Notes:

Mary is the daughter of Mary Wright, b 1671 & married on 1694 in Upper Freehold Twp., Monmouth, to Thomas Cox, born 11 Feb 1668, Monmouth Co., NJ.

. 1722/23 - WILL of Thomas Cox, Co. Clerk, Monmouth Co. NJ. Will dated 16 Feb 1722/23; inventory taken 15 Mar 1722/23. Total £630-13-2.
"to my 3 children, Thomas Cox, my son & heir, Mary Lawrence
& Lydy Cox £50 apiece. My "sons £50 to be paid as soon as conveniently it can.
my daughter Mary's £50 to be paid a Year after my decease,
& my daughter Lydys £50 to be paid 2 years after my decease"; "to my daughter Cathrine's husband "Cornelius Vanhorne £30 & if it shall please God that my daughter Cathrine's son Thomas Vanhorne shall live "till he comes to the age of 21 years , then I do Give him £30"
"If John Estill do live with my wife till he comes to the age of 21 then I do give him a cow & a mare. The remaining …moveable estate ... to my loving wife Mary Cox during her life, & at her decease to be dispose of as she shall think sitt ... likewise ... to my loving wife, with the remaining part of my moveable Estate ... in Lieu of her dower, my dwelling house & barn with the half of my Improved land meadow & wood land as long as she shall remain my widow, To be divided from the other half of my Orchard Improved land meadow & wood land By Thomas Taylor & John Ashton both of freehold ... Who I ... Empower to Divide my land …
Also Give an Acre Square of Land where my children lyes buried on ye hill above my Orchard "Containing the present Burying Yard in the middle of it, for a burying place forever for me my wife & children & for a "burying place for my brother John Cox & for his familye forever... the said Acre of Ground shall not be sold granted nor given nor ... Conveyed from the 2 families above said, but by them to be kept without… molestation for a burying place for them & their children forever;
to my Cousins Sarah Robins & Meribath Robins, the daughters of Nathaniel Robins Deceased £10 apiece to be paid them when my wife sees fit."

Appoints "my loving wife Mary Cox to be Sole Executrix ...
& if ....she shall Dye before the "Legacies herein .... shall be paid & my Will performed then I ... appoint my son Thomas Cox, Executor ...."
Wits: Thomas Cox, Elias Holman, Thomas Taylor, James Cox, Robt. Lawrence.

. Deposition of Mary Cox, Executrix, before Michael Kearny, Surrogate court,'att Allenstown, ye 25th day of March, 1723.
BIOGRAPHY: Thomas Cox described himself as a 'yeoman' of Freehold, Monmouth Co., NJ in his will. He was active in the settlement & administration of estates during his lifetime. In 1700, he was one of the signers of a remonstrance against the Proprietors of NJ, asking for the appointment of a competent Governor. This apparently did not occur, as in 1701, he signed a similar petition to have the Province of NJ taken under protection of the King unless the Proprietors appointed a suitable governor. He was one of the earliest members of the Baptist church at Middletown.

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

Mary married Benjamin LAWRENCE, .i on 16 Feb 1720 in Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Benjamin (son of Capt William C. LAWRENCE, .1 and Elizabeth GILDERSLEEVE) was born in c 20 Feb 1664 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; died on 19 May 1755 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Joseph LAWRENCE, .III was born in 1725 in Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; died in in Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., New Jersey.
2. Mary LAWRENCE, .xi was born in 1828 in Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; died in in Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., New Jersey.
3. Elizabeth LAWRENCE, .vi was born on 18 Jul 1729 in Monmouth County, New Jersey; died in 1840 in Monmouth County, New Jersey.