Notes:

Myra is the daughter of Lizzie (unknown name) & Richard Lawrence. Myra was born Dec 23 1856, Sandwich, Canada (Near Windsor & Gosfield, ON.) Res. RR 1 Coohersville, Michigan.
Ref: Her death certificate.

. 1867 Dec 19 Affidavit of sister Esther Lawrence King was present at the births of Clarissa & Almira Lawrence.

. 1879 Apr 18, Local News. Frank Grow has launched his bark upon the matrimonial sea with Miss Myra Lawrence as first mate.
Ref: Weekly Palladium Newspaper, Benton Harbor.

First marriage:
. Michigan Marriage Registration # 969, 1879 Apr 9,
Frank H Grow, Benton, Michigan, Age 24, born Monmouth, Ill, Agent, Married;
Elmira Lawrence, Benton, Mich, Age 22, Born Canada.
Wit: M. Rose? & C. Grow, both Benton Harbor. Reg. 10 Apr 1879.

Second Marriage:
. Michigan Marriage Registration #1073,
1899 Dec 25, St. Joseph, Michigan;
J A Burgess, age 42, Res. St. Joseph, born Illinois, Machinist; parents R B & Mary Burgess;
married: Myra Grow Lawrence, age 43, b 1856, resided St. Joseph, born Canada; parents R & E Lawrence;
Both one previous marriage.
Minister: James Hamilton*
Note1: Their cousin James Hamilton.
Wit: C L Carrao & Rebecca Carrao*, both Ann Arbor.
Note2*: Myra's sister Rebecca Lawrence Carrao.

. 1899 Dec 26, Tues. - News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, p1
. 1899 Dec 29, Affairs At the County Seat, Marriage Licenses, J A Burgess 42 & Mrs. Myra Grow, 43; St. Joseph.
Ref: Weekly Palladium Newspaper, Benton Harbor, MI.

. 1902 July 17, Thurs. - Mrs. Myra Grow is entertaining her sister, Mrs. Charles Carrao of Ann Arbor. p4.
. 1905 Feb 8 - Small Informal Part. Mrs. Myra Grow entrained a few friends pleasantly last evening at her home in the Herring block. The game of the evening was Ringtoff, the prize being won by Mrs T A Shave. Mrs. Geo Mills received the booby prize. Solos were rendered by Miss Evelyn Grow & Mesdames Shaver Plumb sang duets. Refreshments were served.On leaving the guests left a pretty plate & pantry with their hostess. (Ref: & Republished 25 Years Ago 1930 Feb 8.).
. 1905 Apr 21 - Mrs Myra Grow & dau. Every left last night to spend 2 weeks with Mrs Vofers?, south of St. Joseph.
Ref: News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan,

. 1908 Dec 5, Sat. - Mrs. Myra Grow of Holland is here visiting her son, Harry Grow & family for a ... its history turned out Saturday night as the Berrien County Shrine club staged its ...
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, p2.

. 1910 Nov - 50 years ago. Mrs. Myra Grow of Washington Street, left for Goshen, Ind., where she will join her younger daughter, Evelyn row, who recently accepted a position as telegraph operator in that city.
Ref: News Palladium, published 1960.11.10.

. 1914 Dec 5 - Mrs Myra Grow of Holland is here visiting her son, Harry Grow & family, for a couple of weeks.
Ref: St. Joseph Daily Press.

. 1925 Sep 3 - Honor Mrs Grow - complimenting Mrs. Myra Grow of Holland, who is in the city visiting fiends, Mrs Amos Messner of Flair Plain, was hostess yesterday to the Pleasure Seekers at a 1 o'clock 3 course luncheon. Mrs Grow is the mother of the late Harry Grow of this city. His wife the late Mrs. Grow, was a beloved member of the Pleasure Seekers & an ardent club workers. Other guests of the club yesterday were Mrs Wm. Messner & Mrs Maude Miller, both of this city. Mrs messier served the repast at a table artistic in a color scheme of Yellow & white.

. 1925 Sept 4, St. Joseph, Mrs Myra Grow of Chicago, has been best for past 2 weeks of Mrs Jay Gard of Niles Ave, left yesterday for Holland for indefinite stay.
J J Gard of Niles ave, who recently accepted a position with the Eaglesfied Co. in Milwaukee, Wis., is expected home the later part of the week to spend the weekend with Mrs. Gard.

. 1928 Oct 20 - Mrs Myra Grow of Albuquerque, NM is here for a visit at the home of her son Frank Grow & family. The trip from New Mexico was made by auto is company with fiends who are visiting in Benton Harbor.
Ref: News Palladium Newspaper.

. 1927 Jul 28 Thrus - The home of her daughter, Mrs. Myra Grow. Edwards avenue, Benton Harbor, on the occasion of her with.

Obituary
. 1938 Apr 21 - Funeral services for Mrs. Myra Grow, 82, Virginia Park resident, who died Wednesday at 7 o'clock in Grand Rapids, were held Friday in Benton Harbor she was a member of the Maccabees lodge whose members are expected to attend the services. Mrs. Grow is reported to have died of heart trouble. Burial Morton Hill cemetery.
A son Frank of Eau Clair & a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Olinger of Grand Rapids, survive.
Ref: News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI. - - -

Birth:
Alt Loc: Sandwich Twp., Essex Co. Ontario. (i.e. near Windsor, ON & Detroit, MI) Ref: Death Cert.

Died:
Aged 81y 3m 20d. COD: Cardio vascular degeneration, 6 years.

Almira married Frank Herbert GROW, .1 on 9 Apr 1879 in St. Joseph, Berrien Co., Michigan. Frank was born on 14 Jun 1854 in Monmouth, Warren Co., Illinois; died on 27 Jun 1892 in Pipestone Twp., Berrien Co., Michigan; was buried in Morton Hill Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Harry LAWRENCE GROW was born on 29 Feb 1880 in Benton Harbor, Berrien Co., Michigan; died on 5 Apr 1918 in Benton Harbor, Berrien Co., Michigan; was buried on 9 Apr 1918 in Crystal Springs Cemetery.
2. Mollie GROW was born on 14 Jun 1882 in Towanda, Butler Co., Kansas; died on 22 Nov 1923 in Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois; was buried in Morton Hill Cemetery.
3. Lena Vidette GROW was born on 15 Mar 1884 in Benton Harbor, Berrien Co., Michigan; died on 7 Nov 1906 in St. Joseph, Berrien Co., Michigan; was buried in Morton Hill Cemetery.
4. Frank Morton GROW, .2 was born on 19 Oct 1888 in Lafayette, Tippencoe Co., Indiana; died on 22 Sep 1958 in St. Joseph, Berrien Co., Michigan; was buried on 25 Sep 1958 in Caldwell Cemetery.
5. Elizabeth Ann LIZZIE GROW was born on 16 Feb 1890 in Lafayette, Tippencoe Co., Indiana; died on 18 Mar 1967 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan; was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
6. Evelyn Hazel GROW was born on 16 Sep 1891 in Lafayette, Tippencoe Co., Indiana; died on 6 Mar 1934 in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexio; was buried in Sunset Memorial Park.

Almira married J A BURGESS on 25 Dec 1899 in St. Joseph, Berrien Co., Michigan. J was born in 1857 in Illinois; died before Apr 1910 in Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. Date of Birth Estimate: Est. DOB by 1810 based on:
Married 1830, at Estimated age under 20;
1831 UCLPetition Estimated age 21 &
1833, first child at 24y.

. UCLPetition #55, L Bundle 16, C2129 p311
Richard Lawrence, s/o an UE, cabinet maker of Trafalgar Twp., was too young to do his duty during the War. Son of Late Richard Lawrence of Western District, formerly of the Home District.
Signed, York, 3 May 1831, Richard Lawrence.
Oath of Allegiance, witnessed, Robert Johnston [Brother-in-Law]. Council Recommended, 5 MAY, 1831.

. UCLBooks. 1831 May 5, Richard Lawrence, L55, of Trafalgar, Cabinet Maker, Son of Richard Lawrence, Western District, formerly of the Home District, deceased.
Son of UE Loyalist, granted 200 A.

. Ontario Land Registration Book, First Registration Book
. Con 11, Lot 22, Richard Lawrence [junior], all 200 A D, 220 acres,
8 Feb 1836 (page 85).
Note1: Concession 11, Lot 8 ; Con 9 Lot 7; Con 10 Lot 4 Lot 1, Con 11 are, also called "Wide Talbot Road."

. Ontario Land Registration
Lot 22, Con 11. Abstract Book Gosfield, Essex County: p3
. 8 Feb 1836, Instrument 220, Patent, Crown to Richard Lawrence, xx order lands, for West 22.
. 1836 Mar 1, Instrument T125, Registered 4 Nov 1840, Bargain&Sale, Richard Lawrence, to Horatio Nelson*, £25, For West 22.
Note2: Is this perhaps Horatio Nelson Williams, who resided Walsingham Twp., Norfolk Co., & who was married to his cousin Mary Matilda Mosher, 1st cousin twice removed (John Willson, Jr.)?

Lot 23, Con 11, Faint writing, p 3
. 1836 Feb 8, Patent, Crown, to Richard Lawrence, Irregular Lands, 30 Acres. West for N23.

. 1836 Mar 1, B&S, Reg. 1837.1.25, Richard Lawrence, to Horatio Nelson, month other lands, £25, W for .No. 23.
Note3: Unusual Crown Patent, splitting same Lot among 4 people: R Lawrence, Peter, Handershort, Sarah Owens, Wm Times?

Land Grant: Gosfield, Lot W half 22-23, Con 11, Essex Co. [now located in Elgin Co.]
Residence Trafalgar [1831.] He was in York (Toronto) on May 3, 1831 to submit his 1831 May 5 Granted & settlement duties performed 1834 MAR 4 Deed.
Ref: Archives of Ontario, MS693R20.

. Ontario Land Registration
Con 11, Lot 22 & Lot 23, Gosfield, Essex Co., Abstract Book , p3
. 1836 Feb 8, Patent, Crown, to Richard Lawrence, Lot 22.
. 1836 Mar 14, Reg. 1837 Jan 25, B&S, Richard Lawrence, to Horatio Nelson, £25 for Lot 22 & £25 for Lot 23 along other lands {i.e. £25 for both 22-23 Lots].

. UCLPetition 26, Pointe & Play [Gosfield], L Bundle 21, C2131 p658.
Petition of Richard Lawrence, Gosfield. The Petition of Richard Lawrence, Gosfield in the Western District is the Heir-at-Law, of Richard Lawrence as a Loyalist. 600 acres of lands it being what my later father in his lifetime was entitled to as an Lieutenant in the British Service during the American Rebellion.
Signed, Toronto, The 30 October 1837, Richard Lawrence.
Envelope: Referred to the Receiver General to report hereon for the information of the the Executive Council: - I find a Richard Lawrence who was granted 600 Acres of Lands as an UE Loyalist under Order In Council of the 30 July 1796 discharged for the same in the Township of York and Markham & do not find any other order or Location in his name.
Signed, Jno. MaCauley, Survey Generals's Office, 23 Nov 1837.
No further, got his land as appears by these 2 grants reported. Communicated 18 Apr 1838.

. 1842 Wages in Upper Canada:
Carpenters, 6 s 10 p Halifax Currency, Cabinetmakers: 7s 6p. Halifax Currency per diem.

. 1846 Brown's Toronto Directories, Canada:
Richard Lawrence, Con 1, Lot 26, Markham, ON. Cabinet Maker 1846.
Note4: Richard is residing on Uncle William Ladner Willson's farm L26 C1 ESY, which was across the road from his father Richard Lawrence's former farm.
Found in 2 different directories for 1846. Sisters Jane & Hadassah left with their husbands, John & Mathias Teetzel, for Michigan between January 1852 & 25 Jun, 1853.

. 1860 Aug. 15 Census St. Joseph, Benton Twp. Berrien Co, Michigan, p.211,
Lawrence Richard L, 51 years /1809, Canada West, Farmer, Value of Person Estate: £50.
B. 1815, Elizabeth, f., 45y, Canada West
B. 1841, John, m. 19y, Canada West
B. 1843, Hester, f, 17y, Canada West
B. 1845, Joseph, m 15y, Canada West
B. 1847, Robert, m, 13y, Canada West
B. 1849, Charles, m, 11y, Canada West
B. 1851, Clara, f, 9y, Canada West
B. 1853, Rebecca, f, 7y, Canada West
B. 1855, Alimira Lawrence, f, 5 years, Canada West.

. H Company 28th - Union Army
Private Richard S Lawrence, age 41/ b1823, enlistment: 10 Mar 1864, at Kalamazoo,
Company K, Michigan 28, Mustered out: 21 Nov 1864 at Louisville, KY.

