Person Page

     Joel L. Lawrence was born on 12 April 1839 in Alabama.¹ Joel died on 24 September 1855 in Alabama at age 16.¹

     John Lawrence married Alice ?.² John died in 1514 in England. He died without issue..³

     John Lawrence was the seventh and last Squire of Ashton Hall.

     In 1473 John Harrington of Lancaster and others set fire to the rectory-house at the church at Warton. Thomas Bolron, John Lawrence and others being within it, and being assulted so that their lives were in danger. Early in the beginning of the reign of Henry VIII John Lawrence sent about eighty men, armed, to the rectory, and they seized the corn and grain in the barns and took the revenues of all kinds; further, they used the church tower as a fortress, roasting their meat in the church itself, and would scarcely allow the curate to enter the building.^3,4


     in 1505 John Lawrence, brother and heir of Sir Thomas had special license of entry.³

     John had no issue, and the estates passed to the four sisters of his father Sir James Lawrence, the fifth Squire of Ashton. The estate described as the manors of Hackinsall and Preeshall appeared to have gone to Alice, the widow of John Lawrence, and her second husband, Thomas Booth.

     Depositions were taken in 1534 as to the rights of the Lawrence family in Carnforth and other manors. Robert Pleasington knew that Bartherholme had belonged to John Lawrence, but it was not part of the manor; he did not know the king had any manor there, but only a rent of 20 marks. John Nicholson deposed that John Lawrence had set and let all the lands in Carnforth, but which were his own and which the king's witness could not say. Edmund Bank occupied a close called Highfield which was part of the manor; he had recently paid the rent to a bailiff. Thomas Escombe of Ellel did not know there was any manor at Carnforth. The witnesses generally agreed that no one but the Lawrences had had any lordship there; they had paid a rent to the king. Christopher Hadwen said Lawrence was owner of all the lands by taking to farm of the king, etc; there were only two freeholds, but 5s. was paid to the Abbey of Shap. Sir Thomas Lawrence (brother of John Lawrence) raised the king's rent, and after him, Thomas Booth who married John Lawrence's widow, raised it again.³

     John Lawrence married Marjery ?.² John died after 1432.

     The trustees of Edmund granted to his son John, lands in Skerton and Heysham. In 1420, the archdeacon of Richmond licensed the oratories of John Lawrence and Margery his wife at Lancaster, Poulton, and Scales.³

     John was a Member of Parliament in 1419. In 1413 and 1432 he was bailiff of Bucklow Hundred in Cheshire.

     John Lawrence was born say 1275. He married Elizabeth Holt.^2,3 John died after 1348.

     John Lawrence was the first Squire of Ashton and the first to use the surname Lawrence. John was a Member of Parliment in 1301 for Lancaster.⁴

     Richard, son of William the Cook, gave lands to Thomas, son of Richard de Stainall in 1315-16. This same Richard also gave land to John Lawrence and his wife Elizabeth.³ In 1323 John Lawrence held 30 acres in Skerton by a rent of 6s. 8d.³

     In 1331, John made a complaint of trespass on his fishery at Ashton. John in conjunction with Elizabeth his wife and Edmund their son held the Stapleton part of Ashton manor in 1338 for life. The family then or a little later obtained, apparently by marriage, the estate of the Gentyl and Washington families in Carleton, Scotforth, and elsewhere.³

     Also in 1331, he was holding lands in Lancaster and Lentworth from Robert de Holland.⁴

     Between 1318 and 1325 he was a juror in at least eight inquests.²

     In 1337, John Lawrence of Ashton obtained land in Stodday on Netherbaiske Brook from Robert son of Thomas son of Roger de Stodagh.³

     In 1338, John Lawrence in conjunction with Elizabeth his wife and Edmund their son held the Stableton part of Ashton for life. The family then or a little later obtained, apparently by marriage, the estate of Gentyl and Washington families in Carleton, Scotforth and elsewhere.³

     In 1346 he was a partner in a farm belonging to the Cockersand Abbey Estate⁴ and at an inquest was holding additional lands in Lancaster from the Earl.² In 1346 he was paying the Earl 10d. annually for the harrowing, reaping, etc., due from 32 acres in Skerton.³

     Also in 1346, he held a half plough-land in Amounderness Hundred by the service of two crossbows. John de Hackinsall held a plough-land and a half and the Abbot of Cockersand held half a plough-land.³

     In 1347 John gave to John the Frereson and Joan his wife (who had sons John and Edmund) a burgage in St. Mary-gate upon Caldkeld Bank³ and was master of the manor of Ashton by a yearly fee of £22.⁴ In 1348 he was holding 5 acres in Skerton and Hackensall from the Duke⁴ and was a partner with his nephew, John Lawrence of Lancaster, in the milnfield in Lancaster.²

