Notes:

Buried:
Section 1N, Plot 28.

Notes:

. John L. DENISON
St. John's on the Humber / Denison Family, North York Twp. Cemetery, York Co., Ontario (Toronto)

In Memory of
John L Denison
Who died Jan 27 1874, Aged 56y 2d
A faithful friend, a husband dear, A tender parent liethe here
Great is the loss we here sustain, But hope in heave to meet again.

. John Lawrence Dennison, Parents, George Dennison ;
Sponsors John Dennison, Senior. Thomas John Dennison, Sophia Dennison; Date, 31st May, 1818. - - -

Died:
Etobicoke, monument 18 'J.L.' Aged 56y 2d.

Buried:
Recumbent, cracked monuments 2011.

John married Sarah CLARK on 9 Feb 1854 in Ontario, Canada. Sarah was born on 7 Aug 1830 in Ireland; died on 30 Mar 1911 in Weston, York Co., Ontario; was buried in St. John's On The Humber, (Weston) Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. 1901 Cenus, Chingacousy
Sarah Dennison, b. Aug 7, 1832, Ireland, Age 28, Landed 1850.
Fred. Dennison, b. Marg 28 1869, age 30,
Vivian E MacKay, Grandson, b. Mar 30, 1896, Age 5, born Ontario.

. Small square grey monument lies on the ground (2010) & reads:
Denison
In memory of
Sarah Clark
Passed away Mar. 30, 1911
Beloved wife of
John L. Denison
Love & Remembrance
last Forever. - - -

Buried:
Small recumbent square monument.

Notes:

. Lot 3 Con 3, Chinguacousy, Peel Co., Brampton
War of 1812: Engaged at Detroit & Queenston Heights.

. 1837 Rebellion, Capt. in York Militia.

. Many streets in Toronto & Weston are names after the Denison & relations:

. Augusta Ave, Bellevue Ave., Bellevue St., Bordon St., Brookfield St., Denison Ave., Denison Square, Ester St., Fennings St.,
Lawrence Ave., Lippincott St., Ossington Ave., Robert Place, Robert Street, St. John's (Jane & Bloor area), Royalty St., & Rusholme Street. - - -

Buried:
with wife & children.

Thomas married Maria Poillon LAWRENCE, .vi on 4 Mar 1817 in St. James Anglican Cathedral. Maria (daughter of Lieut. John LAWRENCE, , UE, & JP and Mary REZEAU, UE) was born on 26 Aug 1794 in Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick; died on 31 Oct 1880 in Weston, York Co., Ontario; was buried in St. John's On The Humber, (Weston) Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary Lawrence daughter to John & Mary Lawrence was born on Tuesday morning about 9 O'clock the 26th day of August 1794.

. On 5 July 1825, at York, mother Mary Rezeau Lawrence swore she saw her husband, John Lawrence when he wrote down their children's names & birth dates.

Note: The names of those children were equally carefully chosen.
Maria Poillon Lawrence is assuredly named after grandmother, Mary Rezeau (nee Poillon,) & Grandmothers Maria Poillon, born Richmond, Staten Island, NY. - P J Ahlberg, 2010.

. 1817 March 4th March, York. This day were married by special license,
Thomas John Dennison & Maria Lawrence, both of this Parish.
John, Strachan. This marriage was solemnized between us, Thomas John Denison & Maria Lawrence.
Witnesses, Thos. Denison & Peter Lawrence.

. 1817 March 4, St James Cathedral Toronto
Lawrence, Maria P Denison, Thomas John both this Parish St James,
Wit: Charles Denison & Peter Lawrence.
By Rev. J Strachan.
"Denison resided at Weston. There are no male members family now (as of 1895). Denison resided at Weston."

. Monument reads
In memory of
Maria Pilyon
Relict of the late
Capt. Thomas John Denison
Born in St. Johns New Brunswick
Aug. 26, 1794
Died at her sons residence Davenport.

Oct. 31, 1880 , Light grey stone, laid flat on the ground, with a large cleft in the top artwork. - - -

Birth:
DUE, Daughter of Empire Loyalist.

Died:
Aged 86 2m. On. Death Reg. 1880 Old Age & Gen. Debility.

Notes:

John is the son of Martha Lynn & Henry Dennis of Philadelphia.

. Note: John Dennis was a neighbor of John Willson & John Brown Lawrence. Dennis built a shipyard adjacent to the Kingsmill /Old Mill:
- P J Ahlberg.

. 1766 Dec 11 - These are to forewarn all persons not total an assignment of a bond from Henry Dennis, Shipwright, of Philadelphia, to Peter Jones of Cumberland Co., West Jersey, dated in February 1763 for £6, in consideration of a piece of cedar swamp sold to said Dennis, about £40 of which bond is paid: The said Peter Jones became bound me, the penalty of £200, in a bond of the same date, to make or secure to mea title for said Cedar Swamp & he has not performed, I did not intend to pay a farthing more, until said Jones makes me title, agreeable to his obligation. Henry Dennis.
Ref: Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia.

. 1772 Nov 11 - To be sold by the executors of late deceased Samuel Shivers, & to be entered on the 2 April, next ensuing, One third part of a large tract of Pine Land, well timber & situated near Morris's River Bridge, on Menantico, also the one third part of a good sawmill thereon, & of all the appurtenances thereunto belonging, being formerly the property of Henry Dennis. For further particulars apply to Daniel Cozens*, in Gloucester Co., or Joseph Shinn, in Salem Co.
Ref: Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia.
XRef: Daniel Cozens was a United Empire Loyalist who would also settle in York (Toronto), Upper Canada.

. 1778 June 25, Thrus. A proclamation by the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Whereas the following named persons, late inhabitants of this state, Henry Dennis, Shipwright, John Dennis, Wheelwright, if they do render themselves by a certain day, for vesting their estates for ascertaining & satisfying the lawful debs & claims.
Ref: Pennsylvania Evening Post, Philadelphia.

. 1792 Oct 20, UCLPetition 3, D Bundle 1
Petition of John Dennison, Farmer & Mercht. Miller in County of Suffolk, England.
To Lieut. Gov. John Graves Simcoe, Petitioner served most of last War as a Lieut. in Col. Harvey's Battalion of Militia, having now a wife & 3 sons is desirous of removing with them & his Property to Upper Canada. Solicits a grant of 200 Acres in the neighborhood of Toronto. Signed, By request of the Petitioner, Niagara, 20 Oct, 1792, Peter Russell.
Granted (200 A. ! )

. 1797 Nov 19, UCLPetition 60, D Bundle 6, C1743, p650. To Peter Russell,
Petition of John Dennison, In August 1776* made application to your honor for 2 farms & a Lot to carry on his business in York Twp., for his wife & family. He has no right spot on the water. His house being 3 miles from the plan. His Excellency General Simcoe informing me I might have land where it suits me. Your petition in his disappointment, made application of a town [York] lot, not being granted to him. He prays for your assistance, Signed, 19 Nov 1797, John Dennis, Shipwright.
Note: 1776 is clearly written, but mistaken as Gov. Simcoe arrive in 1792 in Town of York, UC. OR * was perhaps 1796 intended? - PJA.
. To Peter Russell, In obedience to your command to report upon a location prayed for by Mr. Dennis, I have received is ideas respecting the spot suitable for shipbuilding business, to be Lot 41 on the Humber, as represented in the annex sketch, abut 100 acres. This & adjacent lots, was revered by the Lieut. Gov. for the future timber in the first instance the Kings saw mill being little above it & for future disposals, & 2nd the timber should be cut off. Mr. Dennis asserts there is no timber to speak of on this Lot.
Submitted to your Honors wisdom, D. Smith, Survey General's Office, York, 20 Nov 1797.
. Envelope: The Governor [Simcoe} wishes this land not be granted or leased but Mr. Dennis is wife not be restricted from building vessels anywhere he may find convenient P.R. 7 Feb. 1798.

. John Dennis received a grant of 400 A. on the Humber, car where Weston now is. He was given his choice of that or the land now bounded by Yonge, Bloor, Church & Queen streets. He chose the Humber location because the other was swampy.

. 1798 Feb 14 Feb, UCLPetition 20, Town of York Lot granted 23 Jun 1798.

. 1801 Mar 30, UCLPetition 57, C1743, p875. Petitioner having no ship building yard & having a verbal permission for building on the Humber [River] at a place where he had built several on government land. He therefore proceeded building sloop: He purchased it a few days after was informed it was expected that permission would be been asked. That as things now stood, it might be deathbed; he therefore prays written permission for building & launching the sloop with timber.
Signed, John Dennis, Shipwright.
Envelope: Mar 30, 1802. The petitioner may finish away the sloop, but he must never build another vessel at the Humber again without the expressed leave of the Governor.

