Notes:

Hannah is the daughter of Helen Hankerson & William Lawrence.9.
Her maternal grandparents are Hannah [Throckmorton?] & Thomas Hankerson.
Her paternal grandparents & Margaret Tillton & William Lawrence.

. 1783 Aug 6th - WILL of Thomas Hankinson [i.e. her grandfather]:
Granddaughter Hannah Lawrence, 2 acres of land in Freehold twp. at the south end of the farm I formerly lived on at Manlapan, near the Burlington road, & the rest of the Real and Personal when she is 18, but if she die, then to my daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Hankinson, wife of my son James.
Executor, my son Kenneth and 2 friends, William Lawrence & Thomas Throckmorton.
. Will Proved 16 Sep 1783.

. WILLs of Thomas Hankinson & Hannah [Throckmorton?] both name their granddaughter Hannah Lawrence. Hannah's will goes further, leaving her estate to the daughters of William Lawrence, Alice & Elizabeth, should the granddaughter die.
Ref: Historical & Genealogical Miscellany, by Stillwell, v3,424.

. 1790 Apr 12, Lawrence, Hannah, of Middletown, Monmouth, Ward. Daughter of William Lawrence Jr. of said place, deceased.
. 1790 Apr 12 - Ward makes choice of Edmund Williams as her Guardian.
Guardian Edmund Williams of Shrewsbury, said County.
Fellowbondsman: William Lawrence of said Co.,
Witness: Peter Baird. Calendar of Wills: Lib 30, P 420. - - -

Notes:

. "A Bible in the possession of Walter. A. Hamilton. G., (Boston Transcript, Aug. 22, 1906), contains a record of the children of William Lawrence, alike in all dates to the one here printed, except that Daniel is given as born Aug. 20, 1752; Richard took up land in Little York, now Toronto; Elisha was born Apr. 10, 1764; Jacob was born March 18, 1767; William Lawrence was born March 24, 1752, & was shot in the Revolution."
Ref: English Bible belong to his father, William Lawrence.

Note: Historical & Genealogical Miscellany, Vol. 3, reports that," William Lawrence. He was a Tory & went to Canada. From Record in Old Bible, received from Mary Bruere Wyckoff". As noted above, it would appear this is a miscommunication of the same Bible. This Bible was last known to be in the possession of Richard Lawrence's descendant, Walter A Hamilton of Michigan. - PJA 2011.
He was referred to as William Lawrence, Jr.

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

. 1777 April 19 Revolutionary War: Deposition of Ebenezer Kerr, Monmouth Co, NJ. Summary.
E. Kerr oath on the 21 Dec., 1776. E Kerr, Wm. Johnson, Geo. Tinney, Peter Smith & Wm. Hall were crossing the farm of Col. David Forman in Co. Monmouth they were taken prisoners by John Thockmorton, Edmund Harris, Hendrick Vanmatre, Jacob West, Israel Britten & William Lawrence, Junr. They were taken to Foreman's house were Harris & Throckmorton were taking inventory by marking with a piece of lime or chalk each different door the letter G.R. (i.e. the King's) property.
Sworn at Freehold on 19 Apr., 1777 before Kenn. Anderson, Jurn, Clerk.
NJ Tax List: William Lawrence, Monmouth, Middletown Twp. 1778 Feb. - March - Nov. tax list.

. William Lawrence, Wagoner, Quartermaster General's Dept. (1st NJ Volunteers under Gen. Elisha Lawrence.)
John & William Lawrence were serving in the First NJ Volunteers as subalterns for their uncle, Lieutenant Colonel Elisha Lawrence.
In the last battle the NJV would fight in the Revolution, on June 23, 1780 William Lawrence was shot in an orchard during the Battle of Springfield, NJ, by the opposing New Jersey Continental Line. The Battle of Springfield is also called the Battle of Petticoat Bridge. Brother John Lawrence was also present at the last 2 NJV's battles & may have been the one who reported his death to the family.

. Lawrence, William, 1st. New Jersey Volunteers, December 23, 1776.

Research Item:
. 1799 - Ensign William Lawrence, New Jersey, Volunteers, 1st Skinner's Brigade, Document [list], Return of Troops, New York
Document 10436 958), fonds: British Headquarters Papers, Carlton Papers or American Manuscripts, Microfilm M2369,
Ref: MG12 BA, Item # 31699.

. 1780. There was a William Lawrence as an Ensign, in a Royalist regiment, during the Revolutionary War. Ref: Wm. Stryker.
Note to research: Documents are sometimes inaccurate. viz. NJ Volunteers also lists Ensign Wm. Lawrence of First Battalion as resigned in 1780, whereas he died in battle. - PJA 2010.

