“Lawson’s Brigade” Brig. Gen. Robert Lawson Honored With SAR Marker at Richmond’s St. John’s Church

With an assist from two of the Patriot’s 5th Great Granddaughters, Richmond Chapter President Dennis C. Peterson unveiled a new SAR plaque and stone in memory of Brig. General Robert Lawson In the cemetery at Historic St. John’s Church in Richmond.

​​Mrs. Sharon Rose of Salem, VA (right) and Mrs. Sue Porter (left) from West Texas helped celebrate the memory of a Virginia hero and one of Washington’s Generals.  History shows then Major Lawson led his 4th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army at the Battles of Trenton, Brandywine and Germantown in the early years of the Revolution. Later under now Brig. General Lawson, Virginia Militia troops, known as “Lawson’s Brigade” battled the British at Guildford Courthouse, NC and ultimately all the way to the Siege of Yorktown, VA where he witnessed Cornwallis’s surrender Oct 19, 1781.

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​St. John’s Church is the site of Patrick Henry’s immortal “Give Me Liberty or Give
 Me Death” speech. Before presenting the Colors for the National Anthem, the
Color Guard paraded through the historic cemetery where dozens of
Revolutionary War veterans are buried.  Joining the Color Guard for this
ceremony was young Jack Akers of the Alexander Spotswood Society of the C.A.R.
VASSAR Color Guard members marching were William Schwetke, Larry McKinley,
John Hamilton, David Cook and Irv Owings. Participating in the ceremony was
honored guest Andrew Lyngar, NSSAR Vice President General, Rocky Mountain
District.  

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​About 40 Compatriots, guests and visitors attended the Saturday afternoon program which would not have been possible without the cooperation of the Vestry of St. John’s Church and the Historic St. John’s Church Foundation. We appreciated the warm greeting from Sarah Whiting, Executive Director of the Foundation.   
While Gen. Lawson’s burial in the St. John’s Church Cemetery is well documented, his original grave stone is long lost to history. Ms. Whiting said her Foundation and the Church are grateful to the SAR which has given cemetery visitors a place to reflect on the life of Gen. Robert Lawson.

Submitted by Dennis Peterson, Photos by Chris Yohn