Notes:

. Town Book of Monmouth, William Lawrence, Clerk:
. William Lawrence, son of Wm. & Ruth Lawrence was born the 5th day of November 1688.

. Two Lawrence siblings married two Hartshorne siblings:
Elizabeth Lawrence married William Hartshorne Sr., &
William Lawrence married Mercy Hartshorne.

. 1751 May 23 - Deed of William Lawrence to John Stout for 36 acres of land in Shrewsbury, NJ, Ref: Stockton Family papers, Princeton University Library, Box 1, Folder 11.

. Affidavit1: Summary: Richard Hartshorn, of ye County of Monmouth, aged 75 years (1761) affirms about 1 June, Richard Saltar & Obadiah Bowne agreed to put papers & instruments belong to the Estate of John Bowne, deceased, into the hands of Gersom Mott, to the intention to have free recourse to them as they pleased. Sometime afterwards at his son's house in Middletown, he heard Saltar say to Bowne the method he took with the Estate of the deceased to divided it amongst themselves, Richard Hartshorne, Perth Amboy, Jul 16, 1716.

. Affidavit.2: Hugh Hartshone of Co. Monmouth, aged 31 (1685) on the first week of June last, Richard Salter & Obadiah Bowne was in his house. He heard Saltar say to Bowne they should take the best bonds & apply them to ye debts of the deceased & the next best bond pay to ye widow. Salter said if you don't like this, then we take the next half. Bowne said, "Doe & so will I." Last June a Mr. Johnston asked Bowne for his bond for payment. He & Salter agreed to meet creditors at ye deponents house to settle up accounts. Signed, Hugh Hartshorne, Perth Amboy, Jul. 16, 1716.

. Affidavit.3: William Lawrence, Jr., aged 27, being sworn, deposeth that he heard John Cannor & Albert Williamson demand their bond (which they had given to John Bowne, deceased) & then too, when he had ordered payment for ye full satisfaction of ye bond.
To which they were answered by the Executor, that they could not have it, the bond not being there & further saith, that when Mr. Bowne was aks'd why he did not bring ye bond, his reply was he thought them safe enough where they were. All which was at ye house of Hugh Hartshorne, about the beginning of June last, & further saith not.
Signed, William Lawrence, Jr. Perth Amboy, July 26th, 1716.
Sworn before us Ja Smith, Surrogate, Thos. Farmer A true copy by, Barclay Dept. Sec'y.

. 1701 Mentioned in the WILL of his grandfather, Capt. William Lawrence.1
. 1710. He was one of three Assessors & Collectors of a tax of £160, for the purpose of building a "County Gaol at Mid'town."
. 1715 Apr 12, Will & Codicill of Widow Sarah Repe of Shrewsbury. Exectors: Wm. Lawrence & Richard Hartshore.
. 1723. William Lawrence, Junr., was Collector of Monmouth County.

. Unrecorded WILL of WILLIAM LAWRENCE, Junior of Middletowne, Monmouth Co., being sick & weak of body. Dated Jan. 13, 1728. Leaves my dear & loving wife Mercy, my negro girl Nanne & £100 also to my wife Mercy the use of all my Estate both real & personal during her widowhood;
To my daughter Mary £50;
To my dau. Margret £50;
To my dau. Catharine £50;
To my dau. Elisabeth £50.
Remainder of my personal Estate to be equally divided between my 6 children after the expiration of their mother's widowhood. That my land lying on the north side the Mill Brook, otherwise called Hop River, be divided by a line running due west from that corner of VanMatre's land that is nearest to my dwelling house & all the land lying to the northward of that line.
To my son William his heirs & also my salt meadow & half my land at Amboy;
To my son Richard his heirs all my land on the south side of the above mentioned line on the north side of the brook; & also all my land on the south side the said Brook & also 10 acres of land & meadow at the great bogg; & also half my land at Amboy & also my fulling mill with the land & utensils thereunto belonging.

To my loving wife Mercy & her brothers William & Hugh Hartshorn to be my executors.
Signed: William Lawrence, Jnr.
Wit: Edward Wright, Richard Gibbins [his mark], Hannah Lawrence, Wm. Lawrence.
Oath of Executors: His wife & her brothers William & Hugh Hartshorn; before Lawrence Smyth, Surr., July 25, 1729.

. 1727-8 Mar 18, Inventory of William Lawrence of Middletown, miller.
Inventory of person estate: £28.3.1, Including, a silver ring break in 3 peaces, washed over with gold or brass as valued by the goldsmith, 10 pence.
Inventory made by Richard Stout, Andrew Caten & Hugh Hartshorne.
Ref: NJ Monmouth Wills.

. WILL PROVED by oath of William Lawrence & Edward Wright; before Lawrence Smyth, Surrogate, Mon. Co., July 25, 1729.
Ref: Lib. B., follo 256. M. Kearny Manuscripts of Unrecorded Wills & Inventories Monmouth County, New Jersey, page 118: NY Wills, Lib. B, p.256 & NJ Wills Vol 1, pp 284-288.

X-Ref: See more related research at his half 1st cousin, Elisha Lawrence. Jr.

. Convover Family Papers, 1700-1897, Collection 16, Several prominent people in this collection are Wm. L Lawrence, Jr. (1688 Nov 5-1729, was the son of Wm. L Lawrence, Sr & the grandson of Wm. L. Lawrence I who came to America in 1661. Lawrence served as a Collector in Monmouth County. He married Mercy Hartshorne & had 6 children.

. DeLayette Schanck Papers, 1812-1878) Collection 27, Misc. correspondence from a unspecified Lawrence. Boxes 5 & 13. b - - -

Died:
Will proved 25 Jul 1729.