. UC Land Petitions Leases, 1802 Jan 19, York, Wants to lease reserve Lot 6, 2nd Con, on the Humber, he being the Proprietor of Lots 4 & 5 adjoining. John Dennison, Esq.

. 1802 Mar 14, UCLPetition 11, D Bundle Bundle Leases,1799-1819, C1885, p921. To John Small, Esq. He still wants to lease those 2 Lots 39 & 40, Con 3. Jno. Dennis, Humber.

. 1802 Mar 26, UCLP 55, D Bundle 5, C1743, p865.
To Lieut. Gov. Peter Hunter, Petition of John Denison. On the faith he would moved his family into this province, & to have certain grant for a ship Yard Lot, the applied for a yard on another distant lot; 25 times attending Council, he humbly requests to take his case into consideration, signed, John Dennis.
Envelope: Received 30 March 1802. His petition having failed, the Board has no concern.

. Father: 1809 July 22, Saturday, Town of York. Seneca Ketchum, Path Master on Yonge Street appeared to prosecute the following Persons, for refusing & neglecting to perform their Statute Labour. Thomas & Wm. Hill, Walter Moody, William Marsh Sen'. was fined by the Court $1 & all expenses.
George Denison, appeared & gave no reasonable excuse, to the Court for refusing to perform his Statute labour & he is fined by the Court $8 & all Expenses.

. 1830 May 5, UCLPetition 22, D Bundle 16, York, p158 [Slightly extracted version]
To Lt. Gov. John Colborne, John Dennis is the son late Henry Dennis, Master Shipbuilder, City of Philadelphia to a great & portable extent.
He was very young when his father jointed the British Standard. Although a Quaker he served in Army & essential series to Sir Wm Howe. The British Fleet transported him & his father to NY City after the evacuation of Philadelphia, forfeiting their property in town & vicinity valued at many thousand pounds.
In NY his father commenced ship building, repairing & refitting ships. But he tried with his father peaceable employment & volunteered under General Grant to the West Indies & was at the taking & defense of St. Lucia, Grenada & other islands.
. 1780 your Petitioner returned to NY finding his father growing old & never afterwards left him.
At the peace of 1783 he removed to New Brunswick where his house & belongings burned to the ground. After this calamity General Simcoe came to Canada but the General could give no compensation. When the Commissioners came to the Colonies for the Loyalist Losses, head not the necessary documents & when he had them, the commissioners returned to England.
Now is his 72th year, he would no longer trouble his Majesty Government, but he has children & grandchildren likely to suffer from the evils of property, but for the estates his father lost. He cherished the hope that something will yet be allowed., Signed, John Dennis.
Envelope: 1830 May 14, In Council, The UC government does not have the ability to address his losses. He must applied the his Majesties Government (England.) Signed, W Robinson, Chairman.

. To Lt Gov John Colborn, Further information to his Petition, I have endeavored through loss to his Majesty, lost his patinmokny for 52 years [1778].
UC Sundries, C6869, Document 55283, p727 [Abbreviated for repetition, as above]
. He has reduced his family to great stress & deprivation through loyalty, he has reduced his family:
son & son-in-law had good vessel of 40 to 50 tons. Colonel Drummond took possession to it, destroyed at £2,000 worth, but valued at £400, son was master at 6 shillings a day, at Quebec & came to Kinston where they paid him £259 for the vessel; son went to York until she was taken. His brother-in-law as slain. Vessels was sold to highest bidder to Hugh C Thompson, & my son lives at Point Frederick [Kingston, ON].
Considering his & his father's losses, he was promised a shipyard, but was given 2 acres not sufficient for making a yard. His son is now building on sufferance on the open beach.
I am most restfully & humbly your servant, John Dennis, York 15 Feb, 1830.
. Petition of John Dennis, he was born in Philadelphia in 1758.
He & his father were driven from home, with his Majesties Forces in Philadelphia in 1778. His father fell in a fit of apoplexy as he was walking in apparently full health. He never informed or found his father's deeds & bonds of debts due him. He is upwards of 71 years & begs your Excellency to grant him some renumeration. He has a weak constitution but a good moral character of myself & son.

. 1815 Dec 9 - To Lieut. Gov. Francis Gore:
He left home with his father Henry Dennis who died in a xxz fit, leaving him to settle his affairs in Sept 1783. He went to New Brunswick in Sept 1783 & went in 1785 to Pennsylvania where is father's land was confiscated & his was too late to lay any claims before the Commissioners [for US War Losses]. He prays his dormant claim may be taken into consideration. John Dennis.
Ref: Upper Canada Sundries, C4545, document 11206, p1356.

. To Lieut. Gov. Francis Gore: Report on the Petition of John Dennis:
Granted a Town Lot in York 14 Feb, 1798;
. 1798 Jun 27 - President Russell permitted Mr. Dennis to locate Lot 11, Front St., Town of York;
Order in Council to enquire how far the notice of 4 Sept 1800 had been complied with, report made 1 May 1801. Whereupon 27 May 1801 a letter was addressed to Survey General that the Lot appropriated by John Dennis was thrown open along with others. Surveying fees have been repaid to Mr. Dennis on the aforementioned Grant & Lot 11 was loaded in May 1801 by Mrs. Penelope Beike by permission of Lt. Gov. Hunter.
Mr. Dennis now applies for Water Lot 5, Front Street, appropriated to Comte Joseph De Pusisayne, by an order from Pres. Russell on 19 Nov. 1798.
Signed, York, 23 Jan, 1816, Thos. Ridout, Survey General.
. Petition of John Dennis, He had a grant which was in short time given to Mr. John Barker. He next applied for a lot a Kingston which was refused. He prays for a Lot which lays in from to that where Mr. Isaac Brook/Brock? was building, which was given to Mrs. Bekin. Signed, John Dennis, 9 Dec, 1815.
Ref: Upper Canada Sundries, C4546, document 11653, p415.

. 1799 Nov 2 - Home District, Personally appeared before me, William Willcocks, Esq. Justice of Peace, John Dennis, farmer & made oath that on about Tuesday, 8 Oct last, he overtook Reuben Riggs of York Garrison, carpenter, near the mouth of the River Humber, on draft on which craft were several articles of lumber the property of the deponent, which were feloniously stolen from his shipyard in said river. Said John Dennis further swears that he has lost out of said shipyard several spikes, nails & other articles or iron besides many oak & pine plants of different dimensions & verily believes they were feloniously stolen by the said Reuben Riggs; & therefore prays he may be dealt with as the law directs & further sayedth not.
Signed, John Dennis, Sworn before me the day & year first above written, Signed, Wm Willocks.
. 1800 Feb 1, York. The published Felicitates: The Gazette had unwittingly published an article of a libelous character signed, by one John Dennis &has he statements were untrue he publishes the retraction: Whereas Mr Reuben Riggs of York, carpenter, has been indicted in respect of a certain trespass & having been tired on such indictment & honorably acquitted.
Now I do hereby certify & declare until all whom it may confront., that I never did intend directly that the said Mr. Riggs should be charged with or arrested or accused with anything, crime or misdemeanor, other than trespass of which I complained. Reuben Riggs was innocent as to any the least intention of felonious intent, I do believe him to be an honest, sober & industrious man. John Dennis.

. 1799 Sep 14, A handsome Vessel, the Toronto yacht, Baker will, in the course of a few days be ready to make her first trip. she is one of the handsomest vessels of there size that ever swam upon the Ontario &to edge from her appearance she bis fair to become one of the swiftest sailing vessels. She is admirably well calculated for the reception of passengers & can with propriety, boast of the most experience officers & Men. Her mast builder was a Mr. Dennis, an American, on whoosh reflects much honor.
The vessel, which was built at the Humber River, was, when under the command of Capt. Fish, wrecked at the sandbar near the lighthouse, Toronto [year?]

. 1808 Apr 13 Thurs., Thus. - General Quarter Session of Peace held at Town of York.
Ordered that the Clerk of the Peace do write to Mr. John Denison requiring his attendance on Saturday next, before the Sessions, at 10 O'Clock in the forenoon.

. 1808 Apr 16, Saturday. Mr. John Denison appeared, & said he would not serve office or pay any fine from this inquiry to service as assessor for the Town & Township of York & Etobicoke. He had served under Hon. Peter Russell, Esq. STILLWELL WILLSON, the other assessor declared upon oath that John Denison has refused to act or do his duty of assessor which he had been nominated by the Town Meeting. Court are not aware Mr. Denison's objections are legal, & therefore this fine to be levied. John Cameron of York, Gent. to be appointed in his stead. p.282
Ref: Upper Canada Gazette & the Oracle Newspaper, York.

