This Genealogy of John Lawrence IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION. It has been presented here for family research and discussion.
Bio info by Dennis Guy Lawrence 47088157 b.1945 - John, Ensign Nathaniel, John, Jonathan, Micah, Hubbard, Hubbard, Hubbard, Edward, Edward
The following Bio for John Lawrence of Watertown and Groton has been developed from my research into the life of John Lawrence of Watertown and Groton. He was my 8th Great Grandfather. He was probably born in Suffolk or Essex County, England, about 1610 and his parents and birth place remain unknown. He married Elisabeth (no last name known) and they had 13 children together. He then married Susanna Batchelder and they had two children together. He died on July 11, 1667, in Groton, Massachusetts, at the age of 57, and was buried there probably in the Old Burying Ground on Hollis Street in Groton. Those of you that are descendent from our emigrant ancestor John Lawrence of Watertown and Groton are very well blessed with the extensive amount of historical records and genealogical research that is available to you for this man and his family.
The ship Arbella arrives June 12, 1630, carrying Sir Richard Saltonstall along with other first settlers of Watertown, Mass. There is no record of John Lawrence of Watertown and Groton on this arrival or any other ship manifest.
Emigrants moved from Salem to Charlestown and then with guidance of Sir R. Saltonstall and Reverand George Phillips moved 4 miles up the Charles River and commenced a settlement first known as Sir Saltonstall Plantatin. This was soon renamed Watertown.
30 Jul 1630 - Forty men signed a covenant to establish a Church in Watertown. No record of John Lawrence in this event.
The historical information for John starts with his time in Watertown with the "Watertown Records, Town Proceedings First and Second Books". Written records in Watertown were first started in 1634. Only one other town in Massachusetts has earlier original records. That would be Plymouth. Within the first pages of this work we see the agreement to keep town records as follows: "Auguft 23, 1634. Agreed by the confent of the Freeman, that there fhalbe Chofen three perfons to be [ ] the ordering of the civill affaires of the Towne one of them to ferve as Towne Clark, and fhall keep the Records and Acts of the Towne.
The first Record for John in Watertown begins with the birth of his first son on page 4 of "Births, Marriages and deaths. First Book" as follows: "1635. John Laurance sonn of John and Elizabeth Laurance borne the : 14 d : 1 m"
On July 25th 1636, A Grant of the Great Dividents lotted out by the Freemen. John Lawrence receives Thirty Acres at the Fourth Divifion, Lott 18.
He was addmitted as a Freeman on February 2, 1637 in Watertown. His trade was that of a carpenter. In the year about 1642 his homestead in Watertown was "bounded on the east by the highway; north by Timothy Hawkins and John Hammond; west by the meadow of John Biscoe; south by the land of John Flemming, deceased; wid. dix, and her sonne; wid. Barlett, and said Biscoe." This would be about 1/5th mile north of Belmont Street on the West side of Common Street. The Belmont Methodist Church is currently located here.
A list of possessions in Watertown in 1642 indicated that he then owned 7 lots amounting to 154.5 acres.
In 1662 he sold off his holdings in Watertown and moved to Groton, Mass. His homestead in this town was situated south west of Gibbet Hill, a short distance east of the First Parish Meeting-house, and near where Love Lane joins the present road to Lowell. This farm was later owned by Joseph F. Hall. Currently the Gibbet Hill Grill is located in this general location.
His first wife died August 29, 1663. He married 2nd Susannah Batchelder on November 4, 1664, and they had an additional 2 children.
In 1665 his son Nathaniel and family moved into the family homestead in Groton.
John died July 11, 1667, probably at his home near Gibbet Hill.
Most certainly he was buried in the Old Burying Ground located at the corner of Hollis and School Streets in Groton, Mass. This was the only burying ground in Groton for it's first 192 years until in 1847 when the Groton Cemetery was opened. As early graves were marked by simple wood markings there is no existing marker for John Lawrence in this Cemetery.
Please note that this John Lawrence of Watertown and Groton Mass was not of Wissett England.
To all of you that are descendant from John Lawrence of Watertown, Mass., as I am, please note that it has been pointed out to me that this John Lawrence was not related to the Lawrences in Wissett England.
He also is not the same John Lawrence that came over here on the Planter in 1635. This family settled in New York City.
His father was not Henry Lawrence who settled in Charlestown, Mass. The John Lawrence son of Henry of Charlestown, Mass., married Susanna and died in the spring of 1672 in Charlestown.
Please refer to an article in the American Genealogist by the late George Anderson Moriarty who is also a descendent of John Lawrence of Watertown that was written in 1933 TAG 19:66 that does a detailed explanation of this.
The full text of this explanation by Mr Moriarty is 6 pages long so I only quote the following from the end of this article.