     In 1347 John Lawrence held the Coucy moieties of Ashton and Scotforth at a rent of £22.³

     In 1348-50, William de Heaton made a claim for messuages, etc., in Lonsdale against Thomas son of Marmaduke de Thweng, John Lawrence of Ashton, William de Washington, and Robert de Haldleghes.³ John was granted in Ashton Hall for life in 1324.²

     Ashton Hall, the ancient seat of the Lawrences, is located about three miles to the south of the town of Lancaster, in northern Lancashire. It is picturesquely situated, commanding fine views of the estuary of the River Lune, and of Morecambe Bay, an extensive inlet of the Irish Sea. Ashton Hall is noted for the sylvan beauty of its spacious park, which is well diversified with hill and vale. The mansion is a large edifice, with many of the characteristics of an ancient baronial castle, having a square tower at one end, and numerous battlements, turrets, and machiocolations. Successive alterations and additions have been made at different epochs, in harmony with the medieval type of architecture. The oldest portion is probably from the fourteenth century. The interior contains a fine baronial hall.⁵

     In 1066 Ashton was one of three manors of Cliber, Machern and Gillemicheld and appears to have been accessed of two plough-lands. (The other two manors, Ellel and Scotforth, retained their connection to Ashton being held by the Lancaster family.) Afterwards, it was granted to Count Rogers of Poitori and a little later formed part of the lordship held by the Lancaster family, being held by knight's service. In the time of Henry II (1154-1189) William de Lancaster I granted half a plough-land to Gilbert de Ashton to hold by service of half a mark yearly. The second moiety wash shared or inherited by the families of Stableton and Metham, Thweng and Pedwarding, and appears to have been acquired by the Lawrence family of Lancaster.³

     In 1226, the Millfield at Ashton rendered 5s. a year to the king. in 1323 it was held by many free tenants, who in all paid 5s. to the earl. This Millfield contained 20 acres. Tenants were William and Randle le Gentyl and John and Alice Lawrence.³

     The free tenants in 1301 were Roger de Slene; another who had a messuage and 5 acres for a rent of 20d; Lawrence son of Thomas who rendered 6s. 8d. yearly; John de Ashton who held a messuage and 4 oxgangs of land and paid 6s.8d. rent; and Randle who paid 7d. In 1292 Gervase de Ashton claimed land against a Lawrence de Ashton. In a list of free tenants some 40 years later are recorded: William son of Lawrence, 2s. 6d; the same William, for Brantbreck, 1d; Alan de Ashton, 17 1/2d; John Ward, 2s. 6d; John, son of William the Clerk, 20d; Gervase del Green, 20d; Henry Alcok 5 1/2d; in all 14s. 6d.³

     Traces of the Lawrence estate in Ashton appear in inquisitions of some of the heirs, though the tenures are not always recorded. By some agreement, the manor descended through Boteler of Rawcliffe to Radcliff of Winmarleigh, and so my marriage to Gilbert Gerard woh purchase the other moiety from the Crown. Thus the whole became united in him and his descendants, the Gerards of Bromley and the Dukes of Hamilton. (Richard Skillecorne held part of it of the king in cocage in 1534. Thomas Regmaiden in 1520 held the reversion of the fourth part of the manor. John Boteler in 1534 held the manor of the king as duke in socage.) Sir Gilbert died in 1593 holding the manors of Ashton, Stodday, and Scotforth of the queen as of her crown of England in a fee farm by the hundredth part of a knight's fee and a rent of £16.11s. 4d.³

     King James I on his way from Scotland to London by Carlisle in 1617 arrived at Hornby, and thence went to Ashton Hall, where he knighted two gentlement on 11 Augus.³ In August 1648, the Duke of Hamilton stayed a night at Ashton Hall which was, in later years, to become inheritance of this family.³

     Ashton Hall was probably built by John's son Edmund. See Edmund Lawrence for additonal information..

     John Lawrence married Emma ?.²

     John and his wife, Emma, received lands in Lancaster in 1329.

     John Lawrence married Mary de Welles, daughter of Eudo de Welles and Maud de Greystoke.²

     John was also known as John Lawrence [Esq.].

     John died without issue in 1479.¹

     John died in 1461.³

     John was the second or fourth son of Nicholas and Mary and is reputed to be the ancestor of the Suffolk line, a branch which settled in Massachusetts. One researcher places him as the eldest son.