. Private Richard Lawrence, discharged for disability, 9 January, 1863.
Received Civil War pension 1865.
'Richard S Lawrence, H Company G.
Ref: History of Berrien County & Van Buren Co.

. CIVIL WAR: Richard L Lawrence enlisted at Oronoko Twp., 5 Oct, 1864 for a term of one & half months & died in Hospital at Louisville, Kentucky, Brown US G.H. on 21 November, 1864 of Typhoid Pneumonia, inflammation of lungs, signed, B E Fryer, As, USA.
Ref: Register if Deaths of Volunteers 1861-65. - - -

Birth:
Alt Name: Richard D or L. Ref: Dau. Rebecca Lawrence's Marriage. Cert.

Died:
COD: Typhoid Pneumonia.

Buried:
Sec A Row 4, Father.

Richard married Mary Lizy ELIZABETH SIMONS on 14 Oct 1830 in Palermo, Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co., Ontario. Mary (daughter of Bildad SIMONS and Mrs. Bildad SIMONS) was born on 19 Aug 1813 in Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co., Ontario; died on 8 Jan 1904 in Benton Harbor, Berrien Co., Michigan; was buried on 9 Jan 1904 in Morton Hill Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. Bildald resided in Saltfeet Twp., Wentworth Co., (i.e. not so far from where he would later resided Trafalgar Twp. in 1830.)

. UPPER CANADA MARRIAGE BOND #1978,
KNOW all men by these presents, that I, Bildad Simons of the Township of Trafalgar in the Gore District & Father of the within named Mary Lizy Simons.
Sealed at Toronto, in the Home District, on 13 October, 1830.
Richard Lawrence of the said Township & District, cabinet maker,
& Mary Lizy Simons of the same place, Spinster.
Signed in presence of T. Jarvis, Bildad Simons.
Ref: UC Marriage Bonds, C6780, Archives of Ontario.
Note1 Mary Lizy married a year before her sister Clarissa Simons in Trafalgar Twp., Ontario.
Alt Name: Mary Eliz. per her son's death certificate.
. Bildad first resided Saltfeet Twp in 1806. Mary Lizy's father Bildad Simons & his sons were farming on the backside of the Teetzel's land at Trafalgar Twp., Ontario.

. 1861, Civil War, Detroit [16 Pages of Documents]:
Claim for Widow's Pension: Widow's Certificate WC72448,
Mary Elizabeth Lawrence, nee Simons, widow, Richard S Lawrence, Private Co. H. 28 Mich.
Proof Exhibited: A. Gen. Report Muster Oct 5th/64 at a Ky &
Service at Louisville KY, Nov 24/64. Typhoid Pneumonia. Serv. of 28th Certificates to Typhoid with contracted in line of duty.
Marriage Applied of by Certificate, Oct.13 30.
Names & dates of birth children:
Clarissa Lawrence, age 12 years, b. 1852
Charles Lawrence, age 10 years, b. 1852
Rebecca Lawrence, age 8 years, b. 1856
Almira Lawrence, age 3 years, b. 1861.
Loyalty Attested, Agent & his P.O. Address Wm R Leon? St. Joseph, Mich.
Admitted Jany 1st 1866, to a Pension of $8 commencing Nov 21,1864.

. Widow Declaration for Pension: Berrien Co., Michigan,
1865 January 18, before Geo. H Murdock, Clerk of Circuit Court which is a county of Record.
Mary Elizabeth Lawrence duly sworn, aged 50 years /b.1814, resident Benton Township, Berrien, Michigan, widow of Richard S. Lawrence was a private in Company H, commended by Captain Samuel Chadwick, 28th Reg. Michigan Volunteers, Commanded by Col. Delors Phillips in the ward with Confederate States.

Richard L Lawrence enlisted at Oronoko Twp., 5 Oct, 1864 for a term of one & half months & died in Hospital at Louisville, Kentucky, on 21 November, 1864 of Typhoid Pneumonia.

* She was married to the said Richard S Lawrence on the 14 October, 1830, at Palermo, Halton Co., Canada by Rev. Mr. King, Presbyterian clergy. She was Mary Elizabeth Simons. She believes there is no public record of her marriage & no private marriage that she has been possessed of a Certificate of her said Marriage, given by the said officiating Clergyman which Certificate has been lost.
At the time of her husband's death there were then children under 16 years of age at Benton Township & are Clarissa Lawrence, Aged 12 years, Charles, Lawrence age 10y, Rebecca aged 8 years & Elmira Lawrence age 3 years.
Wm. Richards Lyon, her Attorney, Signed, Elizabeth HER XMark Lawrence, Millburgh, Mich.
Witnesses sworn: Signed, John Teetzel & Hester Teetzel, Benton Twp., Widow of Richard S Lawrence. They know the deceased soldier from a long personal acquaintance of more than 30 years.

. Affidavit1: 1865 Sept 13, Notary Public for Berrien Co.
Jane Teetzel of St. Joseph, Aged 55 years / b.1810 &
John Teetzel of Benton, age 49 years / b. 1816 ... Certify to be repeatable & entitled to credit. That they resided for many years previous & subsequently to 14 Oct 1830 at Palermo in Halton Co., Canada West. On that day Richard S Lawrence & Mary Elizabeth Simons were united in holy matrimony at the house of William Simons in said Village of Palermo by the late Rev Mr King, a Presbyterian Clergyman. She is his widow. Jane Teetzel was present & witnessed the ceremony.
John Teetzel was a boy at that time & was at the house of his father on the opposite side of the Street from the said house where the said marriage took place & that the other members of the family were present & public records were not made & he know the said parties, signed, Jane Teetzel & John Teetzel.
Note2: In 1830 Jane Lawrence was not yet married to Mathias Teetzel. Who is William Simons? Is this name an error, or did Bildad have another second name? - PJ Ahlberg 2018.

. Affidavit2: 1867 Dec 19, A.D. Esther King, wife of Henry King, Millburgh, Berrien Co. That she well knew the Late Richard S Lawrence & his Widow Elizabeth Lawrence. He surviving him were: Clarissa Lawrence born May 16, 1852; Rebecca about 13 years, Almira born Dec 22, 1856. Esther was present at the birth of Clarissa & Almira. She knew Richard & his family more that 15 years [before 1852]. Signed, Esther King.

. Affidavit3: 1867, Feb 5, Notary Public for Hester Teetzel, wife of John Teetzel, resident of Benton. Knew well RSL & his widow Elizabeth L. His children, Clarissa L, about 14y, Rebecca Lawrence born June 6, 1854 & Almira L, about 8y. Elizabeth continues to support all her children nor allow anyone to adopt their children. Deponent says she is a sister of said Richard S Lawrence & being present at the birth of Rebecca Lawrence & now lives near neighbors to Elizabeth Lawrence. Sworn & Signed, Hester Teetzel.

* 1895 Jan 26 - Mrs. Charles [Rebecca] Carrao has returned from Benton Harbor, where she was summoned by the illness of her mother.
Ref: Jackson Citizen Patriot, MI.

. Afterward Mary Lizy lived with her daughter Ester Lawrence King.

. Michigan Death Certificate, Benton, Berrien Co., #158,
Elizabeth Lawrence, died Jan 8 1904, aged 90 years, 4 months 19 days,
Born 1813 Aug 19th.
Aged at marriage:15 years.* [= married 1828], widow
(Note3: Upper Canada Marriage Bond dated 13 Oct, 1830 = age 17 years. - PJA)
Parent of 12 children, 5 are living.
Father: Simons, born Canada, Mother, don't known name or where born,
Resided Benton Harbor,
Died of Heart failure or Paralysis, an old age. 3:00 AM.
Informer: Myra Grow, Benton Harbor, MI.
In the margin is partially written: Myra Grow, daughter of deceased [?] her former xx.
Note4: Year/Age of marriage given by daughter Myra Lawrence Grow, in the death MI. Death Certificate is incorrect, based on the above Ontario Marriage Bond, Lizy was age 17 at her marriage. - Likewise Myra was aware only of her grandfather's surname was Simons & she thought incorrectly he was born in Canada. PJ Ahlberg, 2018.

Obituary1
. 1904 Jan 8 - Old Resident Dead, Died at Home of Her Daughter at Twelve Corners
Mrs. Elizabeth Lawrence died at 8 o'clock this morning at the home of her daughter Mrs Henry King, at Twelve Corners, aged xx years.
Mrs. Lawrence's maiden name was Elizabeth Simons. She was born in Canada in 1813, coming to Benton Harbor in 1858, when it was but a village. She & her husband purchased the Major Britton place near Eastman Springs where they resided for sometime & later resided in the Braunson? house now occupied by Mrs Lamport, this being one of the first houses built here.
The deceased has 5 children: John Lawrence, Mrs Henry King of Twelve Corners, Mrs Clara Collins of Chicago, Mrs. Charles Corrao of Ann Arbor & Mrs Myra Crow of this city. The funeral will be held at 11 o'clock Saturday morning at the Twelve Corners Church conducted by Mr. Merrifeld.
Ref: News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI.

Obituary2
50 Years Ago [c1902]. At the home of Mrs Myra Grow on Edwards Ave., Morton Hill, last evening, a party of relatives assembled in honor of Mrs Elizabeth Lawrence, mother of Mrs. Grow who is leaving soon for the home of another daughter at Ann Arbor.
There is doubless not another living resident of Benton Harbor whose life is more closely identified with the early life & growth of the city than that of Mrs. Lawrence, who was Elizabeth Simons, born in Canada & married to Richard Lawrence at the age of 15 years. In the spring of 1858 they came to Benton Harbor & settled on the Major Britain place near Eastman Springs. Mr Lawrence was both a farmer & carpenter & assisted in building the residence known as the old Brunson house, upon the bluffs, now occupied by Mrs. Lamport. This was the first residence built within the city limits. The Lawrence lived on the Britain place for 8 years then moved on the Maher place, 2 miles from Miller where they remained until 1865 when the husband died in the war. The widow then purchased a home of S Brunson, standing where Dunbar's meat market now stands.
Mrs. Lawrence has been the mother of 13 children, 10 of whom grew to maturity, 5 now living. She will celebrate her 89th birthday the 13th August. She entertained the company yesterday with many tales of pioneer days & gave the younger members an exhibition of how they tripped the light fantastic 60 years ago.
Ref: News Palladium Newspaper, Benton Harbor, republished 1952 Jul 28th.

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

Birth:
Called Elizabeth after she was married.

Died:
Res. with dau. Hester Lawrence King. Aged 90y 4m 19d.

Buried:
Aged 90y 4m 19d. Died 3 AM of heart infracture or Paralysis of heart, Old Age.

Notes:

Married:
Rev. Mr. King , Presbyterian.

Notes:

PART ONE:

Richard is name after his grandfather, Richard Lawrence, Esq., [The Third, 1719-1726.] & in family remberances going back to Richard the Lionhearted.

. 1771 July 5, List of letters, remaining in the Post Office, Richard Lawrence, Shrewsbury.
Ref: NY Gazette.
. Richard Lawrence, Upper Freehold. Ref: Roster of the People of Revolutionary Monmouth County.

. 1783 New Brunswick, Chrineyonce Vanmater & (Lieut.) Richard Lawrence, UE. petitioned together for land in Prince William Co., NB.
Note1: This land grant adjacent to his brother John Lawrence, was not taken up because it had previous legal encumbrances. - PJA 2101.

. Richard Lawrence carried a English Bible giving his & siblings' birth dates. He must have carried this Bible with him at the end of the American Revolution & then to NB & finally to Upper Canada. The Bible was then given to his youngest child, Rebecca. Grandson Walter Hamilton is the last known owner of the Lawrence Bible.

. 1776 Jul 15, Letters Remaining in the Post Office, New York: Richard Lawrence, Staten Island. Ref: New-York Gazette & Weekly Mercury.

. OLD UNITED EMPIRE LOYALIST LISTS: Laurence, Richard, Home District, Loyalist from N. Brunswick. Ref: Appendix, Appendix B.

