Darby/Derby Lawler was named as a minor son of Patrick Lawler of Chowan Co, NC when petitioning for a guardian named Stephen Sheppard after the death of his parents. He was apparently the son of Patrick Lawler, Jr., who may have predeceased his father Patrick Lawler Sr.

Chowan Co NC Court Minutes 1730-1745 (ed. Haun, 1983), p. 58. Darby Lawler son of Patrick Lawler late of Chowan decd. came into Court and prayed that Stephen Sheppard might be his guardian. Ordered that the sd Stephen Sheppard take care of the sd Darby Lawler & his estate and return an inventory thereof to the next Court in order to give Security for the sa___

His grandfather Patrick Sr. bequeathed him "Seven cows & Calves & one Mare" but John Singleton, who had married either (the accounts differ) his step-grandmother (Patience Lawler) or his aunt by marriage Mary Lawler, widow of David, who in turn was executor of Patrick's estate), in some way blocked Darby's receipt of his "Legacy," and the matter was in the courts from April 1736 to January 1737, handled by Darby's guardian Stephen Sheppard.

April 1736 Chowan Prcinct. No. Carolina. Ss: to the Worshipfull the Court now sitting, the petition of Derby Lawler by Stephn Sheppard his Guardian humbly sheweth That Patrick Lawler SenR. decessed & bequeathd. to his Grandson Derby Lawler son of Derby [Patrick?] Lawler Junr; Seven cows & Calves & one Mare & David Lawler the Eldest Son of Patrick Lawler Senr. was ExtoR; and too into his hands the sayd Legesay (Derby being a Minor & Orphan) & dyed before the Orphan came of Age his Widow names Patience Lawler who was left in possesion of the sayd Legacy intermarryd with one John Singleton & by that means the sayd Legacy came into his hands since which the sayd Derby upon petition to the Worshipfull Court of Chowan did obtain an Order which appoynted Stephen Sheppart his Guardian & that he should take the sayd Legacy into his hands but the sayd Singleton in contempt of the Authority of the sayd Court refuses to deliver the same & therefore YoR; Petitionr; humbly prays for releif in the premisses? & that further Order for the deliver of the sd: Legacy may issue & that he may be sumond. to appear & answer such his Contempt: & YoR; petionR; as in duty bound shall Pray &c. Patr: Lawler Senr:s Will is in the Secrys. Office upon Record. W. Badham Pr: Complt. The Petition of Derby Lawler Chowan Court April 1736. Granted 24? Janry 1736.

Source: Chowan County North Carolina Miscellaneous Papers 1685-1744, Book I, page 32, by Wynette Parks Haun. Provided from records of Anne Singleton Condran Revision March 6, 1999. http://www.oocities.org/~ncsingletons/johnsingletonreportsearching.htm''

May 12, 1736 No. Carolina. Ss: George the Second by the Grace of God King of Great Britain (and so forth) To the Provost Marshal of our said province Greetings We command you to sumons John Singleton of the precinct aforesaid personally to be and appear before our Justices at our next Court to be held for the said precinct at the Courthouse in Edenton on the Third Thursday in July next then and there to answer to Darby Lawley for a Contempt in not obeying the order of this Court Subpena One hundred pound herein fail not and make due return Dated at the Clerks office May ye. 12th. 1736. Test: James Craven Cler: Cur. Summons Singleton

Source: Chowan County North Carolina Miscellaneous Papers 1685-1744, Book I, page 33, by Wynette Parks Haun. Provided from records of Anne Singleton Condran Revision March 6, 1999. http://www.oocities.org/~ncsingletons/johnsingletonreportsearching.htm''

July 26, 1736 No. Carolina. Chowan: Ss: George the Second by the Grace of God King of Great Britain (and so forth) To the provost Marshall of our said province Greeting We command you to sumons John Singleton of precinct aforesaid (if to be found in your bailiwick) personally to be and appear before our Justices at our next Court to be held for the said precinct at the Court house in Edenton on the Third Thursday in October next then and there to answer Darby Lawley for a Contempt of this Court Supena one hundred pound herein fail not and make due return Dated at the Clerks office the 26th day of July anno Dom: 1736: James Craven Clerk.

Source: Chowan County North Carolina Miscellaneous Papers 1685-1744, Book I, page 34, by Wynette Parks Haun. Provided from records of Anne Singleton Condran Revision March 6, 1999. http://www.oocities.org/~ncsingletons/johnsingletonreportsearching.htm''

October 1736 North Carolina, Chowan. S.: George the Second by the grace of God King of Great Britain (and so forth) To the Provost Marshal of Our said province Greeting: We command you to sumons John Singleton of the precinct aforesaid personally to be and appear before our Justices at our next Court to held (sic) for the said precinct at the court house in Edenton on the Third Thursday in January next then and there to answer to Darby Lawley for Contempt in not obeying the Order of this Court Subpena One hundred pound herein fail not and make due return Dated at the Clerks office the 28th day of October Anno Dom: 1736. Test: James craven Cler. Cur. Lawley vs Singleton: Sums. Dismiber ye. 27 1736.
Source: Chowan County North Carolina Miscellaneous Papers 1685-1744, Book I, page 32, by Wynette Parks Haun. Provided from records of Anne Singleton Condran Revision March 6, 1999. http://www.oocities.org/~ncsingletons/johnsingletonreportsearching.htm''

October 1739 Grand Jury for Chowan Court Court Vizt: October 1739 #13 John Singleton. Source: Chowan County North Carolina Miscellaneous Papers 1685-1744, Book I, page 75, by Wynette Parks Haun. Provided from records of Anne Singleton Condran Revision March 6, 1999. http://www.oocities.org/~ncsingletons/johnsingletonreportsearching.htm

January 1736 (1737) At a Court begun and held for the precinct afsd: at the Court house in Edenton the Third Thursday in January anno Dom: 1736. The petition of Darbe Lawley Contind. at the Last Court on a Sums: to Issue for Jno: Singleton who being duly sumonsd: appeared and acknowledged that he was ready to deliver up the estate according to the will mentioned in the petition ordered by the Court that he the said John Singleton Deliver up the Legacys according to the will and pay? costs.

Source: Chowan County North Carolina Court Minutes Book I, page 36 by Weynette Parks Haun. Provided from records of Anne Singleton Condran Revision March 6, 1999. http://www.oocities.org/~ncsingletons/johnsingletonreportsearching.htm''

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IF John Lawler of Moore County is descended from Patrick Lawler of Chowan County, the only possible person it could be through (at this point) is Darby Lawler, son of Patrick Lawler, Junior. Darby could possibly have been old enough to have married and had a child by 1740, depending upon how old he was when orphaned.

However, research needs to be done to track him from the Chowan County court rulings in the 1730s regarding where he was after that. Did he move to what later became Moore County? Moore County was not established until 1784, from Cumberland County. Cumberland was created in 1754 from Bladen. Bladen County was created in 1734 from New Hanover County. New Hanover was created in 1729 from Craven County.