Notes:

Elisha (the 8th) is the child of Margaret Tilton & William Lawrence.

. Revolutionary Muster: Commissary General's Dept., List of Waggons & Horses brought into Trenton by Anthony Woodward troop under the command of his Excellency Gen. Sir Howe: Elisha Lawrence: one wagon.
Receipt: 1776 Dec 18, Trenton, Delivered unto James Christie, Esq. for the use of His Majesty's Army at Trenton: 4 waggons of pork & 11 barrels of flour.
Ref: Great Britain, Public Record Office, Headquarters Papers of the British Army in America, PRO 30/55/7445.

1783.4.17 Elisha Lawrence, Residence, New Jersey, Petition: Compensation for one wagon which was sized by HM's Troops on 1776.12.14, pg. 7445.3. Film M361, #31653, Archives of Canada.

. 1796 NJ Tax List: Elisha Lawrence, Monmouth, Middletown Twp., tax list.

. 1795 - Hearing Elisha Lawrence - Caveat against proving the WILL of his father, William Lawrence, deceased.

* "A caveat having been filed in the Surrogate's Office by Elisha Lawrence against proving the WILL of William Lawrence deceased & a rule entered in the Term of January last for holding a special Orphan Court at the dwelling house of Jacob Hart, Innkeeper of Colt's Neck on Monday the 23 day of March 1795.
The court met accordingly & after hearing the testimony of the witnesses respecting the execution of said Will & the arguments of counsel thereon. It is ordered on motion of Mr. Corlis Lloyd who argued in support of the said Will, that the said caveat be dismissed & in all things holden for none.

. Mr. McCoulney, counsel for Elisha Lawrence in support of the caveat.
Wit's for Elisha Lawrence: Chrineyounce Van Mater; Gilbert Van Mater; William Van Mater*.

Mr. Corlis Lloyd Counsel for Jacob Lawrence in support of the Will.
Witnesses in support of the Will: Timothy Murphy*; Daniel Covenhoven*; Richard Herbert*.
Ref: NJ. Monmouth Co. Court Records - Minutes 1785 - 1816; Book A - E; Minutes of the Orphans Court; Book B, 1794 - 1801.
XRef: * These men were witness at William Lawrence's WILL of 23 Feb 1795. - PJA.

. Historical & Genealogical Miscellany, Volume 3 says Elisha Lawrence, b. 13 Apr., 1764 settled in Philadelphia, PA.
Note that this was recorded in the Old Bible, received from Mary Brucre Wyckoff. Needs verification, note in 1783 he appeal his father's NJ Will.
Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Birth:
ALT 1764 Apr 13. Freehold Twp.

Died:

Elisha married Elizabeth WALLEN on 19 Nov 1788 in Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Elizabeth was born est 1764 in New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
"RECORDS OF THE DUTCH CONGREGATIONS OF FREEHOLD & MIDDLETOWN MARRIAGES

1. William LAWRENCE, .12th was born est 1789 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey.

Notes:

. "I have an old English Bible with the record of birth, marriage, etc. of Richard (5), son of above William (4) & all but 2 of his children & all I need to make a legal connection is the WILL of William (4). Anyone wishing information that I have on the Lawrence family of New Jersey is welcome to it.
Walter A. Hamilton, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Reprinted in Boston Transcripts. [who has the Bible now?]

. 1748 May 5 - Margaret Tilton (J4-17); married William Lawrence, son of Richard Lawrence. Tilton Family in America.
. 1748 May 5 - Margaret Tilton married, at the house of Daniel Tilton, William, son of Richard & Alice Lawrence; both of Middletown, born Dec. 13, 1719.

Shrewsbury Monthly Meetings:
. 1761 May 6, The Meeting is informed that William Lawrence, of Middletown has of late purchased a negro. John Burdin & Jacob Condis is appointed to x at with him & inform our next Meeting hear whether he is disposed to make satisfaction.
. 1761 Mar 2 - William Lawrence declines making satisfaction for buying a negro by letting her free. Therefore this Meeting of the Yearly Meeting desires to acquaint him the rite of appeal.

. 1748 Mar 2, William Lawrence: Three days before his marriage to Margaret Tilton he made application to the Men's Monthly Meeting, Shrewsbury, for a certificate of removal to Philadelphia. Ref: p. 417, Vol. 3.

. Colts Neck has been noted for its horse breeding farms since the 1700's. ... In the springtime we are conscious of our heritage. The fields are green with young corn, potatoes & garden goodness. The orchards begin the ripeness of the apples. Hundreds of foals feed on the rich forage & from upland to lowland we know that snug in these fine houses, rich with the history of this land, we are at home.

. William Lawrence & his Jacob Lawrence (1757-1823) were for many years coffin makers of Middletown Twp., Monmouth.
Ref: Vol. 17, #13, Page 68 Jul 1942.

1757 Aug 6, Will of Mary Cox, widow of Thomas, of Upper Freehold, Monmouth co, 86 years of age, Son this. Grandchildren, Eliz & Rebecca Cox. Names T Van Horn; Jos & Mary Lawrence: Elizabeth. Hutchinson. Legacy to Baptist ch; Wit: Sm. Liming & William Lawrence.

Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting
1744 Oct 1, Mary Tilton; second intentions, Burlington Meeting, ,
married, Oct. 10, 1744, Job Ridgway, Jr., of Little Egg Harbor, son of Thomas.
Witnesses: Daniel, Margaret, Sarah & Phebe Tilton, [i.e. her sisters.]

. 1748 Mar 5 - William Lawrence of Middletown & Margaret Tilton of the same place, married at an appointed Meeting at Daniel Tilton's House.

1748. William Lawrence, John Lawrence of U.F. (Upper Freehold) large pair of saddle bags delivered by John McConnel at John Formans funeral.
Ref: Names of persons mentioned in Samuel Holmes His Book of Accounts.

. 1758, William Lawrence, Accessed for land in Upper Freehold.

ACCOUNT BOOK OF WILLIAM LAWRENCE, 1756-1817: 1 Vol. (190 p.)
Lawrence of Middletown, N. J. was a blacksmith & a carpenter & also sold meats. Accounts by customer, mostly payments for services rendered. Also mentions selling coffins (one for a "negro" Daniel Polhemus, Nov. 1791).
The Account Book has a note "Independence declared July 4 1776. Peace 1783" towards end of volume.
Ref: Reprinted in Monmouth County Coffin Accounts of William & Jacob Lawrence 1756-1808, Genealogical Magazine of NJ, Vol 24 3.1949 Jul, p6-70, by Chas C Garner

. Bequest form the WILL of William Lawrence, of Middletown, Monmouth Co. NJ. Grandson, William, son of Richard Lawrence, deceased, 36 acres at Barnegat, being part of Thomas Cooper's lot.
Ref: Account book 1756-1817 Manuscript Collection 296., Monmouth County Historical Association.
Note1: See attached story on Wm Lawrence, Quaker Carpenter.

. 1776 Aug 29 -British Troops at Middletown:
"Very near the present settlement of Middletown there lived … On the morning of August 29th the British light dragoons from Jamaica [NY City]
scoured Newtown, "& while it was yet early," wrote Riker, in his "Annals of Newtown," "guided by one George Rapelye, a loyalist, came along the poor bowery & halted at Jacobus Lent's (late Isaac Rapelye's) to get some bread. Brandishing their naked swords they declared that they were in pursuit of that dx d rebel, Dr. Riker.

. The doctor had spent the night in visiting different sections of the town & tearing down Howe's proclamations, that none might be mislead & induced at this critical juncture to remain & accept British protection instead of hastening to the support of the American arms. The females at Mr. Lent's were terrified at the ferocious appearance of the light horse &, observing the greediness with which they broke & ate the dry bread, Blanche, a colored woman, innocently inquired of her mistress whether they would not eat them. They dashed off toward Hell Gate, but the doctor had escaped in a boat to Barn Island & thus eluded the demons in human form." August 31st General Robertson, in command of a British force, was marching from Brooklyn, via Bedford & Cripplebush, to Hell Gate to oppose General Lee, who was reported to be landing there with an army.

. When he arrived at Hallett's Cove, finding no enemy, he took up his quarters at William Lawrence's place (known later as Whitfield's & Halsey's) & encamped his army of 10,000 in tents on the hill & in Hallett's lot. At that time nearly the whole English army was within a few miles of there. Says Riker:
"The East River now only separated these hostile legions of Britain & the army of Washington. Indeed, no sooner had General Robertson made an encampment at Hell Gate & his cannon arrived than a battery was planted on a point of l& at Hallett's Cove, which opened on Sunday September 1st at Horn's Hook, on New York island & being returned in a spirited manner an incessant firing was kept up on both sides the whole day, during which the enemy threw above a hundred shells, killing one of our men & wounding several. Some of the American shot fell on the land of William Lawrence, but it is not known what damage the British sustained. This cannonading continued for several days, by which the enemy were so emboldened that on Tuesday they crossed in considerable numbers to Blackwell's Island, but the shot from our batteries proving too warm for them they soon recrossed the river."

