I noted the recent flurry of interest in the LAWSON name and would like to set out what I know, which isn't a good deal. The Lawsons I know seem to be connected to beer selling, and at least by 1800 are in the Bolton area. MARGARET LAWSON married DAVID WINDER 16.7.1803 at St Mary's Lancaster. I think (from IGOR) she was baptised 28.8.1781 at the same place, and her parents were ROBERT and ANN LAWSON. At some point before 1805 the pair came to Bolton, and all 3 of their children were born there. We have DAVID on the 1811 census in the centre of town, and in his will he left everything to her. He died in 1812, and she is later noted as keeping an inn in Bolton. I don't know what happened to her; she is not on any census, but she could have re-married, given her young age when he died. I also have another possible LAWSON in Bolton. In 1851 another Margaret Lawson died, the wife of THOMAS LAWSON, an innkeeper. She was 74, which would make her birth 1777. If THOMAS was a similar age, there could be some family connection between himself and the other MARGARET (sibling?) and he could be part of the reason they came to Bolton. Unfortunately the Bolton licensing records are not early enough to prove or disprove this. Anyone any ideas? Best Wishes, Barbara Winder