William married Mercy HARTSHORNE, .1 in 1713 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Mercy (daughter of Richard HARTSHORNE, Sr. and Margaret CARR) was born on 12 May 1693 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; died in Jan 1728 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mercy is the daughter of Margaret Carr & Richard Hartshorne.

Two Lawrence siblings married two Hartshorne siblings:

. Elizabeth Lawrence married William Hartshorne Sr. &
William Lawrence married Mercy Hartshorne.

. 1716, Oct 9. John Stout of Middletown, yeoman, son & heir of Peter Stout of Middletown, deceased, for £500 sold land to Obadiah Holmes of Middletown, yeoman, on Hop River, & meadow at Conescunk which land was conveyed to Peter Stout by his father Richard Stout June 29, 1690. The deed was signed by John Stout & Sarah Stout.
Witnesses: Rebekeh Tilton William Lawrence, Jr., Mercy Lawrence (daughter of Richard Hartshorne, born 1693) & Rachel CLARK."

. 1730 Apr 25 - Gershom Mott went to Mercy Lawrence, (she was dau. of Richard Hartshore) with Homes & touched my compass needle on her load stone.
. 1732 Jan 25 - Gershom Mott went to window Lawrence (Mercy Hartshorne, widow of William, son of William & Ruth Gibbons Lawrence.
Extract from diary of Gershom Mott.3

. A large manuscript collection on the Hartshorne Family may be found at the NJ Historical Society, Newark, NJ.

- - -

Birth:
Waycake, Monouth Co., N.J.

Died:

Notes:

Married:
Verify

Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page 2,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Birth:
Verify Alt DOB 1658.

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

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

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

Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Birth:
Alt: Gibbens, Gibbins, born 1660.

Notes:

Richard is the son of Katherine & Hugh Hartshorne.

Richard Hartshorne Sr. married 1670 Apr 27 to Margaret Carr, born 12 May, 1693. daughter of Monmouth patentee Robert Carr, in Newport, Rhode Island, on 27 April 1670, and died in Middletown, New Jersey in 1722.

Richard arrived on the Newasink River, New Jersey in May 1666, which is the year of the Great Fire of London. The previous year of 1665, plague severally reduced the population of London & must have been an added incentive to leave from England. - PJA 2010.

Biography: Richard Hartshorne was an English Quaker & in spring of 1672 prominent Quaker George Fox visited the Friends Meeting at Oyster Bay, Long Island.
A devout Quaker, Richard was a personal friend of George Fox and entertained him at Shrewsbury, as described later by Fox in his journals. He was asked by William Penn and others to survey for Quaker settlements along the Delaware in 1676.A member of the Provincial Assembly for 20 years, Speaker 1686-93 and 1696-98, he served as Deputy 1688, 1692 and 1693. He was also Town Clerk, Sheriff, Commissioner of Highways, Judge of Court of Sessions, Member of Governors Council & Practitioner before the Courts, Constable of Middletown, Clerk of the Court of Small Causes, & one of the Judges of the Court of Common Right at Perth Amboy.
Said to have been "a man of good reputation & benevolent disposition", he was a steadying & conciliatory influence during the years of constant upheaval between the settlers & Proprietors, as an influential spokesman for the conservative wing of the Anti-Proprietary group, & later in disagreements with the Royal Governor, Lord Cornbury.
Ref: Descendants of Founders of NJ.

. 1704, Richard Hartshorne made a record, in writing, of his marriage to Margaret Carr, (Richard P. Tatum, Esq., of Philadelphia, says that Richard Hartshorne was born at Hathcome Hall, Harthearne, Leicester, England; & thinks that Margaret Carr, the wife of Richard Hartshorne, may have been the daughter of Ezekiel Carré, a Huguenot, who lived at Kingstone, Rhode Island. This was copied by Elisha Lawrence son of John Lawrence, of Upper Freehold, & has been transmitted through the descendants of this branch of the Lawrence Family to the present generation.

. 1722 May 14. WILL of Hartshorne, Richard, of Middletown, Monmouth.

. Richard Hartshorne also owned the whole of Sandy Hook, which he used for a fishing station & a cattle grazing ground. In a meadow on Sandy Hook stands a lone pine tree. Captain Kidd is supposed to have buried treasure under this tree. The meadow is still called Kidds Meadow or Kidds Tree. Capt. BlackBeard fought a pitched battle with the farmers on the highway in Middletown Inhabitants can still remember their grandfathers' tales of horse racing on Kings Highway, on the Sabbath Day. Someone put up a bushel of doughnuts or gallon of applejack fore the prize.

Children: Hugh, Mary Clayton, Katharine Fitz Randolph, Sarah Taylor, Mercy Lawrence, William; legacy for the poor of the Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting of Quakers.
Half an acre of land, fronting the street & including wife's grave, to be laid out as a family burying ground, East of the homestead, bought of John Bowne; land on the North side of town, adjoining Moses Lippitt, meadow near John Pew, do. near John Wilson, all in Middletown meadows; 100 acres on South side of Manasquan River. Personal property (books, papers, a silver tankard).
Executors: the two sons.
Witnesses: Richard Stout, John Wall, Joseph Cox.
Proved May 22, 1722. Lib. A, p. 221.

. The names of most of the early settlers of Monmouth are given in Proprietors' Records at Perth Amboy, but in a majority of cases, the year is not given when they came. Rights of Land:
Richard Hartshorne, in right of servants that he hat brought, 90 acres each, 270 acres; Right of Wm. Golding & wife 240 a. right of Robt. Jones & Wife 240 A. Total 750 Acres.