. 1776 MUSTER: Richard Lawrence:
. 1777 Feb - 24 Apr - Lawrence, Richard - Private, General Hospital (2 Richards) Muster roll of Capt. Wm. Gray's NYV. Lieut. 1st Co.
. 1777 Aug 24, - Private Richard Lawrence, 3rd Bat De Lancey's Brigrade, C1880,p1
. 1777 October 24 - Capt. Gilbert C Willett, 3rd Battalion of Oliver De Lacey, p. 28, at Long Island, #20, Richard Lawrence [Job" Tat? Host or Western? blurry]. {Ref C1880,p7)
. 1777 Dec 24, Priv. RL, 3Bat DeLancey's Brigrade, C12880,p16;
. 1778 Apr 24 - Rich. Lawrence, 3rd Bat. Oliver DeLacey. C1880, p22 & ?Compare Priv RL, NYV, C1874p5;
. 1778 Apr 24, Priv RL, #BDeLancey's Brigrade, C1880,p22, 38;
. 1778 Jun 24, Priv RL, 3BDeL, C12880,p28;
. 1778 Sep 4 - C1880, p38; 1778 Oct 24, c1880, p39;
. 1778 Dec 24, Priv RL, 3BDeL, - Discharged Dec 24th '78. C1880,p50.
. 1779 November 29, Capt. Thomas Hewlett's Co. NYV - Savannah, Quarter Masters Gen. Dept. & Hewlett's Coy. C1874p49;
. 1781 Apr, Priv RL, New York Volunteers, c1874,p60 & 1781.12.24 p82;
Ref: British Military & Naval Records, p49, RG8 Vol C, Printed, 1874. Elsewhere there is a UEL claim for supplies of horses & wagons for Trenton New Jersey.
Ref: British Military & Naval Records, C1880,p1, RG 8, C Series, & Copy Arch. Canada: Ward Chipman Muster.

British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts):
Richard Lawrence (31688)
. 1782.5.27, Account for Outstading debs for forage, New York, commissary General Dept., Doc 4668, Film M355, page 4668, Item 31688;
. 1783.11.21, List of Original Wills, Wills in custody of Secretary of NY, page 9671 (14); Film M366, Item 31689.

. NB Land Petitions:
* Note2: 1787 After the American Revolution four Lawrences lived near each other in Saint Johns, New Brunswick: Mrs. Alice Lawrence Leonard (Thomas) Lot 1; Lieut. John Lawrence Lot 101; Lieut. Richard Lawrence was on Lot 169 on the other side of the Saint John River; along with sister Mrs. Margaret Lawrence Nicholson (Arthur) at Lot 52. An important Lawrence family friend, Rev. J Odell of NJ, was adjacent to his land grant as well.

. Richard gave up his land claim in Prince William because of a prior legal entanglement by an earlier French Canadian inhabitant. Richard also made failed landed petitions with his Monmouth, New Jersey neighbours', Corneilis VanMater* & Capt. Richd. Lippincott, (BUT much later he would again be adjacent to R. Lippencott on Yonge St., Toronto) - PJ Ahlberg.
Note3: *John Vanmater was a witness to Richard's father, William Lawrence, d. 1795 in Middletown, NJ.

. 1782 May 27, Richard Lawrence, Outstanding Debts for Forage, New York, Accounts, Commissary General Dept., pg. 4668, (1.3).
Ref: British Headquarters Papers, (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts), Microfilm M355, Ref: MG23 B1, Item Number 31688.

Research Item, (probably someone else, but should be verified):
. 1783.11.21 - Richard Lawrence, List of Original Wills, Document: Will in custody of Secretary of NY.
Document Pg. 9671 914), fonds: British Headquarters Papers, Carlton Papers or American Manuscripts, Microfilm M2369,
Ref: MG23 BA Item # 31689.

. 1783 DEC 12, PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK LAND GRANT, NB Archives. George the Third grant to Rev. James Fraser, Edward Rogers, Anthony Rogers, Arthur Nicholson, Esq., John Willson, Junior, Richard Lawrence, Stillwell Willson & James Walsh 2,238 acres on the northwest branch of the River Miramichi in the County of Northumberland. The first track beginning at the alder Stake on the easterly bank or shore of an Island being in the said Branch.
To John Willson Junior: Lot 1, 200 Acres; To Richard Lawrence the Lot 2 , containing 232 acres, Stillwell Willson, Lot 4, 240 acres. Registered the 12 December, 1793, Thomas Carlton, Lieutenant Governor, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

. 1789 Aug 11. To His Excellency Thomas Carlton. Province of New Brunswick, Memorial of Richard Lawrence of Miramichie,
Humbly Shewth, that our memorialist has been all the last War in the service of His King & Country, most of the time as a Volunteer in the Army. That a lott of Land has been assigned to him at Prince William in the County of York, but being then a young single man he resigned it. That he is now settled at Miramichie & likes the country, wishes to live by farming in reference to fishing.
Your Memorialist therefore prays you Excellency may be pleased to grant him a Lot of Land adjoining a lot assigned to Arthur Nicholson, Esq. on the north east side of the North West Branch of Miramichie & your memorialist is duty bound will Pray.
Richard Lawrence, [Undated, but delivery time about 4 - 6 weeks.]
Envelope side: Memorial of Richd. Lawrence - Complied with 25th Sept. 1789.

. 1795 June, there were still only 14 housed in the Town of York.

** See photo Photo Original Land Patent may be found at North York Central Library, Willowdale:
. UC Land Petition 5, Bundle, L Bundle 2, 1795 of York, Richard Lawrence, Sr.
Ref: C2124, p804. Ont. Archives. Original document is preserved at the North York Public Library, Yonge Street, Toronto. Very large parchment document with an attached was large beeswax seal.
*Researchers who had other relatives who received an UC Land Grant may wish to see what this very impressive document looked like. This also helps in part to understand why the administration of land granting was so slow.

. 1796 Apr 6 - To His Excellency John Graves Simcoe, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor & Commissioning his Majesty's forces in Upper Canada. Major General.
The Memorial of Richard Lawrence Late of the Province of New Brunswick in Nova Scotia That your Memorialist Entered in the Service of His Britannic Majesty at the beginning the Late rebellion continued in the same till the Peace of Eighty three & that since that time he accepted a Commission of first Lieutenant for the County of Northumberland in New Brunswick which he is ready to produce if required - & being Desirous of remaining a Subject to the King of Great Britain in this Province.
Humbly Prays that his Majesty's most gracious bounty in Lands may be Extended to your memorialist for the following Lotts Viz Number 25 on Yonge Street Eastward & 2 other Lotts in the Rear of Said Number 25 second Concession also a Lott in the Town of York, Number 18 in the second range Which he has improved as well as No 25 Yonge Street & such other quantity of Land as to your Excellency in your Wisdom may seem meet - & your Petitioner as in Duty Bound will ever pray. Signed, 6 April, 1796, Richard Lawrence.

There are 5 other Upper Canada Land Petitions for Richard Lawrence.
. The original parchment & seal, LAND GRANT for Lot 25, Concession 1 Yonge Street, east side, 200 Acres, will be found at the Canadian Room, North York Public Library, on Yonge Street, Toronto.
. 1796 July 30 - Granted Lot 18 D, Duke St., Town of York / [now renamed as: 79 Adelaide, Toronto.] (The next Lot 19 Duke, was granted to Samuel Osborn & his wife, Mrs. Alice Willson Osborn).
. 1802 May 5 Date of Patent or 18 Duke St., D Block, 1/5 Acre to Richard Lawrence.
Ref: Robertson's Landmarks of Toronto, Vol 1, p339.
. Lots 1 & 2, Con 4, Vaughan Twp., 400 Acres.
Note4: 1796 Oct. 8, is the day he paid his land settlement fees & is sometimes incorrectly quoted as the day he was FIRST granted this land. - PJA.

. UCLPetition 15, Y Batch 5, p417. -1801 Jul 16 - East Side Yonge St, Lot 25, Nothing done to the Street. [i.e. no logs cleared].

. 1801 Dec 15. East Side Yonge Street, Lot 25, Logs in the Street, not burnt.

. 1802 Feb. 21, Lot 1, Con 5, Vaughan Twp., 200 Acres granted to wife, Mary Willson Lawrence.
. 1803 Post Office Letters, downtown Toronto: This issue contains a list published by the postmaster of uncalled-for letters lying in the post-office at York:
. Richard Lawrence. (Original Toronto Post Office was one street over from Richard's 179 King Street house. However by
. 1803, Richard was now up on Yonge & Steeles.)
Ref: Vol XIL, The Oracle, Saturday Jan. 15, 1803, No. 28, Total No 610.
Note5: McGill had the 1000 Acres at Lot 25, Con 2, adjoining Richard Lawrence's Land Grant.

Ontario Lands Registry, Metro Toronto Book 683, p131 [Note: Version 2]
Lot 18, South side King St., Town of York
[Original Version 2 adds:] Abstract Town of York, S.S. King
St., Pt of Town Lot 18: Abstract of all Instruments affect 38.5 feet on South side of King St East x 120 feet deep coming at N.E.L. Town Lot 18 on South of King St & running West & being par t of sd. Town Lot 18.
. 1802 May 17, Patent, Crown, to Ricd Lawrence, All Contg. 1/5 Acre
. 1805 Feb 13, Patent, Crown, to Beasley et all, all condj 15 acre,
. 1805 Feb 19, Mem. Grant, Richd Beasley, survg. Trustee of Tos Barry & Wm. Allan, to Rev. Geo O'Kill Stuart of York, £321.17.16., All et all. Being 1 C in front X 2c deep. To hold unto sd. Grantee his heirs & assigne forever. Sg. by Grantee.

Abstract North York Book 16, p3
Lot 25, Con 1 Yonge Street East, York Twp.
. 1808 Sep 15, Patent, Crown, to Richard Lawrence, All 190 acres.
. 1806 Jan 20, Registered 20 Mar 1806, Bargain&Sale, Richard Lawrence et ux, to The B Gough, East Half.
. 1819 Aug 20, B&S, Richard Lawrence, to John S Baldwin, £250, West Half Acres.

Abstract, Metro Toronto, North York Book 128, p21
Lot 24, Con 2 West, York Twp.,
. 1798 Dec 31, Patent, Crown, to Wm. Jarvis, All 200 Acres
. 1805 Dec 31, B&S, Thos. B Gough, to Richard Lawrence, All 200 A
. 1809 May 1, B&S, Richard Lawrence, to Jacob Fisher Jr, £100, All 200 A.
Note6: Adjacent, Lot 23, Con 3, Sawmill, water badly supplied, Peter Keiffer, 1851.

Abstract Markham Book 91, p22
Lot 27, Con 1 East Side Yonge St. , Markham Twp.,
. 1803 July 15, Crown, to John Leslie, All 190A
. 1804 Aug 31, Bargain&Sale, Thos. McMichen etux, to Richard Lawrence, £100, All 190 Acres.
.1805 Jun 29, B&S, Richard Lawrence et ux, to John Arnold, £100, All 100A.
[Beside brothers-in-law, Wm. L Willson, Lot 26; Samuel Osborn Lot 27, & Stillwell Willson The Elder, Lot 30.]

Abstract York Region, Vaughan Book 185, p4
Lot 1, Con 3, Vaughan
. 1802 May 17, Patent, Crown, to Mary Lawrence, All 200 A
. 1821 Feb 21, B&S, Richard Lawrence et ux, to John Guthrie, £100, All.
[Near Fairbanks Lumber/ Railway tracks & Steeles W, 2020].-

Ontario Land Registry Abstract, Vaughan Book 190, p4 & 32,
Lots 1 & 2, Con 4, Vaughan Twp., York Co., [Keele Street], p4 & p32.
. 1805 Feb 1, Patent, Crown, to Richard Lawrence, All 400 Acres each [Lots1-2 @ 200A.]
. 1805 Feb 1, B&S, Richard Lawrence et al, to Thomas McMicking. All 190 A, 200 Acres for Lot 1. & Lot 2 190A.
Note7: Adjacent Lot 4, Con 3, was a sawmill, Michel Fisher, 1851.
Lawrence's most productive grant Lot 25 1ES was also part of the Willson sawmill land. Thus the summary suggest Lawrence searched for land that could yield water & tree resources, as opposed to strictly farm land. - P J Ahlberg 2016.

. 1805 to 1815 at least - Richard Lawrence received Tavern Licenses for the Twp. of York.
. March 1801, The Special Sessions of Peace, held the "The Court are of opinion that 6 persons are a sufficient number for Keeping Tavern in the Town of York, for the year ensuing.
. 1805 Dec 28, The undermentioned persons prayed to be admitted as fit persons for receiving Licenses to Keep Taverns in the Home District for the Year next ensuing: Richard Lawrence.
. 1806 Mar 20 - sells East ½ Lot 25, Con 1 ESYonge St.
. 1807 - Richard Lawrence owned Lot 18D, south side of King, west of Frederick St. Brother-in-law Sam. Osborn was on the next lot 19D.
Ref: Toronto Sundries, Home District. Quarter Sessions.

Special Sessions of the Peace, York, Tavern License for year ensuing,
. 1815 Dec 30, Town of York: Richard Lawrence, York Twp., Granted.

Note8: Various sources state the Joseph Abraham ran the first inn called the Green Bush at Steeles & Yonge at the North east corner. In an area noted for tall trees, it must have been a large balsam tree indeed that stood in front of the Inn. The NE corner belong to his brother-in-law Wm. L. Willson. Further research may show the exact location of Lawrence's tavern.

