William LAWRENCE, I

1630 - Bef 1704  (< 73 years)

• Name	William LAWRENCE
  Suffix	I
  Birth	13 Jun 1630
  Gender	Male
  Will	3 Dec 1701	Middletown, Monmouth County, NJ
  Death	Bef 22 May 1704	Middletown Township, Monmouth County, NJ
  Probate	22 May 1704
  Notes	(1) Stillwell, John E., Historical and Genealogical Miscellany: Early Settlers of New Jersey and Their Descendants, Vol. 3, New York, NY: 1814, pp. 393-398: LAWRENCE OF MONMOUTH COUNTY The early history of the Lawrence family in this country abounds in confusion, largely resulting from the efforts of genealogists to connect all of the name. In truth there are several distinct families unallied so far as is known. Keith, in his Pennsylvania "Councillors," traces one family, located in Philadelphia and vicinity, to one, Popinga, a Dutchman. On Staten Island, N. Y., was early located Hans Laurens, (which later was written Lawrence), who was the son of Laurens Duytsen, also a Dutchman. The one who first settled within the bounds of Monmouth County, was WILLIAM LAWRENCE, an Englishman. He came to the Monmouth Tract in 1666, as appears in the Dialogue written by his son, William Lawrence. Nothing is known of his birthplace or parentage, if we except the single statement made by O'Callaghan that, "One William Lawrence, resided for a time in Newtown — a man of wealth, and of as much importance as his counsin [sic], (the sheriff), William Lawrence, of Flushing." "Dec. 3, 1670 James Mills (formerly ship master and living in James river in Virginia) and william Lawrence came before mee this day to have a former sale of land made void wch is as ffolloweth . . . Whereas James mills had formerly received a bill of sale of william Lawrence sometimes an Inhabitant of Middleborough upon Long Island for his house and land there: wch said bill (beeing casually burnt by wch means the tenor and date of the said bill is unknowne: Therefore wee the said James mills and william Lawrence doe by these presents declare that all bills of sale of what tennor and date soever are by mutuall agreement of us (Viz: william and James are by these presents made void and of noe effect notwithstanding any Record in any town or court manifesting to the contrary. In witness hereof they have hereunto sett there hands JAMES MILLS WILLIAM LAWRENCE Town Book, Middletown, N. J. Testified by mee EDWARD TARTTE" Here it is distinctly set forth that he owned a house and lot in the village of Middleburgh, a Long Island village, now known as Newtown; further, the language of this memorandum suggests that, either in the Court or Town Books, there may yet remain a record of this transfer. The settlement of Middleburgh was effected, in 1652, by people from New England and the adjacent town of Hempstead. From one of these places, or perhaps from New Amsterdam, or Gravesend, L. I., where the name of William Lawrence likewise appears, he may have come, but further research is needed to carry his history backward. His fellow townsman, William Lawrence, was an early settler in Flushing, whence he removed to Middleburgh. He came at the age of twelve years, with his brother, John, aged seventeen years, and sister, Maria, aged nine years, to this country in 1635. They became distinguished men and their history, family and individual, has been fully dealt with by all Long Island historians. When the settlement of the Monmouth Tract was agitated, William Lawrence was prompt to join the enterprise and was one of the first five who settled upon the land where subsequently Middletown was located. It is a mistake to think that this site was occupied at once by a large body of settlers, moving with their families and trade implements; to the contrary they came singly, or by ones and twos, often the head of the family alone till such time as a clearing could be made. Such a pioneer was William Lawrence. Within a year or two a town organization was perfected and the projectors commenced to allot themselves lands according to their rights. In the original division of lands, in 1667, he drew lot No. 31. In the year following, he was appointed, with two others, to "agitate" concerning the erection of a mill. In the quarrel that arose between the Governor and the town, he was one of those selected to make reply to the "governor's men," in the town's behalf, and a right manly and able protest they made. In 1669, he was elected by the townspeople, a Deputy, to assist the Constable and Overseer in their local court. In 1671, he was chosen Town Constable, and later on in this year was elected a "burgess," with Edward Tartte, to represent the town in the General Assembly, at Elizabethtown, but making a satisfactory excuse, another was substituted. In the following year, 1672, the same honor was conferred upon him. In 1675, he was again chosen Town Constable, but doubtless