Thomas Lawton, of Cranfield & Portsmouth

Thomas Lawton was born 17 Apr 1614 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire Co., England and died between 29 Sep 1667 and 1681 probably in England, after living in Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island (see "notes.")

Parents:
George Lawton b: ABT 1581 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire Co., England
Isabell Smith b: 1585 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire Co., England.

— Pedigree: (Thomas, George, Thomas, Thomas, Richard)

Biographical Notes

By grant and purchase, Thomas Lawton acquired extensive lands both in Portsmouth and on the mainland. He had land near the top of Quaker Hill and a tract of perhaps 40 or 50 acres near the present Town Hall, extending from East Main Road to the shore. His Hunting Swamp Farm was on the west side of East Main Road about midway between Union Street and the town line; and his Long Swamp Farm was east of East Main Road, and on the west side of Wapping Road between Sandy Point Road and Braman Lane, these aggregating about 160 acres. His holdings outside of Portsmouth included 600 acres in Warwick, lands across the Sakonnet River on Puncatest Neck, a house and lot in Martha's Vineyard, land in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and in Shrewsbury Township, New Jersey. In 1660 he received a deed to lands in Narragansett from Cadganaguant, Chief Sachem, who had "formerly received several kindnesses" from him.

Notes

Thomas Lawton immigrated to America with his brother George on the Ship Anne (1638?) The Lawton family of Newport of Newport is of English descent and dates back to the earliest days of the R. I. colonies.

Thomas was Freeman in Portsmouth in 1655, 1656, 1658, and in 1661, he was Commissioner; in 1666 he was Deputy.

His will dated 5 June 1674 was probated 29 Sept. 1681, Portsmouth, RI.

It is believed that Thomas returned to England and died there. There has never been a grave for him found in America. His last living record in Portsmouth is 20 Apr 1677 when an agreement was made with a step-son. Will probated 29 Sept 1681. We know only that he died between those dates.

Family

Married:
1. on 29 May 1635 in England to Elizabeth Salisburie (or Salisbury). Elizabeth was born abt 1617 in England and died after 16 Nov 1654 Portsmouth, RI. She is said to have been the daughter of the John Salibury & Margaret Crowley who were married 1611 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England. 6 children of this marriage.
2. Before 1674 (also seen as on 20 Apr 1677) to Grace (Parsons) Bailey. Grace was born 1628 in Little Compton, Newport Co., Rhode Island and died after 1677. She was the daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Parsons and widow of William Bailey. No children of this marriage.

6 children of Elizabeth Salisbury and Thomas Lawton include:
– Elizabeth Lawton b: 5 FEB 1636/37 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire Co., England. Married Peleg Sherman.
– Daniel Lawton b: 1639 in Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island. Married Rebecca Mott.
– Rebecca Lawton b: 1641 in Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island. Married Gershorn Mott.
– Ann Lawton b: 1644 in Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island. Married Giles Slocum.
– Sarah Lawton b: APR 1645 in Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island. Married George Sisson.
– Isaac Lawton b: 11 DEC 1650 in Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island. Married 1) Mary Sisson 2) Elizabeth Tallman 3) Mrs. Naomi Bartholomew Hunt.

Family Notes

Apparently Thomas Lawton's 2nd marriage did not go well.

In the Probate records for 14 JUN 1676:
Thomas's wife Grace, having presented her many grievances to the town often, and to the Assembly several times for due and sufficient maintenance, she being much neglected in her husband's absence, it was therefore ordered by the Assembly that 6s per week shall be paid by his agent Daniel Lawton, and an inventory of movable goods in her custody to be taken, which inventory Daniel Lawton shall have. Grace to have the privilege of chamber she is now possessed of, and use of necessary movables, and the rights of her or any of her children now or in future to any estate are not cut off.

The First Generation of Lawtons in America

Extracted from [ The Shurtleff and Lawton Families: Genealogy and History.  William Shurtleff Pine Hill Press, Jan 1, 2005 - 541 pages.  Page 74.  "The First Lawtons in America."

Thomas Lawton and George Lawton were the first Lawtons to arrive in North America. The immigrant ancestor of our Lawton line was Thomas Lawton, who was born in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England. Baptism records of Cranfield Parish, Bedfordshire, show that Thomas Lawton's first marriage was to Elizabeth Salsburie/Salisburie on 29 May 1635 in Cranfield, England. The daughter of John Salisburye and Margaret Crowley, she was born about 1616 in Cranfield.