Regulations included: No excess drinking, no profanities or gambling; sufficient sheds, stables and/or barns were required for the patron's horses, carriages & wagons. The innkeeper should also have at least 4 good beds in addition to those for his family. All of these regulations were controls to limit taverns & increase inns.
Ref: Margaret McBurney & Mary Byers, Tavern in the Town: Early Inns & Taverns of Ontario. - P J Ahlberg). - . -

PART TWO: Tracking Richard Lawrence Though Documents:

. 1759 Aug. 20, Monday born, Middletown, Upper Freehold Twp., Monmouth Co., Prov. of New Jersey. Father William Lawrence's carpenter's shop along with his brothers.
. 1776 to 1783. American Revolution, New Jersey 1st Volunteers, Christies' Quarter Master Department. He was a volunteer in the army most of the time.
. 1776 Richard is on Staten Island, NY.
Note9: UCLPetition Richard gave a reference for Sarah Lakerman Willson who was on Staten Island since 1776, the beginning of the War & therefore, Richard Lawrence too was on Staten Island.

. 1785 New Brunswick. Purchased land at Musquash Island on the St. John's River from Capt. Richard Lippincott also of NJ.
. 1786 New Brunswick. By this time he is married to Mary Willson. [Further research: Records of the Anglican minister traveling though the Miramichi?]
. 1787 Jul 25, Wants land at Prince William, Queensborough, NB. allotted primarily to the Queen's American Rangers (& to future brother-in-law Arthur Nicholson, (ELIZABETH LAWRENCE).
. 1789 Jul 27, Land Grant: A little beyond the Sandy Point, opposite, Between Island by Johnston Basto, West Branch of Miramichi River, Northumberland County, New Brunswick.
. 1789 Sep 25 - Granted land at Willson's Point, Miramichi, New Brunswick. Richard builds log gaol at nearby, Newcastle, NB.

Northumberland Co., New Brunswick, Deed Registry Books, Grantor:
. 1793 June 15th - Richard Lawrence & Mary Lawrence to William Babcock, Vol 2, Pg. 97, Deed £20 for 200 Acres, 22 cleared with Stockable Dwelling House, 3 Commons Pasture. Signed, John Willson, Esq., JP of Inferior Court of Common Pleas.

. 1793 July - MAY FLEET *NJ *NY *NB *UC. Evacuation from NY to New Brunswick in 1783. Again the 'May Fleet' leaves around NB by ship & up the St. Lawrence River to Montreal, where John Willson called on Commissary Issac W Clarke for aid. The 60 people including Richd. Lawrence were in the party lead by John Willson, Esq.
. 1793 Aug 8 - Arrived at Quebec with 60 people. A dozen people remain here. Arrival by 3 bateaux at Kingston on 28 Aug., 1793. Received army rations & medical care. Detained over 30 days waiting for another boat. 1793 Oct. 10, group arrives at Niagara again sick & starved. 25 Oct, Governor J G Simcoe authorizes ship to pick up John Willson & associates.

. 1792 Sept. Fort George, Niagara. Lieut. Gov. Simcoe orders government ship to bring them Lawrence, Willson & all from Niagara to Town of York.
. 1793 Nov 2, Arrival at the Town of York, Toronto. Extracted from the documents on the hardships of this voyage to Upper Canada can be found also at 1) Roots.com under JOHN WILLSON.1 & 2.) more extensively in Richard Lawrence of NJ, NB & Ontario. Book may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto. & Richmond Hill Library - PJ Ahlberg, 2009.

. 1794 April 7 to 30 June, Paid for carpentry, Public Buildings at York. Paid £15 11 s. 3 pennies, on 10 July, 1794.
. 1795 June 1. Petitions for Lot 25, Con. 1 ES Yonge Street, York Twp., ON WHICH HE HAS ALREADY LOCATED. (Yonge & Steeles Ave., Toronto). Tavern here or and/or Vaughan. Sold 20.
. 1819 Aug. As a lieutenant he was granted 1000 Acres & an additional 400 Acres from his wife, Mary Willson.
* 1796 May 28, Cousin John Brown Lawrence presented Richard's land grant to his friend Gov. Simcoe:
. 1796 July 30, already built on it: 18 Duke Street, TOWN OF YORK. Today 179 King St. East, Toronto Downtown.
. 1796 8 Oct - Granted & lots in Vaughan, (just across the road from his Lot 25, Con 1 Yonge.) Steeles & Yonge Streets, tavern here or and/or at Vaughan.

. 1797 Minutes of the Town of York: Richd. Lawrence: 2 males & 4 females.Total six.
i.e. Ricd. & wife Mary & John, Mary, Marg., Eliz. & Mary Anne Lawrence.
Note10: Town of York had only 52 males & 34 females living on Yonge St., Toronto.

. Two Surveys of Settlers actually living on Yonge Street:
. 1797 Aug 3, York, Lot No. 25 East, 5 Acres cleared, Richard Lawrence is on the premises.

. 1797 Jun 27 - Oath saying he knew Sarah Lakerman, wife of John Wilson, Jur & that her father died within the British lines in the year 1776. Signed, Richd. Lawrence.

. 1798 June. Lot 25 East, Richard Lawrence, i.e. He is living on the lot) Four acres cleared. Small log house. Surveyed by David W Smith, Esq., Surveyor Genera.l { Is Wm. L. Willson, his brother-in-law on the adjacent lot, actually living with his sister Mrs. Mary Lawrence? - PJA.]

. 1802 Jan 12, Tuesday Richard Lawrence (7th) sworn to Petty Jury of 12 men. John Evenor the accused. When the miller was absent, John Evenor was seen taking a sheep away from the barn yard. Discharged because no Prosecutor was present.

. 1805 Mar 2. Richard Lawrence of Yonge St. who had received a license to keep a Tavern for House, at his dwelling house & who had removed from thence to another Public house; applied for leave to keep a Tavern under the same license in the house to which he had removed. The court do not find themselves authorized to comply with this request as they deem the License to be attached to the house recognize has been taken & not to any other.
Note11: 1804 Feb 1. Richard sells Lot 3, Con 4, Vaughan Twp. property. Coincidence?

. 1807 Jul 24 - Justice Robt. Thorpe's address, Summary: Whereas a goodly number of Independent Electors convented for discussing the sufferings whose situation was resplendent by many not his friends to be very deplorable of his losses which at first he yielding to their entreaties to represent them in Parliament in UC or England. A multitude of signatures, inc. Joseph Shepard, Richd. Lippincott, Alex. Montgomery, Baron Fred. DeHoen, Peter Muscleman, John Van Zantee, John Willson, [most likely junior] William L Willson, Stillwell Willson, James Finch. Richard Lawrence, William Johnson, George Taylor Denison, J Hale, Walter Moody, Peter Whitney, Garret Van Zantee, Sam D Cozens, Peter Winter.
Ref: Report on dn Archives, 1892.

. Ely started early. John Powell & Geo. Ridout soon overhauled me - fed at Buttanans? 18 miles - at Lawrence 17 miles, went on to Cantfields 11: a little after dark.
. 1809 Sep 29th - John Arnold & Ely Playter drew a load of ashes from [Richard] Lawrence's the AM. 47 bushels.
Ref: Ely Players Diary.

. 1815 Dec 30. Richard Lawrence received a Tavern License for Township of York. £12, Issuer James Kerr.

. 1818 Dec 26, Quarterly Session of Peace, Charlottesville, London District
$2 Costs of Court The said Sum for Wages to the said Alvin.
Ordered that as the License is Left in the behest? of the Magistrates all persons being desirous of keeping publick houses are required to attend on the last Saturday of this month precisely at 10 in the forenoon at which time the Bonds will be ready for signature, as an Act of the Legislature has passed to that effect.
The Court took into consideration the Tavern Bills & agreed as follows.:
Richd. Lawrence £3.10s & Wm. Lawrence £3.

Extracts from HIS CHILDREN'S LAND PETITION RICHARD LAWRENCE:
. 1818 Apr 14, Richard Lawrence is now in Woodhouse*, Ontario, daughter Margaret Lawrence.
. 1818 August 6, Mary Ann is with her parents at Long Pointe, Ontario.
. 1819 October 13, Richard is in Woodhouse now, wrote daughter Elizabeth Osborn-Tarbox-Lawrence.
. 1819 Aug 20 - Richard Lawrence sells West ½ Lot 25, Con 1 ESY for £350.
. 1820 April 11 & 20th, He is now in Charlotteville, London District, (Norfolk County).
. 1821 Feb 21, Sold Vaughan Twp. property of his wife, Mary Willson.
Note12: Woodhouse is now called Naticoke.

. 1828 - Photo of large wooden mill: Lot 1, Con. 2 East. Markham Township. Bayview Ave & Steeles Ave. Fish Mill, NE corner Steeles & Bayview in 1961. This grist & saw mill was built in 1830 by Benjamin Fish, next to the distillery that he owned (built 1828). Though the original mill was destroyed in a fire, Fish built a new one on the same site. Demolished in 1965, when the intersection of Bayview & Steeles was widened.
. The Town of Charlotteville:* When the war of 1812 broke out the court-house was used for barrack purposes, ... was christened" Fort Norfolk." The court house, jail, the fort & the tavern of Job Loder all stood on the elevation above the flat. A hotel was built under the hill & kept by a man named Hatch. In 1833, during the cholera scare*, a hospital was built at this place. It stood on the bank & was a barn-like structure & was used but little, if at all, for the purpose for which it was built. The old Town of Charlotteville reached the zenith of its glory during the war. In 1815 the District Courts were removed to Vittoria & the Town of Charlotteville relapsed into Turkey Point once more. No traces of its old-time importance remain, save a few surface irregularities indicating the spot occupied by the fort. The dreary waste at Turkey Point was, for 13 years, the judicial metropolis for all this vast region of country.
Ref: Pioneer sketches of Long Point Settlement. Published 1908.
Note13: Was this the cause of Richard Lawrence's disappearance? Note14: *Charlotteville is now called Delhi.

. 1831 May 3 - DECEASED of London District, wrote son, Richd. Lawrence, and also deceased was an Innkeeper, deceased per Jane Lawrence.
. 1846 Smith's Canadian Gazetter, Province of Canada West:
Harwich, Kent Co, Western District, soil extremely fertile, 1898 inhabitants. Timber - white oak, black walnut, maple, beech, hickory, basswood etc.

A more complete history with copies of ALL documents & photos may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto under Richard Lawrence, John Willson & John Brown Lawrence of New Jersey, NB & Ontario. By P J Ahlberg, May 2009. - - -

Birth:
Monday. Upper Freehold Twp.

Richard married Mary WILLSON, DUE est 1786 in New Brunswick, Canada. Mary (daughter of John WILLSON, .1, Sur. and Rebeka Thixton THICKSON(E)) was born est 1770 in Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., New Jersey; died est 21 Feb 1821 ± in Charlotteville, Norfolk Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. Richard Lawrence's New Brunswick Land Petitions indicate he was single March 1786 at Queensborough & married by August 1789 on the Miramichi. They could have been married by her father, a Justice of the Peace for Miramichi, or perhaps by an Anglican Minister in transit on the Miramichi, who had baptized a Willson child [Jonathan Willson 1783 & John Willson.III, born 1791?]
Further Research: However, also retained for further search: St. Andrews Church, Long Island. 1780 Oct 5, Married, Lawrence Mary & Lawrence, Richard. Vol. xxx, Page 56. This seems this would be too early for this Mary Willson.

. UC Land Petition 63, L Bundle 4 c 1808 p241
York, daughter of John Willson, [MARY WILLSON,] Richard Lawrence.
. To His Honor Peter Russell, Esq., president of the Government of Upper Canada etcetcetc. In Council:
The Petition of Richard Lawrence of the Township of York. Humbly shows That your Petitioner is a Loyalist & came from Nova Scotia about 3 years ago, [1794] that he is married to Mary, the daughter of John Willson, Esq. of Kings Mills on the Humber, who is also a Loyalist. That your Petitioner's wife having never received any Land, your Petitioner prays your Honor would be pleased to grant him 200 Acres in right of his said confer & is in duty bound your Petitioner will ever pray.
Richard Lawrence, York, 22 June, 1797.
Envelope: Ordered 200 Acres to wife of Petitioner as DUE, 1778 Dec 24. [Daughter of an Empire Loyalist.]

Ontario Land Registry Abstract Vaughan Book 185,
Lot 1, Con 3, Vaughan Book 185, p4
. 1802 May 17, Patent, Crown, to Mary Lawrence, All 200 A
. 1821 Feb 21, B&S, Richard Lawrence et ux, to John Guthrie, £100, All.