     John Lawrence was born circa 1460.^1,2

     John is said to have served with sir Edmund Howard who commanded a wing of the English army at Flodden on 9 September 1513.

     John Lawrence was born in October or November 1674 in England.¹ John was baptized on 5 November 1674 in England.¹ He married first Elizabeth ?.^1,2 John died circa 1712 in Maryland.³

     John received a bachelors degree from University College in 1697/8. No children survived him to inherit his honours. Schuyler Lawrence indicates that John wife's name was Elizabeth and that he probably died in 1712 in Maryland.¹ Nichols' Herald and Genealogist, indicates that there had been a son of Sir Thomas Lawrence, Esq., of Chelsea, heir apparent of Sir Thomas Lawrence, Bart., and his wife Anne, who on 26 March 1706, conveyed to William Lord Cheyne and his heirs, in consideration of 70 pounds, three messuages and gardens on the north side of Lordship Yard and that it may be concluded that about the same time the rest of the Lawrence property in Chelsea passed out of the hands of the family.²

     John Lawrence married Margaret ?.¹ John died in 1398 having made a settlement of his estate on his wife Margaret in 1368.¹

     In 1348 John was a partner with his Uncle, John Lawrence of Ashton, in the milnfield in Lancaster.²

     John Lawrence was born in 1514.¹ John died in 1568.¹

     John was Rector of Withington, Co. Gloucester.

     According to Franklyn the Visitation of the County of Gloucester states that John was born in 1514, but according to Burke's Commoners, he is described as LL.D., and as Archdeacon of Worcester. He became a Fellow of All Souls' College, Oxford, in 1522, and, therefore, is more likely to have been born about 1500.

     Upon his death, John's brothers William and Robert administered to his effects.²

     John was baptized on 31 May 1654 in Sevenhampton, Gloucestershire, England.¹ John died on 15 August 1658 in Sevenhampton, Gloucestershire, England, at age 4.¹

     John died in 1596.²

     John Lawrence was born circa 1470.² He married Margery ?.¹ John died on 10 July 1504 in Rumburgh, Suffolk, England.^1,2

     John Lawrence was born in Rumburgh, Suffolk, England. He married Elizabeth ?.² John died after 1556.^3,4

     John Lawrence was born in Rumburgh, Suffolk, England. He married Agnes ? in 1544 in Rumburgh, Suffolk, England.^2,3 John died before 21 May 1590 in Rumburgh, Suffolk, England.² He was buried on 21 May 1590 in Rumburgh, Suffolk, England.⁴

     John Lawrence was born in 1545 in Wissett, Suffolk, England.³ He married Johanna Frustenden circa 1570 in Wissett, Suffolk, England.^2,3 John died before 16 January 1607 in Wissett, Suffolk, England.^2,4

     John Lawrence was baptized on 8 October 1609 in Wissett, Suffolk, England.^1,2 John married first Elizabeth Waters, daughter of James Waters and Phebe Manning, circa 1635.² John Lawrence married second Susannah Batchelder, daughter of William Batchelder, on 2 November 1664 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.^2,3 John died on 11 July 1667 in Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, at age 57.¹

     John emigrated to America about 1630. He probably was one of a large party under Governor Winthrop which sailed from England that year. About 1635 he became a resident of Watertown, Massachusetts. On April 17, 1637, he was admitted a freeman, when about 28 years old. On February 28, 1636, he received three acres of land, his share of a grant then made to the townsmen, one hundren and six in number. In 1650 he bought fifteen acres of common land (called King's Common). In 1654 there is a record of Hug Mason who received of John Lawrence, clerk, £2 17s. 6d. money for town or parish use. The sale of his lands and mansion house was made in 1662. In 1662 he moved to Groton where in December of that year he appears by the records of Groton "meet men were found amongst the inhabitants" and where he was an original land proprietor and served on the first Board of Selectmen. John evidently was a man of some intelligence and influence, and held a good place in the public esteem. Thought a large land holder for the times, he is said to have carried on the business of a carpenter both in Watertown and Boston.^2,2

     John Lawrence was born on 29 July 1667 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.² John died on 12 March 1747 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, at age 79.²

     John Lawrence was born on 29 July 1667 in Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.^2,3 He married Hannah Tarbell, daughter of Thomas Tarbell, on 19 November 1687.² John died on 12 March 1747 at age 79.²

     John Lawrence was born circa 1562.¹ He married Elizabeth Waller.¹ John died on 10 February 1604.¹

     He was knighted at Windsor Castle in 1603 and was the father of Sir Henry Lawrence, President of Cromwell's council of States.¹