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The Lawrence family of Long Island
Email of information received from Ann Lawrence McAlister  Sep 08, 2003

This is a compilation of records I have found,  have been given by many helpful folk and have found posted.  I hope to find sufficient evidence to identify the Jacob Lawrence, presumed father of my Richard Washington Lawrence. I am intrigued with the sons Silas, Isaac and Jacob, named in the will of Jacob Lawrence of Dutchess County, N.Y., written in 1812 and proved in 1813. These are the names found on a 1766 deed of land in Flushing.  I have returned to this search after much time, and find I am much slower!  I apologize for the lack of citations for some of the material. I believe I had sent a copy of the original deed in my possession to L.I. Historical years back, but if not, I will gladly. And will also give my descent from Richard , and what I know of his other descendants.

My g-grandfather was Richard Washington Lawrence, b. 1810 , m. Margaret Crocheron 1835. He is said to be son of Jacob Lawrence and Martha Abrams. I have in my possession an original deed of 1766 from Isaac Lawrence, of Flushing in Queens, weaver and his wife Mary to Jacob Lawrence, of the same place, gentleman for 18 acres in Flushing, witnessed by Silas Lawrence and John Field, Jr.  Richard Washington Lawrence and Margaret first lived in Brooklyn ; then Queens, when they were deeded land  on Rockaway by Margaret's parents, Abraham and Elizabeth Crocheron., in 1852. [The Crocheron Family of Staten Island, New York, Charlotte Hix, 1979, p. 89.] A Jacob Lawrence of Hempstead of Heampstead was witness to an 1837 deed When the Crocherons bought the land. Richard, Elizabeth and several of their children are buried in what is now St. John's-Trinity in Hewlitt, lot #3, Range 3. I have not been able in the past to determine which Jacob is which, nor if Martha Abrams is indeed Richard's mother.

    I have the marriage of Jacob and Martha from an Abrams file I found in Cleveland Western Reserve library. An old Lawrence genealogy I have, Historical Genealogy of the Lawrence Family from Their First Landing in this Country, A.D. 1635 to the Present date, July 4th 1858,  places a Jacob as a posthumous son of Jacob and Martha, b. 15 March 1771.  Elder Jacob's will written Feb. that year. I have copy of will [from Queens Public Library, ] in which he names his pregnant wife, Martha, and a brother Silas. It is witnessed by Isaac Lawrence and Somerset Lawrence.

.  From St. George's PE Church, Hempstead records as printed in John Haight's book Adventures for God p 204. [marriages] 1793 Jan 16 - Jacob Lawrence of Flushing and Martha Abrams.[from John Hewlett]

Trinity-St. John's Churchyard, Hewlett      plot 41  range 3   [copied 1936 by Charles A. Hewlett] Jacob Lawrence d. 10/4/1857  86y 6m 19d    [abt. 3/15/1771] Martha, wife of Jacob, d. 1/8/1819 [from John Hewlett]

Martha Abrams, b. 1771, Father, Timothy Abrams, Mother Catherine Oakley.  m. 16 June 1793. Margaret, other wife of Jacob Lawrence , m. 16 Jan 1792, Hempstead, Queens [posted on LI site]

Seeking data on JACOB LAWRENCE b. 1732 in Westchester Co., NY, died in 1813 in Dutchess Co, NY. He served in the Dutchess Co. Militia. He may have been
married to a Marah or Sarah _____________. Believe he is the father of Obadiah and William, as well as others, but need to confirm. [posted on LI site]

LAWRENCE, Jacob 1813

Posted By: Dianne <dizlynn1@earthlink.net>
Date: Tuesday, 7 August 2001, at 8:43 p.m.

Will of Jacob LAWRENCE 1813 Stanford, Dutchess County, NY

The last will & testament of Jacob LAWRENCE of the town of Stanford in the County of Dutchess and State of New York, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life & being of sound mind & memory (blessed be Almighty God for the same) do make & publish this my last will & testament in manner & form following. That is to say, First, I give & bequeath unto my daughter Deborah WILDE, one hundred dollars. Second Item. I give & bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth SMITH three hundred dollars. Third Item. I give & Bequeath unto the children of my daughter, Maryan CANNIFF, that is to Mary, Jeremiah, Charlotte & Jacob, the sum of two hundred & eighty dollars to be equally divided between them four & if any one of them should die without an heir, the money is to be divided equally between the survivors. Fourth Item. I give & bequeath unto the children of my son John LAWRENCE, that is Mary, Thomas & Jacob LAWRENCE, the sum of six hundred & fifty dollars. Fifth Item. I give & bequeath unto my three sons, Richard, Samuel & William LAWRENCE, five shillings to each one. Sixth, if there should be property left after my decease more than to pay the portions mentioned in this will, it must be divided into four parts, one fourth to Deborah WILDE, one fourths to Elizabeth SMITH, one fourth to Maryan CANNIFF's children to be equally divided between them & one fourth to John LAWRENCE's children to be equally divided between them. And lastly I do hereby appoint my beloved son, William
LAWRENCE, Allen SMITH & Isaac ALBERTSON executors of this my last will & testament & I hereby order my said executors to sell my real & personal estate & grant my said executors to sell my real & personal estate & grant them full power to collect all my lawful & just debts & to pay all the debts I justly owe. And further it is my will that my executors execute & perform in the distribution of my estate according to the intention & directions which is satisfied in this my last will & testament. In witness, whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this twenty second day of June, one thousand eight hundred & twelve, 1812. Signed, sealed, published & declared by the above mentioned. JACOB LAWRENCE L.S.