Note1: As of 2018 this land is now 1900 Steeles Ave. West, Fairbanks Lumber Co., Concord, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario. As of 2018 this land is now 1900 Steeles Ave. West, Fairbanks Lumber Co., Concord, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario. -PJA

Note2: Husband Richd. Lawrence had other land at Lot 1 Con 4, also the adjacent, Lot 25 across on Yonge St in York Township. In others words, all located on Steeles Avenue: First East at Yonge & Steeles to Dufferin St.]

. 1801 Children's schoolhouse, Condition of Yonge Street:
Lot No. 25 west & east complied with, Lot 25 East Side of Yonge Street; nothing done to the street & a schoolhouse erected in the centre of the street. This is the end of the Township of York.
Ref: Report to Surveyor-General D W Smith on the condition of Yonge Street in 1801, by John Stegmann, formerly a Hessian officer.
. On page 427 of Scadding's memoirs, he tells us that Elisha Pease taught in this early schoolhouse.
XReference: E. Pease was a witness of the WILL of John Willson, Jur. in 1818 & also John Johnston, 1852.
Note3: The schoolhouse was built in the road allowance in front of the Lawrence's property so the children could find it & not getting lost in the woods. Just a few lots away, Jacob Cummer tells us a black bear was digging up his garden. - PJ Ahlberg.

. DAUGHTER & WIFE of a TAVERN KEEPER:
Mary Willson Lawrence & her children, had much experience at Taverkeeping. Husband Richard Lawrence held a UC licensed tavern located on Yonge Street north. She & her friend, as noted below, Mary Thompson visited Miss Elizabeth Russel when Thompson was employed by the sister of THE most prominent & powerful man in Upper Canada. From extracted stories from Ely Playter's Journal we may see what life was like a woman tavenkeeper in early Upper Canada:
. 1806 Jan 11 - Thinking it was a tavern, Ely Playter & a companion mistakenly stopped & stayed over night at Mr. Miller's house. Implicit in the mistake at Millers & throughout his journal, is a parallel understanding that household life intersected with public life in taverns.

. 1802 May 2 & Sept 29 - Mary Thomson*, Playter's journal's Miss T - also lived at his house. She was the daughter of a substantial farm family from Scarborough Township. Her father, Archibald, was a master stonemason & a Justice of the peace from 1806. Nothing about her presentation in the journal suggests less than respectable young womanhood. It is difficult to account for her presence in the tavern rather than on her family's farm. [Scaboro Museum, 2016]. Certainly not a servant in the house, she socialized within the same circles as the tavern-keeper & came & went as she pleased.
Playter mentioned her almost exclusively in the parlour usually in the context of polite sociability, but once he noted, I seated myself by the Parlour fire & finished my letters to Mr & Mrs Rogers, it was one o'clock in the morning before I retired to bed. Miss T sat at her work till I had finished writing. This brief reference & others, imply Mary Thompson may have worked in the textile trade from Playter's tavern & continued so working after marrying John Scarlett of the Humber. Tavern-keepers placed tea tables in their parlours. Nor did anything about the emphatically public nature of their homes work to exclude the women of tavern-keeping households from local networks of female friendship & association:
The Tavernkeepers' daughters, Player saw Miss Beman, the Miss Jarvises, & Miss Robinson on their way home as they had been visiting & he gave my Sister's Compliments to her as they had requested in their letter" In their taverns these women crafted a female space for sociability, into which they also welcomed men.
Ref: Women, Men, & Taverns in Tavern-Keeper Ely Playter's Journal, by Julia Roberts, Guelph.
Note4: Mary Thomson's husband-to-be, John Scarlett was granted in 1817 Apr 2, Lot 19, south side of Richmond, that is across the street from husband Richard Lawrence. Ref: Town of York Abstracts, p263.

. 1837 - Toronto & Home District:
. 1799 - Population 224; 1800 - Population 1127. 1818 - Population 8,459.

Date & place of burial of Mary Willson Lawrence is unknown. Last known whereabouts of Mary Lawrence was noted in her daughter Mary Ann Lawrence's UC Marriage Bond of 10 August 1819, where permission to marry was obtained at Long Point in southern Ontario. Rebecca Lawrence says her father died when she was very young & she was reared by an older sister, implying perhaps that Mary Willson was dead between 1821 & 1831 when her husband died & thus making Rebecca about 16 years of age - not so 'very young'.

Richard Lawrence was an inn keeper in the Long Pointe to Harwich, Ontario, until his death about another 1 years later, about 1831.

A separate Willson Family Tree may be found at Ontario Ancestor; & also Rootsweb.com: John Willson of New Jersey & the Kings' Mill, Ontario. - - -

Birth:
Alt DOB: Est 1765 -1769.

Died:
Alt Loc: Harwich, Kent Co., Ontario

Notes:

VERIFY PARENTS, Generations or so, TO BE CONFIRMED. (2017)

. In 1860, 1880 Maine & again in the 1890 Apr 20 Census Washington, DC. son Adelbert B Simons, Sr., says his father was born in Connecticut.

1813 - Private Bildad Simsons from Massachusetts, work on Dundas Street, & sere in 1814. York Militia, 2nd Regiment, from Nelson Twp., Halton Co.
Ref: Lorne Scots Regimental Museum, Brampton, ON.
Note1: Is this an error? or did Bildad live/visit from Mass. before coming to Upper Canada?

. UC Sundries, Abstract of Petitions for Lands, No. 332. Bildad Simons., Application prepared in Council, 1806 Jun 16th. Common Applications*
Ref: p915, C4503,
Note1: Common applications or otherwise, no complications. On the other hand it doesn't mentioned he wanted a location in the Mississauga Purchase, as many other 1806 petitions did. - PJA

. UCLPetition 27, p579, S Bundle 8, C2809.
Bildad Simons of Saltfleet, Potter & Ramor.
Petitioner has been near 7 years in the Province [1799] & has a family of a wife & 4 children. Property in the amount of £50. Taken the oath of allegiances. He wants 200 acres located in tract lately (Govt.) purchased. He is prepared & undertakes to pay within 3 days of Order in Council for land. He will pay all Survey fees in the same period. He will also attend the Secretary of the Province within 21 days to take out the deed. [i.e. he will get started without delay.]
Signed, Bildad Simons, York, 17 June, 1806.
. 1806 This certifies that Bildad Simons of Saltfleet in District of Niagara, has lived in my neighbourhood some years, he is industrious & a well behaved man.
York,18th June, 1806. Robt. Nelles.

. 1806 Jun 18, Receipt of the above: £6 9 shillings & 4 pence sterling. Peter Russell, Receiver General, Clerk of the Executive Council, Upper Canada.
. A land patent for Con 1, Lot 30 1 SDS (South of Dundas Street), was granted to him in 1806 as settlement duties had been fulfilled.
Entered into Land Book G, 78. Warrant 193, issued 19 Jun 1806 by the petitioner.
Note2: The Upper Canada Government had just recently purchased land in Trafalgar area from the natives. Some settlers were staking out the new farming land even before the negations were finished.)

Note3: Concerning his place of birth: There was a Bildad Simons living in Massachusetts but not enough information is found to drawn a firm connection. Or perhaps the Simons were living in the German Valley of New Jersey along with the Teetzel, Hagers, who came to the excellent farm land of the Trafalgar area. The name of Bildad's wife is unknown. -PJA.

. 1809 Jun 11, Town of York, General Quarter Session of Peace holden at Town of York. The Grand Jury called & severally Sworn as follows.
1. Bildad Simons & 12 others: Philip Triller, foreman, Benj Smith, David Albertson, David Taylor, Joseph Alolet, Henry Schuck, Stiles Stevens, James Hinton, Joseph Osier, Edward Decow, Abraham Markle, Absolom Willcocks, Allan Robinet, Joseph Silverthorne, Philip Cody, James Wyant & Isaac Willcocks.
Prosecution of Esther Ruggles Vs. Henry Hale, Indictment Assault & Battery, Verdict Not Guilty.
Ref: Toronto Sundries, Home District Quarter Session of Peace, Minutes, City of Toronto Archives.

Note4: This would imply that Bildad was actually living in the Town of York by 1806 to at least 1814, otherwise he would have been called for jury duty in Trafalgar, a rather long distance to travel by foot or horse. Most men on jury would be well known men from near by on Yonge St., York Twp. It is further noted that Bildad filed various Marriage Bonds & Land transactions himself dated in Toronto, rather than the common method of mailing in these requests.

. WAR OF 1812, 2nd YORK MILITIA REGIMENT:
Trafalgar Township:
. York Militia 2nd Regiment., commanded by Serjeant Duncan McQueen, Working the roads on the Dundas Street (now Hwy. 5) between the 16 & 12 Mile Creek [i.e. between Oakville & St. Catharines, Ontario]:
. 1813 Oct 26 - Nov 4, Ten days: Private, Bildad Simons, Paid 6s.
Signed, Richard Beasley. Ref: Doc. 293.

. 1813 Oct 25 - Nov 24, 10 days, Private Bildad Simons, 2YM, commanded Serj. Duncan McQueen working the roads on Dundas Street. Signed, Richard Beasley. Ref: Doc 298.

. Second York Militia Regiment, Capt. Thomas Merrigold's Detachment:
. 1814, Sept 25 to Nov 1. Private Beldad Simons, 7 days. Signed, Capt. Thos. Merigold. [Privates earned 6 pence a day.]
. 1814, Dec. 1st -1815 March 1st - A Return of fines Collected in the 2nd Regiment of York Militia. Failure to report for muster (15 men):
Bildad Simons, Amount in fines: £5 paid. Signed, Richard Beasley.
Ref: Doc. 10-25, Upper Canada Militia Records, V16, Second York, Militia. Ref: Documents 196 & 197, UC Returns, Nominal Rolls & Pay Lists C10383, p1048.

Note5: Very interesting this item. Why did Bildad not serve? Was there some sympathy for the American cause? or not actually willing to fight against his fellow Americans? Could it have anything to do with his wife's murder? (Date unknown). Or perhaps, more simply, was Bildad more preoccupied with providing for his family in wintertime? - PJA, 2011.
Note6: 1814 Jun 22 York. To R R Loring, from J McGill. Requests a list of several Quakers, Mennonites or Tunkers resident in the province form 812-3, to enable him to collect money due from them for exemption from Militia service. Letter attached, p 8523-26.
- Tunkers are a variation of Quakers who refused to take up any arms during wars, & paid a fee for militia exemption. - which may be consisted with living in Enfield, Conn., & the Shaker community. - PJ Ahlberg.

. 1816 Assessment Census, Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co.:
Bildad Simons. 100 acres, 70 A. Uncultivated, 30 cultivated. Frame house under 2 stories.
Note6: Log cabins were not taxed so not listed.

. Census 1831 Palermo, Trafalgar Twp., Halton County, SDS (South of Dundas Street): Bildad Simons:
10 cultivated acres, 40 uncultivated. 2 males over 16 & 1 female over 16.
Note7: His daughter, Mary Lizy Elizabeth Simons was married the previous year to Richard Lawrence; Daughter Clarissa married in 1831.
Note8: Only one female over 16 implies his wife may or may not still be alive. - PJA.

. 1842 & 43 Census, Lot 1, Con 2, P, Trafalgar Twp., Ontario,
Bildad Simons & Sons: John, Asel & Joseph Simons, {that is, adjacent the farms of his in-law Teetzel. - PJA
Note9: Due to the extreme poor quality of these census rolls its difficult to say if Bildad Simons is present in more censuses years. - PJA

Note10: *Suggest the Patent year here may be a transcription error, as the above is COPY from the Land Registration office. On 1806 Jun 16 Bildad received a receipt for Lot 30, Con 1. This would have implications where his last children were born & indeed probably also, Mrs. B Simons died. - PJ Ahlberg, 2018.
- (Modern 2016 location is between 2327 Khalsa Gate, Oakville & Baronwood Drive, V-ing off Bronte Road, Palermo, Bronte Creek.)

. Ontario Provincial Park (2015) comes up the south back corner of Bildad Simons Lot 30, Con 1. Ref: Crown Lands Map A24, Trafalgar Twp.

. Daughter Elizabeth Mary Simons married 14 Oct 1830, at he house of William Simons, Palermo, by Rev. Mr. King, Presbyterian Clergy. Many of her family were present.
Ref: Michigan War Widow Claim 1864.

. 2018. The 3195 Bronte Road Demolition . A home was recently demolished, leavng members with many questions. Tom Murrison reports that tyhe believes thas was the home of Mr Mrs Bildad Simons, that had been at the SE corner of Bronte & Dundas, wehre the medical building now stands. This house was moved in Jan 1955 as per our archives photos. It is beleived based on the birthdates of thier children, that this is an early 1800 built home & that the back part was liely a hewen timber frame. This home was not on the heritage registry so there were not extra steps in place for when the owners requested the demolitions permit.
Ref: Trafalgar Township Historical Society.

