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PRESIDENT THOMAS DAWSON.

ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND,
26 July, 1902.

DEAR SIR: In the year 1896 we had some correspondence with regard
to David Mossom and Daniel Taylor (WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY,
Vol. V., No. 3, p. 204-'5-'6). I have since found that Daniel
Taylor was ordained deacon 6 Febuary, 1726/7, and priest 7 May,
1727, by the Bishop of London.

While working a few days ago at the Episcopal registers of the
Diocese of Carlisle I came across the ordination of one Thomas
Dawson,(1) of William and Mary College, which I copied, and send
herewith in case they may interest you.

Rose Castle was then and is now the official residence of the
Bishop of Carlisle.
________________________________________________________________

(1) Rev. Thomas Dawson was son of William Dawson, of Aspatria,
Cumberland, England and brother of William Dawson, D.D., president
of William and Mary College. He was educated by his brother at
William and Mary College, and, after serving as master of the Indian
School at the college, he was made president in 1755, and continued
such till 1761. In 1752, married Priscilla Bassett, daughter of Col.
William Bassett, of New Kent, Va. He had issue Thomas Bassett
Dawson of the Virginia navy.

Page 93.

At an Ordination Special held on Sunday the fourteenth day of
September 1740 in the chapel at Rose Castle in the County of Cumber-
land, by the right reverent Father in God George by devine permission
Lord Bishop of Carlisle in the presence of me Joseph Nicolson Notary
public Register of Carlisle aforesaid Thomas Dawson of the College
of William and Mary in Virginia was admitted into the holy order
of Deacon and had Letters Testimonial thereof under the said Lord
Bishop's Episcopal Seal.

An exactly similar entry records that Thomas Dawson was admitted
priest on Sunday, 21 September, 1740, at a special ordination held
in the same place.

The Bishop of Carlisle in 1740 was Dr. George Fleming.

It will be observed that Thomas Dawson was ordained deacon and
priest on two successive Sundays. Such a course at that time was
infrequent, but not without precedent.

Yours very truly, R. F. SCOTT.
Dr. Lyon G. Tyler, M.A., LL.D.