. When Richard Hartshorne the first, moved from Portland Point to the village of Middletown he built the old house which still stands on the north side of the street & which today is probably the oldest building extant in this country. Here he died in 1722, & in his will made mention of a 'family burial plot of a half acre on the street, in the orchard east of the house where I now live.' Here he was buried, though the knowledge of the exact site is lost."
Ref: Robert J. VanKirk from a 1927 book by the Rev. Ernest W. Mandeville, Rector of Christ Church, Middletown, NJ.

. HOLMES PAPERS, 1680-1907.Approx. 3,000 items. Exchange, 1956.
Correspondence, legal documents, business documents & other papers of various members of the Holmes family & re­lated families of Monmouth County. The following materials are included: diary, Jo Revolution­ary War courts-martial documents, muster rolls, & other mili­tary documents; a letter from the Shrewsbury, deputies to the County Committee [of Safety] for Monmouth, 1775; & vendues & inventories for various estates, 1787-99. Some included are letters of Richd. Hartshorn.
Lawrence, John Saltar,
Ref: A guide to the manuscripts collection of the New Jersey Historical Society.

. 1722 May 14, WILL of Richard Hartshoren, Monmouth Co., being sick & weak in body. My Will is all my debts be paid, and it is not in my memory I owe 5 Shillings to any man or Men ...."; "
& my Will is there be half an Acre of Land Laid out for a Burying Place or Grave-yard, & to be for me & my "Chilldren & their pofterity to be Buryed in and to be laid out by my Executors fronting the Street upon a square so "as to Include the Grave-yard where my wife lyes buryed in lying to the Eastward of my orchard where I now live "being in the home Lott formerly John Bownes "; "to my son Hugh & his heirs my house & Orchard & "all my Land Joyning to it , (The Grave-Yard excepted & reserved) & all my land lying on the North side of the "Town next the land formerly Moses Lippitts; Also 9 Acres & 6 acres of meadow lying near where John Pew "lives also 6 Acres of meadow lying near to the meadow of John Willson all in Middletowne Meadows"; "
unto my daughter Mary Clayton, my daughter Katharine Fitz-Randolph, my daughter Sarah Taylor, my daughter Mercy Lawrence: all my land lying on the south side of Manasquan River, being in 3 severall parcells being about 100 acres equally to be divided amongft them & their heirs as & to hold as Tenents in Common";
"all my books to "my son William & my son Hugh, and my papers for them to take care of";
"to my son Hugh My silver Tankard";
"to the poor of the Community commonly called Quakers in Shrewsberry, & belonging to the Meeting house that stands "on the north side of the Road in Shrewsberry over against the land formerly Nicholas Browns £4bt o be paid "to the meeting within 13 months after my decease but for the use of the poor aforefaid."
"And I have 10 ewes 3 or 4 neat cattle that goe at my son William's Plantation all which sheep & neat cattle I Give to my son "William Hartshorne & also my leather girdle & staff with a sillver head ....";
"to my 4 daughters "Namely, Mary Clayton, Katharine Fitz-Randolp, Sarah Taylor, & Mercy
Lawrence the sum of £200 "viz, the sum of £50 to the use of each of them to be by them severally apply'd for to procure themselves, servants to help them, & to my said 4 daughters all the remaining part of my perfonal estate & debts whatsoever to be amongft them equally divided ...."
Executors: mky sonn William and my son Hugh.
Wits.: RICHARD HARTSHORNE, Richard Stout, John Wall, Joseph Cox.
This WILL is only record without a probate June 4, 1722. Endorsed.

Verify which Richard Hartshorne:
. 1809 Sep 11 - WILL of Richard Hartshorne:
Inventory $116.47 made by Cornelius P VanDer Hoef, Wm. P Walton. Lists 1 gun in possession of John Hartshorne, leather in possession of Delafayette Schneck, some items in possession of Wm. Hartshorne, NY City, a long chain at Jacob Rickows, & a crow bar at Peter Bourdett.
Sworn by Wm. Hartshorne, Administered at Freehold, Jan 11, 1810. File NJ 8853M. - - -

Birth:
Called ' the Emigrant'.

Died:

Richard married Margaret CARR on 27 Nov 1670 in Newport, Rhode Island. Margaret was born in 1650 in Newport, Rhode Island; died on 6 Mar 1721 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Margaret is the daughter of Robert Carr.

Children
1 Robert Hartshorne, b: 5 FEB 1670
2. Hugh Hartshorne, b: 15 JUL 1673
3. Thomas Hartshorne, b: 14 NOV 1674
4. Mary Hartshorne, b: 14 OCT 1676 in Middletown, Monmouth Co, NJ
5. William Hartshorne, b: 22 JAN 1677
6. Richard Hartshorne, b: 17 APR 1681
7. Katherine Hartshorne, b: 2 MAY 1682
8. Hugh Hartshorne, b: 21 AUG 1686 in Middletown, Monmouth Co, NJ
9. Sarah Hartshorne, b: 3 SEP 1687 in Middletown, Monmouth Co, NJ
10. Richard Hartshorne, b: 15 FEB 1688
11. Mercy Hartshorne, b: 12 MAY 1693 in Middletown, Monmouth Co, NJ. - - -

Died:

Notes:

Capt. Wm. Lawrence, sinour, landed in America on Sunday, 1635 Apr 2, on the ship "Planter" age 12 years.

. William Lawrence lived in the North Riding of Yorkshire, left Plymouth, England in 1635, & landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Patentees of Flushing, Long Island in 1645.
Ref: Magna Carta Barons & their Descendants, Charles H. Browning, reprinted 1969.