Thomas and Elizabeth had six children, born between 1637 and 1650. The first was born in England and the rest in Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island The second of these, Daniel Lawton, is our direct ancestor.

• 1. Elizabeth Lawton. Baptized in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England on 10 Sept. 1637. She married Peleg Sherman on 25 July 1657 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. She died 16 Mar 1719/1720, probably in Kingstown, Rhode Island.
• 2. Daniel Lawton. Born about 1639 in Portsmouth. Married Rebecca Mott in 1665 in Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island. Died 28 June 1719 in Portsmouth.
• 3. Rebecca Lawton. Born 1641 in Portsmouth. Married Gershom Mott in 1663. She died between 1670 and 1725.
• 4. Ann Lawton. Born 1645 in Portsmouth. Married Giles Slocum on 26 March 1669 in Portsmouth. She died 1703 in Portsmouth.
• 5. Sarah F. Lawton. Born 16 Sept. 1647 in Portsmouth. Married George Sisson on 1 Aug. 1667 in Dartmouth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. She died 5 July 1718 in Portsmouth.
• 6. Isaac Lawton. Born 11 Dec. 1650 in Portsmouth. He married (1) Mary Sisson in 1672 in Portsmouth. (2) Elizabeth Tallman on 3 March 1673/1674 in Portsmouth. (3) Mrs. Naomi Bartholomew Hunt on 11 Oct. 1701 in Portsmouth. He died 25 Jan. 1731/1732 in Portsmouth.

— Thomas Lawton (often spelled "Layton") served as commisioner from Portsmouth ....

— All of Thomas's children were born by his first wife, Elizabeth. She died some time after 16 November 1654, when she marked a deed at Portsmouth.

His second married, before 1674, was to Mrs. Grace (Parsons) Bailey, daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Parson and widow of William Bailey. ....

Lawton Family

George Lawton was the eldest child, being born in 1607, while Thomas, the fourth child, was born in 1614. As young adults in the 1630s, for reasons known only to them, but probably related to ship taxes and military impressment, they embarked for the colonies of the New World. As it has never been learned when nor where they departed England, (or for that matter, where they alit in the Colonies.) it is probable they did not announce their intentions. In 1639 the brothers were in the newly forming colony on Aquidneck Island, later named Rhode Island.

George married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Martha Hazard, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. His brother Thomas had brought a wife and child, both named Elizabeth, with him from Cranfield. Today the progeny of this pair of brothers numbers well into the thousands, and are scattered throughout the United States.

Will

Will of Thomas¹ Lawton of Portsmouth, RI Circa (1614 - 1681)

In the name of God Amen the 5th day of June in the year of our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred Seventy Four, Anno Regm Regis Car… Secundi… Anglis CXXV3…

I, Thomas Lawton of Portsmouth upon Rhode Island in New England, yeoman, being in perfect bodily health and sound memory prays to Almighty God for his soul knowing the uncertainty of this present life and being desirous to settle that outward estate that this Lord hath… I do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say first and principally I recommend my soul to Almighty God my estate, hoping to received full pardon and remission of my sins by Jesus Christ my… and my body to the earth to be buried in decent manner as by my executors or overseers hereafter named shall be thought most convenient. And as touching such worldly estate this Lord has sent me my will and meaning is that the same shall be employed and bestowed as herein and by this my will is expressed.)

Imprimis, I do pronounce and make void all wills by me formerly made and I declare and appoint this my last will and testament. I will that all debts I justly owe to any manner of person or persons shall be paid in convenient time after my decease, by Executors herein after named, I do hereby declare that although Grace have not behaved herself towards me as a wife ought to do towards an husband, yet for the manifestation of my care of her I do hereby give and bequeath unto her all the goods that are yet remaining in my custody of those that were hers when I married her, as also one good feather bed and bolster. Item, I give and bequeath unto the said Grace the sum of 12 pounds per annum in current pay at Rhode Island during the time of her natural life to be paid unto her by my executors hereinafter named, in lieu of what right or interest she might have or claim on any of my lands or to any other of my estate.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Daniel Lawton, his heirs and assigns forever all that farms that is now in his possession commonly called and known by the name of Long Swamp farms with the rights, privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging.

