Our Lawson Family Heritage

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 fact is that this is completely unt

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!

Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland . Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns. Tartan is often called plaid in North America, but in Scotland, a plaid is a tartan cloth slung over the shoulder as a kilt accessory, or a plain ordinary blanket such as one would have on a bed. Tartan is made with alternating bands of coloured (pre-dyed) threads woven as both warp and weft at right angles to each other. The weft is woven in a simple twill , two over—two under the warp, advancing one thread at each pass. This forms visible diagonal lines where different colours cross, which give the appearance of new colours blended from the original ones. The resulting blocks of colour repeat vertically and horizontally in a distinctive pattern of squares and lines known as a sett. (Wikipedia)

Mother and Father (Jess Somers) on their Wedding Day (March 26, 1957) with my brothers Kenny and Terry Davidson