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I’m having difficulty getting information on one ancestor in my husband’s family. I am looking at Alexander Lawson, born 1801. I have him as a steerage passenger on the Lancaster, leaving Liverpool for Philadelphia, 1818. Per U.S. census Philadelphia, he is married to Mary Ann (last name unknown), born 1810, born in Ireland, with children:
William Lawson, b 1824
Charles Lawson, b 1826
Alexander R. Lawson, b 1838. (This is the child of special interest – he is the great-great grandfather of my husband. He marries Sarah Jane Lusk, b 1843 Pennsylvania, in 1863 Philadelphia.)
John Lawson, b 1840
Isabella Lawson, b 1842
In some census, it appears that all the children are born in Philadelphia (eg US census 1850), in others, there is a mix of born in Ireland, and born in Philadelphia.
In 1863, I have the family still in Philadelphia, as a family of 4 cordwainers (boot-makers) at 1302 North Front St.

My issues are:
1)I am understand whether or not I have Alexander’s birth date right.
2)I’m also trying to go further back, since family lore says the family came from Scotland, not Ireland. I have learned that family lore can be mistaken, but I cannot find any proof one way or another.
3)I cannot pinpoint an Alexander Lawson in Scotland, as I have nothing to go on in terms of parents, and at this point, with varying birth dates on census, etc., I cannot swear to birth date 1801.
4)Cannot find record of Alexander Lawson 1801 marrying anywhere.
5)Cannot find a record of birth for Alexander in Ireland
6)If Alexander was indeed Irish, and was born and married there, and had children there, I cannot find them in Ireland. However, I cannot find birth records in the USA either.
7)I cannot find a record of death for either Alexander or Mary Ann.
8)I found one family member had a connection to Old St. Joseph’s church in Philadelphia, but their records were moved to the University, and not online.

Any assistance you could provide to get me past this blockage would be most appreciated.
thanks in advance

Helen

Is this him ?



Name: Alexander Lawson
Birth Year (Estimated): 1801
Gender: Male
Age (Original): 69y
Race: White
Birthplace: Ireland
Event Place: Pennsylvania, United States
Collection: Alexander Lawson, "United States Census, 1870"

Alexander Lawson M 69y Ireland
A Mary Lawson F 61y Ireland
L David Smith M 24y Ireland
Isabella Smith F 25y Ireland
David Smith M 2y Pennsylvania

????????????

Name: Alexander R. Lawson
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 18 Mar 1879
Event Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 79
Birth Year (Estimated): 1800
Birth Date:
Birthplace: Ireland
Marital Status: Married

Occupation: Gentleman
Address: 1232 Nth Front St.
Residence Place: Philadelphia, Penn.
Cemetery: Fernwood Cemetery
Burial Place: Philadelphia
Burial Date: 22 Mar 1879

Mike,
Yes, that looks like him. From the burial, it's hard to tell, although it would appear correct. The first post, from the census, is definitely him.

=====================


Name: David R. Lawson
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 09 Aug 1875
Event Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 1
Birth Year (Estimated): 1874
Birth Date:
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pa.
Marital Status: Single
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Alexander R. Lawson
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Sarah J. Lawson
:
Address: 613 N. Fourth Street, 12th Ward
Residence Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cemetery: North Cedar Hill Cemetery
Burial Place:
Burial Date: 12 Aug 1875

"

Name: Alex R. Lawson
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 10 Aug 1893
Event Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gender: Male
Race: W
Age: 55
Birth Year (Estimated): 1838
Birth Date:
Birthplace: Phila., PA
Marital Status: Married
:
Occupation: druggist
Address:
Residence Place:
Cemetery: N. Cedar Hill
Burial Place:
Burial Date: 14 Aug 1893

Ah, now David Lawson's father, Alexander, is the son of the Alexander I'm looking for info about. I didn't have this, though :) This also confirms for me the abode during the time. I had it, just had difficulty confirming it. Thank you.

Mike, you're faster than I can read! :) Yes, that looks like David's father, The birth year is right. I have seen him as a druggist in records like this, but not been able to confirm it was "my" Alexander R. Last time I can confirm it is him, he is a boot-maker with his dad. Looks like him, though. If only it had an address!!!

This is fantastic! Thanks so much for the new info. Is there any direction you can provide, though, as to how I could further research my original Alexander Lawson? It's he that has me stumped :)

The 1870 that Mike posted has Alexander as a bootmaker, so could this be him?

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
Name: Alexander R Lawson
Residence Year: 1861
Street Address: 1302 N Front
Residence Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Cordwainer
Publication Title: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1861

There is an Alexander Lawsen jnr and a Charles Lawsen, both cordwainers, at the same address.

Still at the same address in 1871:

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
Name: Alexander Lawson
Residence Year: 1871
Street Address: 1302 N Front
Residence Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Shoemaker
Publication Title: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1871

Alexander jnr still at same address. Can't be sure if that address is their home or their business premises (or could be both).

I'm not 100% sure that the druggist is the same person, there are a few Alexander Lawsons in the area at the time, there's one that is a weaver.

