John Dawson was Colonel of the militia of North Hampton, NC in 1748. He mobalized the militia in 1748 because of the possibility of an invasion by the Spanish. Arthur Sherrod, son of Robert Sherrod, was a member of Colonel Dawson's militia. He commanded the Northampton Militia at the time of "The Spanish Alarm." Arthur Sherard, John III's cousin, was a lieutenant in this regiment. Dawson also served in the General Assembly, as a member of the Governor's Council and as a member of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, He later was executor of the will of John Sherard III which was made in 1751. The other executor was his son, Thomas Sherard. Thomas later moved to Franklin County, NC with his neighbor, Green Hill, from Northampton County. They served in the Franklin County Militia during the Revolution as First Major and Second Major respectively. Interesting also, both Thomas Sherrod and Green Hill in May 1779 represented Franklin County in the first session of the North Carolina Assembly.