tiring in the public service and deeming that he had discharged his duty to the town in previous terms, he declined to serve. The outcome of his refusal is recorded in the Court Records, Deeds A. B. C , p. 90. "It is ordered that Upon William Lawrence, of ye towne of Middletowne, his refusall of being Invested into ye Office and place of a Constable & to beeing . . . [?] according to Law, after a legall choiss at a towne meeting of ye inhabitants of middletowne, that for such his refusall hee is ordered by this Court to pay ye sume of five pounds as a fine to bee levied by ye Court Marshall & to bee disposed of according to ye discretion of ye Court." Probably the fine was collected and thereafter he was let alone, for there is no further evidence of his being in the service of the town that I can find. 1677, August. He defined the attitude of the Monmouth settlers to the General Government in plain and emphatic English. He acquired a large estate, by patent rights and purchases, which he was continuously adding to or disposing of. These transactions, with developing his lands, must have consumed much of his time. Judged from the meagre evidence now obtainable, he was a man of ability, integrity and wealth. He stood high in the estimation of his townsmen and was trusted by them in matters of moment. He reared a large family of children and grandchildren under his roof, and started them all in life with an education and means, and his name, as well as theirs, to his credit be it said, was pure and untarnished. He died at a ripe age, leaving a will recorded at Trenton, written Dec. 3, 1701, and probated May 22, 1704. William Lawrence, as already stated, acquired a large estate, and became one of the largest land holders of his day. He obtained about 3000 acres of land in Monmouth County by Proprietary grants, and he added to these by numerous purchases. . . . William Lawrence was born, by deduction, prior to 1638. He married at least twice. If other evidence was wanting the phraseology of the will would establish the fact that his present wife was one of recent date, for he returns to her "all and every part of the household goods and furniture" that she brought with her, not the language he would use to a wife he had married fifty years before. This second wife is known to have been Elizabeth, daughter of John Scudder of Newtown, L. I., whom he married in the latter part of 1693. She was then the widow of Jan Alburtis. There appears in the Newtown Township Records, a record made in 1693, in the shape of antenuptial gift from William Lawrence to his prospective wife, wherein he deeds her a "house and land, at Middletown, New Jersey, in consideration of my love and affection for her as I intend marriage with her." 1693, Nov. 13. She assigned her power, as executrix, as given her by late husband, John Alburtis, of ye same town, to her son, John Alburtis. She affixed her mark. It might be added that Elizabeth Alburtis gave her share of her husband's estate, upon her second marriage, to her son Samuel. Her son, William Alburtis, moved to Maidenhead, N. J., and her son John, to Mansfield, Burlington County, N. J., and it is from this John that all, who bear the name now, descend. It is not unlikely that Elizabeth, widow of William Lawrence, was living as late as 1712, as in the Baptist Church at that date, an Elizabeth Lawrence, Jr., is mentioned by which we can infer that there was still a senior Elizabeth, and if so, it probably would be the wife of William Lawrence, the First. . . . Issue: 2 James Lawrence 3 William Lawrence, born 1658. 4 Benjamin Lawrence 5 Elisha Lawrence, born 1666. 6 John Lawrence 7 Joseph Lawrence 8 Hannah Lawrence
  Person ID	I49137	Frost, Gilchrist and Related Families
  Last Modified	18 Feb 2024

  
  

  Family 1	Elizabeth (LAWRENCE)   d. Bef 1693
  Children	1. James LAWRENCE   d. Bef 7 Apr 1730, Freehold Township, Monmouth County, NJ   2. William LAWRENCE, II,   b. 1658   d. Bef 22 Nov 1750, Middletown, Monmouth County, NJ (Age < 92 years)   3. Benjamin LAWRENCE,   b. 1664   d. Bef 19 May 1755, Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth County, NJ (Age < 91 years)   4. Elisha LAWRENCE,   b. 17 Feb 1666   d. 25 Apr 1724 (Age 58 years)   5. John LAWRENCE,   b. 1668   d. Bef 23 Feb 1720, Freehold Township, Monmouth County, NJ (Age < 52 years)   6. Joseph LAWRENCE,   b. 1670   d. Bef 12 May 1743, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, NJ (Age < 73 years)   7. Hannah LAWRENCE
  Family ID	F21249	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	17 Feb 2024

  
  

  Family 2	Elizabeth SCUDDER,   b. Bef 18 Mar 1650, Salem, Essex County, MA d. Aft 1712, Middletown Township, Monmouth County, NJ (Age > 63 years)
  Marriage	1693
  Family ID	F21248	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	17 Feb 2024