In the meantime the British troops made frequent incursions upon the contiguous portions of the island & a number of residents of Whig proclivities were made prisoners & subjected to detention & indignity. General Robertson's army, a little after the middle of September, vacated Hell Gate, which was invested by the Hessians under General De Heister, who in company with General Clark was quartered in the house of William Lawrence. The Hessians remained three weeks & then left to join in the movement against New York.

Middletown Twp., Monmouth Co., New Jersey Tax List: William Lawrence
. 1778 March & November, December; 1779 Jan., March, Dec.
. 1781 August; 1784 May; 1785 June-July; 1786 June-July; 1787 July; 1789 July-August
. 1790 August; 1792 Jun, July, August, Freehold Twp., Monmouth Co., NJ, William Lawrence.

. 1779 Feb 24, Month. Whereas inquisitions have been found & final judgement entered, hereon, in favour of the State of NJ against there persons herein mentioned: Notice is hereby given that the real & personal estates belonging to Thos. Leonard, Hendrick Vanmater, James Boggs, William Lawrence, Richard Lippencott, Elisha Lawrence & John Lawrence, sons of John, late of Upper Freehold, will be sold at public venue, beginning on Monday 5 April next, at Wall's mills & continue from day to day until all are sold. No credit will be given. Signed, Samuel Forman, Joseph Lawrence, Commissioners, Feb 17. 1779.
Ref: New Jersey Gazette, Trenton, NJ.

Verify idenity: . 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].

British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts):
Ensign William Lawrence, 1st NJV, (Skinner's Brigade)
. 1779, Return of Troops, New York, Page 10436 (58), Film 369, Item 31699.

. TAX LISTS for years: 1778 Mar - Nov; 1778 Dec - Nov; 1779 Mar - Jan; 1779 Oct-Jan Lists;
1785; 1881 Aug; 1784 May; 1785 Jun - July; 1785 July; 1786 Jun; 1789 Jul/Aug - Jul; 1787 Jul Lists;
& 1790 Aug - March; 1792 Ju/Aug - June; 1794 Jun Tax Lists: William Lawrence, Monouth County, Middletown Township.
Ref: NJ Early Census Index.

. 1785 Jul 5 - Letters remaining in the Post Office at Trenton: William Lawrence, Monmouth.
Ref: New Jersey Gazette, published 1785 Aug 1.

. 1787 Apr 9 - William Lawrence affirmed that Elizabeth M. Hartshorne & Hannah Herbert were daughters of Wm. Lawrence, his grandfather;
& that Hugh Hartshorne was the eldest son of Elizabeth Hartshorne &
the eldest son of Hannah Herbert, by her husband Obadiah Herbert.

. 1795 Feb 20 - WILL of William Lawrence of Middletown Twp., Monmouth Co., Know all men by these present that I being now indisposed in body but of a sound & disposing will & memory I do now in order to dispose of what worldly estate I am now possessed of make & ordain this to be my last will & Testament as follows to wit. In the first place I give & bequeath unto
Sons Richard & John, Daughter Elizabeth. £30 York money each;
Daughter, Alice £50 [£30?] & 3 silver spoons;
Son Elisha, feather bed I now lay on;
Grandson, William, (son of son Elisha), 5 acres being a survey now in the hands of Richard Herbert, with a piece of meadow ground joining the east side of said lott said meadow ground lying together to the Northward of the over going place;
Son Jacob, lott of salt meadow lying at Smocks Point containing about one acre & three quarters, 3 silver table spoons, 3 silver tea spoons & 1 silver tumbler, all home plantation, all cattle, farming utensils & remainder of estate, plantation whereon I now live on together with all the buildings improvements heridetaments (?) & appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining.
Executors: Son Jacob Lawrence & Stephen Stoutenburgh.
Witnesses: Timothy Murphy, Daniel Covenhaven, Wm. Van Matter. Sworn at Freehold the 21st October 1795 before me, Jos. Scudder Surrogate.
. Proved 21 Oct. 1795.
. Son & Executor, Jacob Lawrence Affirmed, the 21st Oct, 1795 before me Jos' Scudder, Surrogate.
. 1795 Mar 3 - Inventory £155.10.11 (also bond for £100 against Col. Asher & Obadiah & as yet unsettled; made by James Taylor, Wm. covert & T Murphy.
Ref: NJ Wills, Lib 33, p.505. NJ. & NJ Index of Wills & Inventories, Vol. II 7261-7268M.

. Historians generally concede that no state among the old 13 suffered during the Revolutionary War more than New Jersey & that no county in New Jersey suffered more than Monmouth. In addition to the outrages from the regular British army, our citizens were continually harassed by organized bands of refugees & by a set of outcasts known as "The Pine Woods robbers" who pretended to be Royalist yet if the opportunity arose, robbed Royalist as well as Americans. - - -

Page 2

. 1798 Sep 24 - Quaker Carpenter could Make Anything from Coffins to Mills:
William Lawrence was a man of all work. The Quaker carpenter from Middletown Twp. & his boys were available for just about any sort of job - from building a mill to repairing a tea table- during the last half of the 18th century. Lawrence's account book, preserved at the Monmouth County Historical Association library in Freehold, gives minute details of work done for Middletown & Shrewsbury residents from 1756 until his death in 1795. It reveals that prior to 1771 he produced a number of pieces of furniture, making him one of the county's earliest known cabinetmakers.
At the back of his account book Lawrence recorded that he was married May 5, 1748, to Margaret Tilton & their first child, Daniel, was born 2 years later. The marriage is recorded in the second book of Friend's Record's (Quaker) at Shrewsbury.

That he was originally considered a carpenter is confirmed by the will of Joseph Field of Middletown in 1749. One of the witnesses was 'William Lawrence carpenter. Lawrence's plantation was located near Colts Neck Village. He willed this, his cattle & farm equipment to a son, Jacob, in 1795.

Lawrence's accounts show sales of meat, grain & livestock to his customers in addition to charges for a wide variety of other services. He tanned hides, provided harvest help, constructed wells, built & repaired wagons, chaises & sleighs & was apparently a competent wheelwright. There are countless entries for coffins of bilsted (sweet gum), cherry, walnut & black walnut - many of them for children. Infant mortality was high in the 18th century.

The names of 10 assistants or apprentices are listed in charges for labor in the account book. The last 5 named, between 1764 & 1784, are Daniel, William, Elisha, Jacob & John, which are the given names of 5 of 6 sons listed in a Lawrence family genealogy.

Furniture made included six bedsteads, six tables of various types, two cases of draws (bureaus), a dressing table, a chest, several chairs, two cradles, a tea table & a desk. There also are numerous charges for furniture repairs. No examples of this furniture are known to have survived. Lawrence seems to have been strictly a country cabinetmaker who used only woods available locally. Maple, mahogany & other imported woods popular with city cabinetmakers are not mentioned. Lawrence's services were in considerable demand. In 1760, his crew put in 20 days work for Joseph Taylor in Upper Freehold Township - some 25 miles from home - probably building or finishing the interior of a house.

One account is of particular interest. Lawrence & his boys did extensive work in 1764-65 for Michael Kearney, suggesting that they may have been the builders or interior finishers of the mansion house at Morrisdon Farm in Colts Neck, a fine colonial home that still is standing & was the subject of an Antiques column last year. Kearney apparently acquired the property in the 1760s & the first reference to Morrisdon Farm turned up in a 1767 horse breeding ad run by Kearney. Lawrence billed him for 36 days of labor over a 3 month period.

. 1763, Lawrence charged Widow Mary Holmes, on July ye 18 to 1 day work to myself & boys underpinning the house.' The bill was 12 shillings. Two rather unusual services were performed for Obadiah Holmes, Sr. in 1768. He was billed for putting wings to the windmill & for making an instrument for John Holmes to press leather. In 1765 & 1766, Lawrence listed charges of £30 for work done on the Meeting House by me & my boys. In 1771 there were more bills for work on the Meeting House, these charged to Edmond Williams, who was an active member of the Shrewsbury Friend's Meeting.

Lawrence seems to have had a well equipped shop for there are charges for turning bannisters & for making all sorts of parts for cider mills. In 1761 he was working on Van Dorn's mill & in 1766 built a mill for Cyrenius Van Mater, the latter probably a grist mill. In 1762 he made a number of moulds for brick-making for John Tilton. In 1768 there were charges for repairing looms. In 1782 he built some behives for Joseph Van Mater. In 1791 he made 2 hat blocks for Rulief Van Mater, presumably a hatter, & in 1793 he made a stove for him.

