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Major Life Events

     Robert Lawrence was born circa 1745.¹ He married Priscilla ? circa 1765.² Robert died before 12 September 1793 in Southampton Co., Virginia.^2,3

Narrative

     There is a conflict about which Robert is the son of Robert Lawrence IV and Anne Council. Johnston in his manuscript names this Robert who married Priscilla and whose will is recorded in Southampton Co., Virginia as the son of Robert IV and Ann. Boddie in Historical Southern Families, Vol. I, names Robert who married Sarah Eley as does the Enfield-Bryant Genealogy. The correct one is probably Robert who married Sarah Eley. It's possible that the Robert who married Priscilla may have been a son of George and a first wife. George didn't marry Sarah Beale until 1791 at age approximately 66 so it is quite possible that he had been previously married.

     On 20 November 1752, Robert Lawrence of the Upper Parish of Nansemond County, sold to Hardy Lawrence of Isle of Wight County for £11 in cash 100 acres on the east side of Main Blackwater formerly divised by John Lawrence to his daughter who was the mother of Samuel Whitfield who sold it to Robert Lawrence, "now Deceast", on 15 February 1728, a former patent to John Lawrence on 5 June 1678, witnessed by Charles Darden, Joshua Councill, and William Lawrence.

     On 21 October 1751, Robert Lawrence and Thomas Pinner of District No. 4, of Nansemond County processioned the land from Patterson's Neck, up Indian Creek, to the County Line, and along the line to Everett's Creek. On 7 March 1752/3, his owned land was processioned by himself and Pinner in the presence of John Lawrence, Samuel Lawrence, and others. On 13 September 1755, Robert Lawrence and John Woodrop were named Processioners in the Upper Parish, and they reported their work in the following March. On 8 March 1760, his land was processioned in the presence of Robert Carr and John Everett, Joseph Curl was a neighbor.

     On 25 October 1763, the line between Robert Lawrence and Aaron Almand was processioned. On 10 March 1768, Robert's line with John Lawrence was processioned. On 23 December 1771, Robert and Moses Eley were appointed Processioners in the 4th District. On 18 July 1772, they were still Processioners, and in the same year Robert Lawrence's land was processioned by Etheldred Warren and William Harte in the presence of John Everett and Robert Carr. In February 1776, the line between Robert Lawrence, John Lawrence, and Aaron Almand was processioned by James Lawrence and Joseph Britt, and Robert Lawrence witnessed the processioning of his own and Robert Carr's land by John Hart, Sr., and John Everitt.

     On 27 March 1752, Robert Lawrence and Joseph Driver witnessed the will of John Frizzell of Isle of Wight County. On 4 May 1758, Robert, George Whitfield, Joseph Copeland, and James Channell appraised the estate of John Penny.

     Robert made a will on 29 December 1791 in Southampton Co., Virginia. Robert's will:

(1) wife Priscilla, use of half the land, orchard, one room in dwelling, one room of kitchen, half of the other houses formerly in Nansemond County but now in Southampton County, 3 slaves; gift of slave, 2 feather beds and furnishings, square table, safe, 2 work horses, chest, one-fourth of cattle and sheep, one-third of hogs and corn; (2) son and executor Josiah, 3 slaves, household furniture and stock in his possession, one-sixth of £100; (3) Jesse, ditto; (4) son and executor Jacob, land in Southampton County adjoining Nicholas Maget, half the former Nansemond land, 7 slaves (including those for mother's use), rest of stock, and 8 cattle; (5) daughter Sarah Williams, negroes, etc., in the possession of Isaac Williams and one-sixth on £100; (6) daughter Mary Foreman, negroes, etc., in the possession of John Foreman, and one-sixth of £100; (7) son-in-law Benjamin Ellis, 2 negroes, etc., in his possession and one-sixth of £100 to his wife; (8) daughter Priscilla Allen, 3 slaves, 8 cattle, etc., in the possession of Richard Allen, and one-sixth of £100. Witnessed: Samuel Maget, John Bishop, Nathaniel Land, and Lawrence Williams.²

     His will was probated on 12 September 1793.

