt:  First of all I lend to my beloved wife Patience my 
Plantation of two hundred acres of land as I now live on and all my right 
and Title of an entry of one hundred and fifty acres of land adjoining the 
land I live on not yet surveyed and my still and four cows and calves and 
her choice of two chairs her choice of one feather bed and furniture half 
my hogs my sorrel mare, the colt as the said mare is with fold with excepted.
I also lend my wife all my Plantation working tools and what iron I have 
that is to work up and four ewes and one frying pan all during her widowhood 
and no longer.  Item.  I give to my said wife my hand saw and grindstone and 
one beef her choice and I give her the corn and meat now in the house and 
half the cotton and flax now in the house and all the fodder and one small 
case with twelve bottles also I give my said wife every thing as I had by 
her when I married her that is now in being and whatever things such as 
corn, cotton, pease, flax wheat, potatoes and is on my land growing or made 
at my death. I give the same to my wife to support her and her family and 
I give to my said wife my cart and wheels to her and her heirs forever.  
Item, I give to my son William Dawson my Great Bible besides what I have 
heretofore given him to him and his heirs forever.  Item.  I give to my son 
Isaac Dawson my two negroes Ostroe? and Moreah besides what I have 
heretofore given him to him and his heirs forever.  Item I give to my son 
Joel Dawson five shillings specie besides what I have heretofore given him 
to him and his heirs forever.  Item  I give to my son Thomas Dawson five 
shillings specie besides what I have heretofore given him to him and his 
heirs forever.  Item.  I give to my Daughter Grace Hinds five shillings 
specie besides what I have heretofore given her to her and her heirs 
forever;  Item  I give to my daughter Esther Prescoat five shillings specie
besides what I have heretofore given her to her and her heirs forever.  
Item.  I give to my Daughter Rachel Parsons three pounds specie besides 
what I have heretofore given her to her and her heirs forever.  Item.  I 
give to my daughter Lany Dawson four cows and calves at Francis Beemans one 
bed and furniture and one iron pot and pot hooks and all my pewter as I had 
when I married my last wife to her and her heirs forever;  Item.  my desire 
is that all the rest of my estate not heretofore mentioned maybe sold at 
nine months credit and the money arising thereby to be equally divided 
amongst my four daughters meaning Mary Aldredge, Sarah Waterer, Rebekah 
Smith and Selah Waterer besides what I have heretofore given them to them 
and their heirs forever.  Item.  I give to my son Jesse Dawson the lands 
and Plantation as I now live on as I lent my wife after my said wifes 
widowhood is determined as aforesaid, and all the rest of my estate as I 
lent my wife at her death or marriage I give to my said son Jesse Dawson 
to him and his heirs forever.  And my desire is that if my sorrel mare 
should bring a colt as was before excepted, Then I desire it may be sold 
at four years old if it lives and the money got thereby to go towards 
maintaining and schooling my said son Jesse and my desire is that my son 
Jesse be of age at Eighteen years to act and do for himself. and my desire 
is that my negroes may not be taken away from my wife if the crop then on 
the ground at my death be not fully compleated and housed and not till then 
and if my son Jesse Dawson should die leaving no lawfull heir begotten from 
his body. Then what I give him to be equally divided such as lands and 
other things as I left him to be sold after my wifes death or marriage and 
the money equally divided amongst all my children aforementioned (Esther 
Prescoat only excepted) to them and their heirs forever. And lastly I 
constitute nominate and appoint my loving wife Patience executrix and my 
beloved friend John Handley and my loving son William Dawson executors of 
this my last will and testament Revoking disannulling and making void all 
other wills and testaments by me made ratifying and confirming this and no 
other to be my Last Will and Testament In witness whereof I the said Joseph 
Dawson have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first 
within written. 

                                 Signed  Joseph (his mark) Dawson

Signed sealed and acknowledged 
in Presence of 
John Lawson, 
John (X) Daniel
William (X) Wilson  

(Joseph Dawson, dec'd. Will Proved April Ct. 1784.)