. After William Lawrence's death in 1795, his son Jacob continued the business at least until 1817. But in this period most entries in the account book he took over from his father are for making coffins & repairing wagons & sleighs. Stillwell's Historical & Genealogical Miscellany says that Lawrence's eldest son, Daniel, was killed in the Revolution (he was a member of the Monmouth Militia), & 3 other sons, John, Richard & William, supported the Tory cause & moved to Canada. Perhaps the son William Lawrence was the Shrewsbury Tory of that name whose lands were seized by the American government in 1781. Lawrence's will left £30 each to his sons John & Richard & the bulk of his estate to his son Jacob. But there was no mention of his son William.
Ref: Asbury Park Press, NJ. - - -

Birth:
(Perth Amboy, NJ).

Died:
WILL Proved 21 Oct 1795.

William married Margaret TILTON on 5 Mar 1748 in Shrewsbury's Friends' House. Margaret (daughter of Daniel TILTON, Jr. and Elizabeth POWELL) was born on 13 Dec 1719 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; died on 5 Feb 1767 in Monmouth County, New Jersey; was buried in Shrewsburys Friend's Burying Ground. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. 1748 Feb 28 - Three days before his marriage to Margaret Tilton, he made application to the Men's Monthly Friends Meeting, Shrewsbury, NJ, for a certificate of removal to Philadelphia, Penn.

"History of Tilton Family In America," page 182, makes the statement: "Margaret Tilton married William Lawrence, son of Richard Lawrence, May 5, 1748."

. 1748 March 5 - Quarker Marriage Record:
1748, 5day, 3 mo., William Lawrence, married to Margaret Tilton, both of Middletown, at an appointed meeting, attended at of Daniel Tilton's house.
Witnesses: Cattron Lawrence, William Lawrence, Amos Tilton, Margaret Lawrence, William Lawrence Jr., Daniel Tilton, George Williams, John Tilton, Mary Tilton, Anne Tilton, Joseph Field, Sarah Tilton, John Tilton.2, Abigail Tilton, Increase Tilton, Margaret Tilton [her own signature?]

. Historical & Genealogical Miscellany, Vol. V, pg. 142, further states:
"Margaret Tilton married, at the house of Daniel Tilton, May 5, 1748,
William, son of Richard, age 20 & Alice Lawrence; both of Middletown, born Dec. 1st.

. Margaret Tilton is mentioned in her father Daniel's WILL of 1749. FIRST SERIES VOL XXXIII.

. Mary Tilton; second intentions, Burlington Meeting, Oct. 1, 1744, married, Oct. 10, 1744, Job Ridgway, Jr., of Little Egg Harbor, son of Thomas.
Witnesses: Daniel, Margaret, Sarah & Phebe Tilton, [i.e. her sisters:].

. Tilton, Francis Theodore, THE HISTORY OF THE TILTON FAMILY IN AMERICA. New Jersey, 1939-40. page 181
History: Jones, William H, William Tilton: His English Origins & Some American Descendants, Heritage Books Inc, Maryland, (1997) pg. 79.

BURIAL:
. Margaret, the wife of William David, the son of David & Sarah & Esek Tilton, son of William & Margaret Tilton, are each buried in the Friends' Burying ground, at Shrewsbury, but with no other inscription than the initials: M.T., D.T & E.T.
Ref: Historical & Genealogical Miscellany, Vol. 5.

. Typical houses in Colts Neck:
Most of the houses of the Provincial period were shingled on the outside by cedar shingles & roofed with the same material. They were, generally, filled in with mud, sometimes worked up with chopped straw. The front doors were often ornamented with heavy & elaborate knockers of iron or brass. The doors themselves were large & in the Dutch buildings, usually divided horizontally into 2 at the middle. Windows were usually small. Floors were of very broad planks (sometimes two feet wide) & laid directly on heavy hand-hewn oak beams.

Chimneys became larger, some being 12 feet wide, needing logs so large & heavy that they had to be drawn within the kitchen by a horse. Ovens were no longer detached, but built in one of the side-walls of the kitchen chimney (such as that in the Frederick's home on Laird Road.) Vegetables were sometimes stored in outside root-cellars. Ice was preserved in deep pits, lined with logs & covered by a peaked roof. - - -

Birth:

Notes:

Married:
REF. History of Tilton Family In America, Pg 182, Box J4 Folder 17
41056; Alt DOM: 5 May, 1748 .

Notes:

. 1705, May 18. WILL of Hartshorne, Catherine, of Middletown, Monmouth Co.; Widow of Hugh Hartshorne.
Granddaughter, Margaret White, daughter of Robert White & my daughter Margaret, deceased, 35 shillings a year to clothe her.
Said granddaughter has brother, Richard, & sisters, Deborah & Frances.
Grandsons, Samuel & John Van Brockle, all the money that shall be due to me from the Estate of their father, James Van Brockle, deceased. Granddaughter, Lydia Worthley, a negro. Granddaughters, Margaret & Catherine, daughters of my daughter Rebeccah by her former husband, George Right, £10 each. Daughter, Rebeccah, wife of William Nixon, my bed. Rest of my Estate to daughter, Rebeccah, & my daughter, Mary, the wife of Elias Baily.
Executors: kinsmen, Philip Lewis & Robert Hartshorne.
Witnesses: Joseph West, Richard Lawrence, Alice Lawrence. Proved Sept. 30, 1767. 1767, Sept. 21. Inventory, made by John Wall & John Walling.
Ref: Lib. 1 p. 175. CALENDAR OF WILLS 1761-1/7O 183.

. 1715 Served in a Company of Flushing Militia.

. Richard Lawrence, one of the Surveyors, of the public road, of Middletown, Freehold & Shrewsbury, but no date is given.

. 1720 Mar 26 - received land at Crosswicks, Freehold, from his father, William Lawrence.
. 1720 Apr 15, Richard Lawrence, yeoman & Alice, his wife, of Mansfield, Burlington Co., NJ, sold the above land to James Cox, for £450.

. 1725-6 Jan. 18 - WILL of Lawrence, Richard of Middlesex Co:
Wife Alice [nee Lewis]
Children: William, not yet 14 years of age (c. 1711),
Deborah, not yet 12 years of age (c.1713) leaves real & personal estate.
Richard "requests that his body be buried in the "Burying Ground that is near my father's in Middletown, with my father William Lawrence lives."
"Executors: His wife & brother Robert Lawrence.
Witnesses: Isaac Stelle, William Scollindine, Joseph Hawkins.
. 1726 October 19 Codicil, makes provision for an expected "child that my wife is now big of."
Witnessed by John Mack Gill, Jacob Reeder, John Bower.
WILL Proved January 16, 1726-7. Ref: Lib. 2, p. 391 # B 1694.
. 1726 Nov. 18. Inventory of the personal estate, £477.14.5 ½, including 2 Bibles* 12s., bills, bonds & books debts £316.4.3; made by Thomas Taylor & Andrew Pears.

* X-Ref: Descendant Walter Hamilton of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a grandson of Rebecca Lawrence. In 1909 he wrote he had an old English Bible belonging to William Lawrence that included birth dates.

. 1729 Apr 29 - Land Transfer: Estate of Grantor, Richard Lawrence
To Michale Newnbold, Conveyance: Mansfield Twp., Burlington Co., West Jersey.
Ref: NJ State Glo Deeds, Gook 2, Folio 149 (SSTSE023).

Witnesses:
. 1685 Nov 8th, Wedding of Henry Tradway & Anne Drive
Wit: Richard Lawrence & Anne Lawrence, Burlington Country Records.
Ref: Historical Miscellany, by Dr. John Stillwell.

. 1720, Mch. 26. He received land, at Crosswicks, in Freehold, from his father, William Lawrence.
1720, Apr. 15. Richard Lawrence, yeoman & Alice, his wife, of Mansfield, Burlington County, N. J., sold the above land to James Cox, for £450.

. Richard Lawrence was one of the Surveyors, of the public roads of Middletown, Freehold & Shrewsbury, but no date is given. - - -

Birth:
Ref: Bible of Wm. Lawrence.

Died:
WILL Proved January 16, 1727.

Buried:
[- since renamed the Methodist Burial Ground.]

Richard married Alice BROWN on 26 Apr 1716 in Shrewsbury's Friends' House. Alice (daughter of Abraham BROWN and Leah CLAYTON) was born on 24 Feb 1696 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex Co., New Jersey; died in 1727 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. 1716 April 26, the Bible was passed down to ALICE BROWN (born Feb. 24, 1696, later the wife of Richard Lawrence) ,
from her mother Leah Clayton, wife of Abraham Brown.
It was obviously a wedding gift to Alice, since she married Richard Lawrence that same day.

. ALICE (BROWN) LAWRENCE was the sister of my ancestor, JOHN BROWN (b. oct 14, 1697) who married CATHERINE TILTON.

