As far as ascertained, Edward Rawson was the emigrant ancestor of the different branches of the Rawsons in the United States excepting those founded subsequent to the year 1800. The most remote ancestor of Edward Rawson who has been traced was Sir Edward Rawson, who lived in England during the reign of King Henry. He is said to have been a man of military skill and experience. The Rawson arms: "On a shield, the lower half sable, upper half Azure, in center of shield a castle with four towers in gold." Crest: "A Raven's head bearing on neck drop of gold, one and two. Erased, on a wreath, in beak a ring of gold." Motto: "Laus virtutes acto."
(I) Edward Rawson came to America in the year 1636-37, and settled at Newbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was a grantee of that town; the second town clerk, chosen April 19, 1638, and annually re-elected until 1647. He was elected selectman in 1647 and also was commissioner to try small causes. He was chosen the same year to represent the town at the May and September sessions of the general court; was re-elected deputy in 1638-39-42-44-45. During the long session of the latter year the deputies passed the following vote: "Edward Rawson is chosen and appointed clerk in the house of Deputies for one whole yeere, to enter all votes passed in both houses & those also ye passe only by them into the book of Records." In 1646 he retained his seat as deputy and his office as clerk of the house, being voted a salary as "Secretary to ye House of Deputies." Johnson, in his "Wonder Working Providence," published in London, 1654, thus speaks of him: "Mr. Edward Rawson a young man, yet employed in the commonwealth affairs a long time, being well beloved by the inhabitants of Newbury, having had a large hand in her foundation, but of late he being of a ripe capacity a good teoman (penman) and eloquent inditer hath been chosen Secretary of the Colony." From 1650 he was annually re-elected secretary until the usurpation of the government by Sir Edmund Andross in 1686, when Randolph succeeded him. In addition to his office of secretary, he was for many years recorder of Suffolk county. Several large grants of land were made to him and other allowance as salary for "extraordinary services." His salary at first as secretary was 20 pounds per annum, but was later increased to 60 pounds. His family Bible, owned in 1875 by R. B. Dodge, of East Sutton, Massachusetts, contains the following, written by his son William: "This may certify whome it may concerne that Edward Rawson (Secretary) was born in Old England in the year of our Lord 1615 Apr. 16 and departed this life Aug. 27th day, in the year of our Lord 1693 in New England ages 78 years." Edward Rawson and wife were members of the First Church of Newbury. He was steward or agent for the corporation in England for "the propagation of the gospel among the Indians in New England," "receiving and disposing of such goods and commodities" as should be sent to the "United Colonies." The only blemish upon the fair name of Edward Rawson was his participation in the persecution of the Quakers. There is abundant proof that he yielded to the fanaticism of his day and was more than a follower in those unjust, cruel persecutions of unresisting, innocent women and children, as well as men.
He married Rachel Perne, granddaughter of John Hooker, uncle of Rev. Thomas Hooker, the famous divine, of Hartford, Connecticut. Children:
- A daughter, left in England.
- Edward, graduate of Harvard College, 1653; returned to England, entered the ministry and was settled at Horsmanden, county of Kent.
- Rachel, married William Aubrey, a merchant of Boston, January 18, 1653.
- David, born May 6, 1644, returned to England.
- Mary Perne, born 1646, married Rev. Samuel Torrey, May 15, 1657.
- Susan, died in Roxbury, 1654.
- William, see forward.
- Rebecca, died young.
- Rebecca, married Thomas Rumsey, July 1, 1679, died at Port Royal.
- Elizabeth, married Thomas Broughton.
- John, returned to England.
- Grindal, graduate at Harvard College, 1678, a classmate and friend of Cotton Mather. He entered the ministry and was settled at Mendon, Massachusetts. He published "A Confession of Faith," and at least two sermons, one "preached to and at the request of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company," the other, "preached before his excellency the governor, the Hon. council and Representatives of the province of Massachusetts Bay in New England on May 25, 1709." He married Susannah, daughter of Rev. John Wilson, of Braintree, and granddaughter of Rev. John Wilson, first minister of Boston. They had twelve children.
(II) William, third son of Edward and, Rachel (Perne) Rawson, was born May 21, 1651, died September 20, 1726. He was a prominent merchant and importer of Boston. He kept a dry goods store in Rawson's Lane, now Bromfield street. In 1689 he sold his estate in Boston and removed to Dorchester, and later purchased a tract of land in Braintree near Neponset Village. Here he lived for forty years. He married, 1673, Anne, only daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Smith) Glover, of Dorchester, Massachusetts. She died about 1730, aged seventy-four years. They were the parents of twenty children during a period of twenty-five years. Only five of the sons lived to maturity and to have families of their own. Children:
- Ann,
- Wilson,
- Margaret,
- Edward,
- Edward (2),
- Rachel,
- Thankful,
- Ann,
- Patience,
- Grindal,
- Mary, all of whom died in infancy;
- Dorothy, died at eight years of age;
- Captain William, born December 8, 1682, married Sarah Crosby;
- David, see forward;
- Dorothy (2), died young;
- Ebenezer, died young;
- Nathaniel, married Hannah Thompson;
- Ebenezer, died young;
- Edward, married Preserved Bailey;
- Peletiah, married Hannah Hall.