. 1812 Sep 11 - Ely Playter:
. 1813 Dec 13, Ely Playter: The men were attached to Captain Denison's Company & myself to Captain Hamilton's. I took breakfast with the officers.s sent to procure quarters for the men by tomorrow & to get a return of the Humber Company of Captain Denison.
. 1813 Dec 8-9th - I went to town early. The boats had gone to the Humber. The wind was fare today.
. 1813 Nov 7 - Got some more summons signed for the Yonge Street and Humber me
Ref: Ely Playter's Journal.

. 1823 Aug 7, Thursday. Claim 179, John Dennison, Sworn
Says he lost his horses supplies as stated. The Enemy [Americans] took his Niticals ? & swords. At other property claimed for few the house, he being taken prisoner & not one saw in the house. xxone lost when the Troops retreated from York.Though taken time after the time by the Troops. Worked from farm on shares, with Nxx? Russel. Considered all his own time. Allowed £.
Ref: UC War of 1812 Claims for Losses, Archives of Canada, C2223, p85 - . -

Son Joseph Dennis:
. 1850 Feb 28, UCLPetition 119
To Earl of Elgin & Kincardine, Governor General of British North America.
Petition of Joseph DENNIS of York Twp., York Co., Shipbuilder
That your Petitioner was Master & owner of a Schooner called the Lady Gore on Lake Ontario at the time the War broke out between England & the United States in the year 1812. He was engaged by the late General BROCK during the first season of the War to convey troops & stores between York & Niagara, & made several trips in the said Service.

That during the time he called once upon the General for money who in reply stated that he had then no funds at his disposal, that he was bowed down to the ground with such demands, but recommended to the petitioner & that I would eventually be paid. That the Battle of Queenston occurred shortly afterwards in which the General was Killed & that your Petitioner never received any equivalent for the said services. That your petitioner with his vessel as a transport in the Provincial Marine were engaged the following season of 1813 by Colonel Drummond who was then Quarter Master General, to transport troops & stores between Kingston & the upper end of the Lake.
That your petitioner & his vessel were, with 5 other vessels while in the said service, taken by the Enemy on the 6th of October of that year, & after being 10 Months in Captivity was exchanged by way of Halifax & left to work his way home as best he could in consequence of which he did not arrive in Upper Canada till the following August.

Col. Drummond had in the mean time been killed at Fort Erie but not however before an understanding had been obtained with him that your petitioner should receive £500 for the loss of his vessel but of which sum he your petitioner never received but £200 & further, receiving no pay for the time he was imprisoned. He never applied to the Government for remuneration until about the year 1835, when he petitioned setting forth the foregoing facts.

His claim was deferred to the Adjutant General of Militia the late Col. Coffin, who having a recollection of the vessel & the service she, with your petitioner had performed was pleased to direct, in your petitioners presence, the clerk in the Surveyor Generals Office to enter your petitioners name upon the books for 500 acres of land saying at the same time, that in consequence of the capacity in which Mr Dennis had served & of the services performed as aforesaid, he had placed him on the footing with a Subaltern officer. That your petitioner supposing that this had been done engaged one Israel Bonerman, whom he had been led to believe an accredited agent of the Government, to choose for him the said 500 Acres, & doing the necessary duties to make a Return thereof to the Land Department in order that the Deeds might be obtained, & that in furtherance of this engagement a list of the lands so chosen & returned, or represented so to have been, was given by the said Bonerman, to your petitioner.

The Rebellion occurring shortly afterwards & the assertions of the said Bonerman, from time to time that the grant had been perfected[?] & the Deeds would soon be out, delayed any farther action in the matter by your petitioner for 5 or 6 years, where on forcing the said Matter to an issue he found to his dismay that he had been deceived by the said Bonerman, & that he had not been entered for the 500 acres as had been understood with & directed by the late Adjutant General at the time referred to. That your petitioner now for the second, & he trusts the last, time prefers the Claim, with the firm conviction that both as a favour & at the same time as an act of justice, & while he would be grateful for it as the first he would most humbly & respectfully submit to your Excellency that it would be only consistent with the latter, the Government can have no object in, or desire towards, withholding from a faithful & confiding servant a consideration which may serve as a fair remuneration for personal services & suffering as well as a just due for losses actually sustained by him in its defense Your petitioner therefore humbly begs that Your Excellency may be pleased to direct that he be allowed scrip for 500 acres.
Signed, Joseph Dennis, Toronto, 28 Feby, 1850.
Ref: Upper Canada Land Petitions "M" Bundle 5, 1849.

. Obituary:
We observe with much regret the death of Joseph Dennis, Esq., of Weston, & with it the severance of another link connecting us with the early history of this country. Mr. Dennis was born in New Brunswick in 1789, his father, the late John Dennis, having settled there after being driven out of the United States as a U. E. Loyalist. The family removed to Canada some 3 years later, Mr. John Dennis receiving a grant of land for his services & losses as a Loyalist. This land was selected on the Humber river, & on it he then settled & lived, till having been appointed Superintendent of the dockyard, he removed to Kingston. Our recently deceased friend, Mr. Joseph Dennis, was brought up in the dockyard to a thorough knowledge of shipbuilding, which occupation, however, he soon exchanged for a more congenial one that of sailing. Owning a vessel on the lake at the outbreak of the American war of 1812, he placed himself & his vessel at the disposal of the Government, & was attached to the Provincial Marine. In one of the actions on Lake Ontario he lost his vessel, was captured & retained a prisoner in the hands of the enemy for some fifteen months. He subsequently commanded, we believe, the first steamer on the waters of Lake Ontario, the Princess Charlotte, which plied, as regularly as could be expected from a steamer of 50 years back, between the Bay of Quinte, Kingston, & Prescott. For the last 6 & 30 years Mr. Dennis had retired from active pursuits retaining till within the last year remarkable vigor, which, however, he taxed by little excepting to indulge his taste in fishing, of which he was an enthusiastic disciple. A man of genial & happy temperament, of unbending integrity, of simple tastes & methodical habits, he was a type of man fast passing out of this country.
Ref: The Daily Globe Newspaper, Toronto.

. 1803 Daughter Hannah Dennis Johnson:
UCLP 12, To Lieut. Gov. Peter Hunter, His Excellency Peter Hunter. In Council.
Petition Hannah JOHNSON wife of Thos. Johnson, York, York Co., Yeoman, Daughter of John Dennis, U.E.
Prays for 200 Acres, Signed, Hannah Johnson.
. Personally appeared before me John Willson, Esq., one of His Majestys Justices of the Peace for the Home District. The above named Hannah Johnson, who being duly sworn upon the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, deponeth that She is Married to the above named Thos. Johnson & that she has never received any Lands or order of Lands from the Crown. Signed, Hannah Johnston.
. I certify that the Petitioner written name signed, this Petitioner in my presence, that she is the Person She describes herself to be, & to the best of my knowledge & belief she never has rec'd. any Lands or order of Lands from the Crown. Signed, John Willson, JP.
Envelope: 10 May 1803. Received from Thomas Johnson. Recommended for 200 Acres of Land, as the Daughter of a U.E. Loyalist. Signed. H. Allcock, Chairman.
Ref: UCLP 12, I-J Bundle 6, C2109, p 257.

In Memory of
John Denison, Esquire,
Son of George Denison, Esq.,
Of Rotherham, Yorkshire England
By his wife Mary Parkinson
Born at Headon, Yorkshire 20 Nov. 1755
Died at Toronto, 28 Oct. 1824
And also of his wife,
Sophia Taylor,
Daughter of Arthur Taylor, Esq.
Of Harwich, Essex, England
By his wife Hannah Harwood,
Born at Dovercourt, Harwich,
Essex, 13 Dec. 1765,
Married 19 Dec. 1782
And died at Quebec, 26 Nov. 1852.

Having determined to leave England & go to our Canada upon the solicitation of friends Then going to our new colony, they sailed From Hull on 11 July, 1792 with their sons, George Taylor, Thomas John, & Charles, Settled at Kingston in Oct, of that year & resided there until Oct. 1796.

When they moved to York, Being then just surveyed from the wilderness to be capital of Upper Canada John Denison set apart this burial ground about the year 1800, & fully established it. As a cemetery on the Humber with right of burial to all those only of his blood with their wives & husbands respectively. This tablet was erected in their memory by their grandchildren. Subsequently replaced in June 1992 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of John Denison's arrival in Canada.

All transcriptions by P J Ahlberg 2015. Thank you. - - -

John married Sophia TAYLOR on 19 Dec 1782. Sophia was born on 13 Oct 1765 in Harwick Twp., Sussex Co., New Jersey; died on 26 Nov 1852 in Quebec, Quebec; was buried in St. John's On The Humber, (Weston) Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sophia is the daughter of Arthur Taylor, Esq., Born Dovercourt, Harwich, Co. Essex, England.