Ref: The family Bible of JOHN CLAYTON & ALICE MYRES, 2009
. There are hand written inscriptions of family generations from members born in 1633 thru 1767. This Bible with this hand-written information. The whole bible with the cover measures approximately 3-1/2" by 5-3/4". The Book is still intact & the print is still very clear & legible. It was printed for Giles Calvert & was to be sold at the Sign of the Black-spread-Eagle, near the west end of Pauls: London, 1653. This small edition has been called the 'Quakers' Bible', as Calvert printed for many members of the Society of Friends.
Ref: Dale Updike, 2009.

. Witnesses:
1765 May 18. WILL of Catharine [nee Lewis] Hartshorne, of Middletown, widow of Hugh Hartshorne, dated 18 May 1765,
Executors: Kinsmen, Philip Lewis & Robert Hartshorne.
Witnesses: Richd. Lawrence & Alice Lawrence.
X-Ref: for further research: NJ Index of Will, Philip R Lewis, inventory 1802.

. During Alice Lewis Lawrence's lifetime:
Weather Report 1719, (Birth of Son William Lawrence.)
The beginning of the summer this year afforded a fair prospect of a plentiful harvest, much was expected from a great crop in the ground; a day or two in the beginning proved good weather, but before the grain was secured, showers of rain & a few hours of sunshine constantly succeeded each other; clouds at first small in appearance, spread widely & filled the furrows: the intervals of sunshine encouraged opening the shocks, but were not long enough to dry them; after several weeks came 2 days & a half fair weather; what could be dried & sav'd was now done, the rain then began again & continued day after day as before, alternate rain & sunshine for near 3 weeks, so that single ears of corn standing, grew; thus it continued till the grain was generally reaped, several lost their corn entirely, others saved but little; this was what is called the wet harvest.
Ref: Smith's History of NJ, 1747.

. 1726 "In November a small earthquake was felt, it began between the hours of 10 & 11 at night."
Ref: "The Colonial History of New Jersey" by Samuel Smith, Trenton (1747). - - -

Birth:


Died:

Notes:

Married:
New Jersey

Notes:

Witness at marriage:
. 1735 Jun 1735, Philip Edward, married Elizabeth Eatton, both of Shrewsbury, at the Friend's Meeting House, Shrewsbury: Wit. Daniel Tilton.

. 1635 Oct 9, Timothy Hance, md. Rebekah Allen, both of Shrewsbury, at the house of Joseph Allen, Shews., Wit: Danl. & Elizabeth Tilton.

. 1737 Oct 22, Jacob Corlies, married Sarah White, both Shrews, at Friends' Meeting House, Shrews. Wit: Daniel Tilton.

. DANIEL TILTON, son of John Tilton, 2, born Dec. 27, 1682; married, probably for his second wife, Nov. 6, 17 17, Elizabeth Powell.

. 1702 June 17. Daniel Tilton, gave his Ear mark thus two slits down the top of the Right Ear the same that was his fathers Ear mark. Entered pr me Elisha Lawrence, Towne Clerk. [Middletown, NJ.]

. 1743 March 5. He complained to the Shrewsbury Quaker Meeting against his brother, Samuel Tilton, 1 1, for encroaching on his land.
24 August 1723 Case: Daniel Tilton vs Elizabeth Bayley: Minutes of the Court:
Jeremiah Stillwell, Esq. sworn for the plaintiff & a deed from John Bayley to John Bowne, one from John Bowne to Elizabeth Grover, one from Gershom Stillwell & Elizabeth his wife to Hugh Hartshorne read for plaintiff. Freehold, County Clerk's Office.

. 1749 Oct 14, WILL of Daniel TILTON of Middletown, Monmouth Co.,
Summary: Daniel names his children - John; Mary Ridgeway; Margaret LAWRENCE; Anne, Sarah, Phebe & Lydia.
Money due from john Ellison.
Executors are Robert & Nathan Tilton.
Wit. Peter Tilton, Ezekiel Smith, Cornelius McCurtain.
WILL proven 1749 Nov 13.
Ref: NJ Wills Lib E, p 423

. 1749 Nov 13 - Inventory dated 13 Nov. 1749. No wife listed.
His WILL, made Oct. 14, 1749 & proved Nov. 13, 1749, mentioned:
Children John Tilton, Mary Ridgeway, Margaret, wife of William Lawrence, Ann, Sarah, Phebe & Lydia; his daughters each receive £100, etc. Executors: Robert & Nathan Tilton.

Issue :
1. John Tilton, of Middletown; married by license dated Mch. 14, 1752, Frances Thomson, spinster; William Lawrence, surety. Freehold Mortgages, A, page 68, Jan. 27, 1769, shows John Tilton, of Middletown & Frances, his wife, giving a mortgage on land that was bounded by Jacob Hendrickson, Samuel Tilton & Swimming River.

2. Mary Tilton; second intentions, Burlington Meeting, Oct. i, 1744, married, Oct. 10, 1744, Job Ridgway, Jr., of Little Egg Harbor, son of Thomas. Witnesses: Daniel, Margaret, Sarah & Phebe Tilton.

3. Margaret Tilton married, at the house of Daniel Tilton, May 5, 1748,
William, son of Richard & Alice Lawrence; both of Middletown, born Dec. 13, 1719.
4. Ann Tilton married, second intentions, July 3, 1758, John Harvey.
5. Sarah Tilton.

6. Phebe Tilton. Perhaps it was she who married, by license dated Feb. 28, 1760, Humphrey Wady; Christopher Tallman, surety.
7. Lydia Tilton married, second intentions. May 3, 1756, Job Harvey.

In his inventory appears, "6 silver spoons & a silver bowle." He resided at Middletown & was well-off financially. - - -

Birth:
Alt Spellings: Tillton and Tilltone

Died:
WILL Proved 1749 Nov 13.

Daniel married Elizabeth POWELL on 6 Sep 1717 in Shrewsbury's Friends' House. Elizabeth was born in 1686 in Gravesend, Kings Co., Long Island, New York; died in in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. John Yard of Trenton, NJ, was a witness on 6th of 9th month 1717, to the marriage of Daniel Tilton to Elizabeth Powell, both of Monmouth, the 4th day of the week at the Friends' Meeting House, Shrewsbury.

. On the 6th day, 9th month, (4th day of the week), 1717 (a marginal record also gives 10th of 9th mo.), Daniel Tilton, son of John & Rebecca (Terry) Tilton, married Elizabeth Powell, both of the the Shrewsbury, County of Monmouth, at the public Friends' meeting House, Shrewsbury, this 6th day ye 9th month in the year of our Lord, according to the English account 1717.
Ref: Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting, & Minutes 1674-1895,p 113 [p58]

Witnesses:
Richard Handcock, Daniell Tillton (groom)
James Geuer
Elizabeth Tillton (bride).
brother-in-law, John Tillton
Robart Allen, Samuell Tillton, William Brindly, Peter Tillton, John Woolley, Jur., Mary Allen, Richard Rundols (?), Margaret Allen, Phillip Edwards,Mary (Tilton) Grouer, James McCombs,                                
John Yard, Hester Tilton, William Gowin, Ralph Allen, Remembrance Lippincott, Daniel xx
Walter Harbar, Jane Borden Margarett (Lippincott) Tilton, Cottron Edwards, sister-in-law Edith Allin, Patience (Allen) Tilton, sister-in-law Meribah Slocum, Elizabeth (Lippincott) Parker, Johnnah (Bills) Williams, Margarett Lippincott, Elizabeth Hance, Elizabeth Brindley. - - -

Died:
Resided here at the time of husband Daniel's death.

Notes:

Married:

Notes:

. William Lawrence.2 referred to himself as William Junior.
According to Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan (1797-1880), Secretary-Archivist for the State of New York, "said that William Lawrence of New Jersey was not the son but the cousin of William Lawrence of Flushing, New York. Edmund B O'Callaghan authored several works on New Amsterdam & colonial New York.
To this end, the ATTACHED genealogy endeavors to find answers to their relationships. To that end dear reader & cousins I ask your assistance in any corrections or updates. Thank you.. - P J Ahlberg 2014.

. Wm. Lawrence represented Monmouth County in the Eighth Assembly.
. 1719 July 28 - First WILL of * WILLIAM LAWRENCE.
To all Christian People, Greeting. I, William Lawrence, of Flushing in Queen's County, on the Island of Nassau, being conscious of the mortality of life in this world.
. I leave to my wife Deborah Lawrence, one-half of my household stuff, during her widowhood,
. & the other half to my daughter Elizabeth, also 2 Negroes.
. I leave to my son, Joshua Lawrence, a bond of £57. 10s.
. I leave to my son, Caleb Lawrence, all the farm I now live on, in Tews Neck, with all the housing & orchards, & a negro boy & 2 horses.
. I leave to my son Stephen, 500 acres of land I bought of the Underhills, at a place called Spring Hill, in East & West Jersey, & 1 negro boy & 2 horses.
. I leave to my sons, Obadiah, Daniel, Joshua, & Adam,
& my son-in-law, Joseph Rodman, all my right of land in Smithtown Patent, which father Smith gave me in his WILL, & all my right in Smithtown.
. Executors: I make my sons, Daniel & Obadiah, & my son-in-law, Joseph Rodman, executors.
. I give all the rest of my Estate, & 2 lots of land in New York, which I bought of Carster Learsen, as by bill of sale from him, lying in William Street, above the Smiths Vly, to all my children.
Dated July 28, 1719.
Witnesses, Joseph Thorn, Sr., Benjamin Thorn & Jacob Thorn.
Proved before John Jackson, Judge of the Common Pleas, March 16, 1719/20.
Ref: NJ Wills, Liber 9, Page 152.