The names of these children are all recorded in the old family Bible, before mentioned.
(III) David, ninth child of William and Anne (Glover) Rawson, was born December 13, 1683. He lived on the farm occupied by his father near Neponset Bridge, and was noted for his energy and persevering business qualities. He left a valuable estate. He died, in Braintree, now Quincy, April 20, 1752. He married Mary, daughter of Captain John Gulliver, of Milton. Children:
- David, born September 14, 1714, married Mary Dyer;
- Jonathan, December 26, 1715, married Susanna Stone;
- Elijah, February 5, 1717, married Mary Paddock;
- Mary, May 20, 1718, married Captain Joseph Winchester;
- Hannah, died young;
- Silence, died in infancy;
- Anne, July 30, 1722, married Samuel Bass;
- Elizabeth, November 30, 1723, married Peter Adams;
- Josiah, see forward;
- Jerusha, December 21, 1729, married Israel Eaton;
- Lydia, January 17, 1731, married Samuel Baxter;
- Ebenezer, May 31, 1734, married Sarah Chase.
(IV) Josiah, son of David and Mary (Gulliver) Rawson, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, August 28, 172—, died February 24, 1812. He first settled in Grafton, later in Warwick, Franklin county, Massachusetts. He married, August 28, 1750, Hannah Bass, of Braintree. Children:
- Josiah, born 1751, married Agibail [Abigail?] Barrows;
- Simeon, see forward;
- Abigail, November 14, 1755, married Joshua Garfield;
- Mary, November 23, 1757, married David W. Leland;
- Anna B., October 11, 1759, married Thomas Leland;
- Nathan, 1761, married Livonia Robinson;
- Lydia, 1763, died at age of eighteen;
- Betsey, 1765;
- Lemuel, January 18, 1767, married Sarah Barrows;
- Amelia, 1769, married Seth Ellis;
- Hannah, 1771;
- Secretary, September 19, 1713, married Lucy Russell.
(V) Simeon, son of Josiah and Hannah (Bass) Rawson, was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, 1753, died 1835. He removed to New York state, where he was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Schroon, Essex county, settling there in 1799. He married Anna Holden, of Barre, Massachusetts, who bore him twelve children.
(VI) Anna, daughter of Simeon and Anna (Holden) Rawson, was born in November, 1779, in Massachusetts. She married John Baker, born in Rhode Island, who settled in Schroon, Essex county, New York, about the same time the Rawsons did. Anna (Rawson) Baker died September 23, 1840; her husband in April, 1835. Children:
- Amy R., died February 13, 1813;
- Anna Holden, see forward;
- Eliza King, see forward.
(VII) Anna Holden, daughter of John and Anna (Rawson) Baker, was born in Essex.county, New York, May 25, 1804. She married Jesse Taylor, a farmer of Schroon. Children:
- Eleanor C., married J. H. Rice, deceased;
- John B., now a resident of Michigan;
- Charles F.;
- Andrew J., now a resident of Glens Falls, New York.
(VII) Eliza King, youngest daughter of John and Anna (Rawson) Baker, was born in the town of Schroon, Essex county, New York, April 18, 1810, died October 27, 1850. She married Charles Fowler, of Chester, New York, January 10, 1832. Charles Fowler's mother was Clara (Holbrook) Fowler, daughter of Ephrahim Holbrook, an early settler of the town of Coeymans, Albany county, New York. She married ———— Fowler and had seven children. Charles Fowler was born in Albany county, New York, April 9, 1807. He settled in the town of Chester, Warren county, New York, where he was engaged in lumber and mercantile business. He had large business interests and mills at Glens Falls. He died July 15, 1884. Children:
- Charles A., born January 28, 1833, died in Ohio, December 10, 1891;
- Joseph, July 5, 1835, died July 13, 1839;
- James I., April 15, 1838, now (1910) a resident of Jamestown, New York;
- Joseph, December 17, 1840, died at Glens Falls, October 30, 1898;
- Jane, September 21, 1843, died July 27, 1848;
- Byron B., see forward;
- Jane (2), August 9, 1848, married W D. Shedd, whom she survives, a resident of Jamestown, New York;
- Eliza King, October 9, 1850, died May 1, 1893, married J. L. Cunningham.
(VIII) Byron Baker, fifth son of Charles and Eliza King (Baker) Fowler, was born in the town of Chester, Warren county, New York, September 7, 1845. He was educated in the public schools and at Claverack Academy. He engaged in mercantile life, and with his brother established the well-known dry goods house of Fowler Brothers, of Glens Falls, New York, in 1869. After one year Joseph Fowler withdrew and Byron B. conducted the business alone until 1900, when the business was incorporated under the name of B. B. Fowler Company. He is interested in other of the business enterprises of his town, where he is active and prominent. He was president of the Glens Falls Building and Loan Association, director of the First National Bank, and holds lesser interests in other companies. He is president of the Young Men's Christian Association, a member of the Presbyterian church, and politically a Republican. He married, June 8, 1870, Julia A., daughter of Albert N. and Annah (Hunt) Cheney. Child,
- Albert Nelson, born November 3, 1871; married May Stevenson.