Robert and Susannah Lawson
Married Scotland 8th October 1835

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Back Row : Robert, George, William, Alfred, Thomas, John
Front Row : Susan (Burrows), Ada (Ling), Elizabeth (Wilson)
Missing : Mary (McCrory)

Joyce Edna Treuel (nee Lawson) and George Lawson

A BRIEF HISTORY

Andrew Lawson our great-great-great grandfather was born in Scotland about 1787 and was married to Jane Cunningham on the 9th August 1806 at Inveresk, Musselburgh, Midlothian Scotland. (Another source lists Jane's surname as Henderson-Conyngham). They had 11 children with son Robert Lawson being born in Leith Scotland in 1812. A brother John was born in 1810 and a sister Janet was born 1808.

We believe that Andrew Lawson worked on an estate at Statton Park England owned by Sir Francis Baring, later known as Lord Northbrook.

Robert Lawson, our great-great grandfather married Susannah Allen who was born in Hampshire England 20th March 1812 and was baptised in the Mitcheldever Circuit Primitive Methodist Church. They were married on 8th October 1835, in the Parish of East Stratton, Hampshire, England by the Rev. C.R. Dallas. Susannah's parents were John and Elizabeth Allen. John Allen appears to have been the head gardener at Statton Park. Apparently the Lawsons and the Allens left Scotland at the same time.

Robert and Susannah Lawson left England from Gravesend on the 19th June 1841 on a 560 ton vessel named the Gertrude captained by T. S. Stead for New Zealand arriving at Port Nicholson on the 30th October 1841. They settled in a place called River Hutt, near Wellington. According to the passenger list for the Gertrude they had with them 3 sons aged 4, 3 and 2 and a baby daughter aged 4 months.

Four of Robert and Susannah Lawson's children were born in New Zealand. The 10 children were Andrew, Jabez, John, Robert, William, Elizabeth, Alfred, and Emma. Jabez drowned in New Zealand and Robert died as a child in New Zealand. Elizabeth married and became Mrs. Moran of Melbourne Victoria Australia, and Mary later became Mrs. Sibley.

In August 1853, Robert went to Bendigo with 2 of his sons, Andrew and John in search of gold, without success. A Robert Lawson arrived in August 1853 aboard a ship named the Scottish Maid. We are not sure whether this is our Robert. Two years later they were followed by the rest of the family. We have searched high and low but cannot find the ship on which the rest of the family arrived in Melbourne. Whilst there are several arrivals of Lawsons in 1855 and 1856 none exactly match Susannah and the children and therfore no real conclusion can be drawn from the records. Robert and Susannah selected land near Axeland Victoria and farmed it for many years. Later, after selling the farm, they bought land near Wandong thirty miles North of Melbourne. A few years later they moved to Murchison where Robert died on 25th September 1905.

John Robert Lawson (our great grandfather) was first married to Amelia White who died during childbirth. His second marriage was to Anne Williams who was aged 16 when they married. She had come to Australia from Scotland on the ship Apollo with her brother Tom who died 6 months after arrival from injuries received enroute when a mast had fallen on him during a storm. He died in Bendigo aged about 21. John and Anne Lawson had twelve children. Alf died after World War 1 from the effects of mustard gas used during the war. During his life he was the Grand Master of a Lodge in Tasmania. George Lawson was born in Strathfieldsaye near Bendigo Victoria in 1890 and at around age 12 had a printing business in Queenstown Tasmania. There is a story that he invented something or some process which Kodak began to use but the details aren't available as yet. George Lawson and Robina Florence Henderson born 1884 were married at St Andrews Church Queenstown by Rev. George E. Harrison on the 16th June 1920 .

Robina Florence Henderson's parents were John Neil Henderson a miner and Mary Anne Hodkin. Robina was born in Majorca Victoria. George Lawson joined the AIF 12th battalion 1st division on 29/9/1916. William Gladstone Henderson (Robina's brother) who enlisted enlisted on 19/5/1917 was killed in Borre France on 1st May 1918 was also in the 12th battalion. It is not known if William and George were friends but it is possible that George met Robina Florence Henderson as a result of knowing William. George Lawson left the AIF on 20/5/1919.

At the time of his marriage George Lawson had a printing business in Queenstown. Later they moved to Richmond Victoria (prior to 1930) where George owned a corner store in Stilwell Street and then at 129 Coppin Street Richmond. George and Robina Lawson had 2 daughters. Enid May Lawson who died at 18 months from a Gastric infection and my mother Joyce Edna Lawson who died 12th June 1990. They had at least 1 son who was stillborn reportedley due to the shock of Enid's death. Robina Lawson died of stomach cancer in 1957/58 which was about the time George sold the Coppin Street Store. George Lawson died in his sleep in Box Hill North aged 81 in 1971.