. 1741 Feb. 20 - LAST WILL: Lawrence, William, of Middletown, Monmouth Co.; Being in the 84 year of my age.
. Grandson, William, son of Richard Lawrence, deceased, 36 acres at Barnegat, being part of Thomas Coopers lot.
. Grandson, William, son of John Lawrence, deceased, 100 acres on Hop river.
. Granddaughter, Jane Lawrence, daughter of John, deceased, 80 acres adjoining Peter Tiltons.
. Daughter, Elizabeth Harsthorne, half of Propriety Right & land near Medecunk, & large Concordance.
. Daughter, Hannah Herbert; land & next great Bible.
. Son, Thomas, largest old Bible, surveyors instruments & £5.
. Two eldest grandsons, 20 sh.
Executors - brothers Joseph & Benjamin Lawrence, son-in-law William Hartshorne, daughter Elizabeth, & son Robert.
Witnesses James Seabrook, Thomas Cooper, Andrew Bowne, William Hartshorne, Junior, Thomas Hartshorne. Proved Nov. 22, 1750. Robert Lawrence, Esquire, one of the executors qualified same day, three of the others being dead.
Ref: NJ Calendar of Wills, Lib. E, p. 523.

. 1751 May11 - Inventory of estate of William Lawrence, Esquire, taken at the house of Robert Hartshorn, in Middletown, £16.2.0, includes 11 silver spoons.
Made by Samuel bone, & Thomas Hartshorne.

. 1751 May 11. Inventory of the estate (of William Lawrence, Esquire) taken at the house of Robert Hartshorne [his grandson], in Middletown (16.2.0), includes 11 silver spoons. Made by Samuel Bowne & Thomas Hartshorne.
Note1: The inventory was at his grandson's house would, therefore, imply William Lawrence was living there.

. APPENDIX Jan. 29. Lawrence, Sarah, of Newark; WILL. Cousins Esther Brown, Joseph Brown, Joseph Bond, Bethia Bond. Sister, xx Brown. John & Isaack, sons of friend George Harrison, Silvester Cent. Personal property. Executor George Harrison. Witnesses Samuel Ross, George Harrison. Proved Feb. 1 following. 1694-5, Feb. 9. Letters issued to executor. E. J. D., Lib. D, p. 368; Lib. E, p. 198. page 561 #1692-3.

. 1668 Jan 4 - Middletown, Earmarks of the townes cattle: William Lawrence his mark is both ears slit & the under hinder part is cut off.
Ref: Historical Miscellany, Vol. 2, John Stillwell.

. 1670 Sep 9 - At a court holder in Middletown, Present, E Smith, W Lawrence, James Grover, John Bowne, Ricd. Stoutt & Ricd Gibbins. The Constables testified John Job refused to aide him watch with the drunken Indians; Job said, What a divell have I to doe with you or his majesty either; when the constables laid hold of him & his shirt then tearing, a plague confound ye all [i.e. go to hell all of you];
Job pleaded he knew not he was constable, Job fined 40 shillings for refusing to obey the Constable.
. 1670 In the old Middletown Town Book is recorded an agreement dated 1670, between James Mills, living on James River, Virginia, & William Lawrence about a house & lot owned by Lawrence at Middleburgh, Long Island, was accidentally burned & the sale was declared void.

. 1679 March 23 - Capt. Wm Lawrence, deceased.
Letter of Administration is granted to William Lawrence & Ruth Gibbons & wife, Deborah Smith Lawrence.
... Inventory was taken by the constable & overseers ... Whereas William Lawrence, late of Flushing, hath left a considerable Estate & 7 young children that is to say
Mary, Thomas, Joseph, Richard, Samuel, Sarah, & James
whose proportion & share of their said Father's Estate according to law amounts to each of them £288 16 shillings one penny half penny the whole being £2,020. 12 shillings 4 pence half penny which is & remains in the hands & possession of Elizabeth the widow & administratrix of the said William & mother to the said children ... until they shall attain the age of 21 years or be married. New York, 23 Mar, 1680.

. John Lawrence, JR., m. as his wife Sarah Cornell (daughter of Thomas Cornel), b. Essex, England; she m. (1) Thomas Willett; m. (3) Charles Bridges (called on Dutch records Carel Van Brugge).
3 John Lawrence, d. 1714; m. (3) Elizabeth Cornell, daughter of Richard, Thomas,
Children: Richard.
Elizabeth, m. Ford.
Mary, m. Briggs.
Deborah.
Sarah Lawrence.

NJ Important Quaker Families Represented:
. 1687 8th mo., 28th - Ephram Allen of Shrews. married Margaret Wardell of Shrewsbury, at the house of Eliakim Wardell.
Witn: Wm. Lawrence, Wm. Lawrence Jr., John Lawrence, Judah & Mary Allen, Jos. & Lidya Wardell, John & Eliz. Williams, Simon & Mary Cooper, Remberance & Margaret Lippincott, John & Meribah Slocum, Geo Curlis, Frances Borden, John Wooley, John Sterkey, Sarah Perkins, Hananiah & Eliz. Gifford, Sarah Reape, Frances Bucher, Jane Borden, Elizabeth Hance, Elis. Cole, Margaret Parker.
Ref: Shrewsbury Quaker Marriages.

. 1698 Census Flushing, New York:
Major. Wm. Lawrence & Deborah his wife,
Children: William, Richard, Obadiah, Daniel, Samuel, John, Adam, Debora & Sarah Lawrence.
Negros: James, Tom, Lew, Bess, 2 children.

NEW JERSEY LAWRENCES
1695-6 to 1699 & 1701-2. Wm. Lawrence, Jr. was Town Clerk of Middletown.
. 1705 - Sheriff of Monmouth County.
. 1707 - Represented Monmouth County in the Third Assembly.
. 1711 - Represented Monmouth County in the Sixth Assembly.

. 1712 December the 29th. Then William Lawrence Junr. gave his earmark to be recorded, as followeth, viz, both ears slitt & the hind part cut off, called half crop on each ear. Entered per me, Willm. Lawrence Junr.
Ref: Town Book of Old Middletown.
Note2: At least 75 reference, (& not including his signature as clerk), to Wm. Lawrence may be found in this Middletown book. - PJA

. 1716 - William & Elisha Lawrence, Seventh NJ Assembly, County of Monmouth.
. 1721 - William Lawrence, Eighth NJ Assembly, Monmouth Co.
. 1721 - William Lawrence Jr. II, Sixth NJ Assembly.

. 1719 January the 24th - The House appointed a committee to inquire into certain printed libels, & personal abuse against its members. One Benjamin Johnson, of Monmouth, had said to William Lawrence, a member from that county, "You Lawrence, are a pitiful pimping fellow, & have been failed to your trust in the Assembly." On the complaint of Lawrence, Johnson was ordered into arrest by the House; but he avoided its displeasure by absconding.

Wm. Lawrence moved to Monmouth County with the Brownes & Stouts. He was assigned Lot 31 in Middletown, NJ.

. 1727 - The land owners were having disagreements about paying the Governor Carteret quitrents for their property: In 1727 William Lawrence told his sept-grandmother's husband, Gov. Carteret, 'that the Proprietors of East Jersey were forced to pay expensive patents or loss their land. There would be no justice for the landowners as long as the courts controlled the land disputes.'

The book also details a stalemate amongst Gov. Carteret, Browne, Salter & Wm. Lawrence over the administration of an Estate. During this fray, Gov. Carteret, was hauled by NY soldiers from his bed in Elizabethtown, NJ & taken to the Gov. Andros of NY to answer charges of usurping government authority. Eventually the courts compelled all parties to co-operate.

NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS:
. 1677 July 20. To William Lawrence, Junior of Middletown for 165 a. in 6 parcels. 173 Acres.
. 1676-7 January 10. to John Vaughan of Middletown for: 1, a tract of 126 acres, bounded N. W. & S. W. by Richard Gibbons, S. E. by un-surveyed land, N. E. by Poirsy Run; 2, 9 acres of meadow, formerly Benjamin Deull's, bounded E. by James Grover, W. by Wm. Lawrence, S. by upland, N. by the beach. 165 Acres
Ref: Calendar of New Jersey Patents.

