This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: drdjones Surnames: Lawson, Manis, Fields Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.tennessee.counties.hawkins/3463.30.2.1.1.2.2.2.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am going through my Peter Lawson records and will reply to that message soon. But, the Thomas Lawson who married widow 1840 Susan Stevens--apparent widow of Stephen Stevens--appears to be the father of Wallen and Stokely Lawson. He was from 1830 Lee County, and was living next to Wallen and Stokely in 1840 Hawkins County. He was old enough to be their father--or possibly an uncle. I don't know who Thomas' first wife was, but he was married in 1840 to someone else. Some have named his first wife as Nancy Wallen--I don't know if that is true or not. He is often said to be the son of David Lawson of Lee County. Susan Stevens was the mother of Elizabeth Stevens who married Nelson Manis. Nelson's daughter Mary married Curren Lawson by all accounts. Since I am a descendent in the female line, I had my mt-DNA tested and it matches up with a number of ancestors in the tri-state area who have a Fields in their female line. So, given this I suspect that Susan Stevens was originally a Fields or Manis. Thomas Lawson bought property nears the Fields and Manis families about 1847 and sold it about 1853. I believe that Susan was the woman who was charged with L&A with Peter Lawson about 1850. There is no marriage record for Thomas and Susan Lawson. However, the marriage records of Hawkins County were burned at the end of the war and were reconstructed from the carbonized fragments by the Clerk of the Court. This account of the burning and reconstruction is contained in a pension file. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.