Major Life Events

     George Lawrence was born say 1725.^1,3 He married Sarah Beale on 8 January 1791.⁴ George died on 12 January 1806.⁴

Narrative

     George, along with his brother Charles, was bequeath land in Southampton Co., Virginia, by his uncle, Jeremiah Lawrence, in his will made in 1755.

     On 3 May 1771, George sold this land to John Lawrence. I believe this to be the John Lawrence that bought the land from Charles, George's brother, and who is an uncle of George and Charles.⁵

Major Life Events

     Charles Lawrence was born say 1728.^1,2 He married Amey Joyner, daughter of Joseph Joyner and Elizabeth Smelly, circa 1760.³ Charles died after 1800.

Narrative

     Charles was under age when his father made his will in 1743. Therefore if he became of age the following year, the earliest he could have been born would be 1723. In the will of Jeremiah, Charles' uncle, Charles is bequeathed land so he was probably of legal age when that will was made in 1755. Therefore, the latest he could have been born would be 1734. He appears in the 1787 Northampton Co., North Carolina census and is probably in the age group of over 60 on that census which would indicated that he probably was born prior to 1728.

     Charles witnessed the will of Joseph Joyner, recorded 8 April 1760.^4,5 In that will Joseph names daughter, Amey. This may be the Amey that is named as Charles' wife when he sells his property in Southampton County in 1770. If so, since Amey was not listed as Amey Lawrence in Joseph Joyner's will, they probably married after the death of Joseph Joyner.

     As stated above, Charles, in the will of his uncle Jeremiah Lawrence dated 30 November 1755, is bequeath land in Southampton Co., Virginia. On 12 July 1770, Charles and wife Amey sold that land to John Lawrence for £50. The land was described as "being in the County of Southampton on the south side of Black Water it being part of a pattein granted to John Lawrence the sixteenth day of December 1714 Bounded as follows: Beginning in the pattein line where George Lawrance's new line begins as bounds him and thence south __East along that new line to the Cattail Branch then along the said Branch to the Pattain line then along the said ____ distance to joyn the said John Lawrances one land and so along Lawrances Land to the Pattain line then along the Pattain on to the begining it is one hundred & fory acres … as was given the said Charles Lawrance by his uncle Jeremiah Lawrance."⁶ I believe the John Lawrence to be Charle's uncle, a brother of Jeremiah who originally gave the land to Charles.

     Charles Lawrence next appears in Gates County, North Carolina in the period 1782 through 1785. Gates County was formed in 1779 from Chowan, Hertford, and Perquimans Counties. I believe that this is probably the Charles Lawrence that sold his land in Southampton Co., Virginia in 1770. I have found no other mention of a Charles Lawrence in these counties or surrounding area between 1770 and 1782.

     In June 1782, Peter Piland sells deeds land to Joshia Jurdon adjoining that of Charles Lawrence.⁷ In December 1784, Charles Lawrance deeds to Thomas Brickell for 30 pounds, 50 acres on Bennetts Creek, beginning at white oake, a corner tree adjoining Demsey Fulks land, running across pecosin SW to a Spanish oak on south side of shipyard, then straight to creek and up creek to a bushy top pine near causeway of Bennetts Creek Bridge and along road to corner of said Lawrence's orchard and up road to said Brickell's fence and along his line.⁸ It appears that at this time, Charles Lawrence may have moved to Northampton County, North Carolina. Recorded in Gates Co. 19 February 1794, is the sale on one negro woman named Sarah, one negro girl named Winney, one negro girl named Rozilla, and one negro girl named Venus to William Baker for 77 pounds, 10 shillings by Charles Lawrence of Northampton Co., NC.⁹

     In 1787 Charles Laurance appears as the head of household in the North Carolina state census in Capt. Horn's District with two white males between 21 and 60 years, three white males under 21 and above 60 years, and two white females all ages. I believe that this is probably the Charles Lawrence from Southampton Co., Virginia and Gates Co. and is probably the father of the Charles Lawrence that married Elizabeth Daughtrey, mentioned in the will of Jesse Daughtrey in 1796. No definitive records have been found to prove this relationship and may never be found due to lost and destroyed records. Likewise, no records contradicting this possibility have been found.

