Early Dawson Family Joseph Dawson was one of the first settlers in what is now Wayne County. You can see by the names of his married daughters that they married men who were there early as well. 1783, January 20. NC Archives CR.103.801.5. Wayne Co. Wills Will of Joseph Dawson, Sr. Proved April Court 1784. Wife: Patience. Children: William Dawson, Isaac Dawson, Joel Dawson, Thomas Dawson, Jesse Dawson, Grace Hinds, Esther Prescott, Rachel Parsons, Lany Dawson, Mary Aldredge, Sarah Waterer, Rebecca Smith, Selah Waterer. In the name of God amen the 20th day of January one thousand seven hundred and eighty three. I Joseph Dawson of Wayne county and the State of North Carolina being weak of body but of sound and perfect mind and memory. Thanks be given to God for the same and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that His appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this Instrument to contain my Last Will and Testament in manner following To Witt: First of all I lend to my beloved wife Patience my Plantation of two hundred acres of land as I now live on and all my right and Title of an entry of one hundred and fifty acres of land adjoining the land I live on not yet surveyed and my still and four cows and calves and her choice of two chairs her choice of one feather bed and furniture half my hogs my sorrel mare, the colt as the said mare is with fold with excepted. I also lend my wife all my Plantation working tools and what iron I have that is to work up and four ewes and one frying pan all during her widowhood and no longer. Item. I give to my said wife my hand saw and grindstone and one beef her choice and I give her the corn and meat now in the house and half the cotton and flax now in the house and all the fodder and one small case with twelve bottles also I give my said wife every thing as I had by her when I married her that is now in being and whatever things such as corn, cotton, pease, flax wheat, potatoes and is on my land growing or made at my death. I give the same to my wife to support her and her family and I give to my said wife my cart and wheels to her and her heirs forever. Item, I give to my son William Dawson my Great Bible besides what I have heretofore given him to him and his heirs forever. Item. I give to my son Isaac Dawson my two negroes Ostroe? and Moreah besides what I have heretofore given him to him and his heirs forever. Item I give to my son Joel Dawson five shillings specie besides what I have heretofore given him to him and his heirs forever. Item I give to my son Thomas Dawson five shillings specie besides what I have heretofore given him to him and his heirs forever. Item. I give to my Daughter Grace Hinds five shillings specie besides what I have heretofore given her to her and her heirs forever; Item I give to my daughter Esther Prescoat five shillings specie besides what I have heretofore given her to her and her heirs forever. Item. I give to my Daughter Rachel Parsons three pounds specie besides what I have heretofore given her to her and her heirs forever. Item. I give to my daughter Lany Dawson four cows and calves at Francis Beemans one bed and furniture and one iron pot and pot hooks and all my pewter as I had when I married my last wife to her and her heirs forever; Item. my desire is that all the rest of my estate not heretofore mentioned maybe sold at nine months credit and the money arising thereby to be equally divided amongst my four daughters meaning Mary Aldredge, Sarah Waterer, Rebekah Smith and Selah Waterer besides what I have heretofore given them to them and their heirs forever. Item. I give to my son Jesse Dawson the lands and Plantation as I now live on as I lent my wife after my said wifes widowhood is determined as aforesaid, and all the rest of my estate as I lent my wife at her death or marriage I give to my said son Jesse Dawson to him and his heirs forever. And my desire is that if my sorrel mare should bring a colt as was before excepted, Then I desire it may be sold at four years old if it lives and the money got thereby to go towards maintaining and schooling my said son Jesse and my desire is that my son Jesse be of age at Eighteen years to act and do for himself. and my desire is that my negroes may not be taken away from my wife if the crop then on the ground at my death be not fully compleated and housed and not till then and if my son Jesse Dawson should die leaving no lawfull heir begotten from his body. Then what I give him to be equally divided such as lands and other things as I left him to be sold after my wifes death or marriage and the money equally divided amongst all my children aforementioned (Esther Prescoat only excepted) to them and their heirs forever. And lastly I constitute nominate and appoint my loving wife Patience executrix and my beloved friend John Handley and my loving son William Dawson executors of this my last will and testament Revoking disannulling and making void all other wills and testaments by me made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament In witness whereof I the said Joseph Dawson have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first within written. Signed Joseph (his mark) Dawson Signed sealed and acknowledged in Presence of John Lawson, John (X) Daniel William (X) Wilson (Joseph Dawson, dec'd. Will Proved April Ct. 1784.)