Richard Dawson, Lt.-Govr 1777-1791

A Captain Dawson was ordered to the Island in 1765, post Revestment, to plan a suitable Barracks for the troops that had been sent over for the dual purpose of preventing the importation of the now illicit goods that were not allowed under the laws of England, Scotland and Ireland but which had be allowed under Manx Law and the running of these goods onto the coasts of the three kingdoms; the other reason for sending so many troops was to quell any possible popular disquiet.

A letter from the Office of Ordnance dated 20th Feb 1766 to the Treasury reports

In Obedience to His Majesty's Commands signified to Your Lordships by the Earl of Halifax in his Letter of the 4th June 1765 We directed Engineer Dawson to proceed to the Isle of Man & to cause Barracks to be fitted up for the Reception of His Majesty's Troops ordered into the Island & he having made his Report from thence & transmitted Plans of the Place. We beg leave to lay before Your Lordship the annexed Copy of the said Report & Plans & at the same time submit to Your Lordship's Consideration whether His Majesty's Commands should not be taken as soon as possible upon the following Paragraph of the said Report there being neither Ordnance, Ammunition or Stores in the Island at present.

"This Island has been in a manner protected from any Invasion either of the Franch or Spaniards by the beneficial Trade the Inhabitants always carried on with those Nations even when at War but since by the Purchase of the Island that Trade has been entirely stopt; that Protection is now no more, and they are become liable to the Insults of Privateers."

Dawson was first noted in the Engineers, as a Practitioner Engineer on 22nd May 1750, rising to Sub-Engineer 21st February 1755, at this period the Royal Engineers were not a part of the regular Army. His next notices is as a Lieutenant 14th April 1757, promoted to Capt-Lt on 4th Jan 1758 and to Engineer in Ordinary (equivalent to Captain)17th March 1759; he served in Portugal in 1762. By 1765 he was associated with the Northern command and thus found himself sent to the Island. He was promoted to Major 23rd July 1772 and about the same time appointed Engineer to the Island.

At this period a Lt-Govr was seen as a temporary position to be held during the absence of the Governor from the Island - although post 1765 there would be a 10s per diem allowance to cover the many additional costs incurred by the holder, no salary was attached to the post though it might be agreed by the Governor to pay something from his own salary. An additional complication at this period was that any governor or Lt-Governor was expected to hold military rank as they would also be commanding officer of any troops barracked on the Island. Thus when Govr Wood who had continued in post through the Revestment applied to Whitehall for a period of leave, it was agreed on condition that a Lt-Govr was appointed thus Capt Henry Hope, in charge of the companies of 27th Regt of Foot on the Island, was given a Commission to act as Lt Governor of the Isle dated 6th Aug 1773 - however Wood did not take his agreed leave until August 1774 due to a bout of illness - Hope had earlier queried the small allowance and even stated he would accept the position without it rather than accept such a small ammount. Wood requested a longer absence due to illness but Hope's regiment was drafted to Ireland and although he was ordered to remain he was unhappy in missing out on active service as he had been recommended for the 44th Regt due for foreign service - meanwhile Dawson had pointed out that following his promotion to Major he was of superior rank and his area covered the Island. There would appear to have been communication between Hope and Dawson about the position as Hope recommends Dawson should take over which he did on 27 April 1775

Wood's illness continued and was granted an extension of leave until early spring 1776 - Wood suggested the appointment of a standing Lt-Govr but managed to return to the Island by July 1776; Dawson indicated he would be happy to continue in post as Lt Governor and in December of that year met Lord Suffolk in London. Wood died in May 1777 - London appointed General Edward Smith as Governor who in a burst of activity pushed through the 1777 Act backed by Wadsworth Busk the newly appointed Attorney General, but realising that Island life and residence in Castle Rushen quarters were not to his liking came to a job-sharing arrangement with Dawson. London agreed as long as either Smith or Dawson were in residence on the Island. Smith agreed a division of the Governor's £600 salary - he to keep £400 and Dawson to receive £200.

