Rowland was born in Brough Hall, Catterick, Yorkshire County, England. Rowland's father was John Lawson and his mother was Sarah Rowland. His paternal grandparents were Ralph Lawson and Elizabeth D Brough; his maternal grandparents were Thomas Rowland and Joyce Lyttell. He was an only child. He died before May 3rd, 1661 in Lancaster County, Virginia, the date his will was probated. 

Married

1. before 1636 to Letitia Joanne (Lettice) Lawson Wale(s) b: ABT 1616 in England

Children

1. Eppaphroditus Lawson b: ABT 1644 in Lancaster County, VA
2. Letitia Lawson b: 1652 in Lancaster County, VA
3. Rowland Lawson b: 1638 in Lancaster County, VA
4. John Lawson b: ABT 1655
5. Richard Lawson
6. joana  Lawson b: 1640 in Lancaster County, VA
7. Joanne Lawson b: 1649 in Lancaster County, VA
8. Henry Lawson b: 1651 in Lancaster County, VA
9. Elizabeth Lawson b: 1650 in Lancaster County, VA

Notes

• "But the most important emigrants from Ireland settling in the Colony in the seventeenth century were men of English blood, whose fathers had received grants of confiscated lands in that unfortunate country, or who had removed thither in the course of business. Such was Daniel Gookin, who, in 1622, patented lands at Newport News, and such, no doubt, were Anthony Lawson, of Lower Norfolk, and others whose names might be mentioned." Philip Alexander Bruce, Social Life of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century, (Richmond, VA: 1907, reprint Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1995), p. 262.
•  20 July 1633, Bill of Sale made by John DAVIS of Kiskiacke, Planter, to Thomas CURTIS, wit: Joseph HAM, Epaphroditus LAWSON. (Patent Book I:525, VA Land Office) It conveys land "on Poqueson River" in eastern York County ... The same John DAVIS deeds land on the same Poqueson River to Ephroditus LAWSON, by Court Order dated 8 Oct 1635. (Patent Book I:655) Caroline Kemper Bulkley, "Notes on Immigrant Lawsons of Tidewater, " The William and Mary College Quarterly, 2nd Series, XIII(1933), pp. 242-253.
•  Among those early settlers of Isle of Wight who first moved to Nansemond and then to Maryland was ... Epaphroditus LAWSON who patented 100 acres in Isle of Wight in 1636 and 1400 in Lower Norfolk in 1642 ... With him to Maryland, went Edward DARCY or DORSEY ... [See Warfield and Newman's Histories of Anne Arundel County.] John Bennett Boddie, Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County Virginia, (Baltimore:Genealogical Publishing County, 1980), p. 78. Epaphroditus LAWSON, 1, 400 acs. Up. Norf. County, Feb. 15, 1642, Page 822. ... for trans. of 13 pers: Epaphroditus LAWSON, William LAWSON, Lettice LAWSON, ... Rowland LAWSON, ... Mr. Rowland LAWSON, 1300 acs. situated in Rappa. Riv., on the Nwd. side, beg. on the Ewd. side of the mouth of Cherry Point Cr., and adj. land of Richard JONES. 20 June 1651, p. 330. 900 acs. part formerly granted unto Epaphrd. LAWSON and by him relinquished and the rights assigned unto his brother, and the residue for trns. of 8 pers: ... R. (Rowland) LAWSON, 400 acs. upon S. side of Rappa. Riv., beg at Eastmost extent of the land of Geo. EATON, etc., unto sd. LAWSON's former grant &c. 6 Oct 1654, p. 299. Trans. of 8 pers: ... Richard LAWSON, 1400 acs. beg. at marked trees which run W.S.W. cross the upper of the great Island in Rapp. Riv. and the lower part of the neck of land upon which he lives, parallel to land of George EATON &c. 6 Oct 1656, p. 383. 1, 000 acs granted to Epaphroditus LAWSON and assigned unto sd. Richard, and 400 acs. assigned unto him by Rowland LAWSON, to whom it was granted 6 Oct 1654. Rowland LAWSON, 1000 acs. on N. side of Rappa. Riv., 18 Mar. 1662, p. 132, (639). Beg. on the E. side of Cherry poynt Cr., N.N.E. &c. to S. side of a br. of a Cr. issuing into the bay behind Cap. Fleets land, thence S.E. by E. &c. to land of BONYSON &c. Being part of a pattent of 1300 acs., the rest being cut off by pattent of sd. BONYSON, first granted to Rice JONES. Trans. of 20 pers.* Nell Marion Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers, 1623-1666, (Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1934; rept. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing County, 1983), 135, 217, 297, 318, 438.
• Certificates for land with names of head rights from Lancaster County, Virginia original county records: Mr. Rowland LAWSON, Head rights: Hen: Berry, Patrick Cleashe [?], Sarah TURNER, Eliz: Sachell, Wm. Wilkinson, Geo. Goodale, Jno. Marshall. Also two more, Daniell Cooper and Katherine English. [One name is illegible.] 6 Feby 1654. Milnor Ljungstedt, The County Court Note Book (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. County, 1972) John CONE, 470 acs. Lancaster County, 20 Sept. 1669, p. 280. Adj. Abra. BONNISON (BONYSON), neare the head of Tabb's Cr., to Sw. of Nantipoyson Cr., both Crks. issuing out of Fleet's Cr., to land of Rowland LAWSON, to Mr. Robert GRIGGS, by Mr. Tho. CHETWOOD ... Nell Marion Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume II: 1666-1695 (Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1977), 71. [68] Nov 1672 (p.24 ) tithe list - Rowland LAWSON - 3

Sources

• Greer, Early Virginia Emigrants, p200.

Links

• http://telstarbob.net/mylawson.htm
• http://www.ads-software.com/hakel/beatieancestors/aqwn21.htm
•  http://genforum.genealogy.com/lawson/messages/7712.html
•  http://www.pryorlions.org/family/default.htm?page=family-ThomasLaweson-fam01303.htm
•  http://www.coffey.ws/FamilyTree/Docs/LAWSONFamily%28C%2
•  http://pastviews.net/ghtout/gp826.htm
•  http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/f/r/y/Dennis-M-Frye/GENE4-0019.html