Summary of locations he lived:
. First resided at Flushing at, age 12. - Patent & lived in Middleburg, also known as, Newtown, 1656, purchaser. Returned to Flushing & bought Tew's Neck later named Lawrence's Neck, (i.e. a penisula) where he lived the rest of his life.
. Proprietor of Lawrence's Neck (also called Flushing, Long Island, New York City) which stretches into the Sound between Flushing Bay & Whitstone, 900 Acres:
was first called Maspeth, New Netherland, until 1643 Indian attack. Flushing was first named Vlissingen for Zealand, Holland;
. 1651 renamed Middleburgh, New Netherland;
. 1664 Hastings when the English assumed New York;
. 1665 Apr 23 - Middletown NJ, Town Book - In a legal towne meeting 4 men present, Richard Gibbins, Richard Stout, William Lawrence & Jonathan Homes, on behalf of the towne reported they unanimously agreed Robt. Jones, about to build a mill, shall be made good by the whole towne;
Newton, Queensborugh, was the name the locals had used.

. Among those who came from Long Island before the expiration of the 3 year limit in the Patent was William Lawrence. He became a large landowner & during his life deeded tracts to his children.

. 1666 - Berkley & Cartaret assured to the settlers of New Jersey, that the province should be ruled by laws enacted by the representatives of the people who had the power of peace & war entrusted to them. No tax, subsidy, tillage, assessment or duty whatever is to be imposed, except by the authority & consent of the general assembly. Land was allotted according to the time of arrival & the number of indented servants & slaves; the settler paid a half penny per acre quit rent & was bound to maintain one able bodied male servant per 100 acres.
Richard Nicolls, the duke's governor, convened an assembly from the towns of Long Island, & Westchester to meet at Hempstead, March 1st, 1665, At this meeting, Nicolls promulgated the laws called the duke's laws, which continued in force, notwithstanding the peoples discontent, The large Assembly of deputies assembled at Hempstead in March 1665. ...The colonies chose their own magistrates & he instructed they in the law to go before the King. A judgement having been obtained against William Lawrence, of Flushing, the governor, on appeal, made it void.
Ref: History of the New Netherlands, Vol. 2.

. 1665 - Wm. C. Lawrence was a magistrate under the Dutch government in Flushing & again a magistrate & a military commissioner for the North Riding of Yorkshire, Long Island, NY.
. 1669 Jul 20, William Lawrence, Daniel Estall, George Mountand, Richard Gibbins were chose deputies for this present year according to the order made: to assist the constable & overseers.
. 1669 Monmouth County Quit Rent, William Lawrence Sr.
. 1670 May the 9th, In a legal towne meeting the major part being present, Ed. Smith was by the major vote chosen to be constable for the following year. Wm. Lawrence chosen overseer.

. 1669 April 30th, Fort James in York. To John Richbell of Mororonock, Wm. Lawrence of Flushing. A Warrant to John Archer to take up a stray horse. These are to empower you to make enquiry after & to take up if he can be found a certain stray horse running in ye woods or some other place near unto or about your Towne of Westchester. The said horse being of gray color & branded with an Anchor on ye near shoulder & that you cause him to be brought to the Towne, where he shall remain until it be made appear to whom it doh with right belong or be disposed of as ye Law shall direct and for so doing this shall be your warrant. Given under my hand, Signed, Francis Lovelace.
. Another to take up a stray Bull. These are to empower you to take up a certain stray bull now running at your Plantation about 3 years old the which you are to make & if you find it convenient, geld him & if the right owner appeare not to claime him within the time in the Law prescribed that you dispose not of him without my order. Given under my and at Fort James, NY, Fr. L.
Ref: Minutes of the Executive Council of the province of New York.

. LAWRENCE OF MONMOUNTH COUNTY, N.J.
. 1677 - William Lawrence, owning land at Middleborough, now Newtown, L.I., came to Monmouth Co., NJ about 1677; settled at Hop River, where he had a house, a fulling mill & orchard. He owned land at Middletown & Wakake. Was an overseer at Middletown in 1668 & 1670-71; & in 1669 & 1673 was a Deputy to the Legislature.

NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS:
. Shares of meadow in Hunt's cove, 16. 1 share of salt meadow at Head of the bay, 16, one Negro, John, 50, Negro Andrew, 40. Ten Negroes in all. One English boy called by the name of Bishop, for a year & some months service, 5. 32 oxen, 160. 46 cows. 17 Horses. The inventory is very lengthy, showing great wealth & high social station. Total, 4,032. Taken by Richard Cornell, John Browne, John Lawrence, Abm. Whearly. Elizabeth Lawrence & Wm. Lawrence, administrators, made oath to the same in presence of Governor & Council, November 18, 1680.

. 1675 Sept. 10. - Patent to Hans Alberts of Newark for land there, vizt: 1, a house lot of 6 acres, along the highway on the N. W. of Richard Lawrence & John Ward Turner; East. of Daniel DOD; N. of John Crane & Tho. Hundinton; 2, seven acres of upland in the Great Neck, bounded W. by Stephen Bonde by Rich. Lawrence; 3. 20 acres of upland beyond the Mill Brook on the Great River; 4. seven a. in the Mill Brook swamp, adjoining Stephen DAVIS; 5. three a. of meadows near Wheelers Creek, coming up to Tichenors Cave; 6. four acres of meadow near the Hay S. of Zachariah Burwell, 136 Acres.

