Our Henry was b. prior to 1738, based on his being at least 21 yrs of age to witness a deed in Albemarle County, VA with Gideon Anderson & John Gannaway. He fought in the French & Indian War from 1760-1763. He joined Col. Wm. Byrd's 2nd VA Regiment.
Col. Byrd was at Fort Pitt, PA in 1759 but the records don't indicate exactly when Henry joined or where his service was performed, just that he proved to the court that he served from 1760 through the end of the war. Henry was entitled to 50 acres for his service and he requested it in Amherst (formed out of Albemarle Co.) county, VA. He lived out the rest of his life there.
His wife was named Mary (mentioned in a deed at the end of his life) and his children were Rachel, Margaret and William.
(William's children were Alexander, Catherine, William and Henry, which 3 of these names are common in this John/Rebecca lineage. There are quite a few more William, Henry's and William Henry's amongst their descendants.)
Henry also asked to be excused from paying taxes in Amherst 1788 on the personal property tax records due to his age, which has always been at least age 50 so far in all the records that I have seen.
Source: N.A., Nov 2007
______________________________________________________________________
Virginia Census, 1607-1890
Name: Henry Dawson
State: VA
County: Amherst County
Township: No Township Listed
Year: 1783
Record Type: Tax list
Page: 047
Database: VA Early Census Index