. 1683-4 March 1. Last WILL & Testament of Thorlagh Swiney of Middletown. Wife Mary, son John & James, son of Joseph GROVER. Executors Joseph Grover & wife Hanna. Witnesses Peter Tilton.
. 1683-4 Proved - William Lawrence, Jun., Thomas Wainwright, John Fish, Richard Gardiner.

. 1686 Nov. 1. Deed, William LAWRENCE of Middle Town, East Jersey, by his attorney James Nevill of New Salem, planter, to Griffith JONES of Philadelphia for 500 acres, adjoining Casparus Harman.
. 1687 8th mo., 28th, Ephram Allen of Shrews. married Margaret Wardell both of shrews. at the house of Eliakim Wardell. Witn: Wm. Lawrence, Wm. Lawrence Jr., John Lawrence.
Ref: Shrewsbury Quaker Marriages.

. 1688 Aug. 10. Deed. Robert Barclay of Ury, Scotland, by his attorney, John Reid of Hortencie, to William Lawrence, senior of Middletown, for 100 acres on Burlington Path, bounded N. by Hope River, on all other sides by unsurveyed land.
. 1687 8th mo., 28th, Ephram Allen of Shrews. married Margaret Wardell both of Shrewsbury, at the house of Eliakim Wardell.
Witn: Wm. Lawrence, Wm. Lawrence Jr., John Lawrence.
Ref: Shrewsbury Quaker Marriages.

. 1690 Mch. 2. William Lawrence purchased one hundred & 31acres of upland & meadow, prior to this date, from Robert Hamilton, for at this date he conveyed such an equity to his brother, Elisha Lawrence, for £40.s.

. 1692 Nov. 2. Writ of Election for a General Assembly with return of Hanse Harmanse & Johannes Stinest for Bergen, William Lawrence for Hackinsack, by Sheriff Edw. Earle. [which Wm. ?]

. Acts of General Assembly, October 12 to November 3, 1693. On 1693 Nov. 3. Writ of Election for a General Assembly with return of Capt. William Lawrence for Hackinsack, Hartman Michielsson & Edward Earle, jun. for Bergen; by John Edsall, Sheriff.

. 1695 Dec. 2. Writ of Election for a General Assembly with return of Enoch Machelisa & Capt. Gerrebrant Claese for Bergen, Capt. William Lawrence for Hackinsack. NY; by Francis Moore, Sheriff.

. 1697 Oct 9 - Meeting to take care of the poor of the towne; whereas John Allin, one of the poor, being such & standing in need of shirts & bedding, the overseers shall provide 2 shirts,1 blanket, also find the sd. Allin diet washing lodging & tenderance during his fitness at 4s. per week. Wm. Lawrence, clerk.

. 1701 June the 10th "Wm. Lawrence his book: Bought of John Bowne, Price £2:3:0." Whitlock-Spader Bible. This Bible was left in his will to his daughter, Hannah Herbert".
. 1701 June 7. Patent to Cornelius Longfield of Piscataway, for a tract between Rariton & South Rivers, in Middlesex Co., along Piscopeck or Lawrence's Brook; also one half of the meadow on said two rivers, & along Lawrence's Brook, together 700 acres.

. 1703 July 30. George Willocks of Rudyard, Monmouth Co. & wife Margaret, to John Johnston of said Co., for a lot on Barnegate Beach, at the mouth of Valley Creek, adjoining William Lawrence; also 40 chains along the said beach, S. S. W. from Valley Creek, in all 87 ch. or 300 acres, E. the sea, W. the bay, N. Wm. Lawrence, S. unsurveyed beach.

. From Middletown the usual way to get to Shrewsbury was by the road leading through "haunted" Balm Hollow to Ogden's Corner, through Morrisville turning easterly to near Middletown Episcopal Church farm, from there to Swimming River, then to Tinton Falls & to Shrewsbury. This road avoided all meadows, bogs & streams except Swimming River.

. 1709 March - A road from the highway that Goethe along ye rear of Joseph Lawrence's land, to Hochocson Swamp; then to the line that parts Morris & Thomas Leonards, thence along said line to the brook, thence down brook to bridge, then to place where bridge was made over, below the Sawmill, then to William Lawrence's Mill. Records of June 1710 - Beginning on top of the hill where the path now goes, up over part of Swimming River, that leads up to Henry Leonard's Sawmill (1st) where road that comes from William Lawrence's to Shrewsbury crosses said river, then running southwest to a small black oak tree, being corner tree of Johannes Polhemus. This mill, we believe, was on Long Bridge Road, the site where once stood Bray's Saw Mill & now the property of Arthur Jones.

. 1712 May 21st? [date missing from this copy, but Wm Lawrence Jr. registered many ear marks on this day.] Brandmark is the form of an Anchor thus on the Left Buttock, per me, Willm. Lawrence, Junr, Town Clerk.
. 1712 Dec 29th. Then William Lawrence Junr. gave in his Earmark to be Recorded as followeth, viz. Both Ears Slitt & the hind Part cut off, called half Crop on each Ear. Entered Per me, Willm. Lawrence Junr, Town Clerk.
. 1720, Mch. 26. William Lawrence sold land to his son, Richard, situated at Crosswicks, in Freehold.
. 1722, Dec. 11. He conveyed to his son, Robert, of Freehold, land, at Crosswicks, it being part of the tract he obtained from his brother, John Lawrence, June 17, 1710.

. 1727 Jan 29, WILL of Daniel H Kendricks of Middletown, Gentn. Wit: Willm. Lawrence Junr.
. 1727 Mar 18. Cottrill, Elizer of Middletown, At Perth Amboy, before Michael Kearny, Surrogate, Appoints Wm Lawrence & Wm Lawrence Junior Executors, also Wits. Tho. Lawrence, for Eleazer Cottrill of Middletown, yeoman. Proved 1727 Apr 20.
. 1729 Oct 22, WILL of John Cox, Freehold, Yeoman My Plantation be equally divided In 3 equal parts my decease (Executors) by my brother James Cox, Richard Mount Junr. & William Lawrence, Junr.
Loving wife Mary [nee Lawrence], his son Samuel, 2 sons already deceased & dau. Elizabeth & Rachell, Mary, Alice, & Mercy Cox. X-Ref: For full Will see, Mary Cox.
. 1734 May 7. He sold land at Hop River, to Dr. Peter Le Conte, of Freehold.

Witness to WILLs:
. 1684, Mar 1 - WILL of Therlagh. Swiney of Middletown, Being very sicke & Weake of Body. Witnesses & proved by: Wm. Lawrence Jr., Peter Tilton & John Fish.
. 1688, Dec. 7 - Joseph Grover, in his will, appoints his wife, Hannah, & her brother, William Lawrence, Jr., as his executors.
. 1698-9 Feb. 1 - WILL of Applegate, Thomas, senior, of Middletown; Wife Johanah. X-Ref: i.e. nee Johannah Stout;
Wit: Wm. Lawrence. Jr. & proved by Wm. L. 1699 Sept 8th.
. 1719 Jan 23 - WILL of John Aumuck, of Freehold, weaver. Wit: Wm. Lawrence, junior.
. 1698-9 Feb. 1. - WILL of Applegate, Thomas, senior, of Middletown; Wife Johanah.
. Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - . -

Page 2,

. A DISCOURSE BY WAY OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN 1 May 1666 - 1 Dec 1727. by William L. Lawrence:

Wm. Lawrence of Middletown wrote in 1727 a letter of compliant to the Governor, in "Discourse by way of dialogue between an old inhabitant of Co. of Monmouth & a Proprietor of the Eastern Division of New Jersey". He wrote, "it was not our our choice but your unjust dealings that obliged us to take patterns on the terms you pleased to grant or be disposed of our land ... as long as the proprietors controlled the courts, the settlers could expect no justice in land disputes." (The Gov. held hostage, the NJ Proprietors' land deeds.)

A DISCOURSE BY WAY OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN [1 May 1666 - 1 Dec 1727. by William L. Lawrence:]
An old Inhabitant of the County of Monmouth & a Proprietor of the Eastern Division of New Jersey, which the impartial reader may in some measure make a judgment whether the first Inhabitants of sd. County ought in justice to pay Quitrents for the land they hold or not; written by WILL will be true who arrived in sd. County on the 1st May 1666 & has been a constant inhabitant & an observer of affairs & transactions there in to the 1st December, 1727.

Proprietor. Sir. I am gland to see you & much more should be to know the reasons why you refuse to pay your Quitrents that has been so long due & unpaid will be true. I think not due, therefore, unpaid.

. PRO: How can that be, when the Patent by which you hold your land obliges you to pay the rent therein reserved.
. WILL: I think that no obligation at all. Have patience & give me leave & you shall hear my reasons.
. PRO: That is what I want to know therefore say on.