I can see how it gets confusing, 4 separate entries for 1866:

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
Name: Alexander Lawson
Residence Year: 1866
Street Address: 4th & Noble, home 1302 Hanover
Residence Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Clerk
Publication Title: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1866

Name: Alexander Lawson
Residence Year: 1866
Street Address: 1302 N Front
Residence Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Shoemaker
Publication Title: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1866

Name: Alexander R Lawson
Residence Year: 1866
Street Address: 1302 N Front
Residence Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Shoemaker
Publication Title: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1866

Name: Alexander Lawson
Residence Year: 1866
Street Address: 1352 Hanover
Residence Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Druggist
Publication Title: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1866

I have access to US newspapers on my FMP worldwide sub. I'll have a look tonight (can't access it while at work)

Is this the family in 1850? All born Ireland which cannot be correct if he emigrated in 1818. Alexander and Hugh Hart are both cordwainers:

Alexr Lawson, "United States Census, 1850"
Name: Alexr Lawson
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1850
Event Place: Kensington, ward 6, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 49
Marital Status:
Race (Original):
Race:
Birthplace: Ireland
Birth Year (Estimated): 1801
House Number: 287
Family Number: 351
Line Number: 37
Affiliate Publication Number: M432
Affiliate Film Number: 807
GS Film number: 444775
Digital Folder Number: 004205111
Image Number: 00251
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Alexr Lawson M 49 Ireland
Mary A Lawson F 40 Ireland
Wm Lawson M 16 Ireland
Charles Lawson M 14 Ireland
Alexr Lawson M 12 Ireland
John Lawson M 10 Ireland
Isabella Lawson F 8 Ireland
Hugh Hart M 23 Ireland
Hannah Kewn F 30 Ireland

There is this immigration record for an Isabella born about the right time (age on image is 3)



Isabella Lawson, "United States, Index to Passenger Arrivals, Atlantic and Gulf Ports, 1820-1874"
Name: Isabella Lawson
Event Type: Immigration
Event Date: 1847
Event Place: United States
Gender: Female
Age:
Birthplace: Irish
Ship Name: Champlain
Birth Year (Estimated):
Affiliate Publication Title: Supplemental Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports (Excluding New York), 1820-1874
Affiliate Publication Number: M334
Affiliate Film Number: 99
GS Film number: 000418259
Digital Folder Number: 004883708
Image Number: 02977

There were two Alexander Lawsons on the same ship the older is a shoemaker:

Name: Alexander Lawson
Event Type: Immigration
Event Date: 1847
Event Place: United States
Gender: Male
Age: 44
Birthplace: Ireland
Ship Name: Champlain
Birth Year (Estimated): 1803
Affiliate Publication Title: Supplemental Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports (Excluding New York), 1820-1874
Affiliate Publication Number: M334
Affiliate Film Number: 99
GS Film number: 000418259
Digital Folder Number: 004883708
Image Number: 02875

Name: Alexander Lawson
Event Type: Immigration
Event Date: 1847
Event Place: United States
Gender: Male
Age: 10
Birthplace: Ireland
Ship Name: Champlain
Birth Year (Estimated): 1837
Affiliate Publication Title: Supplemental Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports (Excluding New York), 1820-1874
Affiliate Publication Number: M334
Affiliate Film Number: 99
GS Film number: 000418259
Digital Folder Number: 004883708
Image Number: 02874

On same ship:

Name: Mrs Lawson
Event Type: Immigration
Event Date: 1847
Event Place: United States
Gender: Female
Age: 38
Birthplace: Ireland
Ship Name: Champlain
Birth Year (Estimated): 1809

Name: John Lawson
Event Type: Immigration
Event Date: 1847
Event Place: United States
Gender: Male
Age: 6
Birthplace: Ireland
Ship Name: Champlain
Birth Year (Estimated): 1841

Wow! See what happens as I sleep! So:
- MarieCeleste, I believe your first two entries for Alexander as a cordwainer are correct. My assumption is based on the fact that he has a son named Alexander of the right age, who I can definitely prove had a father Alexander and a mother Mary A, and who shows his father as from Ireland.
- the druggist, while it could be him, I have nothing on which to base that. He never shows up with family as a druggist, and I don't think I've seen a date of birth associated with that Alexander, so I am skeptical still. I wonder if, since the druggist appears when there is only one alexander as a cordwainer, if Alex jr. became the druggist.
- regarding the coincidence in addresses - 1302 N. Front, and 1302 Hanover - bizarre. Hanover, if in downtown Philly, no longer exists, I think. It's way out in a suburb. N. Front, however, corresponds with other family addresses of the time, and this address still exists on Google maps. It good be a period building, and is of a nature that could have been a shop with home above. In theory.
- allotment, thanks for the link. MarieCeleste, thanks for having a look for me :) I'll await your outcome before I spend the money :)
- Potty - AHA! that's starting down the path I was trying to find! I had the older alexander on the ship Lancaster in 1818, but alone (except for some boxes). This gives me a better feeling that they did indeed come from Ireland. The dates are off by a year or two for some, but I believe it's them.

Again, WOW. Thanks all. So I'm pretty confident that my Alexander Lawson, born between 1801 and 1803, married to Mary Ann, with children as listed, is my Irish relative I never heard of. Since he's married, and with at least a couple of children when he immigrates to the US, we should be able to find him, somewhere in Ireland... or can we? I have had no luck finding anything in Ireland regarding a marriage for Alexander and Mary, nor birth of Isabella. I have not done Irish research before, though, so it's entirely likely the problem is with me :)

Home from work and had a look at FMP, sadly nothing on there that relates to your Lawsons.

I'll have another trawl through the city directories, just in case anything pops up.

Thanks MarieCeleste, much appreciated. :)

I think this might be the druggist:

U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918
Name: Alexander R Lawson
State: Pennsylvania
Tax Year: 1865
Roll Title: District 3; Annual Lists; May 1865
NARA Series: M787
NARA Roll: 17

He was an apothecary of 441 Richmond Street, Paid $10 tax for the year.

(I'll just post what I find with a view to assimilating the facts later).