Photos:Mt Lebanon Hancock Hamilton Richmond
Village:Hancock, MA Source:bios:168Search: Full Last First
id 168 firstname Ira Remington lastname Lawson birthyr 1834 deathyr 1905 bio Lawson, Ira Remington (1834-1905), a trustee of the Hancock Shaker Society, was born in Union, CT, lived in the
West F. in 1851, was appointed its 2nd Elder in 1857, and became 1st trustee at the Church F. office in 1865. He
apostasized in June, 1871, to marry Elisa Van Valen, but after only one day of marriage returned to the Shakers
"completely shaken and horrified by what he did." He was taken back by the Shakers and worked hard on their behalf
ever after. In 1899 he was appointed to be one of the Mt. Lebanon Central Ministry, together with Br. Joseph Holden,
and Srs. Harriet Bullard and Augusta Stone. His funeral was attended by 250 people, as an inscription on the back of
a cabinet portrait, taken of him, attests.
Village:Hancock, MA Source:hsvcensus:744Search: Full Last First
id 744 lastname Lawson firstname Ira Remington sex m birth_date 1835.04.25 birth_place CT date_admitted 1851c covenant_signed 1851 shaker_residences Hancock 1851, 1853, 1855, 1857, 1860, 1862-1863, 1865, 1870-1871, 1873, 1880, 1883, 1889-1890, 1894-1895, 1900, 1905. health Dangerously ill; see headline-less tidbit, Pittsfield Sun, July 16, 1873. To Hoboken NJ for 3 weeks for sickness 1890, MPH.8000 p121. occupation Gardener, 1855. Elder, 1857. Farm supt, 1860. Trustee, 1862. Farmer, 1863. Peddler, 1865. Trustee, 1870-1905. Farmer, 1900. departure_apostasy Signed West Family covenant 1851.01.01, MPH.854. 'Ira R. Lawson came to Enfield – staid over the Sabbath, and I [Thomas Damon] accompanied him to Thompson Ct. to see his friends and from there to Providence R.I. where he received a small patrimony amounting to $100. At Providence we took a Steam Boat for New York – distant 30 miles – had a beautiful ride – staid over night, viewed the beach and ocean took a bath & returned to Providence much pleased with our trip,' 1855.05.12, NOC.TDM. 1855 MA census, Hancock family 130 (David Terry's): age 21, gardener, born CT. Appointed to live in the Eldership with Br. David Terry – Age 28, 1857.11.22, NOC.TDM. 1860 U.S. census, Hancock, MA (David Terry's West) family 2216: 26, farm supt, born CT. Named Chh Office Trustee 1862.07.23, MPH.8000 p2. Signed covenant 1862.12.25, NOC.13,602, p56. Birthdate, place, occupation farmer noted, 1863 conscription list, DeWint.1168. 1865 MA census, Hancock family 161: age 31, born CT, peddler. 1870 U.S. census, Pittsfield, family 1526: age 36, trustee, $30,000 real estate, $5,500 personal estate, born CT; Eliza Van Valen was housekeeper at Office where they lived. April 1871 he eloped with Eliza VanValen, repented & returned, 'Matrimonial,' Pittsfield Sun, June 15, 1871. 1880 U.S. census, Pittsfield, MA [Hancock Chh] family 544: 1st brother listed, age 46, divorced, farmer, born CT. Visited NYC & Phila Oct 1883, MPH.8000 p116. Toured eastern societies, White Mountains, Boston 1889, MPH.8000 p19. Hancock East Family Trustee 1894.10.02, MPH.8000 p21. Hancock Chh Office Trustee 1895.01.01, NOC.10,345. 1900 U.S. census, Pittsfield, family 107 [Hancock Office]: born CT April 1835, age 65, farmer. See his letters, 1900-1901, OClWHi.IV:B-20. Elder at death, MPH.8000 p218. Obituary: 'Died at the Church Office, after a week’s illness from pneumonia and heart trouble Ira Remington Lawson, aged 70 years 11 mos 5 days. He had been a member since his 18th year [c1853] and was Trustee since 1865 and member of the Central Ministry since 1899,' 1905.04.05, NOC.10,345. 'We miss him everywhere, for he was a man in a thousand, able to command and to do, keen, kind, honest, quick to understand and to sympathize ... He left all business in good condition.... All was accomplished by his wise thought for when he assumed the care there was nothing but a debt, as a start. Of course this is held and he used only the interest, working closely not to disturb what he garnered,' Fidella Estabrook letter 1905.07.23, OClWHi.IV:A-20. Photos, MPH, NCH, OClWR. notes 1905.04.05 death_date Hancock death_location Pneumonia & heart trouble death_cause Age 70 yrs 11m 5d at death, MPH.8000 p218.
Village:Hancock, MA Source:whrsreel:008641Search: Full Last First