. WILL: The first to be considered is the great hazard we run, the extreme hardships we underwent. The many difficulties we met with & the charges we was at in enlarging the Kings' dominions by settling a wilderness country in the midst of a barbarous people who had scarce washing their hands that had so lately been imbrued In Christian blood:
Next is the the good right we have to the soil & the just measures we took to obtain it (viz) not only by purchasing from the Indians by the Governours' Lease but also got it confirmed by a Patent he Granted to 12 persons called Patentees & their Associates bearing date the 8th of April 1665 for that tract of land beginning at Sandy Point & running along the bay to the mouth of Rariton River from thence going along the River till a corner to the westernmost part of a certain marshland that divides the river In two parts, from that part to Run in a Direct South West Line in to the woods 12 miles, then to turn away southeast & by south till it falls Into the main ocean; for which tract of the land Indian Sachems did acknowledge before the Governour to have received satisfaction: & again the S' 1 Latent was confirmed by Governour Phillip Carteoert* [Carerett in different ink & writing written over Cartroert] & Council by an Instrument under their hands bearing date the 28 of M ay 1672 as followeth upon the address of John Boune, Richard Hartshorne, James Grover & Jonathan Holmes, Patentees & James Ashton & John Hanse associates, empowered by the Patentees & Associates of towns of Shrewsbury & Middleton to the Governour & Council for confirmation of certain privileges granted unto them by Coll. Richard Nichols as by under his hand & seal bearing date 8th April, 1665. The Governour & Council did acknowledge & confirm to the said Patentees & their Associates the particulars following being their rights contained in the sd. Patent:

Impd. That the sd. Patentees & their Associates have full power, license & authority to dispose of the land expressed in the sd. Patent as to them shall seem wise &c - Yet notwithstanding the good right & great assurance we had for our land about the year 1676 Governour Carteret gave notice for all persons to take patents for their land under the yearly rent of half penny per Acre & not he would grant it to any other that would.

Some persons knowing the just right had taken measures to obtain it, refused to be at the charges of & again patenting their own Land on terms & their Land was by the Govenour granted to other persons. So it was not of our choice but your unjust dealing that obliged us to take Patents on the terms you please to grant or be dispossessed of our land:
. PRO: That could not be that you could loose it if it was your own; the Law would protect you in the enjoyment of it.

. WILL: That is true provided we could have stood on even grounds with the Proprietors, which we could not expect so long as the Proprietors had the putting in of Govrnours & they the appointing of Sherriff & Judges & their sherrifs ye empannelling of Juries, it being incident to the most of mankind to oblige their best benefactors we doubted of justice.

. PRO: If you had doubted of justice here you might have had justice at home to England:
. WILL: No doubt but we being poor scarce able to stand a law suit here much less to remove it home to England :
. PRO: Certainly you are very forgetfull, or yon would not argue against paying rent for your land when by (your darling) Nichols his Patten you was to pay rent for your Land:

. WILL: I have not forgot I well remember by that Patent we where to enjoy our lands for the space of 7 years free of rent Custom & Excise: & then to pay such rent as others the inhabitants of his Royal highness territories should be obliged to. The which we would gladly do now provided we could enjoy all the land & other privileges granted to us by ye patent or if we could have the liberty confirmed to us by Governour Carteret & Council could that are disposing of the land expressed in Nichols his Patent, as to us should seem meet, we no doubt might have money to pay Such rent as was Reserved by that Patent; & a good such rent as was reserved by that Patent, & a good sume to put in our pockets, but since you have cut us short of all the privileges granted by that pattern, & also of that which confirmed by Governor Cartaret & have divided among yourselves & granted to others, a 100,000 acres of our own land, & claim a right to at least 2,000 more, I think you may be easy that we enjoy between [sic] & 30,000 acres free of rent.

Pro: Now you have said what you. can, I have that to say which you can:
. WILL: Let us hear what that is:

. PRO: About the year 1682 or 3 the pretended the Patentees & their Associates did surrender their right to Nichol's Patent on condition that the Patentees each to have 500 acres & their Associates. Each 100 acres free of Quitrent the which was confirmed to them by patent :

. WILL: If it was as you say doubtless you can prove that ( or we do our right) by an Instrument in writing. However, if it was so, it is just making good the old Proverb,
you paid with a pig of our own sow, the land was our own bought with our money.
Confirmed by 2 Governours, it never cost the Proprietors one farthing to purchase it of the Indians ye right owner & chief proprietors thereof.

If it was as you say I know nothing of it & I challenge all the Proprietors & records The Jersey, to prove that either my father or myself ever had one foot of free land granted to us on that account. But this I very well remember that about the year 1682 or 3, Gawin Lawry was the Proprietor Governor & he made Robert Hambleton, Sheriff of the County of Monmouth & gave him order to distain for Quitrent. Accordingly he disdained the cattle of one John Smith In Middletown, who was so enraged he got his gun & had he not been dissuaded by some persons of more moderation then himself he had done the Sheriff some mischief.

Although that injustice of the Proprietors set the old Inhabitants almost in a fiery flame they thought no boot to hazard a lawsuit for the reasons following I (viz).

By that time there was a considerable number of people settled in the Country who was thereunto encouraged by reason that the greatest hazard hardships & difficult yes was past, & you ye Proprietors let them have our land that you took from us on as easy terms as we that had run the hazard born the brunt & once already paid for it both to the Proprietors & Indians, I say there could be little hopes of justice where our adversaries would set our judges & the jury likely to be made up of such persons, who if they gave a verdict for us must condemn their own title & implicitly acknowledge their lands that they bought of the Proprietors was ours:

Therefore I think whoever will be impartial must judge till you make it appear that you had a right to the soil you can have no right to rent for it.
. PRO: Do you think that there is no acknowledgment due to the Proprietors?
. WILL: Not at all because they never had a right to the soil therefore no right to rent for it.

Pro: Had not King Charles' grant the soil with the Government to the Duke of York & he grant the soil to the Proprietors:
. WILL: The question is how King Charles came to have a right to ye soil.
Pro: King Charles got it by conquest when he took it from Dutch.
. WILL: That is denied because the Dutch never had that tract of land, now the County of Monmouth, in possession by reason of their Wars with the Indians. They dare not venture over in to take it in possession seeing the Dutch never had right nor possession. King Charles could not obtain a right to the Indians land never sold to the Dutch by conquering the Dutch.
Pro: You will not allow then that King Charles had a right to the soil, therefore, the Proprietors none.

. PRO: Pray by what title do you pretend to hold your land if not by patent from the Proprietors, we hold our land by an honest honest purchase & consideration paid for.
. WILL: A title derived from a Charter granted to the sons of Adam by the Great & Absolute proprietor of the whole universe, God almighty & has stood recorded in the best record on earth 3198 years. In these words remember the days of old consider the years of many generations, ask thy father & he will show the thy elder, & they will tell them when the most high divided to the nations their inheritance. When he separated the sons of Adam; he set the bounds of the people.
. PRO: Then you deny that their is any acknowledgment due to the Proprietors. - WILL. Yes we do.
. PRO: & so consequently to the King.
. WILL: The acknowledgment we owe & duly pay to the King's in obedience to his Laws & being bound to support, maintain & defend in person crowns dignity to the utmost of our power &c. Now to conclude I speak for myself that when you make it appear that at the time you granted my Paten you had better right to the land than I had. I shall be willing to pay Quitrents, but till that done I hope in justice to hold my land free by plain dealing.

* Note2 by John Stillwell:
This paper is a copy of an original written by Wm., son Wm. Lawrence, the first, of Middletown, N. J. It belongs to the Hartshornes of Portland, N. J. It sets forth the difference between the early settlers & the proprietor, & is a valuable a valuable contribution to the local & general history of this period. - John E Stillwell.
Ref: Historical & Genealogical Miscellany, Vol. 1, Published 1903, by John E Stillwell.
Transcripts P J Ahlberg, 2009. Thank you. - - -

Birth:
Verify Alt DOB 1658.

Died:
Lot 31, Town book of Middletown, 1667 & Lot 28 poplar field

Buried:
Second WILL written 20 Feb 1741 & was filed 1741 Feb 21. Proved 1750 Nov. 22.

William married Ruth GIBBONS on 24 Jun 1686 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Ruth (daughter of Richard GIBBONS, .2 Patentee and Mrs. Elizabeth (Richard) GIBBONS) was born in 1666 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; died on 7 Oct 1736 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. Town Book of Monmouth, William Lawrence, Clerk:
William Lawrence was married to Ruth Gibbins, The 24 day of June 1686.
Children of William & Ruth Lawrence:
. William Lawrence, son of Wm & Ruth Lawrence was born the 5th day of November 1688;
. Elizabeth Lawrence, born 3rd day of December, 1690;
. Robert Lawrence, the 2nd son of Wm. & Ruth, born 25th day of Sep 1692;
. Richard Lawrence, ye third son of Wm. & Ruth, born 11 day of July, Anno 1694;
. John Lawrence, the 4th son, born the 22th day of August, Anno 1696;
. Mary Lawrence, the 2nd daughter, borne the 28 day of December 1698.