Item, besides what assurance I have formerly given unto my said son Daniel Lawton of a certain farms commonly called Hunting Swamp farms upon Rhode Island aforesaid I do hereby further ratify and confirm the said farms unto my son Daniel Lawton, his heirs and assigns forever. And my will is that William Wodell shall have and enjoy the said farms with the store upon the same for and during the term of years that are yet to come and unexpired as they are mentioned in a leass that I have granted unto him under my hand and seal. That the said William performing his part of the covenant therein exprest.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son, Isaac Lawton his heirs and assigns forever all that farms of mine lying and being at Punctages with the privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging. As also all the lands rights and privileges that I have, may or shall have upon Martha's Vineyard in New England aforesaid.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Shearman the wife of Peleg Shearman, and her heirs forever one quarter share of land lying and being unto the said Peleg… at Pon..ganset in the Township of Dartmouth in New England.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my said daughter, Elizabeth Shearman her heirs and assigns forever all that plot or parcel of land mine that is now in the tenure and occupation of the said Peleg Shearman lying in Portsmouth aforesaid, and adjoining to that land that Philip Shearman gave unto the said Peleg.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth Sherman her heirs and assigns forever all that my now dwelling house with all the land belonging to this same as the same is situated, lying and being between the land of William Wodell and the land of Philip Shearman.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth Shearman her heirs and assigns forever all that pasture of mine in Portsmouth aforesaid that is commonly called and known by the name of the 50 acres as the same is lying and being betwixt the land of William Hall and the land of Thomas Wood.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Anne Slocum the sum of 5 shillings in lawful money of New England to be paid unto her by my executors here after named immediately after my decease as the full of her portion (with what I have already given her) from my estate.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Sarah Sisson the full sum of 50 pounds in lawful money of New England to be paid unto her by my executors within the space of one year next after my decease.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my overseers hereafter named the full sum of 5 pounds in lawful money of New England as a token of my love.

Item, I give and bequeath all the remainder of my real and personal estate whatsoever it may be found unto my daughter Elizabeth Shearman and Sarah Sisson their heirs and assigns to be equally divided between them.

Item, I do hereby nominate and appoint my son Daniel as the sole executor of this my last will and testament.

Item, I do hereby also nominate and appoint my loving friend William Wodell and my loving son-in-law George Sisson to be overseers of this my last will and testament assigning them to assist my executor as they can in the performance of this my last will and testament.

Item, my will is that my executor shall not sell or dispose of any part of my estate but by the advice of my overseers or one of them. And further my will is that my executor shall not under any pretense whatsoever claim any more of my estate than is expresst to be given unto him in this my last will and testament. Also my will is that all the debts that I shall justly owe at the time of my decease be… paid out of my personal estate before the division be made betwixt my daughters aforesaid. For witness I the said Thomas Lawton have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written.

Sources

1. Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. NewEnglandAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) "LAWTON Thomas Thomas (-1681) & 1/wf _____ _____ ca 1637 Portsmouth, RI {Austin's Dict. 122 Noyes-Gilman Crapo 311 Guild Anc. 22 Dunham-Boyd 324}"
2. The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island: Comprising Three Generations of Settlers who Came Before 1690, (with Many Families Carried to the Fourth Generation) (Google eBook) John Osborne Austin Genealogical Publishing Com, 1887 - Reference - 496 pages. Page 122. "Thomas Lawton was immigrant to America with his brother George." "Married 2nd, Grace Bailey, widow of William, daughter of Hugh & Ann (...) Parsons, died after 1677."
3. The Shurtleff and Lawton Families: Genealogy and History.  William Shurtleff Pine Hill Press, Jan 1, 2005 - 541 pages.  Page 74.  "The First Lawtons in America."

links

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=sharprm&i...
• http://www.caskey-family.com/genealogy/ThomasLawton3.htm
• http://greenerpasture.com/Ancestors/Details/8382

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Info Ref.: < http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=113574427 >

Thomas was a Commissioner to the General Court, Portsmouth RI, 1655-1656, 1658 & 1661.

He married his first wife [name unknown] about 1637 [died before 1677] and [2] widow Grace Parsons Bailey on 20 Apr 1677.

Thomas became a Freeman at Portsmouth in 1655 and on 30 Jul 1660, received land at Naragansett.

His will was dated 6 Jun 1674 and proven 21 Sep 1681. It mentions wife Grace, sons Daniell & Isaac; daughters Elizabeth (Peleg) Shearman, Ann Slocum, Saran (George) Sisson.

GEDCOM Note

Lots of conflicting information about this person needing clarification. It looks like his name was Thomas rather than William.