. The names of most of the early settlers of Monmouth are given in Proprietors' Records at Perth Amboy, but in a majority of cases, the year is not given when they came.
Rights of Land:
. 1676 - William Lawrence, in right of self & sister Hannah Lawrence, 240 acres.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY :
. 1676 -7 January 10. To John Vaughan of Middletown for:
A tract of 126 acres, bounded N. W. & S. W. by Richard Gibbons, S. E. by un-surveyed land, N. E. by Poirsy Run;
Nine acres of meadow, formerly Benjamin Deull's; bounded E. by James Grover; W. by Wm. Lawrence; S. by upland; N. by the beach. 165 Acres.
Ref: Calendar of New Jersey Patents.
. 1678 Jun 1 - Memorial concerning 1,000 acres at Chohazicke, intended for Wm. LAWRENCE, upon Richard Noble's assignment. (Undated. Previous entry, 1678 June 1.)

. 1681 July 5 - William Lawrence of Middletown, East Jersey, planter, by his attorney, Anthony Page of Monmouth River, W. J., planter, to Jasper Harman of Chohanzey, W. J., yeoman, for 500 acres, part of the 1,000 a. tract bought by said LAWRENCE of Richard Noble, April 15, 1676, to whom John Fenwick had granted it May 14, 1675.

. 1685-6 Jan. 5 - To William Lawrence of Middletown, for 420 a. on the South Hop River, bounded on all sides by South Hop & North Hop Rivers. ... The first fulling mill, owned by Wm. Lawrence, was on Long Bridge Road.
One of New Jersey's first fulling mills (perhaps the oldest) was run & owned by William Lawrence on Hop Brook. Fulling was a process of cleansing or thickening cloth by beating or washing. William Lawrence died in 1701 & willed the mill, house & properties to one of his sons, James who later moved to Crosswicks, on Long Bridge Road.
Ref: History of Colts Neck, CN Library 1965.

. Jacobus Suydam married a daughter of Capt. Cor. Rapelye, after engaging successfully in commerce in NYC, he retired from business & bought the Estate of William Lawrence of Newtown. Here he lived until his death in 1825.

. 1675 Oct 21, the Indians to follow the directions of the Assizes to remove from Mr. Pells. No powder nor lead to be sold in this town to the Indians. Mr. Cornell, Captain Wm. Lawrence from Flushing, M. Gildersleeve & Mr. Geo. Hewlett, Hempstead, same according to the order this day from 2 towns Tackpouha & the rest came not till this evening & brought some pretending to land with them the persons appeared just agreeing returned with them. Indians renewed their pretense to land North of Hampstead & particularly Cows Neck, Little Madnams New, Great Madnasa Next, makes offers but they not will to consent with Colts Neck so to remain as it is but neither Christian nor Indian to be permitted to settle there at present. One of the Indians claims Thee Necks to belong to hem & an old Squaw they asked 120 Lbs. again as before for the Three Necks & to keep Colts next themselves all that have pretenses must come together some other time & the Governor will agree with them.
Ref: Documents relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York, 1886.

. 1678 May 7 - Order referring to the Sessions the complaint of the constable of Flushing against Capt. William Lawrence, for fencing in the highway. p90.
Ref: Calendar of Historical Manuscripts in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany, NY, Edmund B O'Callaghan, 1866.

Death of William Lawrence:
. Whereas Captain William Lawrence, late of Cow's Neck in Flushing, one of the Justices of the Peace of the North Riding, died intestate, leaving a considerable Estate, & divers children, & Elizabeth his wife, & his eldest son, William by a former marriage, having made application for Letters of Administration, & having brought in an inventory, they were appointed March 25, 1680. Ref: Page 269.

The Duke's Laws of 1665 mandated that an inventory was to be taken within 48 hours after appropriate official inquiry of the death had begun [into a person dying instate.} William Lawrence's inventories portray a sober man of considerable wealth. His personal wearing apparel was sturdy, useful, & appropriate for a man who at once was a Quaker, merchant, trader, magistrate, planter, & slaveholder. The 2 of William Lawrence's inventories taken at his death in 1680 - one for his warehouse in Manhattan & the other for his shop & dwelling in Flushing.

Benefitting from Flushing's abundance & quasi-independence from the colonial government centered at New Amsterdam/New York, William Lawrence flourished in the New World. The value of his land, chattels, & effects at £4432:01:10 ½ was substantial for 1680.
The personal clothing of William Lawrence listed in the inventory include one worsted & 1 haire camlet cloak, a broadcloth (textile made of carded wool in plain weave that is fulled after weaving) suit, a drugg et (a lighter woolen) suit, an old norwester, & a castor (beaver fur hat). Lawrence was likely among the richest men in the colony. His material wealth is comparable to that of Cornelis Steenwyck, one of New Netherland's principal merchants who also served as magistrate, burgomaster, & alderman.

The Business of Agribusiness Lawrence was among the largest landowners in Flushing. The main dwelling house, along with orchards & meadows, were located at Tew's Neck, an extensive swath of land jutting into the Long Island Sound (today College Point, Queens). Other Flushing property included land at Whitestone & lots in the center of town where his retail shop probably stood. In addition to property in lower Manhattan, Lawrence owned acres in Newtown to the west, meadows across the Long Island Sound in Westchester & land at various places further east near Smithtown. Lawrence's expansive property include numerous shares of Salt Meadow, a grassy marsh prone to flooding by salt water. In colonial America salt meadow was an important resource for sustaining animal herds, especially cattle. Adriean van der Donck notes in A Description of New Netherland (1656) that cattle were suffering from disease due to the consumption of "sweet hay." The issue was not resolved until animals started consuming hay grown on salt wetlands. At his death, Lawrence had 173 Cattle & 72 swine & were probably shipped to provide provisions to West Indies plantations or at the Manhattan market. Barrels of pork & beef, along with hooks, sickles, scythes & pitchforks for wheat harvesting, are listed in his Manhattan warehouse.
Ref: William Lawrence's Manhattan warehouse inventory currently resides in the manuscripts collection: "Inventories, New York State, 1680-1844", MS 450.2 at the NY Historical Society Museum & Library, & a copy at Bowne House Historical Society, NY.

