charlie lawson

hi all, just wanted to know how payne/edwards roads got involved in the shooting/murder deaths of charlie lawson in 1929, when it was a fact that he lived in stokes county on brookcove road. Any input would be appreciated. Have a great day!

I ask my dad and he said that they found blood in the creek at payne rd from the murder It is believed
that the blood ran down a creek from brookcove to Payne I hope this helps .

It is also said in the book " The Meaning of our Tears" that the floor boards from the house where several of the family members were killed, were used to build the bridge on Payne Rd. It is said by some in the area that this bridge is haunted, that your car will stall while on the bridgeand not restart, until you get out of your car and push it to the road on the other side of the bridge. I have not been down there, but would love to go some day, and see for myself-- If I Can ever get up the nerve. I would also like to go to the cemetary where they are all buried,, I kinda feel like I want to pay my respects to those killed, even though I never met them. There is also said to be a haunted INN-- the Squire's Inn on Watts Rd-- very close by to the Lawson's property. Rumor has it that on Christmas Day-- 2 of the younger Lawson Children, can be seen looking through the front door, and heard laughing and playing. Again--I have not been there, but have been doing ALOT of research on these topics.

The floor boards from the home were used to build a bridge, but not on Payne Road. Payne Road has nothing to do with the Lawson murders. The bridge is a covered bridge on the property where the Lawson's lived (Private property) and the bridge from all the old rumors of Payne Road is no longer there. There is nothing on Payne Road except some old barns.

Booooooo..........

i am sick of all the speculations, rumors guesses he said she said or what some yahoo thinks from out of town. for christ sake, does the town or county not have any FACTS about what went on or are we just gonna have to rely on clowns to paint us a picture??

Melissa wrote:

I ask my dad and he said that they found blood in the creek at payne rd from the murder It is believed
that the blood ran down a creek from brookcove to Payne I hope this helps .

The creek runs the other direction towards Walnut Cove and Rockingham county.

All of these stories have become intertwined through the years. The only event that is documented is the accidental murder at the house on Edwards/Payne Road a few years ago. Later the shooter committed suicide elsewhere. My grandmother's homeplace is at the end of the road in Germanton. The Lawson killlings are not related.

Does the house still stand, or have there been new development on the property?

Gary wrote:

Does the house still stand, or have there been new development on the property?

they tore it down a LONG time ago!!!!

you can go to the libary and check out a documentary on the charlie lawson murders thats as close as you can get to knowing what happend there are people on there who had kin people alive then who went through it and they told them the story the only person that really knows is charlie lawson and he is no longer here

Angela wrote:

The floor boards from the home were used to build a bridge, but not on Payne Road. Payne Road has nothing to do with the Lawson murders. The bridge is a covered bridge on the property where the Lawson's lived (Private property) and the bridge from all the old rumors of Payne Road is no longer there. There is nothing on Payne Road except some old barns.

There used to be a two-story house on Payne Rd that was burned down several years ago by the fire department. But before then the bridge and the house did throw off some weird feelings and shadows. Also, the road used to be graved instead of paved.

livedherellmylife wrote:

All of these stories have become intertwined through the years. The only event that is documented is the accidental murder at the house on Edwards/Payne Road a few years ago. Later the shooter committed suicide elsewhere. My grandmother's homeplace is at the end of the road in Germanton. The Lawson killlings are not related.

Yes I knew the parties involved and he did commit suicide because of what happened. There were also some other events that happened on Payne Rd back years ago.

were are james arthur lawson the one to live other family at now? Were is the farm located? who owes it now? the son die at the age of 31 and he had a car wreck! I want more about him by some one who knows or someone who lives there please!

You know it's so funny how this happened so long ago but yet ppl are still interesting in finding out detail's. Me this is my family, WAY DOWN THE LINE, but still no matter how far I dig I can't get the answer's that we all are searching for, and to be honest we never will find the answer's that we are looking for, was Marie pregnant or was she not pregnant, we never will know, we'll have to wait until the lord come's and those that are saved we can ask ?'s and get some answer's. The graveside is not haunted (not that I've ever seen) the property has grown up, a lady now own's it and if she finds u on her land she will have u arrested there on the spot no ?'s asked! All u can do is read the book, watch the video and wonder how on God's green earth can a man sit there and beat his children like that! A poor innocent 6 month old baby, she never had time to do any wrong, it really makes u think about life and makes u wonder what was goin through his head, what was he thinking about!?

Is that true does someone realy live at the sight of the haunting cause i am planing on going there and i dont want to waste my time when i get there and find out some one lives there. can anyone give me some fact on this?

Gary wrote:

Does the house still stand, or have there been new development on the property?

No they tore the house down

My father was in Madison when they brought the bodie in. He said they just had them piled up in the back of the hearse. He took me to the gravesite around 1981, but I don't remember how to get there. Can anyone get me the address or directions?

ATHobo wrote:

My father was in Madison when they brought the bodie in. He said they just had them piled up in the back of the hearse. He took me to the gravesite around 1981, but I don't remember how to get there. Can anyone get me the address or directions?

You take Hwy 52 north from Winston Salem Exit at Germanton rd. Follow til it turns into hwy 8. Turn left on hwy 8 in Germanton, and you'll see the first or second rd, Brookcove rd, and it's on a private rd somewhere on that road.

Thanks!

Hi Iv been to the grave site two times , the last time was last saturday in the early evening.
Michelle's directions are correct, the entrance to the grave site is on a private dirt road. as soon as you make the right onto brookcove start looking to your left for a dirt road between the trees...that is the entrance back to the Browder Family cemetery. Please be respectful and quiet as it is Private Property.
Also this may be of interest to some... Their is a store in Madison called "Madison Dry goods and Museum" This property was also used as a funeral home during the time period of the Lawson Family Tragedy. They were Emabled there and readied for funeral services.
They are in the process of setting up a museum With lots of artifacts in dedication to the Lawson family tragedy.
They do have a website Madisondrygoods.com
I dont think it mentions the Lawson Museum yet but its in the process non the less.
If you continue down brookcove road right before the second paved road to the left is where ( To my understanding) the Lawson family farm was located.
I will say this, Seeing the grave site and the inscription on the grave stone and the names on the brick type stones surrounding the grave site sure brings a very somber feeling to your heart.
If you have any Questions or just want to respond feel free to Email me at Moonracey@aol.com
Moon