"To sum up. There is no evidence that the Lawrences were at Ashton Hall Prior to the middle of the fourteenth century; there is no evidence that the Suffolk family of the name derive from the Lancashire family; and finally there is no evidence that John Lawrence, son of Henry of Wissett, is identical with John Lawrence, the early settler of Watertown and Groton. The name is derived from that of a well-known mediaeval saint, and at a period when surnames were assumed many persons, not necessarily related, but connected with one or another of the numerous religious establishments dedicated to that Saint, assumed the name.
The writer of this monograph is actuated by no desire to cast reflections upon the distinguished Boston family of the name but, as he descends from two of the children of Deacon Nathaniel Lawrence of Groton, his investigations were undertaken solely with reference to his own ancestry, and this paper is the result of his belief that the true facts about pedigrees should be made known in the interest of sound genealogical studies."
George Anderson Moriarty is the author of many books on the "Great Migration" which may be seen at http://www.greatmigration.org
There were at least 3 individuals by the name of John Lawrence during the period of time that our ancestor lived in New England. Many of the genealogical discussion in the past have combined these three unique men into one John.
John #1 - There is our John Lawrence (abt. 1610 - 1667) who we have no documentation for his parents or where and when he came from or what his middle name might have been. This John Lawrence came to Watertown, Mass about 1630 to 1635 and lived there until he moved to Groton, Mass in 1662 where he died in 1667
John #2 - There is also the John Lawrence (abt. 1620 - 1672) who was the son of Henry and Christina Lawrence of Charlestown, Mass. He married a Susanna and lived and died in Charlestown. He is sometimes confused with the first son of our John Lawrence
John #3 - There is also the John Lawrence (1618 - 1699) - of St Albins, the son of Thomas and Joanne Antrobus Lawrence, who came over here on the ship Planter in 1635 as follows:
"The Planter, under Master Nicholas Trerice/Travice, the Planter sailed from London April 2 or 11, 1635, arriving at Boston June 7, 1635. Hotten has Trarice, Nico for the master.
Lawrence, John 17 (From St Albans to Newtown, Long Island, NH Ref: NEGR 45/85 36 pg 69)
Lawrence, William 12 (From St Albans to Newtown, Long Island, NH Ref: NEGR 45/85 36 pg 69)
Lawrence, Mary 9."
This John Lawrence was quite well placed and moved to New York where he was elected to Mayor of NYC. Please note that for extensive information on this John Lawrence see "Historical Genealogy of the Lawrence Family" by Thomas Lawrence published by Edward O. Jenkins, No 26 Frankfort St, New York 1858,
Please do not change the birth date or add middle name Joseph or connect to father Henry.
This Genealogy of John Lawrence IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION. It has been presented here for family research and discussion.
Bio info by Dennis Guy Lawrence 47088157 b.1945 - John, Ensign Nathaniel, John, Jonathan, Micah, Hubbard, Hubbard, Hubbard, Edward, Edward
The following Bio for John Lawrence of Watertown and Groton has been developed from my research into the life of John Lawrence of Watertown and Groton. He was my 8th Great Grandfather. He was probably born in Suffolk or Essex County, England, about 1610 and his parents and birth place remain unknown. He married Elisabeth (no last name known) and they had 13 children together. He then married Susanna Batchelder and they had two children together. He died on July 11, 1667, in Groton, Massachusetts, at the age of 57, and was buried there probably in the Old Burying Ground on Hollis Street in Groton. Those of you that are descendent from our emigrant ancestor John Lawrence of Watertown and Groton are very well blessed with the extensive amount of historical records and genealogical research that is available to you for this man and his family.
The ship Arbella arrives June 12, 1630, carrying Sir Richard Saltonstall along with other first settlers of Watertown, Mass. There is no record of John Lawrence of Watertown and Groton on this arrival or any other ship manifest.
Emigrants moved from Salem to Charlestown and then with guidance of Sir R. Saltonstall and Reverand George Phillips moved 4 miles up the Charles River and commenced a settlement first known as Sir Saltonstall Plantatin. This was soon renamed Watertown.
30 Jul 1630 - Forty men signed a covenant to establish a Church in Watertown. No record of John Lawrence in this event.
The historical information for John starts with his time in Watertown with the "Watertown Records, Town Proceedings First and Second Books". Written records in Watertown were first started in 1634. Only one other town in Massachusetts has earlier original records. That would be Plymouth. Within the first pages of this work we see the agreement to keep town records as follows: "Auguft 23, 1634. Agreed by the confent of the Freeman, that there fhalbe Chofen three perfons to be [ ] the ordering of the civill affaires of the Towne one of them to ferve as Towne Clark, and fhall keep the Records and Acts of the Towne.
The first Record for John in Watertown begins with the birth of his first son on page 4 of "Births, Marriages and deaths. First Book" as follows: "1635. John Laurance sonn of John and Elizabeth Laurance borne the : 14 d : 1 m"
On July 25th 1636, A Grant of the Great Dividents lotted out by the Freemen. John Lawrence receives Thirty Acres at the Fourth Divifion, Lott 18.