. 1680 Mar 10 - Whereas William Lawrence, late of Flushing, deceased, had left a considerable estate & 7 young children, that is to say Mary, Thomas, Joseph, Richard, Samuel, Sarah & James, whose proportion & share of their said father's estate according to law amounts to each of them £277 12s 4p which is & remains in the hands & possession of Elizabeth the widow & administratrix of the said Wm. & mother to the said children who desiring in Council to be admitted their guardian, these are to certify that he said Elizabeth Lawrence is by advice of the Council admitted & allowed of to be guardian for the said 7 children & to have possession & enjoy their said portions giving sufficient security to satisfy & pay the same to them & such of them when they shall attain the age of 21 y or be married.
Ref: Booke of Orders & Warrents, Secretary of State, Albany, NY, p39.

. 1680 Nov 18 - Inventory of Estate of William Lawrence, Flushing. The neck of land called Cows Neck, with housing, orchards & meadows, 1,250. Two 50 acre lots at Whitestone, 60. 50 acre lot, No. 13, 20.
The 50 acre lot in Newtons Neck 15. 104 acre lots lying at the Town, with all housing, orchards, etc., 60. 640 acres lying adjoining to Sunk meadows, eastward, & also running west to the Fresh Pond, & north to the Sound, & south to the path that goes to John Goldin's house, 150. 1/2 share of salt meadow at Townsend, & 2 shares of fresh meadow, one at Grays, & the other in the middle meadow, 10, 1 share of salt meadow at Terrys Point, 30, 6 shares of meadow at Westchester. 3 shares of meadow in the New Found Passage, 3.3 shares of meadow in Hunt's cove, 16. 1 share of salt meadow at Head of the bay, 16, one negro, John, 50, negro Andrew, 40. 10 negroes in all. One English boy called by the name of Bishop, for a year & some months service, 5. 32 oxen, 160. 46 cows.17 Horses.
The inventory is very lengthy, showing great wealth & high social station. sword, plate & personals, Merchant's list of 3 & half pages of shop goods, mostly cloth, nothing haberdashery, pewter & tools.
Total £4,432. Taken by Richard Cornell, John Bowne, John Lawrence. He made Elizabeth [nee Smith] Lawrence & Wm. Lawrence, administrators, made oath to the same in presence of Governor & Council, November 18, 1680. Page 405.
Ref: Surrogate's Office, city of NY, Liber 22, p24.

. At first this Flushing region was in the possession of William Lawrence, a gentleman of note in Colonial days, descended from that sturdy " William Lawrence, of Flushing,'' who, in 1666, was fined by Governor Nichols for daring to criticize some of his measures under the Duke's Laws. After the Revolution a part of this property came into the market, and was bought by Eliphalet Stratton for $1,250. In 1836. Here was to be conducted a regular collegiate institution under the name of St. Paul's College at College Point, for the preparation of young men for the ministry of the Episcopalian church.
Ref: Leslie's history of the greater New York V.2. - - -

Died:
Long Island. Died intestate, leaving a considerable Estate.

William married Elizabeth GILDERSLEEVE in 1647 in North Riding, Yorkshire, England. Elizabeth (daughter of Richard GILDERSLEEVE, Sr. and Joanna APPLETON) was born in 1624 in Aldeburgh, Suffolk Co., England; died in c 20 Feb 1664 in Newtown, Flushing, Long Isl., New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It appears that Elizabeth's parents, Joanna Appleton & Richard Gildersleeve, named TWO of their children Elizabeth: one who was born 1625 & who died before 1628.

. "Elizabeth, the oldest daughter, married Jeremiah Wood son of Edmund from Oram in England, & a close associate of the Gildersleeves in many activities." Willard has penned in longhand she died in 1664 - she did not marry Jeremiah Wood; she married Capt. William Lawrence as first wife. (Newtown Records.)
(His second wife Elizabeth Smith married March 1665 by W. Gildersleeve.)
Ref: Gildersleeve Pioneers, by Willard Harvey Gildersleeve, April 1898 & 1941, page 55:

. 1659 Nov 4. Bill of Sale between John Furman, buyer, & William Lawrence, seller. William Lawrence mentions his brother [in-law] Gildersleeve.
Ref: Town Minutes of Newtown, 1656-88, Vol1, p 156.

. Elizabeth Gildersleeve, Birth: 1624 in, Suffolk, England, Death: 1664 in Flushing, Queens, New York.
Note1: Established documentation show all the children of William Lawrence, who was born 27 July 1622, were born of his wife, Elizabeth Gildersleeve;

Note2 to searchers: A first marriage to Jeremiah Wood, b.1620-1662, would be in conflict with her marriage in 1647 to William Lawrence, her first child, Elizabeth Lawrence who was born 1650. - PJA.
* However, also in conflict with this is,
New York Genealogical Records, Volume 121 #1,
Family of Richard Smith of Smithtown, L.I. by F.K. Smith,
shows birth 1643 & one marriage to Col. Wm. Townley. If birth records are correct she, would have been 5 at the birth of the first child!

. Marriage.1 Elizabeth Gildersleeve: b: Abt. 1624 in Suffolkshire, England:
Married: Abt. 1647 in North Riding, Yorkshire, England.
Elizabeth's Brother:
. 1659 Nov 4, Deed: William Lawrence of Newtown sold a lot of upland & meadow to John Firman, land which he purchased from "my brother [Richard Jr.] Gildersleeve" & John Layton.
Ref: Town Minutes of Newtown, Vol. 1, p156.

