Our Lawson Family Heritage

This is a church directory photo of Marsha Lawson Somers taken in the late 1970's or early 1980's. This is a photo of my mother who went to be with the Lord on New Year's Eve, 1995. This time of the year is bitter sweet as we remember her fight with cancer and know it is good she has been with Lord Jesus these many years, but we still miss her.

The Monongahela National Forest; photo taken from slopes of Back Allegheny Mountain looking east   ( Valerius Tygart  - Appalachian Mountains /  Wikipedia ) As our patriarch William (the rebel) Lawson was originally from Scotland, banished to America and then eventually settled in Snowflake, Virginia, I thought this article on  The Dialect of The Appalachian People by Wylene P. Dial  posted at  West Virginia Archives and History would be appropriate to feature here.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The dialect spoken by Appalachian people has been given a variety of names, the majority of them somewhat less than complimentary. Educated people who look with disfavor on this particular form of speech are perfectly honest in their belief that something called The English Language, which they conceive of as a completed work - unchanging and fixed for all time - has been taken and, through ignorance, shamefully distorted by the mountain folk. The f...

Photo of my parents, Jess and Marsha (Lawson) Somers, with brothers Terry, Kenny and me (1958 ?). I don't remember ever seeing this family photo before, but after receiving it in the mail from my cousin yesterday, many fond memories have been going through my mind... I remember as a child thinking my father was the most handsome man in the world and my mother the kindest woman on earth. I also remember crawling over pillows my mother had placed around me (as a barricade?) to get to my brothers who were playing with toy army men. Sadly, they didn't appreciate my company as I remember knocking over their battle scene. :) I love my parents - mom went to be with the Lord in 1995 and Dad is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. A few months ago he told me I worried about him too much and that he has lived a good life. He then assured me he is in the Lord's care... I truly hope so. Thank You, dear Lord, for the family I was born into. Please watch over my brothers and...

As our family roots originate in Scotland, I think it might be helpful for us to learn more of its forgotten history. Here is a link to two brief videos that will eventually become a series of Scotland's Forgotten History. I hope you'll enjoy them and develop a love and connection to our Lawson heritage. It's one of bravery and heroism. We are connected by blood to a noble people. Scotland's Forgotten History Trailer from Scotland's Forgotten History on Vimeo . Link: https://vimeo.com/scotlandforgottenhistory/scotlandsforgottenhistory Our Need for Revival Today Our Need for Revival Today from Scotland's Forgotten History on Vimeo . Link: https://vimeo.com/230762121

Please click image for larger view. This picture was probably taken around 1910. I remember my Great Grandmother telling me she traveled in a covered wagon. This picture certainly looks as though it could've been taken from a scene in the "Little House on the Prairie" series!