Ontario Land Registry, Abstract Register Book 152: Lot 3 Con 4 West of Yonge St., York Township [Toronto].
. 1804 Feb 11, Bargin & Sale, Grantor Silas Cook to John Denison 200 Acres
. 1824 Apr 24, by WILL, Grantor John Dension
. 1845 Aug 28 , Assignment by Grantor Sophia Denison to George T Denison, Sr. £250 per annum for life. 200A
. 1853 Dec 2, by WILL Geo T Denison
. 1854 Feb 3, by D.P., Maria P Denison to Geo P Ridout £31.5.
. 1907 Apr 17, Certificate High Court of Justice to Geo T Denison Estate, $22,000., Approved by Official Guardian.

Inscription:
In Memory of
John Denison, Esquire,
Son of George Denison, Esq.,
Of Rotherham, Yorkshire England
By his wife Mary Parkinson
Born at Headon, Yorkshire 20 Nov. 1755
Died at Toronto, 28 Oct. 1824

And also of his wife,
Sophia Taylor,
Daughter of Arthur Taylor, Esq. of Harwich, Essex, England By his wife Hannah Harwood,
Born at Dovercourt, Harwich, Essex, 13 Dec. 1765,
Married 19 Dec. 1782
And died at Quebec, 26 Nov. 1852.

Having determined to leave England and go to Our Canada upon the solicitation of friends. Then going to our new colony, they sailed from Hull on 11 July, 1792 with their sons, George Taylor, Thomas John, & Charles.
Settled at Kingston in Oct, of that year& resided there until Oct. 1796When they moved to York, Being then just surveyed from the wildernessTo be capital of Upper Canada John Denison set apart this burial ground about the year 1800, and fully established it As a cemetery on the Humber with right of burial to all those only of his blood with their wives and husbands respectively This tablet was erected in their memory by their grandchildren subsequently replaced in June 1992 To commemorate the 200th anniversary of John Denison's arrival in Canada.
Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Birth:


Died:
Lower Canada.

Buried:
Recumbent memorial monument shared with husband.

Notes:

Lawrence Avenue, Toronto, is named after John Lawrence & family.

. 1776 Apr 29, List of Letters remaining in the Post Office, at New York: John Lawrence.
Ref: New-York Gazette, & Weekly Mercury Newspaper, NYC, NY.

. Lieutenant John Lawrence, NJ Volunteers, 7 years Service, estate confiscated.
Court Martial For Dueling, Ensign John Lawrence.

* PISTOL DUEL
. 1780 Jan 12th - (Commencing), Pistol Duel For Honor or Queen's Rangers
Summary: British Ensign John Moffet while drunk at John Wilson Tavern on Staten Island - (is this Kruse or Wilson Brook Rd., older roads on Staten?) - He insulted the NJ American Ensign John Lawrence by saying he was not a gentlemen & insulted his Regiment, the Queen's Rangers which was under the command of John Graves Simcoe... Moffat sent Lawrence pistols & a challenged to a duel on 13 Jan. 1780. The two met on that frigid January day with their seconds, marked the distance at 6 yards (as opposed to the 4 yards distance requested by Moffet) & fired simultaneously. Moffet's ball barely grazed Lawrence near the right breast, not even breaking the skin. Lawrence's shot however went true, straight into the Ranger's stomach. Moffet was killed, as he was good enough to tell his second, Lieut. George Pendred, looking up at him & declaring "My dear fellow I am killed" upon which he immediately died. Moffet was buried at Richmond Church. The burial was delayed several days because of an incursion of 2,700 Continental troops onto Staten Island. This forced Moffet to take one last tour of the island, his corpse taking a sleigh ride from tavern to tavern until the island was secured.
The court listened to the evidence & acquitted Lawrence.
. Richmond [Staten Island] 13th Jany. 1780. To Ens. Lawrence, Sir,
In consequence of your behaviour last night to me (when totally intoxicated) request that satisfaction due by one Gentleman to another. Mr. [Allan] McNabb sends you your side arms, & wishes that you should not consider yourself longer under an arrest by him. I now call upon you as a Gentleman & a Soldier with your Sword & Pistols to wipe off any Odium I might have received by your Ungentleman like treatment. Signed, John Moffitt.

. 1780 the 25th Feby., Friday. The Court being met pursuant to Adjournment.

The Prisoner being put upon his Defense, delivered himself to the Court in the following manner:
"Mr. President & Gentlemen of the Court,
I stand charged before this Court for the Crime of Murder. I am very unhappy that I have been under the necessity of acting a part that has subjected me to such a Charge.
Ensn. MOFFET (the unhappy Gentleman who fell) sent me a Challenge on the Evening of the 13th Jany. to meet him immediately - declined it - but as I was compell'd by the words of the Challenge, promised to meet him the next morning. I considered myself bound by the Laws of honor, to give him the Satisfaction he demanded. My reputation as an Officer & a Gentleman, in short my all was at stake - had I omitted meeting him in the manner he requested, I must ever after been treated as a Rascal & Coward - unhappy alternative-Called upon as I was, I humbly conceive (by the Evidence of Mr. Thompson, Mr. Penderd, & the Tenor of the Note of the 13th Jany. that Ensn. Moffet sent me) it has appeared to the Court, that I only acted in my own Defense & that I was not guilty of any unjust or ungentleman like behaviour on that occasion.
I humbly ask the Courts pardon for taking up so much of their time in my Defense. I have been careful to make it as short as possible, Knowing that justice will govern your Decrees, I cheerfully submit to your determination."
Ref: Court Marital of John Lawrence, Great Britain, Public Record Office, War Office, Class 71, Volume 91, Pages 201-213.

. Later General J G Simcoe promoted John Lawrence to Lieutenant from August 25, 1780. Loyalist regiment of Queen's Rangers was also known as the 1st American Regiment.
Ref: For an excellent complete transcription of the Court Martial of John Lawrence please see: The Institute of Advanced Loyalist Studies, (active as of 2017 at: www.royalprovincial.com)

Quarter Master Stephen Jarvis of Danbury, Connecticut, & who died in Toronto, Canada, wrote in 1840:
"Early in the Spring of 1779 the Regiment left Oyster Bay, New Jersey & took up our encampment above Kingsbridge where we remained the greater part of the summer ... Our duty during the winter was not very severe, the harbor afforded plenty of oysters. Here a Mr. Moffet from the 15th Regiment joined as Quarter Master, a rough, noisy, boisterous Irishman, but I knew how to humor him & we agreed very well together. I spent the winter very pleasant. Our food was for some time rather coarse, our bread oatmeal biscuit full of maggots.

Much of our time was taken up during the summer, & in the Autumn we were moved to Staten Island & took up our winter quarters at Richmond. Soon after our arrival at this place a quarrel ensued between Mr. Moffet, now an Ensign in the Regiment, as well as Quarter Master of the Horse, with a Lieutenant, (Mr. Lawrence died in Upper Canada) Lawrence.
One day in his cups he fixed a quarrel on a Lieut. Lawrence of Jersey Volunteers, who had accidentally called at the Public House at Richmond. They got at fisty-cuffs & Mr. Lawrence bruised Mr. Moffit's face much, & as the vulgar expression is, bunged up his eyes". A duel ensued & Moffet was killed. Col. Simcoe was so enraged that he would not let him be buried with the honors of war. Lieutenant Lawrence was tried by a Court Martial & Honorably Acquitted."
XRef: Transcription of this Court Martial may be found in my book: Richard Lawrence & John Willson, North York Public Library.
Note1: The two duelist 's seconds marked out the distance at 6 yards (as opposed to the 4 yards distance requested by Moffet), & fired simultaneously. Miffed was shot in the stomach, died & was buried St. Andrews Richmond Churchyard. The invasion of Staten Island by 2,700 Continental troops delayed his burial by several days. His corpse was hauled by sleigh form tavern to tavern until the Staten was in British hands again.

. 1780 2 mo. 7day Shrewsbury. From the Preparative Meeting, it appears John Lawrence's son of William has been fighting formerly & since has bore arms in a hostile way, has left his habitation gone where he can't readily be treated with for which offenses this Meeting hath hereby disowned him from being a member thereof. [p525 /film p226].

. 1780 July 25 - Ensign John LAWRENCE Taken Prisoner, NJV1, Lieut. Col Jos. Barton Company.
Ref: National Archives of Canada, RG 8, "C" Series, Volume 1852, Page 25.

. 1780 Aug 2 - Refugees Sent to Philadelphia - On Sunday last, 8 to the infamous refugees, 5 of whom pretended to be officers in the tyrant's service, were brought to the commissary of prisoners ElizabethTown from Monmouth. When they were captured, they plead they came over with a flag & produced their orders; but their frivolous pretensions would not answer their end & they were sent to Philadelphia, to occupy a corner of the new gaol until exchanged.