     If this relationship is true, the probable family members in that 1787 NC census¹⁰ are as follows:

     wm 21-60 -- the younger Charles that married Elizabeth Daughtrey
     wm 21-60 -- one of the younger Charles' brothers as mentioned in his will in Sumner County, Tennessee, made 8 December 1806, probably John
     wm under 21, over 60 -- over 60, the elder Charles whose estimated birth date is between 1723 and 1734, which would indicate that his birth date was probably before 1728
     wm under 21, over 60 -- under 21, the other brother of the younger Charles, probably Robert
     wm under 21, over 20 -- under 21, possibly the first born of the younger Charles, believed to be the Charles Lawrence that served in the War of 1812 under Capt. Geo. Sarver of Sumner Co., Tennessee, and died 20 February 1815
     wf -- Amey, wife of the elder Charles
     wf -- Elizabeth, wife of the younger Charles

     The marriage date of the younger Charles to Elizabeth Daughtrey is not known other than that they were married when Elizabeth's father made his will in 1796. A daughter of the younger Charles, Amah, married John Moss in 1809. Amah was probably was born by 1790 or earlier, therefore the younger Charles and Elizabeth probably were married by at least 1789 or earlier. If the above analysis of the 1787 NC census is accurate, and the Charles of the War of 1812 was their son, they probably were married at least by 1786.

     Charles Lawrence appears on the 1800 U. S. Census in Northampton Co., North Carolina with one female over 45, probably his wife Amey, and one female age 10 to 16, identity unknown. No further records for this Charles have been located.

Major Life Events

     Martha Gay was born circa 1754 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.^1,2 She married Hardy Lawrence, son of Robert Lawrence [IV] and Anne Council.^3,4

Narrative

     Martha was also known as Patsy.

Major Life Events

     Robert Lawrence was born before 1774.^1,2

Major Life Events

     Polly Lawrence was born before 1774.^1,2 Polly married first Henry Pope on 21 April 1785.^1,2,3,4 Polly married second Unknown Roe.²

Narrative

     Polly was also known as Patty.

     I believe this may be the Patty Lawrence that married Henry Pope. Other sources indicates that Polly, daughter of Hardy Lawrence, married a Pope.

Major Life Events

     Ishmael Lawrence was born circa 1776.^1,2

Major Life Events

     Hardy Lawrence Jr. was born before 1774.^1,2

Major Life Events

     Permelia Lawrence was born circa 1774 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.^1,2 She married Mills Darden, son of John Darden and Charity ?, on 18 July 1795 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.³

Major Life Events

     Henry Pope married Polly Lawrence, daughter of Hardy Lawrence and Martha Gay, on 21 April 1785.^1,2,3,4

Major Life Events

     Amey Joyner was born in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.¹ She married Charles Lawrence, son of Robert Lawrence [IV] and Anne Council, circa 1760.²

Major Life Events

     John Lawrence [III] was born circa 1698 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.^1,2 He married Martha Ricks, daughter of Abraham Ricks and Mary Bellson, on 9 June 1740 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.^3,4 John died before 7 May 1772 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.^5,6

Narrative

     John made a will on 30 March 1772 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia. John's will, Isle of Wight Co., Virginia Will Book 8, pages 150-152:

