The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-07-22
A Sketch Of Rev. Thomas Dawson.

KNILc.
A Sketch Of Rev. Thomas Dawson.
Died, ut Pendleton, S. c., OH Tuesday,
June 29th, 1880, at 8 o'clock q. m, Rev.
Thomas Dawson. aged 80 years, 3 months
and 25 pays.
Thomas Dawson, son of Joseph and
Eliza Dawson, was born OH the 4th of
March A. D. 1870, at Lyme Regis, Dorset
County, England. At the age of s years
he was sent to school at Wellington, where
he stayed three years, and then went to Mr..
Paul, in Castle Cary. After leaving this
school he was apprentieed to his grand
father and uncle. who were linen drapers
in Maidstone, Kent. His grandfather and
father weret Freedmen distinction en-
titling them TO- vote ut elections-and his
object in being apprenticed was to attain
that privilege for himself, but, his grand
father dying before the expiration of the
apprenticeship, he did not acquire the right.
He then, ut the age of eighteen, went to
London, and served as a clerk in large
dry goods store for three years; then went
into business on his account as dry goods
merchant, but was unsuccessful. So, fail.
ing in this, he entered the British Army,
4th regiment of foot, and was Lieutenant
at the time of the battle of Waterloo, but
was not at the battle, having been detailed
as recruiting officer in England. After
this battle the British Army was reduced,
and Lieut.. Dawson was placed on the re-
tired list at half pay, which pay he con-
tinued to receive for a considerable time
after he came to America.
On leaving the Army he returned to LON
don in order to learn the Lancasterian sys-
tenn of teaching; after acquiring which he
went to Boston, in England, and taught
school. Whilst there he made application
to William Lodge, A. F. NJ, to be made a
Mason, but having decided to come to
America, and the vessel on which he had
engaged his passage being ready to sail, his
application was never acted upon.
He sailed from Liverpool early in the
year 1918, and arrived in New York,
whence he went to Philadelphia, and thence
to Georgetown, District OF Columbia, at
which place there was being held trien.
nial convention of Baptists, and he was,
with the Rev. Humphrey Posey, appointed
by that Convention to teach the Indians in
Western North Carolina, Which appoint
ment was with the sanction of James Mon
roe, the President of the United States.
Mr.. Dawson arrived in Hiwassee river in
February, 1919, and VAS engaged in teach
ing the Cherokee and Creek Indians for
three or four years. Here he married Miss
Mary Lewis, from New Jersey, who was
also teacher, and whom he had previously
met in Philadelphia.
In 1923 he left Hiwassee, moved to Pen
dleton District, in South Carolina, and set
tied on Fuller's Creek, hear Perkins Creek
Baptist Church. He was then (lS24) or
dained as Minister and preached not only
to this Church, but all through the noun
tainous part of Pendleton District.
He afterwards bought plantation on
Martins Greek, now known US the Harper
lanyard place. Whilst residing here, he
attached himself to Shiloh Church and
then to tile Pendlcton Baptist Church, at
which latter place his membership re-
mained to his death.
From Martins Creek he removed to
Barnwcll District, and preached most of
the time as Missionary in Barnwell, Col
Teton, Sumter and the upper portion of
Charleston District. Whilst. residing at
Barnwell he made application to Egeria
Lodge, No. Il, "A. F. NJ, at Ridgevile, and
the degrees of Masonry were conferred
upon him by that Lodge. He was made q
R. A. NJ. by Union Chapter No. 2, in
Charleston, and had the Council degrees
conferred upon him by A. G. Mackey, in
Orangeburg.
Mr.. Dawson wus subsequently employed
by the Charleston Association to preach to
the negroes OH Edisto Island, where he re-
manned until the Confederate War broke
ont. when be was compelled to leave, re-
moving to Georges Station Oh tile S. G.
r. r., where he remained one year, and
thence went to Orangeburg.
At the close of the War he removed to
Pendleton Village, and affiliated with PEN
deton Lodge No. 81, A. i. NJ, April 18th,
1867.
His funeral services were conducted in
the Pendleton Baptist Church by the Rev.
Mr.. Hutto, of the NJ. Z. Church, on the
30th of June, 1880 After the services in
the Church he was buried by Pendleton
Lodge No. "a, A. L. NJ. and other brethren,
with the usual Masonic lionors.
w. II. ID. GAILLARp.