He was addmitted as a Freeman on February 2, 1637 in Watertown. His trade was that of a carpenter. In the year about 1642 his homestead in Watertown was "bounded on the east by the highway; north by Timothy Hawkins and John Hammond; west by the meadow of John Biscoe; south by the land of John Flemming, deceased; wid. dix, and her sonne; wid. Barlett, and said Biscoe." This would be about 1/5th mile north of Belmont Street on the West side of Common Street. The Belmont Methodist Church is currently located here.
A list of possessions in Watertown in 1642 indicated that he then owned 7 lots amounting to 154.5 acres.
In 1662 he sold off his holdings in Watertown and moved to Groton, Mass. His homestead in this town was situated south west of Gibbet Hill, a short distance east of the First Parish Meeting-house, and near where Love Lane joins the present road to Lowell. This farm was later owned by Joseph F. Hall. Currently the Gibbet Hill Grill is located in this general location.
His first wife died August 29, 1663. He married 2nd Susannah Batchelder on November 4, 1664, and they had an additional 2 children.
In 1665 his son Nathaniel and family moved into the family homestead in Groton.
John died July 11, 1667, probably at his home near Gibbet Hill.
Most certainly he was buried in the Old Burying Ground located at the corner of Hollis and School Streets in Groton, Mass. This was the only burying ground in Groton for it's first 192 years until in 1847 when the Groton Cemetery was opened. As early graves were marked by simple wood markings there is no existing marker for John Lawrence in this Cemetery.
Please note that this John Lawrence of Watertown and Groton Mass was not of Wissett England.
To all of you that are descendant from John Lawrence of Watertown, Mass., as I am, please note that it has been pointed out to me that this John Lawrence was not related to the Lawrences in Wissett England.
He also is not the same John Lawrence that came over here on the Planter in 1635. This family settled in New York City.
His father was not Henry Lawrence who settled in Charlestown, Mass. The John Lawrence son of Henry of Charlestown, Mass., married Susanna and died in the spring of 1672 in Charlestown.
Please refer to an article in the American Genealogist by the late George Anderson Moriarty who is also a descendent of John Lawrence of Watertown that was written in 1933 TAG 19:66 that does a detailed explanation of this.
The full text of this explanation by Mr Moriarty is 6 pages long so I only quote the following from the end of this article.
"To sum up. There is no evidence that the Lawrences were at Ashton Hall Prior to the middle of the fourteenth century; there is no evidence that the Suffolk family of the name derive from the Lancashire family; and finally there is no evidence that John Lawrence, son of Henry of Wissett, is identical with John Lawrence, the early settler of Watertown and Groton. The name is derived from that of a well-known mediaeval saint, and at a period when surnames were assumed many persons, not necessarily related, but connected with one or another of the numerous religious establishments dedicated to that Saint, assumed the name.
The writer of this monograph is actuated by no desire to cast reflections upon the distinguished Boston family of the name but, as he descends from two of the children of Deacon Nathaniel Lawrence of Groton, his investigations were undertaken solely with reference to his own ancestry, and this paper is the result of his belief that the true facts about pedigrees should be made known in the interest of sound genealogical studies."
George Anderson Moriarty is the author of many books on the "Great Migration" which may be seen at http://www.greatmigration.org
There were at least 3 individuals by the name of John Lawrence during the period of time that our ancestor lived in New England. Many of the genealogical discussion in the past have combined these three unique men into one John.
John #1 - There is our John Lawrence (abt. 1610 - 1667) who we have no documentation for his parents or where and when he came from or what his middle name might have been. This John Lawrence came to Watertown, Mass about 1630 to 1635 and lived there until he moved to Groton, Mass in 1662 where he died in 1667
John #2 - There is also the John Lawrence (abt. 1620 - 1672) who was the son of Henry and Christina Lawrence of Charlestown, Mass. He married a Susanna and lived and died in Charlestown. He is sometimes confused with the first son of our John Lawrence
John #3 - There is also the John Lawrence (1618 - 1699) - of St Albins, the son of Thomas and Joanne Antrobus Lawrence, who came over here on the ship Planter in 1635 as follows:
"The Planter, under Master Nicholas Trerice/Travice, the Planter sailed from London April 2 or 11, 1635, arriving at Boston June 7, 1635. Hotten has Trarice, Nico for the master.
Lawrence, John 17 (From St Albans to Newtown, Long Island, NH Ref: NEGR 45/85 36 pg 69)
Lawrence, William 12 (From St Albans to Newtown, Long Island, NH Ref: NEGR 45/85 36 pg 69)
Lawrence, Mary 9."
This John Lawrence was quite well placed and moved to New York where he was elected to Mayor of NYC. Please note that for extensive information on this John Lawrence see "Historical Genealogy of the Lawrence Family" by Thomas Lawrence published by Edward O. Jenkins, No 26 Frankfort St, New York 1858,
Please do not change the birth date or add middle name Joseph or connect to father Henry.
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