. 1780 Aug 2 - Loyalist Also to Philadelphia - Yesterday were brought to Trenton town under guard, being on their way to Philadelphia, Col. Geo. Taylor, Lieut. Samuel Leonard, Lieut. John Thompson, Ensign John Lawrence & Chrineyonce VanMater, late inhabitants of Monmouth & 3 others. - They were made prisoners at Shrewsbury of Wednesday last by a part of our militia.

. The modern Richmond County Country Club approximates the location of community of Richmond on Staten Island as shown by Faden's 1777 map of New Jersey.
Ensign John LAWRENCE, Taken Prisoner, 25 July 1780, NJV 1, Lieut. Col Jos. Barton Company. Ref: National Archives of Canada, RG 8, C Series, Volume C1852, Page 25.

. 1782 Mar 24, Sunday - SALT AGAIN AN ISSUE, Toms River Block House, Monmouth, NJ. Summary:
There was an urgent need for salt, our shores where salt sea water was boiled down...mouth of Matawan Ck. [tidal estuary, Monmouth Co., NJ,] usually stationed a militia from 25 to 40 men.
Lawrence looks for laurels ...most important of these salt producing plants at Squan. - the British launched a late April, large & well disciplined body of American Loyalist Corps ('The Provincials' Under the command of Lieut. Colonel Elisha Lawrence.) ... purpose was to bring away prisoners & destroy the salt works.
Detained by head-winds Lawrence idled at the Hook for a full week, the British forced left the mouth of the Shrewsbury at dark & was off Squan before midnight. Lawrence attached the surrounding buildings & took captives. He caused a bugle to be sounded to summon the Americans to surrender... they wrecked the plant & returned to the Hook.
. Capt. Joshua Huddy was captured here hiding in a house. On Apr 12, 1782 Wm. Franklin & Ass. Board of Loyalist, ignored the prisoner's rights & in secret orders to Capt. Richard Lippincott to hang Huddy at Gravely Point, Navesink R, a mile beyond the Highland Light House. At his Court Marshal, Lippincott was found to be following orders of the Ass. Loyalists Committee.
Note2: Further, Lieut. Col. John Lawrence is identified as the son of Wm. & Margaret Lawrence, His wife is Mary Rezeau of Staten Island.

The last time the NJ Volunteers would see their home state was in October 1782 when the NJV removed from Paulus Hooke (Jersey City) to Newtown, Long Island. On 10 Oct. 1783 the NJV was muster out on the St. John's River, New Brunswick, Canada.

. 1780 Aug 2 - Yesterday were brought to town under guard, being on their way to Philadelphia, Col. Geo. Taylor, Lieut. Samuel Leonard, Lieut. John Thomson, Ensign John Lawrence & Chrineyonce Van Mater*, late inhabitants of Monmouth & 3 others. They were made prisoners at Shrewsbury on Wednesday last by a part of our militia.
Ref: Penn. Evening Post. & New Jersey Gazette 1780.8.2.
Note3: Chrineyonce Van Mater, b 23 Jan 176 Monmouth, NJ, d 24 Mar 1803 Middletown, NJ.

. 1783 Aug 24 - Lawrence, John, Lieutenant, 1st Battalion NJ Volunteers.
Ref: British Military & Naval Records, Film C1853, p. 102, RG 8, C Series.

FOUR LAWRENCE SIBLINGS TOGETHER at ST. JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA:
John Lawrence on one side of the Saint John River at Lot 101;
& Richard Lawrence, Lot 169 &
sister Margaret Lawrence Nicholson, at LOT 52 on the other river side adjacent to brother John;
& also important Lawrence family friend, Rev. J Odell of NJ, was adjacent to John Lawrence's land grant.
Their other sister, Alice Lawrence Leonard, was located at Lot One, Saint John, N.B. Neighbour's Jonathan Odell house still stands at 808 Brunswick St., & is designated as a historical house by the Fredericton Heritage Trust. - PJA.

NEW BRUNSWICK LAND PETITIONS & Grants:
1. NBLP 1784, York Co., Microfilm F1024, John Lawrence & 10 others, inc. Loyal Am. Regiment.
2. NBLP 1785, York Co., Microfilm F1025, John Lawrence & 10 other, inc. NJ Volunteers;
3. NBLP 1785, York Co., Microfilm F1027, John Lawrence & 3 others, inc. NJ Volunteers.

4. NBLGrants #125, Vol B, pg. 173, Queensbury Parish, York Co., 1788.01.14, Microfilm F16302, Guides & Pioneers, John Lawrence granted 490 Acres, (& others inc. brother-in-law, Arthur Nicholson, 378 A.) John was granted a prime location at Lot 101 on the St. John River.
'John's first grant was for a piece of land near Mill Creek that he was obliged to later surrender to the Crown for use as common land in the new Frederick's Town. We have a letter of complaint that he submitted to the government regarding the retraction of this first grant. In his letter he states that "he had built a house 26 feet long & 16 feet wide, with a secure, commodious cellar & other conveniences". He had also cleared a quantity of land at considerable expense & requested compensation for the improvements he had made to the land.'

5. NBLGrant #154, Vol B, Pg. 346, Fredericton Parish, York Co., 1788.03.25, 10 Acres, Microfilm F16302, (70 others, inc. Benedict Arnold, 13 A.) Land Grant signed, 6 Feb 1793, 1 Lot containing 4 Acres & 3 rods on St. John River, Great Bear Island rights, York Co., which was close to his Lot 101 grant. The Great & Little Bear Islands were so named because bears like to fish & to forage on the butternuts.

6. Northumberland Co. Deed Registry Books, Summary
1796 Sept 2nd. Indenture #482, John Lawrence, Esq. & his wife Mary Lawrence of the Parish of Queensbury, York Co., Prov. NB to Lemuel Wilmont, Esq., Lincoln, Sunbury Co., NB.,
Paid £10 currency for Lot 9, lying near Mill (Mile?) Creek, Fredericton. Together with all regular houses, outhouses barns, stables, gardens, orchard, fence improvements, ways water watercourses.
Lemuel Wilmont also to pay 4 shilling 3 pence yearly unto Reverence Samuel Locke, Rector of Fredericton, Jonathan Odell & Beverly Robinson, Esq., as Trustees of the Academy of Free School maintenance always to be supported & maintained & the further sum of 1 shilling yearly from the year 1806.
Witness: Samuel Clayton, Isaac Heddon, Signed & Sealed, J. Lawrence & Mary Lawrence.
2 Sep 1796, Isaac Hedden, Justice of Peace, York Co., NB.

Justice of the Peace, York County Marriage Records, Books A
performed by John Lawrence, Justice of the Peace:
. 1816 Apr 23, Robert Hustes married Frances Kelly of Kings Co. . - .

TOWN OF YORK, UPPER CANADA:
. UCLPetition 51, Capt. John Lawrence, L Bundle 11, York, Ontario, 9 Jun 1818:
Petitioner native of NJ. Served in American Rebellion as an officer in 1st Battalion NJ Volunteers & lost considerable property which he never received compensation. At Peace of 1783 he settled in NB & received 490 Acres for his service & no more. Removed to this Province about 20 months ago (Jan. 1816). He has a wife, 7 sons & 4 daughters, except for two, all are in this Province of Ontario. Commissioner of the Peace in NB for 29 years. Prays for land. Also Captain of Militia in New Brunswick. Granted 600 Acres.

. TORONTO TANNERY & HOUSE:
One or 2 old farm houses of an antique New Jersey style, of two storeys with steepish roofs & small windows ... Lawrence's Tannery ... In the hollow on the left [i.e. East side of Yonge St.,] Some way further on, but still in the low land of the irregular ravine, another primitive rustic manufactory of that article of prime necessity, leather, was reached. This was the "Lawrence's Tannery.
A bridge over the stream here, which is a feeder to the Don River, was sometimes spoken of as Hawke's bridge from the name of its builder.
In the hollow on the left, close to the Tannery, & overlooked from the road, was a cream-coloured respectable fame-house, the domicile of Mr. Lawrence himself. In his garden, some hives of bees, when such things were rarities, used always to be looked at with curiosity in passing. - by Henry Scadding.

Quarterly Sessions of Peace, York County:
. 1818 Jan 13, York.Grand Jury sworn: John Lawrence. Proclamation of Silence made, King VS Wm. Marshall Assult discarded as Prosecutor not appearing. King VS Allan N M Nabb Assault, settled by consent nonpaying costs. Order that Public Notice in Upper Canada Gazette that the remaining 5 building lots on Market Share will be sold at Public Auction Sat 24 Jan.

