John Lawrence, of Charlestown

• Not the same as John Lawrence, of Watertown & Groton
• Not the same as John Lawrence, Mayor of New York
• Not the same as John Lawrence, of Muddy Water

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The Great Migration states of John Lawrence: “In the mid-nineteenth century, Horatio G. Somerby concocted an English origin for John Lawrence, claiming that he derived from Wisset, Suffolk. In 1933 George Andrews Moriarty demolished this pedigree. In particular, he demonstrated that there was no connection between John Lawrence of Charlestown, son of Henry Lawrence, and John Lawrence of Watertown [TAG 10:78-83]."

Disambiguation

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

Origins

Although the exact date of his death seems to be unknown, the authoritative source accepted by Wikitree, Anderson's "Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L, Page 245" clearly states that this Henry Lawrence died before 22 July 1646. The indisputable evidence is that on that date the widow, Christian Lawrence and her son John Lawrence sold real estate (a dwelling house and garden lot) to Nicholas Shaply of Charlestown. This information is recorded in the Charlestown Book of Possessions, page 138.

Biography

From http://johnlisle.us/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I33671&tree=st..., quoting Bond’s Watertown:

2.15 (II.) JOHN LAWRENCE, m., about 1657, SUSANNA (???), and lived probably in Charlestown. "He is named on the list of those who paid county rate." His Inventory, amounting to £160 8s., was taken June 17, 1670, by John Pentecost and John Burrage. It included 1 shallop, £40, house and wharf, £90. His wid. Susanna, m. in Charlestown, Aug. 15, 1676, Thomas Tarball, Sen. [see Tarball]. He d. previous to 1680-1, for wid. Susanna Tarball was adm. to Charlestown Church, Mar. 6, 1680-1; Hannah and Abigail Lawrence, drs. of wid. Tarball, bap. in Charlestown, Ap. 24, 1681; John, youngest son of wid. Tarball, bap. Mar. 3, 1681-2. In Court, in 1681, the age of Hannah Lawrence was stated to be 20 yrs., and that of Abigail Lawrence to be 19 yrs. [Perhaps it will yet be discovered that this John Lawrence was a son of Henry and Christian Lawrence, of Charlestown.]

Family

“The Genealogy of the Family of John Lawrence of Wisset, in Suffolk, England ...” By John Lawrence. Page 16-17. [NB: incorrect parents] GoogleBooks

Was it this Susannah married John Lawrence (14 Mar 1635/36 - 17 Jun 1672) on 30 Sep 1657 at Boston, Suffolk Co., MA.

They had children :

• 18. I. Hannah, b. Feb. 22, 1658–9; m., Sept. 21, 1682, James Capen; and had, Ist, JAMES, b. July 11, 1683; 2d, HANNAH, b. Oct. 13, 1686; m. - Andrews.
• II. ABIGAIL, bapt. April 24, 1681, age 19; m., Sept. 1, 1684, Edward Wyer. After his death, m., Dec. 25, 1689, Nicholas Lawrence, jr., of Charlestown, who d. Feb. 28, 1710– 11. She next m. Edward Clifford, of Charlestown, and d. before 1729.
• III. SARAH, b. —; d. 1724, in Charlestown.
• IV. DAVID, b. —; m., Feb. 3, 1700–1, Sarah Whittemore, of Charlestown; had children, as is supposed, 1st, URIAH; 2d, ELIZABETH; m. Dickson; bad son Jonathan ; 3d, CATHERINE ; m., March, 1736, Richard Champney, of Boston; had dau. Sarah ; 4th, JONATHAN; m. and had children; 5th, SARAH; m. Phillips. David Lawrence died before 1735.
• V. John, b. March 22, 1668; bapt. March 3, 1681-2, in Charlestown; d. —; probably unmarried ; was a mariner.

Children from Wyman’s “Charlestown”:

1. Susanna (Lawrence) Wallis
2. Mary (Lawrence) Potter
3. Sarah Lawrence
4. Hannah (Lawrence) Capen
5. Abigail (Lawrence) Clifford
6. John Lawrence, Jr.
7. William Lawrence (uncertain)
8. David Lawrence

References

• “The genealogies and estates of Charlestown : in the county of Middlesex and commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1629-1818,” Vol. 2, K-Z, Page 606. Author: Wyman, Thomas Bellows, Publ. 1879. Archive.Org