. Death records: Members removed by death or otherwise by death: 7 October, 1836. Ruth Lawrence.
Ref: Record of the Baptist Church, Middletown, NJ.

. 1686 - Gibbons, Ruth, married William Lawrence, Jr., son of William Lawrence, Sr., & grandson of Sir Henry Lawrence, president of Cromwell's Council.

. Richard Hartshore, son of Richard Hartshorne.1, was born 22nd of instant, mo., 1678-9; died, Feb. 29, 1747-8, aged 68 years, 11 months & 22 days; married, first, Catharine, daughter of John Bowne. He married, second, Helena Willet, of Flushing, L.I., 1713, who was born Dec. 22, 16S0, & died May 1, 1715.

He married, third, Elizabeth, daughter of William & Ruth (Gibbons) Lawrence, born Dec. 3, 1690, & died August 1750, elsewhere Apr. in 1751. Sec Lawrence Family. Her remains lie adjacent to those of her husband, William Hartshorne, in the Hartshorne Burying ground, Middletown, N. J. In 1888, her Monument had fallen, face upwards, & was cracked badly, while her husband's remained still erect.

. 1736 Oct 7, Members removed by death or otherwise: by death Ruth Lawrence.
Ref: Record of the Baptist Church, Middletown, N.J.

. 1745 Nov 11 - Wm. Hartshore's WILL: Wife, Elizabeth, who received all she brought with her, the use of "my shas,"? a silver cup, etc.

Historic events of the time:
In the beginning of the year 1665, there was a comet visible to the people on this continent: It had appeared in the November before, & continued four months: It rose constantly about one o'clock in the morning, in the south-east. It was seen likewise in England, & in most other parts of the world, at the same time.
Ref: Smith's History of NJ, 1747. - - -

Birth:
Alt: Gibbens, Gibbins, born 1660.

Abraham married Leah CLAYTON on 29 Sep 1692 in Middetown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Leah was born in 1668 in Halebank, Lancashire, England; died in 1710 in Burlington County, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Leah is the daughter of Alice Myers & John Clayton.

Notes:

John is the son of Mary Goodie Pearsall & John Tilton, The Patentee.

. 1670 Jul 5, Age: 28 - Appointed Overseer for the town of Shrewsbury NJ.

. John Tilton SR of Middletown, written 23 Nov 1700 & proved 17 Apr 1704. In it he names wife Rebecca & children - including Daniel who he states is "under age". Wit: Remembrance Lippincott, Ben Lawrence. Inventory of his personal estate £146 1 shilling.

. JOHN TILTON, was the son of John & Mary (Goodie) Tilton of Gravesend, who supported religious persecution & were banished by Stuyvesant.
The children of these were: John (1), Thomas (2), Peter (3), Esther (4), who married Samuel Spicer, Sarah (5), who married John Painter, Abigail (6), who married, first, Ralph Warner &, secondly, William Scott & Mary (7), who married, first a Carman & secondly, Henry Bowman.

. JOHN TILTON, son of John Tilton.1, born 4mo. (June), 4, 1640; died probably early in the year 1704, his will having been probated April 17th of that year. He married, first, at Oyster Bay, L. I., 8 mo. (Oct.), 10, 1670, Mary Coats &
second, at Flushing, L. I., 3mo. (May), 12, 1674, Rebecca Terry, by whom he appears to have had all his children. She died, in Middletown, N. J., (Dec), 18, 171 5. This date for her death is found on the Shrewsbury Quaker Meeting Records, on the same page as & following after the names & dates of birth of the children born to Walter & Sarah (Tilton) Herbert. & Sarah Herbert was her own daughter.

. 1658 Oct. 10. Thomas Greedye, born in Devonshire, England, in his WILL of this date; proved Nov. 4, 1658, devised to his loving friend John Tilton, of Gravesend, his estate, out of which the said Tilton was to pay his debts & the remainder he bequeathed to Peter Tilton, son of said John Tilton, excepting only one small sum the which I have given unto John Tilton, Jr.

. 1662 Nov. 16. Order for John Tilton, Jr., to deliver up a boat he had secured.

. 1664 I mo., 25. John Tilton, Jr. & his brother-in-law, Samuel Spicer, were among those named in the first purchase of land, in Monmouth Co., from the Indian Sachem Popomora. This deed was acknowledged April 7, 1665 & is on record in the Secretary
of State's Office, at Albany & in Trenton, as well as in the Proprietors' Office at Perth Amboy.

. 1683 Aug. 13. John Tilton, Jr., of Gravesend, sold to Martin Petersen (Wykoff) a plantation in Gravesend.

. 1684 Mch. 26. John Tilton, Jr., named as executor in the WILL of Obadiah Wilkins. 1691/2, Mch. 8. John Tilton, of Gravesend, sold to Cort Stevenson, of Flatlands, all his Gravesend property, for £295, reserving the use for 12 months to remove therefrom. About this time he would seem to have left Gravesend to reside in Monmouth Co. & this deduction is further sustained by the fact that his brother, Peter Tilton & wife Rebecca, were the only Tiltons whose names appear in the Quaker Records up to 1692.

. 1694 September. He was one of the Grand Jurors independent enough to indict one of the Judges then sitting on the bench & to present another.

. 1700, October. He was committed to the custody of the Sheriff for "subscribing a seditious paper."

. 1700 9mo., (Sep.), 23. WILL of John Tilton, of Middletown; proved Apr. 17, 1704. In it he makes no mention of his son Abraham Tilton, probably because he was dead at the time of its being made. Neither does the testator refer in it to his youngest daughters, Mary & Hester. But he does distinctly declare that he had a son Peter Tilton, who is not of age & yet this Peter's name is not given with those of the other children in the Shrewsbury Quaker Records, nor in the Friends Records of New York & Vicinity, which gives his children & their birth dates, as I append them.

To son, John Tillton, 5 shillings; to son Samuel Tillton 85 acres of upland & 3 of meadow & to his heirs; to daughter Sarah Tilton 1 cow; to my wife, Rebecca Tillton, after my decease, my dwelling house, etc. & all my farme, after her decease it is to go to my son Peter Tillton & his heirs, not yet 21;
In case of his death, then to my son Daniel Tillton & his heirs; if he die before he come of age, then to my son Thomas Tillton & his heirs. If Peter live to be 21, then he is to pay unto his two brothers Daniel & Thomas Tillton, £15 to each; if he die, Daniel shall pay £30 to Thomas. Residue to my wife Rebecca Tillton, my Executrix & after her death, to be equally divided amongst my children, friends, Thomas Hillborn & John Lippincott. will be helpful to my wife to see my will performed. Signed, John Tilton Sen.

Witnesses: Remembrance Lippincott, Ben. Lawrence, George Corleis.
Inventory of his personal estate £146-1 1-0. - - -

Died:
Will Proved: 17 Apr 1704.

John married Rebecca TERRY on 12 May 1674 in Flushing, Queens, Long Isl., New York. Rebecca was born in 1647 in Gravesend, Kings Co., Long Island, New York; died on 18 Oct 1715 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. Samuel Terry, Born Apr 1632, Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts & died 1731, Enfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts;
on 3 Jan 1660 in Sprinfield, MA., he married
Ann Lobdell (Landon), born 8 Mar 1634, Enfield, MA & died May 1684, Springfield, MA.

. Mrs. Tillton, the wife of John Tilton, deceased in Middletown, ?85y of 10 mo., 1715.

. Issue of John & Rebecca Tilton are:

1. John Tilton born Apr. 14, 1675; died August, 1731; married, July 29, 1703, Margaret Lippincott, born May 7, 1683.
2. Abraham Tilton born Jan. 14, 1676; he is not mentioned in his father's will & the entry of his death is recorded as "son of John Tilton," on the Quaker Records, of Flushing, L. I., without date, but between entries for the years 1684 - 1686.

3. Samuel Tilton born Mch. 2, 1678; died prior to May 6, 1745; married, June 5, 1705, Patience Allen.
4. Sarah Tilton born Nov. 14, 1680; married, June 2, 1704, Walter Herbert.

5. Peter Tilton married, November, 1722, Lydia Bills.
6. Daniel Tilton born Dec. 27, 1682; married, probably as a second wife, Nov. 6, 17 17, Elizabeth Powell.
7. Thomas Tilton born Dec. 20, 1684; died Jan. 4, 1763; married Faith Lawrence.
8. Mary Tilton born Oct. 21, 1686; married James, son of Joseph & Hannah (Lawrence) Grover.
9. Hester Tilton born Apr. 17, 1689; married, Oct. 15, 1719, William Lawrence. - - -

Birth:
Alt Name: Rebekkah