Know all men that I John Lawrence of the County of Isle of Wight being in a low state of health but of perfect mind and perfect, do make constitute and appoint this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following, viz. I give and devise unto my dear wife Martha Lawrence the Plantation whereon I now live, the Plantation bought of Joseph Tarleton also the land bought of Joshua Tarleton (and as futher description thereof to begin: at the main road from Josiah Jordan's to Everetts Mill thence running up the cart path until the line comes opposite to the head of Bullocks lawfull? swamp thence down to the Branch to a hog pen, thence across the point on the upper side of the Mill Islands to the main Swamp which will include part of the land I bought of John Bullock during her natural life; and at her decease, I give and devise all the personal Lands and plantation's unto my son Ricks Lawrence to him and his heirs for ever; reserving Joshua Tarleton's plantation to my Daughter Elizabeth Pretlow during her life~
I give and devise unto my son Robert Lawrence to him & his heirs for ever, the Plantation called Pages also the lands Bought of Frizell including the Mill Islands being part of the Land I Bought of John Bullock, which joins the line described for the Boundary of the land given as above to Ricks Lawrence~
I give and devise unto my daughter mary Newby; to her and her heirs for ever; the land & Plantation with the Mill thereon, which I Bought of Jacob Darden, also the Land and Plantation I Bought of John Gaines likewise the Land Bought Charles Darden & the land Bought of Mich. Murphrey:
I give unto my son Ricks Lawrence & to hime and his Heirs for ever Three hundred Pounds current Money of Virginia and direct my Executors hereafter mentioned to Place it out on Interest on good Security until he arrive to the age of Twenty-one years.
I likewise give and devise unto my son Ricks Lawrence and to him & Heirs for ever, Six young Negro Slaves.
I also direct my Executors to raise form my whole Estate Fifteen Pounds for the Education of my son Ricks Lawrence~
The Remainder of my Estate to be Equally divided between or amongst my Wife and Childred the Plantation and Mill given to my Daughter Mary Newby to esteemed at the sum of three hundred & Twenty Pounds Current Money in part of her proportion of this Bequest, and the Negroes money or whatever they or any of them have already received or in possession of from me to be valued and reckoned as apart of their several proportions in like manner.
I do appoint my Wife Martha Lawrence and my son John Lawrence Executors of this my last will and Testament~
Witness my hand and Seal this 30th day of March 1772~
N.B.: in the first Bequest; the gift to Eliz. A. Pretlow during her life were inserted before the signing of this Will…
John Lawrence
Signed & Delivered
in Presence of
Josiah Jordan
Thomas Jordan
Robert Abram.⁷

     His will was recorded on 7 May 1772 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia. At a Court held for Isle of Wight County the 7th day of May 1772 this Will was presented in Court by John Lawrence the Ex'or therein Named who made affirmation thereto According to Law and the same being affirmed to by Josiah Jordan & Thomas Jordan two of the Witnesses thereto and Ordered to be Recorded~
And on the Motion of the said Ex'or who together with Josiah Scott, Josiah Jordan, & Thomas Newby his Sureties enter into and Acknowledged their Bond in the Penalty of Ten Thousand Pounds with Condition as the law Directs Certification is granted him for obtaining a probate therein due form Test, Will. Drew, Cl. Cur.⁷

Major Life Events

     Martha Ricks was born in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.¹ She married John Lawrence [III], son of John Lawrence Jr. and Margaret Murphy, on 9 June 1740 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.^2,3 Martha died before 28 April 1794 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.⁴

Narrative

     Martha's estate was ordered appraised on 28 April 1794, and was appraised by Joseph Duck, Francis Vaughan, and Sion Boon, and recorded on 5 January 1795.

Major Life Events

     He married first Lilly Waddrop, daughter of John Waddrop and Nancy Ann Cocke, on 10 April 1788.¹ He married second Rachel Wilkinson on 16 January 1794.^1,2 Ricks died before 5 February 1798 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.^3,4

Narrative

     Ricks was also known as Rix.