. 1818 Jun 2 June, Date of WILL of John Lawrence.
Ref. UC Heir & Devisee Commission.
* Research Note4: Verify with Archives of Ontario, Will Instrument BWR, p210, undated, John Lawrence.

. 1819 Jun 2, Markham, Joel Beeman & Marr Carfrae married by Rev. Jenkins. Witnesses: John Lawrence & James Ellerton.

. 1820 Jun 21, Witness, Affidavit for Sister Elizabeth Lawrence Nicholson:
Home District, Upper Canada} Personally appeared before me James Miles of Vaughan, Esq., Justice of Peace, aforesaid John Lawrence, Esq. of Vaughan, a lieutenant on half pay of his late Magestys late first Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist deposeth & say that he ware present when Adjutant Arthur Nicholson of Late Kings late American Dragons & Elizabeth Lawrence were lawfully married the 7th day of August 1787 & the Arthur & Elizabeth Nicolson were married in the Parish of Fredericton, New Brunswick by the Revered Jonathan Odell*, late Secretary of this Late Majestys Council in Province of NB.
Signed, Jno. Lawrence & Sworn before James Miles, JP, 21 Jun 1820, Vaughan, UC.
Note5: Rev. Jonathan Odell, Burlington, NJ. friend of cousin John Brown Lawrence, friend of the Lawrence family & apparently also a friend in Fredericton, New Brunswick! Interestingly, this also demonstrates the Lawrences continued to communicated over time & distances! - PJA 2015.

. 1821 York Almanac & Calendar: John Lawrence, Commissions of the Peace, Judges.

. 1821 Dec 30, John Lawrence died & was buried by the Rev. William Jenkins.

. 1822 Oct 12. By Order of Geo. Stacy Smith, Lieut. Gov. Prov. NB.
These Certify that John Lawrence & Ward Chipman, Esquires were at the time of signing certificates, Judges of Supreme Court of Judicature & Members of Council for this Province & that full Faith & Credit are due to their Acts & Attestations. Signed, Wm. T Odell, Fredericton, NB.
. 1822 Jul 10. Affidavit, of Hugh McGuigan, attended late Adj. Art. Nicholson in his last sickness at Presque Isle, 5 Sep 1821 of decay that appeared natural. Signed, Hugh McGuigan.
Recorded for further research: W.O. 28, volume 9, Folios 103 & 40, often a petition, Appendix B, Great Britain. War Office 28, Headquarters Papers.

Ontario Land Registry
Lot 42, Con 1 West Side Yonge, Richmond Hill, Book 170, p127
. 1817 Mar 4, Bargain&Sale, John Lawrence, £500.10., All 210 acres.
. 1818 Jun 13, WILL, John Lawrence, to Mary Lawrence etal, All acres
. 1833 Nov 28, B&S, Mary Lawrence etal, Alexander C Lawrence et al, £500 & £800, Part E 40A. & W pt 160A.
. 1846 Jan 10, B&S, Chas E Lawrence, etux, to Sarah C Lawrence, £150, Pt Half Acres, NE angle.
. 1855 Jan 31, Release, John W Lawrence et all, to Peter Lawrence, Executor, £25, ALL.
. 1856 Apr 26, Mortgage, Sarah C Lawrence, to John Duncomb, £50, pt. Half acre.
. 1868 Dec 11, WILL, Charles E Lawrence.
. 1869 Oct 12, William H Lawrence, etux, to John Duncomb, $300, Pt & Water Ft. 9 acres.
. 1870 May 7, Mortgage, WHL Etux, to John Veilie, $300, Pt 8 Acres;
. 1870 July 9, Mortgage, WHL Etux, Western Can Loan Society, $1141.92, Pt 8 acres.
. 1871 Dec 1, Grant, Alex C Lawrence, to John Layton, $3500, E 49 A.
. 1872 Mar 26, Alex C Lawrence, to John Layton, $3100, E 49A.

The Queen's Rangers
. 1777 Dec 3 - "No regiment in the army has gained more honour this campaign than (the Queens) Rangers: they have been engaged in every principal service, and behaved nobly, indeed most of the officers have been wounded since we took the field in Philadelphia."
Ref: Pennsylvania Ledger.
Note: By this quote, I wish to draw attention to gentlemen's conduct of the requirement of principles of war for the Rangers, Gen. Simcoe himself & to the 'gentleman' John Lawrence (as noted in his Court Martial). - PJ Ahlberg, 2020.
. Under the distinguished leadership of Lieut. Col. John Simcoe who commanded it after the battle of Brandy wine the corps became noted for discipline & bravery. It was usually the van guard of the attacking & the rear guard of the retreating army. Under all circumstances it could be relied on to give a good account of itself. Perhaps the hottest fight in which the Queen's Rangers ever engaged was the battle of Brandy wine where the British gained a victory which, if it had been energetically followed up by General Howe, would have resulted in the annihilation of Washington's army. At Brandywine the Queen's Rangers lost 72 killed & wounded, 11 of whom were officers.
heir most noted achievements was a raid on the 29th October 1778 in which they marched some 50 miles into the heart of the enemy's country in the teeth of the American forces. The corps, led by Colonel Simcoe, in the course of the expedition destroyed a large number of boats & military stores at one point, released a number of loyalists imprisoned in Somerset court house which, with a quantity of stores there collected, they burned, & finally after a sharp encounter with a considerable body of the enemy whom they charged & dispersed, returned to their head quarters. The boldness of the stroke created a sensation at the time in both the British & American Camps.
The Queen's Rangers in 1781 accompanied General Benedict Arnold in his raid on Virginia where they quite maintained their reputation. Afterwards they served under Lord Cornwallis in the unfortunate campaign in the south ending in the capitulation of Yorktown, October 19th 1781. At the close of the war they came to New Brunswick & received grants of land in parish of Queensbury which derives its name from the Queen's Rangers. In all, three tracts of land were laid out for the accommodation of the corps, one on the Main river above Bear Island in Queensbury.
Ref: Wallace Hale, 1895.5.29, NB Provincial Archives, Canada.

Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

MUSTER DATES:

British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts):
Lieutenant, John Lawrence, 1st NJV, (Skinner's Brigade) Pay Lists
1782.8.24 etc. Micrfilm M357, Doc p5405, 9 Items 31671 -31681.

. 1778 Jan. Muster Roll of Capt Alexander? Brigide of the First Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers commanded by Lieut. Col. Elisha Lawrence (i.e.his 2nd cousin), based Staten Island, NY. #3. Ensign John Lawrence.
. 1778 Mar, JL, Ensign 2dy NJV, Film C1851, p7
. 1778 Jun 24, JL, C1851, p23, 1778 Aug 24, p21; 1778 Oct, p17.
. 1778 Nov 27, An expedition with 2,000 troops sailed from Sandy Hook for Savannah, Georgia, & 6 days after landing at Tybee Island, off the harbour of that city, they took part in the fight, December 29th, on Brewton Hill. A detachment of the New Jersey, Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Allen commanding, went out with this party & suffered considerably in the battle just mentioned. Ensigns John & William Lawrence & James Moody were together on the same expedition.
Ref: NJV in the Revolutionary War, Wm S Stryker.
. 1779 May 25, 1st Batt., Commanded by Lieut. Col. Commandant Joseph Barton, Staten Island NJV, present on muster as well Ensign John Lawrence, also counter signature for names on this Muster Roll. Vol. 1852, p3, 9 (= c3873, p762 & 11.
Note6: 1NJV Muster alternates with Ensign William & John Lawrence. - PJA.
. 1778 Dec 25 - Ensign JL, C1851, p35.
. 1779 Jul 20, Ensign JL, c1852, p19
. 1779 Aug 13 - John Lawrence not listed as Ensign on this date c1852, p28;
. 1779 Sep 8, Ensign John Lawrence, 1st NJV, page 23;
Note7: Again brother William Lawrence was Ensign the day before, 8 Sept, also under Lt. Col. Jos. Barton 1st NJV - PJA;

. 1779 Fall - A division of the Queen's Rangers went into winter quarters, [near Hell Gate (?), Staten Island].
on the farm owned by George Brinckerhoff & later by William Bragaw.
. 1779 Mar 28, Ensign JL, Staten Island, p50;
. 1779 Nov 3, Ensign JL, C1852, p34,39

. 1780 Mar 20, Ensign JL, C1852, p.50
. 1780 May, Ensign JL, Staten Island, p66;
. 1780 Jul 14, Ensign JL,, 1NJV, C1852, p70;
. 1780 Dec, With Lt. Col. Jos. Barton, Lieut. John Lawrence, 'Injury with the Rebels', Muster Roll 1NJV, Staten Island, C1852, P97.
Note8: By the next Dec 1780 Rolls it appears Gen. Barton is on Staten Isl., but Lawrence still sick? - PJA

. 1781 Apr 24, Private JL, C1864,p17;
. 1781 Jul 25, LIEUTENANT JL, 1NJV, Staten Island, c1854,p96; 1781 Oct, p72;
. 1781 Oct 24, Private JL, QUEEN'S RANGERS, C1284,p13;

. 1782 Jan. Returned from Yorktown Battle (Oct 10 1781): Lt. Col Stephen Delancey, Lt. John Lawrence, James Moody. NJV2 - Quartermaster John Felker, Capt. Daniel Cozens. [XRef: Upper Canada relations.]
. 1782 Feb 20 Lieut. JL, 1NJV, c1853, p3; 1782 Feb 23 Queen's Rangers Dragoons, c1864, p57;
. 1782 Paulus Hook, Lieut. John Lawrence, of Col. Delancey's Company in the 1st NJV, also JL counter signed the Muster Roll.

