Thomas Lawrence

Thomas Lawrence was born in 1761, according to his Pension Application, presumably in Hanover Co., Va. He grew up on a farm where tobacco was likely the main crop. Neighbors were the Hudsons, Parrishes, Slaydens, and Underwoods. Thomas was a true patriot, when his country called, he answered and served her well. In February, 1777, he joined Col. Charles Lewis' 14th. Virginia Regiment of the Continental line (Regular Army), where he served in Capt. Moses Hawkins' company. They received their uniforms and equipment in Alexandria, VA, then marched to Philadelphia and joined Washington's army. Brandywine, Germantown, Valley Forge, and Stony Point are all familiar names on his service record. The new unit was quick to earn their colors under enemy fire. Marching to Baltimore to intercept the British army, the forces met at Brandywine. The next battle was at Germantown, PA. Thomas was promoted after each battle.

Capt. Hawkins was killed at Germantown and Thomas' unit was combined with Capt. Overton's company that included James Lawrence of Louisa County, Va., probably a cousin, son of John Lawrence. His service record placed Thomas at Valley Forge, PA during the latter part of that fateful winter of 1777/1778. He was one of 1350 hand-picked men selected by Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne for the battle of Stony Point, but was not one of the 300 gallant men who stormed the stronghold and captured the fort with a loss of only 15 lives.

Thomas was discharged at the completion of his term of service, in Philadelphia on January 20, 1780. He was married shortly afterward to Savarah ________ , and they started raising a family, settling back in Louisa Co., VA. His occupation is thought to have been farming and milling. He possibly operated a tobacco warehouse. Other Lawrences are known to have operated a tobacco warehouse in that area of Virginia.

Kentucky became a state in 1792, and Thomas moved there about 1798, settling in Mason County. He appeared on the tax rolls of Mason County in 1799, then moved, showing up on the tax records of Logan County in 1800. The family could have come down the Ohio River from Pittsburg; or as an alternative, overland along the New River through what is now West Virginia, since Mason County would lie along that route. Savarah, his wife died around this period, shortly after daughter Martha was born in 1787/98. Thomas married his second wife Abigail Gough on March 21, 1802 in Logan County.

Back in 1787, Thomas had purchased 100 acres in Goochland County, VA for 1000 pounds -- quite a sum for those times -- which would indicate that there must have been a business of some type, probably a mill. A biography of his grandson, Thomas Newton Lawrence in Johnson County, IL, states that his father had been a miller from Virginia. This was incorrect, in that Thomas Newton's father was Henry G. Lawrence, who was born in Butler County, KY. Quite likely, it was referring to his grandfather, Thomas D. Lawrence.(Note by RDG: Henry Lawrence, Thomas Newton's father, DID have a mill on his farm in Johnson County, IL, though he was born in Kentucky, not Virginia.) Eventually, Thomas was unable to pay the taxes on his property in Virginia, and they were forgiven in 1792. He sold the land later that year for $75 to John Dickason. His father, Henry Lawrence, had died by this time and Thomas, his mother and brothers and sisters sold the remaining parts of his father's estate. Some of his family remained in Virginia, while Thomas, Henry, and William migrated to Kentucky. William eventually moved on to Mississippi. Henry settled in Clark County, KY, and Thomas in Logan County.

Records show that in December, 1798, Jesse Lawrence (relationship unknown) entered patents no. 2814 for 200 acres for Thomas, and no. 2815 for 100 acres for himself. Thomas had been issued land office Military Warrant for 200 acres on May 21, 1783 as a reward for his military service. The land turned out to be second-rate sandy soil, which he exchanged for a better parcel. Thomas settled in that part of Logan County, which later was separated and became part of Butler County.

Thomas filed on August 10, 1832 for his Revolutionary War pension, file no. S-31205. In a letter from George Robards of Harrodsburg, KY dated 1832, George addressed Thomas as "Dear Brother Soldier." George was also from Louisa County, VA and relates how he filed for his pension listing questions and answers. Thomas and George served together at the battle of Brandywine.

In 1807, Thomas was appointed Justice of the Peace. He was granted 200 acres in 1807, and 160 acres in 1820. He purchased 500 acres in 1824; and was to accumulate over 1200 acres of land before his death in 1835. In 1817, he was appointed trustee of the Sandy Creek Baptist Church. His days of being unable to pay his taxes were far behind him. Thomas died in 1835, 74 to 76 years of age, and a hard worker to the end. That spring, his plow shares were sharpened by A. McKinney who also "shewed" a horse for Thomas in September of that year.

After his death, Thomas' estate included a "lot of wild hogs at $15.00 to the widow provided they can be caught. . ." They were apparently caught, since they appear on the sales record. His daughter, Susan and husband Stephen Step remained on the home place with her mother, Abigail (Gough) Lawrence. Abigail apparently died before the 1850 census was taken. The early history of Sandy Creek Baptist Church indicates Thomas' children as faithful members.

http://www.heritech.com/soil/genealogy/lawrence/lawrence.htm

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Mar 15 2022, 5:49:44 UTC