Where as I, Jacob LAWRENCE of Stanford town in Dutchess County & state of New York have made my last will & testament in writing, having date the twenty second day of June one thousand eight hundred & twelve, 1812. No I do by this writing which I hereby declare to be a codicil to my said will to be taken or a part thereof, will & direct , give & bequeath unto my daughter, Deborah WILDE, wife of Isaiah WILDE, two waggons & our sleigh, which is a one horse sleigh & lastly it is my desire that this my present codicil be annexed to & made a part of my last will & testament to all intents & purposes, in witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 21st
day of December 1812, signed, sealed, published & declared by the above named Jacob LAWRENCE as a codicil to be annexed to his last will & testament in presence of us, Abraham GURNSY, Isaiah WILDE, Abigail BULLOCK JACOB
LAWRENCE L.S.

Dutchess County s.s. Be it remembered that on the eighteenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirteen personally appeared before me, Philo RUGGLES, Surrogate of said County, Abigail BULLOCK of Stanford in said County who on oath declared that she did see Jacob LAWRENCE sign & seal the annexed written instrument purporting to be the will & codicil of the said Jacob LAWRENCE, said will bearing date the twenty second day of June one thousand eight hundred & thirteen & heard him publish & declare the same as & for his last will & testament, that at the time thereof he the said Jacob LAWRENCE was of sound disposing mind & memory to the best of the knowledge & belief of her the said Abigail & that she the said Abigail, Abraham GURNEY & Isaiah WILDE severally subscribed the will as witnesses thereto in the testators presence. Philo RUGGLES, Surrogate

The People of the State of New York by the Grace of God free & Independent: To all to whom the presents shall come or may concern, send Greetings. Know Ye that at Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County, on the eighteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirteen before Philo RUGGLES, Esq. Surrogate of our said county the last will & testament of Jacob LAWRENCE deceased, ( a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was prove & is now approved & allowed of by us & the said deceased having whilst he lived & at the time of his death goods, chattels & credits within this state by means whereof the proving & registering the said will & the granting administration of and also the auditing allowing & final discharging the amount thereof, doth belong unto us, the administration of all and singular the goods, chattels & credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his will is granted unto William LAWRENCE & Isaac Alverson therein called Isaac ALBERTSON, both of the town of Clinton is said county, executors in said will names the said William LAWRENCE, being first duly sworn & the said ALBERTSON being duly affirmed will faithfully administer the same and make & exhibit a true & perfect inventory of all singular the said goods, chattels & credits & also to render a just & true account thereof when thereto required. IN testimony whereof has caused the seal of this office of our said Surrogate to be here unto affixed. Witness, Philo RUGGLES, Esquire, Surrogate of the said county at Poughkeepsie the twelfth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirteen & of our independence the thirty seventh. PHILO RUGGLES, Surrogate

Dutchess County ss Recorded the preceding will certification of proof thereof & letters testamentary this 12th day of June 1813. Philo RUGGLES, Surrogate
.....................
I am interested in your reference to Daniel, Isaac and Sarah Lawrence of Connecticut. A Stephen Lawrence and his brother Daniel came to Canada in 1795 from Connecticut. They appear to be related to a large family of Lawrences that were at Pleasant Valley near Poughkeepsie, NY and subsequently moved to Saratoga County, NY. In 1800 a Cornelius Lawrence from Pleasant Valley came to Canada and settled near his namesakes in Hastings County. I have some information on the line going back to a William Lawrence. It states that William had 3 sons, Silas, Isaac and Jacob. It further states that Jacob b 1691 had a number of children which included Mary(Polly), Martha, Sarah, Daniel, Stephen, Cornelius, Ezekiel and Jacob. The Canadian lines are said to have descended from Jacob. [posted by Don Kellaway {?} ]
in Canada N.B Poughkeepsie is in Dutchess County,.N.Y.