Biography

Thomas Lawton was baptized at Cranfield Parish, Bedfordshire, Englandon April 17, 1614, son of George and Isabel (Smith) Lawton. <ref name=RIRoots13Corr>Potter, Betty. Additions and Corrections: Early Rhode Island Settlers: Thomas Lawton in: Rhode Island Roots, Volume 13,Rhode Island Genealogical Society, Warwick, Rhode Island, June 1987, p. 14 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.) </ref> <ref name=RIRoots13>Dietz, Claire Gilbert. Early Rhode Island Settlers: Thomas Lawton in: Rhode Island Roots, Volume 13, Rhode Island Genealogical Society, Warwick, RhodeIsland, March 1987, p. 2 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.) </ref>

• 1638: Thomas was in New England. <ref name=RIRoots13 /> * 1639: April 30: Thomas Lawton/Layton among those listed in establishing the second government at Portsmouth, Rhode Island. <ref name=GMNL>Focus on Rhode Island in: Great Migration Newsletter, V.1-20: October-December, 2013: p. 60: 62. (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.)</ref>* 1639: July: Thomas with his brother George Layton, was granted land at Portsmouth. No association has been found between these 2 brothersand John Layton of Aquedneck/Newport. <ref name=GMNL />* 1654: November 16: Thomas sold a 60 acre portion of his 'great lot at Portsmouth' to William Freeborne, with the remained approximately 20acres reserved for William Cadman. <ref>Anderson, Robert C., George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. William Freeborn in: Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, C-F, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 2001,p. 574 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England HistoricGenealogical Society, 2008.) </ref>
• 1655: Thomas was made Freeman. <ref name=RIRoots13 />
• 1655 to 1661: Served as Commissioner. <ref name=RIRoots13 />
• 1674: June 5: Thomas wrote his will. <ref name=RIRoots13 /> His married his first wife Elizabeth Salisburie at Cranfield on May 29, 1634. <ref name=RIRoots13Corr /> Elizabeth was living in November 18, 1654, when she made her mark on aPortsmouth deed. <ref name=RIRoots13 /> He married second, the widow Grace (Parsons) Bailey by 1674, as he named her in the will he wrote that year. <ref name=RIRoots13 /> He died in 1681 as his estate inventory was taken on September 27, 1681 and valued at L437:11:0. His son Daniel was executor. <ref name=RIRoots9>Rhode Island Roots, Volume 9, Rhode Island Genealogical Society, Warwick, Rhode Island, September 1983, p. 59 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.)</ref>

In his will, he named:
– wife Grace
– sons Daniel and Isaac
– daughter Elizabeth Sherman, wife of Peleg Sherman
– daughter Ann Slocum* daughter Sarah Sisson, and her husband George Sisson <ref name=RIRoots13 />

Children

• Elizabeth born ___; married Peleg Sherman, son of Philip and Sarah (Odding) Sherman at Portsmouth on July 26, 1757. <ref name=GM1to3>Anderson, Robert C. Philip Sherman in: Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to N.E. 1620-1633, Vols. I-III, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 1995 p. 1672 (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010) </ref>
• Daniel born ___; married Rebecca Mott. <ref name=RIRoots13 />
• Ann born ___; married Giles Slocum on May 26, 1669. <ref name=RIRoots13 /> <ref name=RIRoots19>Fiske, Jane Fletcher. The Family of Giles (2) Slocum of Dartmouth, Massachusetts and Newport, Rhode Island: A Corrected Account based on New Evidence in: Rhode Island Roots, Volume 19, Rhode Island Genealogical Society, Warwick, Rhode Island, March, 1993 p. 13 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.) </ref>
• Sarah born ___; married George Sisson. <ref name=RIRoots13 /> * Isaac born ___: married first Mary Sisson; second Elizabeth Tallman;third Naomi Lawton. <ref name=RIRoots13 />

Sources

• Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Source number: 23881.003; Source type: Pedigree chart; Number of Pages: 4.
• Find A Grave: Thomas Lawton
• http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/26601932/person/1957020447/storyx/e0... U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
• The Shurtleff and Lawton Families: Genealogy and History.
• Google Books: Law and Sexual Misconduct in New England, 1650-1750: Steering Toward England By Abby Chandler, page 134.
• Family Search - Thomas Lawton and Elizabeth Salisbury History.
• Wikipedia: Portsmouth Compact, Thomas Layton is among the signers for the second Compactof Loyalty written and signed April 30, 1639,

Acknowledgements

• Thank you to Justice-272 | Jennifer Justice and others for theirwork on this profile.* Lawton-114 created through the import of Towne-Weeden.ged on May 29,2011 by X-3368 | J X.
• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Sep 1 2020, 17:26:18 UTC