. 1782 Sep 17, Lieut. JL, 1NJV, c1853, 26; 1782 Oct 24, c1853, p35; 1782 Dec 24, p30;

. 1783 Jan 25, c1853, p42; 1783 May 7, p91;
. 1783 May 1, New Town, Long Island, Muster Roll, Col Delancey's Co. commanded by Col Cortland Skinner, Esq., 1st Batt. NJV, Lieut. John Lawrence, 'Went by Home', c1783, p91;
. 1783 Aug. 24, Camp Newtown, Commanded by Col Cortland Skinner, 1NJV, Lieut. John Lawrence, who also signed the Muster Roll, C1853, p99.
. Camp Newtown, NY, Lieut. John Lawrence, 1NJV. 30th (?) June to 3rd of Aug, John Lawrence, who countersigned Muster Roll c1783, p102.
Note9: on next muster or camp Long Island, Aug 23, 1783.
Ref: British Military & Naval Records, RG 8, C Series & Carlton Papers.

Some Research required:
British Headquarters Papers, Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts, Microfilm M355, Ref: MG23 B1, Archives of Canada:

. 1779 - Ensign John Lawrence. 1st NJ Volunteers, Skinner's Brigade Return of Troops, British, Foreign & Provincial Troops, at NY, #Item 31672, pg 10436.58, Item Number 31672.
. 1782 May 1 - Lieutenant Lawrence, 1NJV, Return of Troops on Duty at Decker's Ferry, NY, pg 10286.1, #31673.

. 1782 May 1 - Lieut. JL, 1NJV, State of Provincial Forces in NY on Duty at Decker's Ferry, NY, pg 180288.1, Film M368, #31674.
. 1782 Jun 14 - John Lawrence [identify?], Bills drawn on Harlely & Drumond, New York, pg 4973.4. #31671
. 1782 May 1 - Lieut. JL, 1NJV, Pay List, Period 1783.2.24 - 4.24, pg 7515.3, #31675.
. 1782 Aug 24 - Lieut. JL, 1NJV, Pay list, Period 1782.6.25 - 8.24, pg 5405.3, #31676.
. 1782 Feb23 - Lieut. JL, 1NJV, Pay list, Period 1782.12.25 to 1783.2.23 pg 6968.3, #31677.
. 1782 Dec 24 - Lieut. JL, 1NJV, Pay list, Period 1782.10.25 - 12.24, Pg6502.3 #31681.
. 1783 Jun 24 - Lieut. JL, 1NJV, Pay list, Period 1783.4.25 - 6.24, pg 8163.3, #31678. XRef: as above, at Camp Newtown, NYC.
. 1783 Aug 24 - Lieut. JL, 1NJV, Pay list, Period 1783.6.25 - 8.24, pg 8821.3, #31679. (Skinner's Brigrade)
. 1783 Dec 24 - Lieut. JL, 1NJV, Pay list, Period 1783.8.25 -10.24, pg 9449.3, #31680.
XRef: British Military &Naval Records (RG 8, C Series) - INDEX. See Arch. of Canada - .

Birth:
United Empire Loyalist.

Died:
Sunday. COD: Asthma. Lot 42, Con 1 Yonge St., Vaughan Twp., near Weldrick Rd.

Buried:
- beside his wife.

John married Mary REZEAU, UE on 4 May 1783 in Saint Andrews Church, Richmond Co., Staten Island, New York. Mary (daughter of Peter REZEAU and Mary POILLON) was born on 22 Mar 1766 in Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York; died on 18 Sep 1842 in Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario; was buried in Richmond Hill Presbyterian Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary is the daughter of Maria Poilion & Peter Rezeau.
Name: Regarding the Rezeau family name, that is an early Staten Island line. The surname was changed to Rousseau & Roseaux.

. Grandfather Jacques 'Jacob' Rezeau donated the land for the St. Andrew's Church in Richmond, NY, where Mary & John Lawrence were married.
. 1783 May 3, John Lawrence obtained a license to marry Mary Rezeau. They were married the next day at St. Andrew's Church, Richmond, NY.

. Lawrence, Mary, Con 1 Yonge Street, Lot 42, Vaughan [1837 residing with her sons Alexander Cairns & Chas. E. Lawrence.]

Required for placing a Widow on the Pension, Loyal American & Canadian Corps. Summary Version:
1821 Jan 28 - We do hereby certify to the best of our knowledge & belief, that Mary Rezeau, now of the Twp. of Vaughan, York co, was the lawful wife of the late John Lawrence in his life time a Lieutenant on the Half Pay of the First Battalion of the American Corps. commanded by Brigadier General Skinner of the New Jersey Volunteers who died in his residence in the above named township on the 13 December 1821, leaving his widow with 7 sons & 4 daughters, six of whom remain yet living with her unprovided for, with the exception of a farm lot of the usual size of 200 Acres with a house & other improvements thereon.
Signed, W. Allan, Colonel, Commanding the East York Regiment of Militia.
Jno Meingrg?, Agent to the late Lieut. Jno Lawrence.

. Mary Lawrence made oath that she was lawfully married to John Lawrence, late Lieutenant on the half pay of American Corps., commonly called the New Jersey Volunteers, under Bridadier Genral skinner, & that she has no pension, allowance of provision made by Government,
Signed, Mary Lawrence, Sworn York, UC, 28 Jan 1821, W. Allan, JP.
Ref: C P668, P 432-95 p672.??????

Lot 6, Con 1 EYS, Ontario Land Registry book North York 170, p127.
. 1817 Mar 4, Michale Korts etui, to John Lawrence, £500.10s, 200A
. 1818 Jun 13, WILL John Lawrence, to Mary Lawrence et all, All
. 1833 Nov 28, B&S, Mary Lawrence et al, Alex C Lawrence et ll £500 & £800, its E40 Acre, Pt 160 Acre.

. 1824 Ministers & Church Wardens of the Parish of York, York Co., Province of UC, we have seen Mary Lawrence on or since the 24 Dec, 1823 & she resides in Vaughan Twp., York District., was formerly the wife of John Lawrence. Signed, M R Brown, Officiating Minister for Dt. Markham., J B. Macaulay, Thos Ridout, Church Wardens.
- Oath Mary Lawrence, … lawfully married to late Lieut. JL, Half Pay, 1st Bat. Brig. Gen. Skinner. & that she had had no Pension allowance or Provision, except her widows Pension at the rate of £40 per annum, now obtained.
Signed, 20 Feb, 1824, Mary Lawrence, Wit: J Jarvis, J P., Home District, UC.

. Home District, York, I certify I was well acquainted with the late John Lawrence, Lieut. 1st Bat. Gen. Skinners Brigade & was on the same Service with him in the Winter of 1780 & that I also was acquainted with Mrs. Lawrence, before & since her marriage with the said John Lawrence that I have been acquainted with him in the Prov. of NB from he year 1784 until I left that Prince for Upper Canada in the year 1810 & also since his arrival in this Province until his death & I also believe that the said John Lawrence was lawfully married to the said Mary.
Signed, S. Jarvis, JP., Home District, UC
XRef: See more testimony from Stephen Jarvis, under John Lawrence, UE

No. 4. Province of New Brunswick, to wit: Be it remember On 10 Mar1815, personally appeared Samuel Sheppard of Parish of St. Mary, York Co, NB, shown, made oath & declared that he well knows John Lawrence, a 1st Lieut., late 1st Bat. Skinners, at present a Magistrate & resided, York Co. He was present when John Lawrence was married to Mary Reseau by the Reverend W Rowland, 4 May, 1783 at Richmond on Staten Island, US of A.
That the peace os 1783 they with himself & others of the Disbanded corps came to this Province & John Lawrence & his wife have resided in York co. ever since the Peace in 1783 & always esteemed & respected as lawful man & wife by all ranks in Society,
Signed, Garrit Clopper, Notary Pub.
. York in Upper Canada, to all to whom it may concern, I Stephen Heward, Esquire, Notary Public, in the Town of York, UC, certify the within writings are true copies of an original deposition made by Samuel Sheppard, Parish of St. Mary, York co., NB, yeoman, before Garret Clopper Esq., Notary Public, Fredericton, NB, Signed, S. Heward, NP, of UC.
. I certify Garret Clopper is a Notary Public, Signed, P. Mainland [i.e. The Gov. Gen. of UC.!]

