Lieut. Richard LAWRENCE, , UE

Male 1759 - Bef 1831  (< 71 years)


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  • Name Richard LAWRENCE 
    Prefix Lieut. 
    Suffix , UE 
    Born 20 Aug 1759  Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Monday. Upper Freehold Twp.
    Gender Male 
    Died Bef 5 May 1831  Harwich, Kent Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I133  Richard Patterson NJ & ON
    Last Modified 8 Aug 2020 

    Father William LAWRENCE, .6 Esq. The Quaker
              b. 13 Nov 1719, Colts Neck, Monmouth Co., New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 21 Oct 1795, Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years) 
    Mother Margaret TILTON
              b. 13 Dec 1719, Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 5 Feb 1767, Monmouth County, New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 47 years) 
    Married 5 Mar 1748  Shrewsbury's Friends' House Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • REF. History of Tilton Family In America, Pg 182, Box J4 Folder 17
      41056; Alt DOM: 5 May, 1748 .
    Family ID F83  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Mary WILLSON, DUE
              b. Est 1770, Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. Est 21 Feb 1821 ±, Charlotteville, Norfolk Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married Est 1786  New Brunswick, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Elizabeth LAWRENCE, .13, DUE
              b. Est 1795 ±, Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. Aft 4 Jan 1865, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Margaret LAWRENCE, .5 DUE
              b. Est 1797, Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 3 Jun 1842, Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 45 years)
     3. John LAWRENCE, SUE, The .xii
              b. 1798, Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. Est. Bef 30 Oct 1837, Gosfield, Nissouri Twp., Essex Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 39 years)
     4. Maryann LAWRENCE, .8th, DUE
              b. Est 1800, Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. Est Bef 13 Nov 1834, Toronto, York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 34 years)
     5. Daniel Tilton LAWRENCE, .IV SUE
              b. 15 Aug 1805, Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 15 Aug 1887, Benton Harbor, Berrien Co., Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years)
     6. Richard S LAWRENCE, Jr., .8th, SUE
              b. 1809, Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 21 Nov 1864, Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 55 years)
     7. Jane E LAWRENCE, , DUE
              b. 20 Jan 1811, Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 23 Aug 1873, St. Joseph, Berrien Co., Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 62 years)
     8. Hadassah HESTER LAWRENCE, DUE
              b. 21 Sep 1812, Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 4 Jan 1888, Benton Harbor, Berrien Co., Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years)
     9. Rebecca LAWRENCE, DUE
              b. 4 May 1815, Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 17 Feb 1890, Ganges, Allegan Co., Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
     10. FAMILY TREE LAWRENCE - WILLSON, SUMMARY
    Last Modified 18 Apr 2016 
    Family ID F99  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • PART ONE:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      Regulations included: No excess drinking, no profanities or gambling; sufficient sheds, stables and/or barns were required for the patron's horses, carriages & wagons. The innkeeper should also have at least 4 good beds in addition to those for his family. All of these regulations were controls to limit taverns & increase inns.
      Ref: Margaret McBurney & Mary Byers, Tavern in the Town: Early Inns & Taverns of Ontario. - P J Ahlberg). - . - [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
    • PART TWO: Tracking Richard Lawrence Though Documents:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      A more complete history with copies of ALL documents & photos may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto under Richard Lawrence, John Willson & John Brown Lawrence of New Jersey, NB & Ontario. By P J Ahlberg, May 2009. - - - [7, 8, 9]

  • Sources 
    1. [S72] .

    2. [S119] Archives of Canada.

    3. [S54] UPPER CANADA LAND PETITION ( UCLP ).

    4. [S111] (Ontario) Archives of Canada.

    5. [S105] Ontario Archives.

    6. [S26] .

    7. [S32] Archives of Ontario.

    8. [S106] .

    9. [S96] Owen, E A., 1898.