Children.1
i. Elizabeth Lawrence *< b: Abt. 1650 in Flushing, Queens, NY or Suffolk, England.
ii. William Lawrence , Jr. Major *< b: Ab. 1654 in Smithtown, Suffolk City, NY.
iii. John C. Lawrence * b: 14 May 1655 in St. Albans, Herefordshire, England.

. Travelling Preachers - Which wife of Wm. Lawrence, senior or junior, is not apparent.
At Flushing, the report says, " any persons have become imbued with divers opinions. They absented themselves from the sermon & would not pay the preacher his salary. The salary of Francis Doughty was to have been 600 guilders, but it was never paid; & it was found, when the minister sued for his salary, that Wm. Lawrence's wife had destroyed the contract by " putting it under a pye."

. DEATH OF ELIZABETH GILDERSLEEVE:
After 1664 Feb 20: * "Town Records of Newtown, Long Island", p113:

. 1664 Feb 20, William Lawrence & his wife Elizabeth sells land in Hastings, [later renamed Middleborough & again renamed Newtown,]
To James Mills of James River, VA.
James Mills (formerly ship master & living in James River in Virginia) & William Lawrence came before me this day to have a former sale of land made void which is as followeth:
Whereas James Mills had formerly received a bill of sale of William Lawrence, sometimes an Inhabitant of Middleborough, upon Long Island, for his house & land there: which said bill being casually burnt by which means the tenor & date of the said bill is unknowne: Therefore we, the said James Mills & William Lawrence do by these presents declare that all bills of sale of what tenor & date soever are by null agreement of us (Viz: William & James are by these presents made void & of no effect notwithstanding any Record in any town or court manifesting to the contrary.
In witness hereof they have hereunto sett there hands Testified by me Edward Tartte, James Mills, William Lawrence.
Ref: Town Book, Middletown, N.J.   7
Ref: Stillwell's Historical & Genealogical Miscellany, Vol 3, p. 393, on 3 Dec 1670 " Research by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you.

* & again, a follow up to the above,
1670 Dec 3, William Lawrence & James Mills of James River, VA. ask that the former sale of land be voided, which was a sale of land in Middleborough, NY.
Ref: Long Island Source Records, edited by Henry Hoff, 1987.

< Great-Great Grandmother of Richard Lawrence, UE. - . -

. Gildsleeve House:
177 ? Oct 5. To Be Sold by Auction, by Augustine Read
At the White Lion in Aldeburg, Friday 20 October, 12 O'clock.
A Commodious well fitted up Dwelling House with bar, stable & suitable offices, yard, garden & about 6 acres of land, chiefly freehold (with common rights on the extensive commons of Alderingham & Thorp) situated in the village of Thorp, adjoining Aldeburg in Suffolk, that much resorted to watering place; the house convenient for a small family & well situated for se bathing, now in the possession of Mrs Major, & may be entered upon immediately.
Also a dwelling house, with yard or garden & about an acre of land continuous; situated in Alderingham aforesaid, in the tenure of Wm. Waters.
Likewise a parcel of arable land, containing about 10 acres, lying & being in Alderingham aforesaid, in the occupations of Mess. Wessrup & Wilson. The above premises will be put up together or separate, as shall be agreed at the time of sale.
Further particulars of the auctioneer, Woodbridge or of Mr Robert Gildersleeves, at Leiston, who will shew the premises.

. 1801 Jul 18. Sat. Whereas several young tyrees have lately been cut down, belonging to Mrs. Frs. Haybe of Leiston & sundry offenses committed upon the premises belonging to Robt. Gilderslleves, such as removing gates from their proper places, etc, thereby exposing to injury his property; for the discovery of which offender, a reward is hereby offered of £5 to be paid on conviction of the offenders by applying to George Whiting, Treasurer of Leiston Association.

. 1806 Feb 15, To be Sold by Auction, by James Wild, at the White Horse Inn, Leiston Suffolk, 6 o'clock in the eying, Friday 28 Feb.
Two cottages with a barn, stables & 12 acres of good arable land, situated near Leiston street & with 4 miles of the port of Aldeburg with a right of common for 5 head of beast, on that extensive pasture, called lesion moon, now in the occupation of Mrs. Robert Gildersleeves & his under tenants, under a lease, of which 18 years are unexpired at Michaelmas next, let for £16 per annum & may be viewed by applying to Mr. Gildersleeves of Leiston. 7 acres of the above estate are copyhold on the manor of Leiston. The reminder free. Outgoings Land Tax 16s. Quit Rent 2s.
. Transcriptions & research by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you.

. 1812 Sep 12 Auction at the White Horse, Lieston, 6 o'clock. A large dwelling house divided into 4 good tenements, yards & garden counting about a quarter of acre of rich ground well planted with fruit & other trees, pleasantly situated by the side of the road & within a minutes walk of Leistons street, are nearly & conveniently fitted up with closets sets & might a small expense be converted into suitable premises for a preparatory School, for which Leiston is eligible. The part late in the occupation of Mr Philip Chapman, deceased, carpenter may be occupied immediately. Further particulars & conditions of sale may be had of Robert Gildersleeeves, at Leiston.
Ref: The Ipswich Journal, Ipswich, Suffolk Co., England.
. Recorded for further research: The Ancestry of Rev. Nathan Grier Parke & his wife Ann Elizabeth Gildersleeve, by N G Park 1959, 146 pages. - - -

Birth:
Alt Older Spelling: Gyldensleve.

