Robert Lawson (Virginia)

Robert Lawson (January 23, 1748 – April 5, 1805) was an officer from Virginia in the American Revolutionary War.

In early 1776 Lawson was commissioned a major in the 4th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army. He eventually became the colonel in command of the regiment. He resigned from the Continental Army in December 1777.

Lawson returned to active duty in 1779 as a brigadier general in the Virginia militia. According to some accounts, he commanded the Virginia militia at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.

Family
Robert Lawson was born 23 Jan 1748 and died 05 Apr 1805 in Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of Benjamin Lawson and Elizabeth. He married Sarah  Meriwether Pierce 13 Dec 1769 in VA, daughter of John Pierce and  Sarah. She was born, and died 10 Jun 1809.

Children:

Sarah Meriwether Lawson b 9/13/1770 d 4/19/1771

America Lawson b 1/22/1778 d 10/1/1830

John Pierce Lawson b 2/23/1781 d 6/1/1809

Arria Lawson b 3/14/1785 d 10/24/1787

Columbus Lawson b 8/11/1789 Kentucky d 1/8/1815

Continental Service
Major, 4th Virginia, 13 February 1776 Lieutenant Colonel, 4th Virginia, 13 August 1776 Colonel, 4th Virginia, 19 August 1777 Resigned, 17 December 1777

The 4th Virginia Regiment was authorized by the fourth Virginia convention on December 1, 1775, and accepted by Congress on February 13, 1776. The 4th Virginia Regiment joined Washington’s army late in 1776 and participated in the battles of Trenton and Germantown. (Sanchez-Saavedra  p42) On November 23, 1776, the 4th, 5th, and 6th Virginia Regiments joined the army at New Brunswick, New Jersey, forming a brigade of 745 men under Adam Stephen (Sellers 1978:6-7,9,11. Lesser 176:40)

Battles of  the  4th   Virginia   Regiment: Battle of Trenton, 26 December 1776

Second Battle of Trenton, January 1777 Battle of Princeton, January 1777 Battle of Brandywine, 11 September 1777 Battle of Germantown, 4 October 1777

Virginia Militia
Colonel, Steven’s Brigade, Battle of Camden, 16 August 1780 ???

General, Lawson’s Brigade, Guilford Courthouse, 15 March 1781 General, Attached with General Steuben, Point of Fork, June 5, 1881 General, Lawson’s Brigade, Siege of Yorktown, September - October 1781

Public Service
Attended Virginia Convention, St John’s Church Richmond, March 1775 Attended Virginia Convention, July 1775 Attended Virginia Convention, December 1775

Member Virginia House of Delegates, May 4 - December 19, 1778

Member Virginia House of Delegates, May 1, 1780 - March 22, 1781 Member Virginia House of Delegates, May - December 28, 1782 Member Virginia House of Delegates, May 5 - December 22, 1783 Member Virginia House of Delegates, October 15, 1787 - January 8, 1788 Deputy Attorney General Prince Edward County 1784 to April 1788 .

Delegate, Convention of the Commonwealth of Virginia on the adoption of the Federal Constitution, June 1788 Voted in the minority against ratification of the Federal Constitution, 25 June 1788.

Trustee, Hampden-Sydney College, 1783-1805