. 1778 Apr 27, Lawrence, William, Private, 2nd Battalion De Lancey's Brigade, Kingsbridge.
Ref: British Military & Naval Records, Film C1878, p35, RG 8, C Series.

MUSTER NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS, 1st BRIGRADE
. William Lawrence, De Lancey's Company 1778 - 79, Vol. c1878, p.54 - 64A;
. 1777 Aug 23, Private, De Lancey's Brigade, C. 1878, pages 2 & 7; Dec 1777, page 19;
. 1778 Ensign, 1st Battalion New Jersey Volunteers, vol. c1851, p. 44;
. 1778 Private, 2nd Battalion De Lancey's Brigade, vol c1878, Page 45;
. 1778 Jan 8, Private 1st Battalion NJV, Vol 1851, page 11;
. 1778 Feb 24, ENSIGN, 1st NJV, Vol. 1851, p. 84;
. 1778 Jul 4, Ensign, 1s NJV, c1851, page 40, Ensign William, Staten Island & NJ Volunteers, . Major Thomas Leonard under Lt Col Elisha Lawrence, Ensign William Lawrence & Ensign Richard Lippincott.
Ref: Rivington's Army List of 1778, Penn.

. 1778 Aug 31, Ensign 1st NJV, page 43, 44, Ensign William Lawrence;
. 1778 Nov 27, An expedition with 2,000 troops sailed from Sandy Hook for Savannah, Georgia, & 6 days after landing at Tybee Island, off the harbour of that city, they took part in the fight, December 29th, on Brewton Hill. A detachment of the New Jersey, Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Allen commanding, went out with this party & suffered considerably in the battle just mentioned. Ensigns John & William Lawrence & James Moody were together on the same expedition.
Ref: NJV in the Revolutionary War, Wm S Stryker.
. 1778 Jan 8 Priv. Wm L., 1BNJV, C1851, p11& 84;
. 1778 Jul 4, Ensign Wm. L, 1BNJV, C1851,p40
. 1778 Dec 25, pg. 37, Staten Island, Ensign William Lawrence; & 30th Dec, Ensign 1st NJV. C1851p 83;

. 1779 May 25, 1st Batt., Commanded by Lieut. Col. Commandant Joseph Barton, Staten Island NJV present on Muster Roll as well Ensign William Lawrence. Ref: Vol. 1852, p3 (= c3873, p762) & 11 Note: 1NJV Muster alternates with Ensign William & John Lawrence. - PJA
. 1779 Jul 20, Ensign 1st NJV, page 18;
. 1779 Sep 9, Ensign William Lawrence, 1st NJV, page 23; Note: Again brother John Lawrence was Ensign the day before, 8 Sept, under Lt. Col. Joseph Barton 1NJV - PJA;
. 1779 Nov 3, Ensign WL, Staten Island, 1st NJV, page 36;
. 1779 Dec 25, Sargent WL, xx in goal, Staten Island, 1st NJV, C1852p49;
. 1780 March, Ensign 1st NJV, C1852 page 57;
. 1780 May 13, 1780, Ensign 1st NJV, C1752p63;
. 1780 Jul 14, Ensign William Lawrence,' Died in June ', Muster Roll of the Mount Company & 1st NJV/ Ref: C1852, page 74.
Ref: British Military & Naval Records, C1878,p4-64A, RG 8, C Series. Copy Arch. Canada: Ward Chipman Muster.

. 1st NJ Volunteers, reports William's death, as well as his daughter's request for a guardian implies both parents dead.

. William Lawrence married Hannah Hankinson & having daughters Alice & Elizabeth.
Sgt. Reuben Hankinson served with William's brother Ensign John Lawrence, NJV, Barton's Coy, on Staten Island, Sept 11, 1780.

. 1790 Apr 12, Lawrence, Hannah, of Middletown, Monmouth, Ward, daughter of William Lawrence Jr. of said place, deceased. Ward makes choice of Edmund Williams as her Guardian. 12 Apr 1790. Guardian Edmund Williams of Shrewsbury, said County. Fellow bondsman: William Lawrence of said County.
Witness: Peter Baird. Calendar of Wills: Lib 30, P 420.

. Battle of Springfield Col. Thomas Stirling, commander of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, had sent a few scouts southward from Black Horse toward Slabtown to find horses and any supplies the troops could gather. They halted at the Petticoat bridge that ran across the Assiscunk Creek, just north of the village. The American scouts promptly opened fire on the hard-to-miss British troops.
The battle took place between Elizabethtown & the British landing place. A minor skirmish ensued; it appears the Americans successfully chased off the patrol, and then promptly fell back to Mount Holly. Ref: Journal of the Am Revolution, by Adam E Zielinksi, 2019,
. On the 23rd June, 1780 the commander of the German forces acting for the British, Baron Wilhelm von Knyphausen commanded 5,000 men against 1,000 Continental men under G. Nath. Green. It was a beautiful day in NJ. The flax & oats stood 6 inches high in the fields. The cherries were ripe. There was a huge swatch of green pasture for the cattle to graze.
The advanced guard was composed of NJ Volunteers & Lieut. Colonel John Graves Simcoe's Queen's Rangers. After a brief skirmish the British retreated, burning most of the village of Springfield. The British returned about 3 o'clock P.M., pursued by the Continental's. The British lost this day is thought to be considerable.'