Dawson was promoted to Lt-Col on 29 August 1777 with further promotion to Colonel five years later on 20th November 1782. The job-share would appear to have worked well though Dawson spent the majority of time on Island with Smith relieving him during the summer months. The arrangement was however later complicated by Smith's marriage in 1786 to a widow with two young daughters by her previous marriage - the Castle Rushen quarters were not designed for a family.

However by 1787 Dawson's health was beginning to fail - the letters from Dawson to Smith in August 1787 indicate his reluctance to return to 'the condemnd holes of Castle Rushen' is clearly stated, though he stuck it out until 1789 when after writing his will after a serious bout of illness, he signalled his wish to resign on 30th April 1789 though it was not accepted until 10 September 1790 and as the warrant for the appointment of Alexander Shaw was dated 26 November 1790, Dawson remained in position until 2 January 1791 when Shaw arrived.[Shaw would appear to have served for a period in the 60th Regt of Foot in North America along with Edward Smith]

Dawson would appear to have retired to Canterbury - promoted to Major-General 13 Oct 1793 and to Lt-Gen on 1st Jan 1798. - his death was noted at Canterbury on 24th February 1800 aged 71 - he was buried at St Paul without the Walls Canterbury where there is a memorial in the nave "Near this place lies the body of Lt. Gen Richard Dawson late of the County of York who departed this Life Feb 24 1800 aged 71 years".

There is no mention of any wife or children in the period he held the Lt-Governship apart from one mention in the Cumberland Packet of 21st Oct 177 "Fri last [17th Oct] the lady of Richard Dawson esq Lt Govr of the IoM came to this town [Whitehaven] to emback for the Island." - however the Carlisle Journal of Saturday 7th April 1804 carried a death notice of his widow:

The 2nd inst at Caldbeck, aged 71, Mrs Dawson, widow and relict of Lieutenant General Richard Dawson, formerly Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man, but late of Canterbury in the county of Kent. To a mind well improved were added the manners of the accomplished gentlewoman. Her virtues can be related only by those who have experienced her friendship and benevolence. She had truly a Heart to pity, and hand to give, and her name will ever be held in the highest esteem by all who knew her.

Her death was a tragic accident "On the 6th, immediately after dinner, whilst standing near the parlour-fire, part of her muslim-dress came into contact with the flame, by which she was dreadfully scorched" - she died the following morning.

She is noted as Grizel, also known as Grizzy, daughter of Otho Hamilton,senr, of Annapolis Royal, born in Canada - however no marriage has been found though an American account of the Hamiliton family states she became the wife of Colonel Richard Dawson of the Engineers. The will of Grizel's father Otho Hamilton, who died in 1770 at Waterford Ireland, dated 26 August 1768 disposes a quarter share of his estate to be held in trust by his two sons with the interest thereof paid to "my son-in-law Richard Dawson esqr and Grizy his wife and the survrs of them..." - no children of the Dawson's are named and if there are no children to the marriage then this quarter of the estate to return to his descendants at the death of the survivor of them .

Richard Dawson composed a will, dated 28th December 1789, during the final period of his stay on Island when he was seriously ill, in which he appoints his brother William Dawson of Papcastle and Daniel Callow of Castletown executors with a bequest of an annuity to an Elizabeth Whyte of Castletown, spinster, who had superintended his domestic concerns "as though she had been his daughter" and "especially for her attention to him whilst afflicted with distress and unable to help myself". Though he lived a further ten years away from the Island he would not appeared to have written a new will - neither does he mention any wife.

References

T Connolly Roll of Officers of the Royal Engineers 1660-1898 unpublished but copies held by UK National Archives shelf ref 358.2 Rol.

Rev Arthur Wentworth Hamilton Eaton Lt-Col Ortho Hamilton of Olivestob C.H. Ruggles Halifax Nova Scotia 1899 - contains a copy of the 1768 will then held in the Public Record Office of Ireland

Acknowledgement

Many thanks to David Allen for providing guidance and reference to Connolly's Roll.