This was my day to work at the Genealogical Society. Found the following: The following is from a listing of children who were signed over to Guardians either because their parents had died or because the parents signed them over to someone who could teach them a trade. GDN short for Guardian SUR short for person who put up the Surety (money) First Dawson child listed is: Benjamin Dawson- date of transaction 6 Dec 1833 GDN - Charlotte Dawson SUR - Kelita Potter Same info applies to Jane and Jackson Dawson by now a Gabriel Jacobs is also supplying surety. John Dawson - 9 Jun 1801 FatherL Edward Dawson GDN: Edward Marton SUR: James Dawson Mary Margaret Dawson - 6 Dec 1833 GDN - Charlotte Dawson Sur: Gabrial Jacobs and Kelita Potter Rebecca Dawson - 6 Dec 1833 Gdn - Charlotte Dawson SUR: Gabriel Jacobs, Kelita Potter Thomas Dawson - 6 Dec 1833 GDN: Charlotte Dawson SUR: Gabriel Jacobs, Kelita Potter And that's all of the Dawsons I found. Kelita Potter lost his wife in 1815 so maybe he had children of his own who needed a care taker and he was willing to help. He died in Ohio in 1856, at the age of 85. If you're interested in Kelita you can find his genealogy at the Allegany County College library and maybe still at the Historical Society of Garrett County or the Ruth Enlow Library in Oakland. Connie