. Palermo Parsonage. This house on Bronte Road, just north of Dundas Street, was the Methodist parsons for the Palermo Circuit for some 50 years. It was the responsibility of the Ladies Aids of the Circuit to furnish & decorate the parsonage. With Methodist ministers changing every 2 or 3 years, It was almost a continuing task. When the parsonage was moved to Bronte about 1912, this house was sold. It is still lived in today, 60 years later, 1907. Most of the early settlers in the Palermo community were participants in the beginnings of Methodist in Trafalgar Twp.

ENFIELD, CONNECTICUT:
HISTORY OF ENFIELD, CONNECTICUT, Complied from all the public records:
Select Men's Account 1714-1805:
. 1785 Nov 29th - to Rufus Smith for ringing the bell & taking care of the Meeting House clock which pays this to ye 24th of this month, £3.16.2
.1787 Nov 16 - Hezekiah Parsons June, for rope for the Meeting House last year, 10s 6p; [i.e. Shaker Meeting House].
. 1793 Nov 26, Bilddad Simons, Rate 4 shillings 6 pence. (Page 1237);
. 1794 Jun 10, Enfield payment to: Bildad Simons 4s 45 pence, Elijah Terry 3/6;

. 1794 July 9 - Select Men's Account. Eliphalet Terry, Treasurer,
Bildad Simons 4 shillings 4.5 pennies, Elijah Terry 3s 6p. Asher Simons 4s 4.5 pence, John Reynolds, Esq.,Treasurer. Obadiah King, for part pay for Ringing the bell this present year £2. (Page 1242).

. 1794 Nov 26, Eliphalet Terry*, Treasurer, by an order to sundry persons, Bildad Simons, Rate: 4s 6pence.
Ref: The History of Enfield, Connecticut, 1900.
Note1: Eliphalet Terry, b24.12.1742 Enfield, CT-2.11.1812.

Enfield, on the Great River, Connecticut, Town plan shows 2 plots granted to William Simons dated 1687. In 1689 the Town purchased more land from Indian sachem Noatuck & they reserved the right of fishing & hunting. There were Meeting House for the Baptists & the Strict Congregationalists. The people of Enfield were nearly unanimously in favor of the American revolution & their Independence. In 1780 the Shaker System of Religion was introduced into Enfield.

. SIMONS, William first settler on the Lot 6 south of Ferry Lane - died 1738 aged 79, left sons, viz:
John b 1695 In. Sarah Greer 1722 - died & left numerous descendants most of whom have removed from town:
. sons John, b. 1724;­
. Paul b. 1726, - Ebenezer 1731 - Asahe1 1734, - Edward . 1740 - Titus 1744.
. William b. 1696. m Hannah Randall 1711 - m Margaret Pasko 1717 died­ left a family of one.
. son William b. 1718 - Timothy b 1720, Stephen b. 1723, Joseph b. 1729­
Benjamin b. 1731 settled & died in Enfield in 805.
. James b 1699 - m. Dorcas Foster 1730 - settled in East Windsor
. Philip Simons b. 1702 m. Martha Bement 1727.
Philip son of Philip born 1734 - Abel son Philip 1742.
. Caleb Jones in. Esther Simons D. of Philip Simons 1759.
. One daughter married Joel Meacham.
The original settlers of Enfield were destitute as they were of the rich alluvial tracts that afforded such facilities [they] only subsisted. They sometimes experienced great privations for the want of the necessary means of subsistence & were often obliged to resort to the neighboring towns for supplies for their impoverished families & had it not been for annual supplies of shad & pigeons with which they were so abundantly blessed. The town had scarcely ever afforded more grain than was required for a home supply. The product of its droves was very scanty & its stock of horses cattle & sheep were not numerous or productive. From 1790 to 1800 Enfield lost more people by emigration dur­ing that 10 years than it ever did at any former period.
Ref: Historical Sketch of the Town of Enfield. By Francis Allen. 1900.

* 1806 Jun 28 - Map of 2nd Township purchased from Indians, shows Bildad Simons, residing at Lot 30, Con 1, SDS, Trafalgar, 3017 Bronte Rd., Map shows passage to adjacent Lot 30, Con 2 South Dundas St., which was empty at the time. His property is just on the south side of the Old York Rd. to Head of L. Ontario. (Now called Dundas Street.)

Ontario Land Registration, Halton Co., Abstract Trafalgar Book 24, p189
Lot 30, Con 1, SDS [3017 Bronte Rd., South side of Dundas St.]
* 1808 Oct 18, Patent, Crown, to Bildad Simons, 200 Acres.
. 1811 Apr 27, Bargain&Sale, Bildad Simons, to Chas. Teetzel, part 70 Acres Lot 30
. 1812 Apr 20, B&S, Bildad Simons, to Joseph Smith, 10 A. on NHlf
. 1824 Feb 16, B&S, Bildad Simons, to Joseph Simons, 20 A on SHalf
. 1828 Apr 3, B&S, Joseph Simons, to Daniel Becky?, 30A
. 1828 Apr 3, B&S, Bildad Simons, to Daniel Becesy?, 10A
1836 Mar 1, B&S, 1 xx, to Lawrence Hagar (Sr)
. 1850, B&S, xx, to William H Hagar ...
. 1852 July 16 1852 - 1873 Apr 22, William Teetzel.
. 1875 Aug 10 - 1875 Aug 10, Jonathan Hagar.
. 1920 May 2, Grant, Trustees of Palermo Congregation of Methodist Church to Lawrence Hager.

Lot 30, Con 1, NSS, North Dundas Street, Trafalgar Abstract Book 34, p 398-9
. 1808 Jan 30 - Patent, Crown, to John Shaw, 200 Acres
. 1828 Apr 3 - B&S, Daniel Becay, to Bildad Simons, 100 Acres South Half
. 1830 May 10, Registered 1830 Oct 20, B&S, Bildad Simons, to Joseph Simons, 50 A, Half of S Half
. 1830 May 25, B&S, Joseph Simons, to David Hager, 1 Acre
. 1832 May 10, B&S, 1831 Feb 25, Joseph Simons, to Chas Teetzel, 50A SE Quarter
. 1833 Apr 10, B&S, Reg. 1846 Apr 1, Joseph Simons, to Abigail Ward, widow, Quarter Acre.
. 1833 Jul 18, B&S, Chas Teetzel, to Mathias Teetzel, 25A EQuarter
. 1835 Aug 4, B&S, Joseph Simons, to John Adueir?, Half Acre, of Lot 30.
. 1835 oct 26, B&S, Joseph Simons, to Jarvis Dyse, 23.5 Acre S
. 1835 Oct 27, B&S, Joseph Simons, to Walter O'Reilly, 1 Half Acre.
. 1835 Oct 28, B&S, David Hager, to Joseph Simons
. 1834 Jun 17, B&S, Jospeh Simons, to Lawrence Hager
. 1834 Mar 3, B&S, Joseph Simons, to Wm. Ableson, 1 Half Acre
. 1839 Oct 22, B&S, John R Hart & wife, to Walter B Simons, 1 Acre
. 1842 Jul 30, B&S, Mathias Teetzel & Wife, to Alphonse King, 25 Acre
. 1842 Jun 23, B&S, Walter B Simons, to Dan. Stanton, 1 Acre
. 1864 May 3, B&S, Francis Wilkinson & Wife, to Lucinda Wilkinson wife of Ezra Winchell, 1 Acre1.
. 1875 Apr 22, conveyance, Wm. Laidlaw & Wife, to Trustees of Church at Palermo, Half acre, Lot 30.

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

Birth:
Alt Spelling: Baldad, Beldad. Verify loc. Conn. Ref: Census 1880 Benton Harbor, dau. Eliz. Lawrence.

Died:
Census Trafalgar.

Bildad married Mrs. Bildad SIMONS est 1797 ±. Mrs. was born est 1777 ± in Pennsylvania; died est between 8.1813-1825 in Trafalgar Twp., Halton Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. Place of Birth?
Granddaughter Mrs. Rebecca Lawrence Corrao, says her father Richard Lawrence Jr. was born in Canada & HER MOTHER, Mary Lizy Simons Lawrence, was born in Pennsylvania,
however, Mrs. Bildad Simons had already arrived in Canada by 1804, well before Mary Lizy's birth in 1813. Thus Mary Lizy Simons was born in Ontario.
As well we don't know Mrs. B. Simons' own surname, so it is difficult to verify if she meant her grandmother & not her mother, was born in Pennsylvania, or if indeed another member of the family scrambled the details given to the census taker. - PJA.

* The Census 1880 Benton Harbor, Michigan, for daughter Mira Lawrence Grow, repeats that her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Lawrence, born 1813, Canada, Widowed, Father born Connecticut & mother born Pennsylvania.
XRef: Further statements, that Mrs. Bildad Simons was born in Pennsylvania are found on the Census 1900 Ann Arbor, Michigan, Granddaughter Rebecca Lawrence Carrso & Census 1880 Benton Harbor & Census 1900 Ann Arbor, MI.

Marriage: Estimated by 1797 - Her son John was born 1798 & son Joseph Simons was born 10 April 1800 in Connecticut, before they arrived in Saltfleet Twp., Upper Canada (near Hamilton, Ontario) in 1804. - P J Ahlberg 2010.

* MRS. BILDAD SIMSONS
"The white woman had just crossed a fence to enter a lonely part of the woods to pick lettuce when she was captured. It is stated that one of the Indians inflicted one of their cruelest tortures on the poor woman by "Scalping" her. The dear old mother, grandmother & Christian woman died in her agony on the spot & her tragic death caused the greatest grief by all the white inhabitants in the scattered district." "Cecil Hiram Norton told his grandson that Bildad's wife was out picking lettuce with her daughter when the Indians attacked. The daughter tried to pull her mother to safety." 

. Family history of the Norton & Robinson relates that Bildad's wife had just crossed a fence to enter a lonely part of the woods on the farm which they were granted, when she was captured*, which might have provided the motivation to move away from their home. Again time & location are unknown.
Ref1. Obituary of her grandson, George Wilkinson of Palermo, died 28 Nov 1916, Milton Champion & Hamilton Spector Newspapers, Ontario.
Ref2. Mrs. G B (Joan) Hooks, 137 Stewart St. Oakville, Ontario L6K 1X8 (1982.)
Notes1: If indeed Mrs. Simons was indeed born in Pennsylvania, an estimated date of death might be between 1812 - 1825.

Note2: Bildad Simons was at Lot 30, Con 1, Trafalgar Twp.
. Bildad Simons was clearing new land just recently negotiated Aug 2, 1805, the Mississauga Tract Purchase, between the Natives of Ontario & the Upper Canada Government. One could image a scenario of some disgruntled, or dispossessed natives hostile to the new settlers. Or perhaps the murder(s) was related to the reason Simons left their home in the United States.

. It is further noted that family history says that either Bildad himself, or one of his sons* was also shot & killed while riding his pony to a grain mill in Niagara by unknown parties (i.e. Ancaster Mill?).
Unusual co-incidents for Upper Canada, eh? = Conjecture compiled by, PJ Ahlberg, 2010.

. 1809 Mar 22 - Respecting Lots 17 & 18, Con 2, Trafalgar, south of Dundas St., applied for by Mr. Wm. Cooper. Lot 17 is vacant Lot 18 Crown Reserve, excepting the stream of the Sixteen Mile Creek which passes throughout both Lots & which the Indians have reserved to themselves, as well as the low lands on each side. Signed, Wm. Halton, Secretary to Lt. Governor.
Ref: UC Sundries C4505, P 746. Archives of Canada.

. 1809 Aug 4, Trafalgar Lots 31 & 32, Con 2, 200 A. each. The 12 Mile Creek runs thou' these lots have waters & banks are reserved by the Indians. When removed [from Crown Reserve Lands.], these lots will be valuable locations.
Ref: UC Sundries, C4506, p.20.

. 1809 Aug 22 York, Survey General's Office Report: Wm. Smith's conduct, on the New Purchase on the 12 Mile Creek:
Wm. Smith was granted 200 A, by an Order In Council, 5 Jan, 1086. Soon after obtaining this order the Grantee, without sufficient authority, began to occupy & improve a Lot on the 12 Mile Creek in Township now called, Trafalgar & committed such such excesses thereon that the Mississauga Indians, who had not as yet made their Deed of Assignment to this majority, complained thereon & when they, a short time thereafter completed their Deed, they conveyed to themselves the Lands on the said 12 Mile Cr., of which that occupied by Wm. Smith, was part.
. 1806 Sep 8, Wm. Smith was allowed to locate on Lot Number One, Con 3 of Dundas Tract, Nelson Twp. On 9 Sept. Wm. Smith was permitted to locate 200 a. of land in any part of the Province which might be open for that purpose, Signed, Chewett & Ridout.