. Province of NB, Be it Remember that in 1815, Garret Clopper Esq, Public, Saint Marys Parish, sworn that he well knows John Lawrence a First Lieut., late 1Bat Gen. Skinner Brigade, at present a Magistrate & a resident in York Co. aforesaid; that he was present when said John Lawrence was married to Mary Rezeau by Rev. Mr. Rowland on 4 May 1783 at Richmond, Staten Island, USA & that at the Peace in 1783 that with himself & others of the Disbanded Corps. came o this Prov. & that the said John Lawrence & his wife have resided in his neighbourhood from that period until the present time & have always been esteemed lawful man & a wife. Signed. Danl. Clopper, Not Pub.

No. 3. London District, Upper Canada, Personally appeared before me, John Backhouse, of Walsingham, Esq., Justice of Peace, William Hutchinson, Esquire of Walsingham, a Captain on the half pay of late 1st Battalion of NJ Volunteers & Catharine Hutchinson, his spouse, sworn, the they were present when Lieut. John Lawrence, 1st Bat. NJV & Mary Rezeau of Staten Island were lawfully married or or about 4 May 1783 9being before the said 1st Bat NJV were disbanded) & that John & Mary Lawrence were married at Richmond , Staten Island by Rev. John H rowland, Rector of St. Andrews Church, Staten Isl., in the presence of the subscribers & other witness:
Signed, 7 Aug, 1815, W. Hutchinson, Jp. & Catherine Hutchinson. Wit: Joh Backhouse, JP.

. 1824 Nov 23, Yonge Street, York Co., UC. I certify the late John Lawrence, Vaughan Twp., York Co, UC, in his lifetime, a lieutenant on the half pay, first Bat. NJV, who depart this life at Vaughan Twp., in the month of Dec 1821, died of the Asthma & that I attended him as physician during his illness, for some time previous to & at the time of this decease. Signed, Asa H Reid.
- We James Miles & Michale Sloot, Justices of the Peace, certify the above subscribers, Asa J Reid, did practice as a physical in Vaughan Twp., for some time previous to & at the time of the deceased John Lawrence & he departed this life the math of Dec 1821, signed, , Yonge St., 23rd Nov.,1824. James Miles & Michael Sloot, JPs.

No. 5. We subscribers do certify JohnLawrence, late Vaughan Twp., departed this life on Sunday 21 Dec 1821 & that his remains were entered at Vaughan aforesaid, 1 Jan, 1822.
Signed, Vaughan, 1822 Feb 17, William Jenkins, Minister of United Congregations of Scarboro, Markham, Vaughan & Whitchurch;
James Couse?, James Miles, Elder, Robert Marsh, Elder.

. In the handwriting of Mary Rezeau Lawrence:
{John Lawrence, son to William & Margaret Lawrence was born the 10th day of April 1754.
Mary Lawrence, daughter to Peter & Mary Rezeau, was born 22 day of March 1766.
John & Mary Lawrence was Marred the 4th Day of May 1783 -
William Lawrence son to John & Mary Lawrence was b. 13 Sep 1864 about sunrise on Monday. Ref: Page 443 [or film page 690].

. 1825 July 5 - I hereby certify that Eliza Ann Lawrence & Sara Catharine Lawrence are personally known to me & I believe from this appearance that the time of their respective births as stated, is true. Signed, York, James Miles, JP.
. 1825 July 5, York, The Family Names. Personally came before me a Justice of Peace, Peter Rezeau Lawrence, son of the late John Lawrence, taketh oath & saith that he is aquatinted with his father's handwriting & believes that he wrote down the time of the birth of the family as get bit stand & in particular, the time of the births of Eliza Ann & Sarah Catharine Lawrence as they are entered upon this paper.
Signed, 5 July 1825, Peter Rezeau Lawrence, & James Milles, JP.
to page 446 [film p 695]

. 1837 Toronto & Home District Directory :
Mary Lawrence & Charles Lawrence, Con 1, Lot 42, Vaughan Twp. York Co.

. 1842 Oct 5, Personally appeared before me Charles E Lawrence, Vaughan Twp, Yeoman, taketh oath & said that Mary Lawrence, the wife of Hon Lawrence, deceased, late a lieutenant in the NJ Volunteers, died in Vaughan Twp., on the 18 Sept, 1842 at about 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
Signed, 5 Oct 1842, Charles E Lawrence & R C Gaffer, JP, Magistrate.
I certify that I knew the deceased Mrs. Mary Lawrence & believe her to have died at the time above, Signed, 7 Ot 1842, Thornhill, Adam Townley, Clerk. {p.670]
Ref. Pension Applications for Widows & Family of British Military Officers 1776-1881. P 432-695 [film p 668]

. In regards to the Perrine surname given to her son Abraham Perine Lawrence:
Wm. Perrine of Upper Freehold, Middlesex Co. NJ fled to New York;
. 1777 Jul 4 estate inquisition for forfeiture, estate confiscated.

. Lieut. Colonel John Lawrence was the son of Wm. & Margaret Lawrence. He was born Apr 10, 1754; & died Dec 30, 1821 at Vaughn, Canada ae. 66. He married on Staten Island, May 4, 1783, Mary Rezeau, Daughter of Peter & Mary who died Sept 18, 1842. They had 11 children.

. RICHMOND ROAD, Current Courthouse is the third in Richmond, was erected in 1827. Across the road from St. Andrew's Church was the LaTourette House is on was once the location of a Revolutionary War-era fort, mills & quarries. In this was the headquarters for Lieut. Colonel John Graves Simcoe & his officers. Two battles actually took place here, at the near by St. Andrews Church. One can see the close circle where John Lawrence & Mary Rezeau could have first met.

. REZEAU BURIAL GROUND, A portion of the Rezeau family burial ground adjoins the courthouse on the west. Susannah Van Pelt, who lacked but 6 months & 5 days of reaching the century mark, was the last of the 5 generations of Rezeau to be buried here.

. REZEAU HOUSE, Said to be very old; is now the unpretentious southern portion of a saloon on the west side of the Fresh Kill Road just south of Center Street.

. DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH SITE, Opposite the Rezeau house,
on property now owned by William Flake at the southern corner of Center Street, formerly stood the Dutch Reformed Church; date of erection not known. As the first English missionary came to Staten Island about 1702 & held services in the French church at Green Ridge until St. Andrew's was finished in 1711, it is possible that the Dutch church was not standing at that time. This building was burned by the British "because it was a rebel church." About 1798, members of the Reformed Church at Port Richmond secured permission to erect a new house of worship on the foundations of the old, but curiously enough they spoke of it as "The Old French Protestant Church." It stands on the corner of Fresh Kill & Mill Roads. This building was completed in 1808 & was used up to about 1884, when it was abandoned & fell on evil times.
Ref: History, story Legend of the old King's Highway, now the Richmond Road, Staten Island, N.Y. 1916.

. 1926 Sep 2 - Several mistakes in the NJ Historical Society for July by E Alfred Jones, Histl Society, London: Lt Col & Gen. Elisha Lawrence, Dr John Lawrence, 1747 AND Lieutenant John Lawrence: son of Wm & Margaret Lawrence, Monmouth Co., B. Apr 10, 1754 …list their all 11 children with full correct birth dates. Jos. Tisdale of UC & Chas Earl Lawrence, yeoman at Vaughan, UC, in 1842 {is this then from a directory?
Ref: Monmouth Inquirer, Freehold NJ.
Note: Published in NJ 1926! It would be interesting to know actual & accurate source of this letter. - PJ Ahlberg, 2018. - - -

Birth:
Previous spelling: Rousseau. Mary may herself also be a daughter of Empire Loyalist.

Died:
COD: Asthma

Buried:
Buried beside John.

Notes:

Married:
by the Rev. John H Rowland, the Loyalist Rector or St. Andrews Records Vol XXXV, Page 83.

Corner of 40 Old Mill Road and Richmond Hill Road in Richmondtown, Staten Isl., The original Anglican church was destroyed by fire on March 31, 1867, only a few relics were saved. The town was formerly called Northfield. Reference Number:53945

The Calendar of NY Marriages reads slightly different:
1783 May 3, Lawrence, Jonn and Mary Rezeau, by M R Brown, E Record 21, Vol. xxxviii (?) Page 135