Notes:

Married:
ALT: 1647 Hempstead, Long Isl., NY

Notes:

GIBSON, Richard of G4, in 1656 per Thompson. Probably the same as Richard Gibbs.
Richard an original patentee came from Oyster Bay on Long Island
12 Dec 1667 Middletown, Monmouth, NJ elected constable, Justice of Peace.
Farm near Nut Swamp, 500 Acres at Lot 7, Middletown. NJ

GIBBINS or GIBBINE, RIGHARD, G4 in 1651 and 1656 schout or sheriff in 1651 and '53, as per p. 131 Cal. of NY. This Dutch man was one of the patentees or purchasers of Middletown, NJ in 1669, as per p. 73 of Vol. I of Raum's NJ.
Signed his name "Richard Gibbine."

. Richard Gibson, aged 25, as transported to Barbaddoes in 1635, as per Hotten's Emigrants.

Patentee of Monmouth County
(That is, besides the King,) the first land owners in Monmouth Co., NJ were: Richard Hartborn, Richard Stout, Sr. & Jr., Peter Tilton, Richard Gibbons, Capt. William Lawrence, &
John Wilson, 249 Acres, 1676 Jan 10, £164, plus yearly Quit Rent, 10 shillings 4.5 pence.

. 1664 Aug - the Dutch at New Amsterdam surrendered to the English, the Gravesend men made another & a successful effort to purchase land of the Indians & within a few months made 2 other purchases... from Popomora, chief of the Neverink Indians to James Hubbard, John Bowne, John Tilton, Jr., Richard Stout, Wm. Goulding & Samuel Spicer, all of Gravesend.
The interpreters were John Tilton, Sr., James Bowne, John Horabin, Randall Huet & John Wilson. The fact of these men being interpreters shows that they previously had had considerable intercourse with the Indians.

. 1655 Oct 20 - Gravesend was surrounded by hostile Indians; the residents sent a letter to the Governor asking for protection, & in response 20 men were sent from New Amsterdam.
(Because Richard Gibbons had treated the natives honestly, they had been forewarned by some other friendly natives. All along Long Island the natives attached settlements because of being ill treated. - PJA)
Ref: This Old Monmouth of Ours, Wm. S. Horner, Moreau Brothers of Freehold, NJ., 1932.

. 1664 Aug - the Dutch at New Amsterdam surrendered to the English, the Gravesend men made another & a successful effort to purchase land of the Indians & within a few months made 2 other purchases... from Popomora, chief of the Neverink Indians to James Hubbard, John Bowne, John Tilton, Jr., Richard Stout, Wm. Goulding & Samuel Spicer, all of Gravesend.
The interpreters were John Tilton, Sr., James Bowne, John Horabin, Randall Huet & John Wilson. The fact of these men being interpreters shows that they previously had had considerable intercourse with the Indians.

. 1670 - Along with Capt. Wm. Lawrence ... John Willson one of the original purchasers of land of the Indians named 1667. He was awarded Town Lot 3 at Middletown & also outlands.
In 1670 he was chose deputy. He is frequently named subsequently.

. 1675, Oct. 9 - Thomas Applegate, Sr., of the Falls, bought of Richard Gibbons, one hundred acres, in Nutswamp, Middletown, "where he doth build his house."
. 1678. John Crawford, Gentlemen, from Ayrshire, Scotland, bought a house and lot, in Middletown, N. J., from Richard Gibbons and his wife. (He was a mariner & a member of the Whale Fishing Company His wife's name was Abigail. )

. 1684-5, Mar. 30. John Crawford, of Middletown, sold to Richard Hartshorne, 100 acres of land, on the South side of said town, adjoining the home lots of Richard Stout, Richard Gibbons & John Smith.
. 1687, Dec. 3. John Crawford, of Middletown, Gentleman, received a grant of land from the Proprietors, bounded by Richard Gibbons & John Wilson, the elder, containing 200 acres, & lying in Nutswamp. This property is still occupied by his descendants (1910).
. 1693, Aug. S. John Crafford, Sr., of Middletown, sold to Richard Hartshorne the 16 acre home-lot, bought of Richard Gibbons, in 1678.

. 1684 Aug. 24. WILL of GIBBINS, Richard, of Middletown. Letters of administration on the Estate of, granted to Elizabeth GIBBINS, widow, & Mordicah GIBBINS, planter, both of Middletown.
. 1684 Aug. 24. Bond of Mordicah GIBBINS as administrator of the Estate of Richard Gibbons,
William WHITELOCKE of Middletown, planter, fellow bondsman. Monmouth Wills.

. SERGEANT RICHARD GIBBONS, Patentee, came here from Oyster Bay. He is said to have sometimes written his name "Gibbine:
He was Constable, & filled other offices. Lot No. 7 was awarded to him at Middletown. He lived near Nut Swamp, & his farm is said to have been of 500 acres. He was a Justice of the peace. His death took place in the summer of 1684.
The Christian name of his wife was Elizabeth.
Their children were: Mordecai, (1), who married Rebecca Grover & had children . Richard, Benjamin, who married Mary & it supposed, James & Johanna; a son whose name is not known; (2),
Johanna,(3), who married Thomas Applegate, &, it is believed,
Ruth,(4), who married, 6-24-1686, William Lawrence.

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

Birth:
Alt Est 1743. verify

Died:
Died in the summer.

Richard married Mrs. Elizabeth (Richard) GIBBONS in 1651 in Gravesend, Long Island, New Amsterdam. Mrs. was born in c 1640 in New Jersey; died after Aug 1684 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabeth is the daughter of Mary E. (b. Birmingham, England & d. Broadway, Dorset, England) & William Joyner (?)

Birth:
Verify: Alt Name Elizabeth Joyner , Alt Loc: Birmingham, England