Verification Baptism:
. 1802 Feb 26, Elizabeth Simons, of Bastion & Margaret.
. Baptisms in Niagara, by Rev Robert Addison:
These 8 were baptized in Grimsby /40 Mile Creek:
1815 Jul 13, Walter Crooks, of Wm Crooks & Mary,
Jonathan Pettit, of John & Mary
Elizabeth Smith, of Issac & Elizabeth,
Martha Moore, Wm Henry Moor, of Jonathan & Martha,
> Mary Simmons, of Bastion & Margaret, sponsors, Andrew & Sarah Pettit.
Sarah Maria Nelles, of John & Sarah
Sarah Pettit, of Abraham & Elizabeth.
Rev. Robt. Addison, was the minister from St. Mark's Anglican Church at Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake,) Ontario. He signs his name as Minister of Niagara, he was military chaplain & also acted as chaplain to Parliament both in York & Newark. - - -

Birth:
[Estimate of date of birth duplicates her husband's.]

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:

A great deal of documents exist for John Willson, Esq., of which a selection are recorded here:

PART ONE:

John is the son of Sara Ladner & John Willson, Senior.

. 1760 Oct. 16 - WILL of John Landstaff of Piscataway, New Jersey:
To wife Mary & grandson John Langstaff, lands south of Ambrose Book.
Witnesses John Willson, Jr. & John Arnold. Langstaff & Arnold also went to Upper Canada, where they were amongst many New Jersey exiles located near each other on north Yonge Street, Toronto. - PJA

. Old United Empire Loyalists List
John Wilson of Piscataway, Middlesex Co., Memorial, Summary now of Miramachi Northumberland Co. 1786, joined troops at Woodbridge in 1777 in Forge Dept. Claim for 50 Acres & an house.
Ref: Commission for Loyalist Losses. # 12 /16 /187 -192, 63/115 &109/320. Jan. 1787.

. Settled 1784 May, New Brunswick, Canada: John Wilson, Esq,. 8 in Family, 2 acres improved & house.

. 1789 -11 Jul 1793 John Willson & Family landed in New Brunswick, Canada in 1783 & was granted land on the Miramachi River, in Northumberland County. Gov. Thomas Carlton made John a & Justice of the Peace. The salary for a magistrate in New Brunswick was £300 a year. His adventures there in this wild land would be enough for one lifetime, to speak nothing of what preceded the Miramichi or what would come after.
A more complete history may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto under Richard Lawrence, John Brown Lawrence & John Willson of New Jersey, NB & Ontario. P J Ahlberg, May 2009.

. 1791 Nov., Upper Canada Proclamation, creating new province; & by
. 1792 Aug 16 - In Quebec City John Willson visited Gov. J G Simcoe. (before Simcoe left for Niagara), who invited him to Upper Canada.

. 1793 Apr 26, John Willson, JP, paid for a tombstone at Willson's Point, Miramichi, NB made for his grandson, Abraham Willson.

WHY HE LEFT NEW BRUNSWICK:
Mr. Wilson further says, that when he left the Miramichi Settlements in the NB, he did it because the lands are not valuable for farmers & not worth clearing from the severity of the climate, that one of his sons-in-laws had already left the Settlement. Mr. Wilson says that a due care to provide for his family was the sole reason of this quitting Miramichi. He is his own person being better off there then he would possibly be elsewhere living almost without labour upon offices he possessed in that Country. A true statement, Signed, E B Littlehales, 16 July, 1794, Niagara.

1796 UPPER CANADA LAND PETITION & Revolutionary Muster:
To John Graves Simcoe, Lieut. John Willson, Jur. He suffered much by this Rebel party (at the point of the bayonet) before the British Army Landed on Staten island, the making several attempts to join them but always hindered till when the British Army was Advancing from the White Plains (NY) to the Jersey. I then joined them at Woodbridge [New Jersey ] & went with them to Brunswick (NJ).
I then entered into James Christies' employ [i.e. the Quartermaster] as a Foragemaster & ran Many risks of my Life, being twice taken Prisoner & confined but maid my escape & returned to my service again, till when the army returned from the Jerseys to Staten Island & embarked for the Head of Elk [River flowing towards Philadelphia] were my health would not admit of my going on board to retrieved with my family on said Island where I continued till the commencement of the peace.
I then with my family embarked with my family for Nova Scotia (since New Brunswick), where I drew 270 acres in Northumberland where I served in Sivil Commission & offices under Governor Carleton till July the 19th, 1793. There I set out with 60 men, women & children (Including my own family) for Niagara where we arrived on the 7th of next October.
... He wants Lots 4 & 5 on the River Humber & Lot 30 on west side of Yonge Street. March 25th, 1796, John Willson.

. Schedule of grants to pay full fees to the Home District - William Jarvis Copy Books:
Grant # 166 Wilson, John, Jun, 190 Acres, York, 12 Mar. 1794, U.E., Fee £3.5.2

. Willson I, John Sur., UE, UCLP W Bundle 2, 1796. Vol. 522, Petition #57, Yonge Street, Microfiche C2950.
On March 16, 1810 John purchased a Town of York, Lot 3 & 4 N side, Hospital Street for £100 & sold it at an apparent lost of £50, the next year to Jesse Ketchum. - . -

PART TWO, NB to Toronto:

X-Reference: Richard Lawrence & John Willson Petition for RATIONS AT NIAGARA my W25- W31 IV
The Simcoe Papers Toronto Public Reference Library & John McGill papers,
[TPL also, at the Baldwin Room: comprises 3 boxes of 'True' hand written duplicates of correspondences & accounts for Upper Canada. Documents are In precarious state. Photocopies of the original documents may be seen in my book on R Lawrence & J Willson.]

, MAY FLEET's ARRIVAL AT YORK, Summary
John Willson & 46 people assembled & left New Brunswick together in 1793 to come to Ontario. Many of these people had known each other back in the United States, during & previously to the Revolutionary War. The May Fleet journey began in 1783 at Staten Island, New York with British evacuation to New Brunswick & Nova Scotia were the new life was crowed & difficult. New land was being offered in Upper Canada. Here is part of that journey from the Kingston to the Town of York, today's Toronto, on north shore of Lake Ontario.

On 11 July, 1793 the group took a ship around NB & then up the St. Lawrence River to Montreal. On the 17th of August, at Montreal, Commandant Isaac W Clarke assigned, the group an six extra Canadians to guide the three bateaux past the Rapids of Lachine. The open bateau were thirty feet long & propelled with both a moveable sail, ropes & barge poles.

When they arrived at the Port of Kingston they were sick & needed treatment from the kind doctors at Fort William Henry. They promised to repay the Fort for the 1543 rations they had been assigned,. Even though the Commandant risked having to pay for the rations from his own military salary, Capt. Porter wrote, "humanity induced me to act as I have done."

The Assembly had arrived at Kingston 28th day of August. For a month they waited for the next bateaux "but did not gain Niagara until 7th October, 1793." The late Chief Justice, the Honorable William Osgood, said he would speak to Simcoe for the further 1529 Rations the starving & sick families again required upon their arrival at Fort George at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Upper Canada. (Also referred in the documents as Newark or Head of the Lake (Ontario). By return poste, Governor Simcoe ordered the Fort commandant to convey the Loyalist by the Government boat, to north bank of Lake Ontario to the Town of York.

THE SIXTY PEOPLE of this new 'MAY FLEET arrival at York' included an additional fourteen members of whom it is likely the Kendricks joined up at Kingston. The names of those twelve families who made the journey were:
John Willson, Richard Lawrence, Patrick Cobgon, Joseph Kendrick, Peter Whitney (signed), John Kendrick, Titus Fitz, Duke William Kendrick, Samuel Sinclair, Samuel Osborn, Hiram Kendrick, Peter Long.

John Willson had signed, for the provisions for the group & it was he that was required to sign a receipt on 2 Nov., 1793 for £100 repayment in three years. Some of the assembly had already moved on from the area & thus leaving no chance of their earning money for to repay Willson.

THE KINGS MILL ON THE HUMBER ( The Old Mill, Etobicoke, Ontario):
, Gov. Simcoe gave a License to John Willson & to John Brown Lawrence to build & operate the Kings Mill on the Humber River. Both Willson & Lawrence were lawyers who had done legal business together on occasion back in Burlington, NJ. As well both were friends of Gov. Simcoe.

* 1797-99 ' KINGS MILL First Hand DESCRIPTION *
The Kingsmill was located between the two roads on the west side of the Humber at the spring above at the meadow. * The Mill seat was a log structure thirty feet by sixty feet long built on a small island in the Humber. A dam & mill race were built to allow salmon & other fish free passage up & down without being destroyed in the race or by the mill wheel. No one must allowed to catch these fish. It was also here that one one of Gov. Simcoe's personal horses was stolen while in pasture on John Lawrence's land & recovered sometime after his death.
A beautiful cedar swamp provided fencing for the house at the spring on the high banks. The Kingsmill was on the lower end of the famous Toronto Carrying Place Trail. On the high sandy bank opposite Kingsmill there stood for over thousand years a large village of Seneca longhouses.

The best British regulations to preserve the large runs of salmon & trout, also encouraged the cutting of trees along the river habitant. Old photos show graphically the hazards of spring break-up as ice boulders overflow onto the location of the mill race & pond & on the island adjacent the Kingsmill.

LUMBER from the HUMBER: One fourth of all lumber cut was due as rent payment to the Government. Thick pine slabs from the Kings sawmill were used in the Navy Hall at Niagara-on-Lake, Gov. Simcoe's home called Castle Frank; the First Parliament buildings, Kings St., Toronto & cedar was used to build the Howland's the Lambton Mill, a mile up stream at Dundas Street.
. Willson was paid from the public purse to deliver by oxen, the thick pine planks to Castle Frank on Bloor Street. John Willson had cut lumber in May 1798 to build on his front lot in the Town of York.

. On 9th Nov., 1797 Lt. John McGill registered in his papers, an application from John Willson to purchase the Kings Mill which Willson found in need of improvements when he first took up the lease. A total of £299 income had been generated from 1794 - 1796 the saw mill operations. Willson might have had an opportunity to purchase the Kingsmill, if Lieut. Gov. Simcoe remained in Upper Canada when the Mill lease opened up again in 1799.

, . On 16 July 1796 from the government stores Gov. Simcoe ordered to be issued to John Lawrence, Esq., a pair of French Bur Mill Stones & grist mill irons as needed for the befit of the settlers in that district. The first seven barrel of corn ears to be shelled & measured with government's four barrel arrived at the grist mill on 20th October, 1796.
Lease from the Kingsmill ran from 1 Jan 1796 to end of 1798.
[ - Is this the same French bur mill stone sitting outside of current 'Old Mill Inn' on the Humber River?

Lease from the Kingsmill ran from 1 Jan 1796 to end of 1798. Unfortunately his partner John Lawrence died about the 10 July, 1798 & Willson friend & sponsor, Gov. Simcoe had returned to England due to ill health. Photos of ice jams at spring break up show clearly that the British engineers who chose this location in Upper Canada had no idea of the force of the Humber River in spring or the storm run off, especially with the increased deforestation would decimate the salmon fishery... Since Hurricane Hazel in 1957 the Humber Valley is considered a flood plain & is preserved as park land only. Contractors hired by the British to build the mill did not finish the job. The millstones cut too slowly & the mill race & pond & other repairs had to be done at the expense of John Willson. Willson was granted Lots 4 & 5 on the Humber River, but the Government mill on this property had to be leased out at the cost of half of the wood cut. The normal fee was usually one quarter of the wood cut. - P J Ahlberg 2009.

. 1799 Mar 23rd, John Willson advertised in the Oracle, York to sell Lots 4 & 5, the 50 acres & a most beautiful cedar swamp. Persons willing to purchase may know the conditions by applying to John Wilson, Esquire, on Yonge Street. When the lease expired it was purchased by Peter Whitney.

. 1800 Apr 8, Tues. First Sitting of Home District Magistrates (York Co.): Wm. Jarvis, John Willson.
Ref: Toronto Sundries, Quarter Session Minutes. - . -

PART THREE, Life in Upper Canada:

. 1798 May 4, John Willson, Esq. Identification marks of Cattle, hoggs, sheep & swine: a swallow-fork in each ear.