     Ricks made a will on 18 July 1797 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia. Rix's will:

(1) daughter Marcea Rix Lawrence, home plantation, the Beel Land, and to be schooled; (2) nephew Robert Lawrence, son of Robert Lawrence of North Carolina, reversional interest in the land if Marcea should die; (3) nephew Thomas Lawrence, ditto; (4) Polly Strickland, lifetime use of 40 acres at James Tarlton's; gift of feather bed and furnishings, 6 chairs, small table, and £20 current money; (5) niece Nancy Newby, reversional interest in Marcea's personal estate, excepting the negros; (6) slave Harrison to have his freedom; (7) executor Thomas Smelly, Sr. Witnessed: Thomas Jordon, Sr., Hester Whitfield, and Thomas Smelly.

     His will was probated on 5 February 1798.

Major Life Events

     Elizabeth Lawrence married Unknown Pretlow.^1,2

Major Life Events

     John J. Lawrence married Mary Elizabeth Duke, daughter of John Duke and Sarah ?, on 20 November 1768 in the Rich Square Meeting House.¹ John died on 23 October 1796 in Northampton Co., North Carolina.²

Narrative

     John was also known as [Col.] John J. Lawrence [IV].

     John was a soldier in the American Revolution, his name "on the list for commanding officer, Colonel Allen Jones, May 20, 1775."³

     John made a will on 7 January 1796. John's will:

to my dear wife Mary Lawrence all my Household and Kitchen furniture, my four wheel carriage, Horses, Cattle, Hoggs, etc; to my son John the land and plantation I purchased from John Armistead; to my son Ricks Lawrence land and plantation purchased of William Ruffin and the pecosin Land joining that I purchased of my father-in-law John Duke and the land I took up; to my son Exum Lawrence land and plantation purchased of George Narsworthy and land purchased of William Whitfield; to son David Lawrence 100 pounds current Va. money and lands purchased of Thomas Outland; to my son Jonathan Lawrence 100 pounds Va. and lands purchased of Brittain Bridgers and pecosin Land purchased of James Cotten; to my son Thomas Duke Lawrence land in Nansemond Co., Va. whereon Charity Bullard now lives and the land in Northampton Co. purchased of Thomas Knox; to my son Josephus D. W. Lawrence land and plantation called Kinder and plantation called Hammon both in Nansemond Co., Va; residue of my estate to go to my children, daughter Nancy Scott to account for what she has already received. Extrs. my wife and my sons John and Ricks. Wits. not given.

     His will was probated in December 1796. Probate indicates will was proved by the affirmation of John Peele and Benjamin Jordan.

Major Life Events

     Robert Lawrence married Milicent Copeland on 18 June 1775 in the Rich Square Meeting House, Rich Square, Northampton Co., North Carolina.¹ Robert died on 30 September 1807.¹

Major Life Events

     Mary Lawrence married Thomas Newby.^1,2,3

Narrative

     Boddie lists three children for Mary and Thomas, Anne who married James Stanton, Mary, and John. The will of Mary's brother, Ricks, mentions a niece Nancy Newby.

Major Life Events

     Marcia Ann Lawrence was born in 1794.^1,2,3 She married Oswin Ricks, son of Richard Ricks and Julia Wilkinson, on 27 April 1816.³ Marcia died on 3 November 1861.³

Major Life Events

     Unknown Pretlow married Elizabeth Lawrence, daughter of John Lawrence [III] and Martha Ricks.^1,2

Major Life Events

     Mary Bridger was born circa 1755.¹ She married John Lawrence, son of William Lawrence and Sarah Applewhaite, on 13 January 1773 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.^2,3,4,5

Major Life Events

     Robert Lawrence married Elizabeth ?.¹

Narrative

     Robert was reported married in 1811.

     On May 25, 1822, Robert requested that his daughter, Ann D., a minor, be placed under the care of Friends, Western Branch Preparative Meeting.²