Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-07-22
Life Of Rev. Thomas Dawson.

Lilo OF rev. IhOmaS DAWSON,
Died, at Pendleton, s. c., on Tuesday, June
29th. 1880, at o'clock A. NJ, Rey Thomas
Dawson, aged 90 years, 8 months and 25 days.
Thomas Dawson, son Of Joseph and Eliza
Dawson, was born on the 4th tlay of March, A.
D. 1900, at Lyme, Regis, Dorset County, Eng
land.
AT tho ago of eight years no was sent to
school at Wellington, where he staid tlreo
years, and then to Mr.. Paul in Castle Cary.
After leaving this school ho was apprenticed To-
his grandfather and uncle, who wero linen
diapers in Maidstone, Kent His grandfather
aud father were "Freedmen," distinction in
England entitling thom to vote at elections; and
his object in being apprenticod was to attain
that privilege for himself; bat his grandfather
dying before tho expiration of tho apprentice
ship, he did not acquire the right
He then, at the ago of eighteen, went to
London and 81 rs a clerk in largo dry
goods store for three years, then went into
business on his own account as q dry goods
| merchant. but was unsuccessful. So, failing in
this. ho entered the British army, Fourth Regi-
ment Of Foot, md was Lieutenant at the time
Of the battle Of Waterloo, but was not engaged
ing officer in England.
After this battle tho British army was re-
duced and Lieutenant Dawson was placed on tho
retired list at half pay, which pay ho continued
to receive for O considerable tlmo after he came
10 America.
On leaving tho army he returned to London
in order to learn the Lancasterian system of
teaching, after acquiring which he went to
Boston, England, and taught school. Whilst
there he made application to William Lodge, y.
F. M., to be made Mason; but having decided
TO como 10 America and The vessel on which he
Ind engaged his passage being ready to sail,
his application was mover acted upon
lie sailed from Liverpool carly in tho year
1918 and arrived in New York, whence he went
to Philadelphia and thence to Georgetown, Dis
trict of Columbia, at which rlace there was
being held n riennial convention of Baptists,
and he was, with tho Rev, Humphrey Poscy,
appointed by that convention 10 teach the
Indians in Western North Carolina, which APP
pointment was with the sanction Of James
Monroe. then President of tho United States.
Mr. Dawson arrived on JIiwassec River in
February, 1919, and was engaged in teaching
the Cherokee and Creek Indians for thrce or
four years. Hero he was married to Miss Mary
Lewis, of New Jersey, who was also teacher,
and whom he had previously met in Philadel-
phia.
In 1923 he left Hiwassee, moved to Pendlcton
District in South Carolina and settled on Fullcrs
Creek, now in Oconec County, and near Perkins
Crock Baptist Church. lie was ordained
minister in 1924 and preached not only at
Perkins Creek Church, but all through the
mountainous parts of pendlcton District.
lie afterwards bought plantation on Martins
Creek, now known as tho IIarpcr's lanyard
place. Whilst residing hcrchc attached himself
to Shiloh Church aud then TO tho Pendlcton
Baptist Church, at which latter place his men,.
bcrship remained to his death.
From Martins Creek hc removed to Barnwcll
District and preached most of the time as q
missionary in BarEwel, Colloton, Sumter and
the upper portion of Charleston District
Whilst residing in Barnwe llo made nppli-
cation TO Egeria Lodge, No. II, A. +. NJ, ut
Ridgeyille, and the degrees Of sy mboic masonry
were conferred on him by that Lodge. lie was
made n Royal Arch Mason by Union Chapter
No. 2, in Charleston, and had the Council de-
grces conferred on him by a. G. Mackcy in
Orapgcburg.
Mr.. Dawson was subsequently, employed by
the Charleston Association TO preach to The
negroes on Edisto Island, where he remained
until the Confederate war broke out, when he
was compelled to leave and removed to Georges
Station tho South Carolina Railroad, where
he remained one year and thence went TO
Orangcburg.
dlcton village and affiliated with Pcndcton
Lodge, No. 81, A. F.: NJ, April 9Th, 1867.
His funeral services were conducted by The
Rev. Mr.. IIGtlo, Of the NJ. f. Church, at the
Pcndleton Baptist Church, on the S0h of June,
1880. After the services in the church he was
buried by pcndlcton Lodge, No. Sd, A. F. NJ,
and assisting brethren, with The usual Masonic
honors. ". II. D. GAILLARD