UC LAND GRANTS: 1200 ACRES - Lots 4 & 5, on the Humber (adjoining the Kings Mill (Old Mill) June 1797;
Lots 5, 6, 7, 8, Con 3, Dorchester Twp., Elgin County, 800 Acres ( in the 'future Capital of Upper Canada', also near the land of Lt. Gen. John Graves Simcoe.)
. Lot 30, Con 1 West Yonge Street, Vaughan, Settlement Duty paid 1801, finally granted Feb. 1809;
. Town of York Lots 3 & 4 N side of Hospital St., Purchased £100, Ontario St. to Sherbourne St. [In 1827 Bank of Upper Canada Building, 252 Adelaide St. E. 1830 Toronto's First Post Office, 260 Adelaide St. E.]

. From 1798 to about 1820 John lived at Lot 30, Con 1 Yonge Street. He ran a saw mill on his property & he was also a Justice of Peace. John's wife, Rebecca Thixton, died in June 1804 & was buried on her son property, at Lot 26, Yonge Street & Steeles.
(X-Ref: Wm. L. Willson for description of first burial site.)

UPPER CANADA SUNDRIES:
Willson J., 1814 February 8, York, page 7839 & Willson, John, 1814 March 12, York, Pg. 8019-21.
Ref: Archives of Canada, microfiche C 9822-25.

* 1798 Dec 19th, York Officers of the York Militia: John Willson, Esq., Justice of the Peace, formerly Capt. of Militia, in Nova Scotia, to be a Captain in the York Militia.

. UCLP15, Y Batch 5, p417. -1801 Jul 16 - East Side Yonge St, Lot 30, No clearing, Longs in the Street not burnt.

. June 28th, 1802, a wolf's scalp certified by J. Wilson, Esq., taken in part of assessment £1. "Page n515.

* 1800 Apr 8, Tuesday. The First Sitting in Upper Canada of the Home District Magistrates:
Wm. Jarvis, JOHN WILLSON, John Small, James Macauly, Wm. Willcocks, Wm. Allan, John McGill, Alex Wood, Wm. Chewett, James Ruggles, Signed, Justices of our said Lord the King, assigned to keep the Peace of our said Lord, the King in the Home District & also to hear & determine divers felonies, trespasses & other incidences in the said District. Wm. Jarvis, Esq., chose chairman. Commission opened & read.
Ref: Home District Quarter Session of the Peace Minutes. [i.e. Toronto, York County, Ontario.]
Note2: William Willocks, 1735 Co. Cork, Ireland-1813 Jan 7 Toronto, was the first cousin of Peter Russell. Willocks was the only magistrate not a barrister.

. 1805 Sept 18. John married Catherine B Kuhn who was the widow of a man also named John Willson, who had died 1788 in Duchess Co., New Jersey. They moved northward to Hope (Sharon, Ontario) which is very near Lake Simcoe. Catherine's s on David Willson had split off from the local Quaker group, to start his own group called the Children of Peace, who were having a renaissance of intellectual thought & music. John taught school at the Children of Peace & John & his 2nd wife Katherine were buried in the Sharon Burial Grounds. John remained Anglican & Bishop Strachan said officiated at his funeral. When eventual son Wm. Ladner Willson's land was sold, Rebecca & John were reburied together under cairn at the Holy Trinity Church in Thornhill, not far from their home on Yonge Street. The Sharon Temple / Children of Peace celebrated their 200 anniversary in 2008 with candlelight concerts & is open as a museum.

* * Recapitulation of Fort York, (Toronto), WAR of 1812,
As a captain of the 1st Regiment, York Militia on duty at the captured at Fort York, John Willson was arrested & jailed. John Willson was one of the 6 officers that signed the papers of Recapitulation to the American invaders. Geo. Playter's Diary tells us, like him, John Willson was armed with a musket & ready for action!

* 1813 Apr 25 - York. Capt. John Willson, 1st York Militia, Prisoner of War at surrender of the Garrison of Ft. York 24 Apr 1813, captured by the Army & Navy of the US at York.

* 1820 Jun 28 - UCLPetition 219, 1820 Re: War of 1812. Petition of John Willson, Markham, Ontario. American loyalist & was again on service as a Captain commanding a company of the 1st Regiment of York Militia, part of the time in York Garrison in 1812 & was on duty till the capture of York. (June 1813.) John Willson, York 28 Jun 1820.
Also attached was a certificate signed, Colonel W Allan, Commanding Militia & Garrison of York, 15 Jun, 1820.

Obituary notice: "Died At Hope Village, East Guillimbury, on the 8th inst., much & generally regretted, John Wilson, Esq., a native of the Province of New Jersey, aged 90 years & 14 days. Mr. Willson was a U.E. Loyalist & for a long period an active magistrate in the province of New Brunswick. He emigrated into Upper Canada 35 years ago [1793] & contented to enjoy good health until with a few days of his demise. At his request, expressed on his death bed, Doctor Strachan, Archdean on of York, went out to Gwillimbury & performed the last offices of the church over the remains. The venerable dignitary delivery a funeral oration in the chapel of the Children of Peace, in Hope, on the occasion, which was attended by a great concourse of friends, acquainted & relate vies the deceased.".
Ref: Colonial Advocate, Published 16 Jul 1829.
Note1: Hope, E. Gwillimbury is also now know as Sharon, Ontario.

* DEATH OF JOHN WILLSON: In your letter of the 24th ult., 1829, you asked about one John Willson who died at Hope (Sharon, ON) about. This old man was called Squire Willson. He was David Willson's stepfather, my father's stepmother's second husband (Katherine Kuhn). Her first husband, also called John Willson, died about 1788 in Duchess County, New York). She soon after married Squire Willson who was a man highly respected. He came, I believe for NS in Gov. Simcoe's time & was by the Governor much thought of. He had a large family by a former wife, but none by this one. There are a number of great grandchildren, living in the Twps. of York & Scarborough. Service of the Canada Company at the time of the settling of Goderich & neighborhood. When these old people became helpless, David Willson took them home & kept them until they died. They died poor but honest. They once had property which his children spent for them.
Ref: Extracted from a letter of 5 December, 1869, Holland Landing Richard Titus Willson.

A still more complete family history & pictures may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto & at the Richmond Hill Library, under Richard Lawrence, U.E., John Willson & John Brown Lawrence of New Jersey, NB & Ontario. P J Ahlberg, U.E, May 2009. - - -

Birth:


Died:


Buried:
Sharon, ON.

John married Rebeka Thixton THICKSON(E) in 1760 in Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., New Jersey. Rebeka was born on 10 Jul 1743 in Woodbridge Twp., Middlesex Co., New Jersey; died on 6 Jun 1804 in Thornhill, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario; was buried on 7 Jun 1804 in Thornhill, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary: On Wednesday the 6th instant, at two in the morning, departed this life, much lamented, Rebecca Wilson, wife of John Wilson, Esq., of Yonge street, in the 63 year of her age. The following day her remains were followed by the a numerous train of mourners & friends to the place of interment, where a suitable oration was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Stuart on the solemn occasion.
Ref: THE ORACLE, Saturday, June 16, 1804, No. 8, Total # 684 (subscribers).

Rebecca & John Willson were living with their son Wm. Ladner, at the time of Rebecca's death.

BURIAL CAIRN
Willson, East face: John Willson Esq., aged 90 years & 11 days died July 8th 1829. Moved 1940 from East Gwillimbury In mind Rebecca Willson wife of John Willson Esq. departed June 6th 1804, aged 61 years. Moved in 1940 from Lot 26 Markham which was a Loyalist grant to her son W.L. Willson. [Wm. Ladner Willson.]

West face: John Willson, U.E.L. born in Middlesex Cy, New Jersey, 1739. died in York Cy, Upper Canada, 1829. Also his wife. Rebecca Thixton, born in New Jersey, 1743 died in Markham Tp., Yonge St 1804.

John Willson brought his family to St. John, N.B. in the "May Fleet" in 1783 & came to Upper Canada in 1793. He held the lease of the "Kings Mill on St John's Creek" on the site of the present ruin known as the Old Mill on the Humber, from 1793 till 1799, when he came to Yonge St. with his son & a nephew, John Arnold. He was among the officers of the 1st York Regiment held prisoners at Fort York in April, 1813.

RE-BURIALS: John had been buried in 1829 in Queensville Burial Grounds, with his second wife Katherine Kuhn. Rebecca had been buried in 1804 on her son's William's farm on 1 Jan.,1940, descendant Alice Willson of Toronto had them reburied together & had build also the stone cairn near south side fence, in Holy Trinity Cemetery. This incidentally would be adjacent to the property of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Willson Lawrence, which is the last lot in the Toronto.(This stone cairn is in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Richmond Hill on Yonge St. near Royal Orchard Blvd., behind Baptist church Holy Trinity Church which since has been moved when Yonge Street was widened from two lanes.)
Ref: North York Ref: Library, Newspaper Collection, R E. Wm. C H Dowson & Alice Willson. - PJ Ahlberg, 2010.

. 1940 Oct 10, North York: Erects Memorial Cairn of Boulders
M W C H Dick Doson of 68? Parkview Ave, Willow has must completed the erection of a memorial cairn of field boulders in Thornhill Anglican Cemetery. This is to the memory of Capt. John Willson, Esq. & his wife Rebecca Thixton. ... His wife predeceased him in 1804. She was buried in what is now the lawn of Mr. Hugh Wilson (no relation) on the north side of Steeles Ave. near Bayview.
Her gravestone the oldest in the area is believed to have been carved & erected by her husband himself. It is a piece of unhewn river slate such as is found in the Humber river area. The lettering, crudely carved reads, "In Mind, Rebecca Willson, wife of John Willson, Esq. who died June the 6, 1804. " The 2 old head stones are set together in the east side of the cairn facing the rising sun, wind & storms. The cairn boulders are not hammer dressed but remain as they came from the field.
The cairn contains, history of Thornhill Anglican Church; other records, coins & stamps inc. a letter, sealed in a glass container.
The work was done for Miss Alice Willson of Toronto, who is a retired teacher of languages; & a direct descendent of those to whom the memorial is erected. She is also a descendent of Mr. Jacob Cummer founder of Willowdale.
Ref: North York Enterprise Newspaper.

Note: New Jersey WILL mentions Arnold relations & Yonge St. neighbours Langstaff:
1797 Sept 15 Arnold, John, of Piscataway,Middlesex Co. Administrators James Arnold, David Thorp. Fellow bondsmen Henry Fourat & Joseph Thicksun all of said County.
Inventory £266 made by John Langstaff, senior & Junior.

For Research:
1. Rebecca Thicksun, born 18 May 1798, Bonhamtown, Middlesex, NJ d/o Lewis Wm. Thickstun & Mary Molly Compton, Is this a brother or some relation? & she married Chamberlain.
2. Rebecca Thickstun b 1751 Piscataway, Middlesex NJ, d 23 Sep 1819 Woodbridge, Middlexsex, NJ. Relationship?

3. NJ Calendar of Wills: 1711-12 Feb. 12. Blackford, Samuel, of Pitscatways, Witnesses: William Thick Stone, Wm. Lang, Ad. Hude. Proved April 29, 1712.

4. WILL of Azariah Dunham of NB, Middlesex Co., NJ,D 1789 12 23, to Daughter Jane, wife of Joseph Thixton of Piscataway, 30 Acres.

. St. James Episcopal Church, 2136 Woodbridge Ave. Edison, Piscataway , NJ. ' Founded 1666. Organized in 1704, this is the second church on the site. It was erected in 1837 in the new Greek Revival style, Although the cemetery does not appear well tended, the church has been kept us exceptionally well.' Edison as formerly called Raritan Township. Revolutionary War skirmishes took place in Bonhamtown, Piscataway on Woodbridge Avenue. St. James Episcopal Church building served as a barracks hospital for wounded British soldiers during the war. Piscatawaytown Burial Ground is also referred to as the White Church Cemetery. - -- -

Birth:
Alt Name: Thickson. Rebeka Ref: Her signature.

Died:
Lot 26, Con 1 Yonge East Side.

Buried:
- on property of son Wm. L Willson.

Notes:

Married:
St. James Church

Notes:

William SIMONS is the son of Margarett .
. 1776 June 4, Hartford. We the subscribers being appointed by the Hon. Court of Probate for the district of Hartford, commissioners to examine & adjust the claims of the creditors to the estate of William Simons, late of Hartford, deceased, represented insolvent, do hereby give notice, that we shall attend that business, at the house of the deceased, on the first Tuesday of July & August next, at one click.
Signed, Daniel Marsh, Jr, Elisha Buckland, Hartford, Commissioners.
Ref: Hartford Courant Newspaper. Connecticut.

Children of William Simons.3 are:
Benjamin Simons, 1731 Aug 12, Enfield, Conn. - 1805 Oct 30 Somers Tolland Co., Conn.;
Joseph Simons, b.1729 May 12 Enfield;
Timothy Simons
Stephen Simons
Margaret Simons
William Simons.4 (5th?)
Hannah Simons, married Mr. Prior. - - -

Birth:
Verify identity

Died:
Probate Court.