Baker Cemetery was moved from its original location to Centre Presbyterian Church Graveyard when Lake norman was formed from the Catawba River in 1960. Per Centre Presbyterian Church Cemetery Records.

North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998

Name Mary Lawson

Probate Date 1854

Probate Place Iredell, North Carolina, USA

Inferred Death Year Abt 1854

Inferred Death Place North Carolina, USA

Item Description Original Wills, Kilpatrick, Andrew - Tharpe, William

Household Members

Name Age

Mary Lawson

BIO: by Robin Donaldson Seamon

Mary "Molly" Lawson was the daughter of Hugh Berry Lawson Jr (1731-1784) and Rebecca McConnell Lawson Cooke. Mary never married and remained in her parents' household for the duration of her lifetime. Her will, written in 1853 details some of her family details.

Her father died in 1784 and her mother remarried to John Cooke (1740-1818.) Following the census data, slave schedules, and finally her will, we can learn more about her life. She was buried in Baker Cemetery with several of her family members. Her headstone was relocated to Centre Presbyterian Cemetery when the river was flooded for Lake Norman.

DOCUMENTS:

1800 Census: she is likely the female aged 16-25 in John Cook's household.

1810 Census: she is likely the female aged 26-44 in John Cook's household.

1820 Census: she is the female aged 26-44 in Rebecca Cook's home (her mother). Nephew John Donaldson with the household (male under 10) as well as niece Mary C Torrence (female 10-15)

1830 Census: she is the female aged 40-49. Nephew John Donaldson is in the household (male 15-19).

1840 Census: she is the head of household aged 60-69. John Lawson is still living with her (aged 20-29).

1850 Census: she is the head of household age 74. John Donaldson, his wife Rachel, and four children are part of the household.

1853 Mary's will indicates her wish to leave the plantations to nephew John Lawson Donaldson. She lists how she wishes her enslaved population to be disbursed. John Lawson Donaldson and Mary C Torrence (Cathey) were to receive specific individuals from this population.