. William Lawrence's name appears on a list of residents of Monmouth County whose property was confiscated after the Revolutionary War, Private Militia; Lieut. NJ Volunteers.

. ALL IN THE FAMILY: First Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers,
Brig. Gen. Cortlandt Skinner (a Lawrence-in-law)
Lieut. Col, Elisha Lawrence,
Major Thomas Leonard (Mrs. Alice Lawrence Leonard, NJ, Fredericton, NB)
Ensign & Lieut. John Lawrence, - NJ, Toronto. Brother Lieut. John Lawrence served under Lieut. Col. Simcoe, who would become the first Governor of Upper Canada 1791. - PJA]

. Ensign William Lawrence (NJ. died Battle of Springfield 1780.)
Ensign-Capt. Richard Lippincott - a Lawrence-in-law in Middlesex Co., NJ, New Brunswick, & at Toronto, Ontario - Yonge Street Lot adjacent brother, Richard Lawrence.)
John Falker /Felker Quartermaster, 3rd & 2nd Bat. NJV (his descendants married into Lawrence family). - PJ Ahlberg, 2010. - - -

Birth:
Shot in the Revolution. / English Bible belong to his father, William Lawrence.

Died:
Battle of Springfield. 'Died in June' Ref: 1NJV Muster Rolls.

William married Hannah HANKINSON. Hannah was born est 1752 in Amwell Twp., Hunterdon Co., New Jersey; died before 1773 in New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Hannah is the daughter of Hannah [Throckmorton?] & Thomas Hankerson.

1783 Aug 6 - WILL of Thomas Hankinson, of Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., yeoman
To daughter Lydia Covenhoven, a colt.
To granddaughter, Hannah Lawrence, 2 acres of land in Freehold Twp., at south end of farm I formerly lived on at Manolopan, & rest of estate when she is 18. If she dies, then to my daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Hankinson, wife of may son James.
Executors: son Kenneth Hankinson & friends William Lawrence & Joseph Forman Throckmorton.
Wit: Art & Derick Stephen, & Jos. Throckmorton.
Inventory 1783 Sep 15: £689.1. 16, made by John Polhemus & Jose. Throckmorton.
Will proved 1783 Sep 16.
Ref: NJ Will, Lib 25, p27.

1784 Nov 24 - WILL of Hannah Hankerson, of Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., widow.
To granddaughter, Hannah Lawrence, daughter of my daughter, Helen, deceased, my estate, when she is 18; but if she die then to Alice & Elizabeth Lawrence, daughters of William Lawrence.
Wit: John Tillton, Catharine Yeoman, Richard Lawrence
. 1784 Nov 29 - Inventory: £151.4.6, made by David Tilton & John Nivision.
. 1784 Dec 29 - Will proved.

. 1795 May 4, Freehold - Notice is hereby given to the creditors of Ann Gifford, John D Covehoven, James Hankinson, Elisha Lawrence*, John Conklin, now confined in the Gaol of the Co. of Monmouth, that by virtue of an Act of Assembly of the State of NJ, passed at Trenton, Mar 18 1795, the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, held at Freehold in & for the county, aforesaid, have appointed the 12th June next, for such debtors to surrender up their property & for all person interested to offer their objections why they should not be released from their confinement, agreeably to the Act of Assembly aforesaid.
(Signed as above.)
Ref: New Jersey State Gazette.

Further research required for parents of Hannah Hankinson on:
NJ Marriage.
Thomas Hankison married & Hannah Throckmorton, married 1748 Dec 17.
Thomas Hankinson Jr. & Elizabeth Mackferrel, both of Monmouth, married 1761 Apr 13.

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

Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Birth:
(Perth Amboy, NJ).

Died:
WILL Proved 21 Oct 1795.

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

Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Birth:

Notes:

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

Notes:

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

. 1715 Served in a Company of Flushing Militia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Birth:
Ref: Bible of Wm. Lawrence.

Died:
WILL Proved January 16, 1727.

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

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

Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Birth:


Died:

Notes:

Married:
New Jersey

Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Birth:
Alt Spellings: Tillton and Tilltone

Died:
WILL Proved 1749 Nov 13.

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

Notes:

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

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

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

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

Notes:

Married: