| Notes |
- . Bildald resided in Saltfeet Twp., Wentworth Co., (i.e. not so far from where he would later resided Trafalgar Twp. in 1830.)
. UPPER CANADA MARRIAGE BOND #1978,
KNOW all men by these presents, that I, Bildad Simons of the Township of Trafalgar in the Gore District & Father of the within named Mary Lizy Simons.
Sealed at Toronto, in the Home District, on 13 October, 1830.
Richard Lawrence of the said Township & District, cabinet maker,
& Mary Lizy Simons of the same place, Spinster.
Signed in presence of T. Jarvis, Bildad Simons.
Ref: UC Marriage Bonds, C6780, Archives of Ontario.
Note1 Mary Lizy married a year before her sister Clarissa Simons in Trafalgar Twp., Ontario.
Alt Name: Mary Eliz. per her son's death certificate.
. Bildad first resided Saltfeet Twp in 1806. Mary Lizy's father Bildad Simons & his sons were farming on the backside of the Teetzel's land at Trafalgar Twp., Ontario.
. 1861, Civil War, Detroit [16 Pages of Documents]:
Claim for Widow's Pension: Widow's Certificate WC72448,
Mary Elizabeth Lawrence, nee Simons, widow, Richard S Lawrence, Private Co. H. 28 Mich.
Proof Exhibited: A. Gen. Report Muster Oct 5th/64 at a Ky &
Service at Louisville KY, Nov 24/64. Typhoid Pneumonia. Serv. of 28th Certificates to Typhoid with contracted in line of duty.
Marriage Applied of by Certificate, Oct.13 30.
Names & dates of birth children:
Clarissa Lawrence, age 12 years, b. 1852
Charles Lawrence, age 10 years, b. 1852
Rebecca Lawrence, age 8 years, b. 1856
Almira Lawrence, age 3 years, b. 1861.
Loyalty Attested, Agent & his P.O. Address Wm R Leon? St. Joseph, Mich.
Admitted Jany 1st 1866, to a Pension of $8 commencing Nov 21,1864.
. Widow Declaration for Pension: Berrien Co., Michigan,
1865 January 18, before Geo. H Murdock, Clerk of Circuit Court which is a county of Record.
Mary Elizabeth Lawrence duly sworn, aged 50 years /b.1814, resident Benton Township, Berrien, Michigan, widow of Richard S. Lawrence was a private in Company H, commended by Captain Samuel Chadwick, 28th Reg. Michigan Volunteers, Commanded by Col. Delors Phillips in the ward with Confederate States.
Richard L Lawrence enlisted at Oronoko Twp., 5 Oct, 1864 for a term of one & half months & died in Hospital at Louisville, Kentucky, on 21 November, 1864 of Typhoid Pneumonia.
* She was married to the said Richard S Lawrence on the 14 October, 1830, at Palermo, Halton Co., Canada by Rev. Mr. King, Presbyterian clergy. She was Mary Elizabeth Simons. She believes there is no public record of her marriage & no private marriage that she has been possessed of a Certificate of her said Marriage, given by the said officiating Clergyman which Certificate has been lost.
At the time of her husband's death there were then children under 16 years of age at Benton Township & are Clarissa Lawrence, Aged 12 years, Charles, Lawrence age 10y, Rebecca aged 8 years & Elmira Lawrence age 3 years.
Wm. Richards Lyon, her Attorney, Signed, Elizabeth HER XMark Lawrence, Millburgh, Mich.
Witnesses sworn: Signed, John Teetzel & Hester Teetzel, Benton Twp., Widow of Richard S Lawrence. They know the deceased soldier from a long personal acquaintance of more than 30 years.
. Affidavit1: 1865 Sept 13, Notary Public for Berrien Co.
Jane Teetzel of St. Joseph, Aged 55 years / b.1810 &
John Teetzel of Benton, age 49 years / b. 1816 ... Certify to be repeatable & entitled to credit. That they resided for many years previous & subsequently to 14 Oct 1830 at Palermo in Halton Co., Canada West. On that day Richard S Lawrence & Mary Elizabeth Simons were united in holy matrimony at the house of William Simons in said Village of Palermo by the late Rev Mr King, a Presbyterian Clergyman. She is his widow. Jane Teetzel was present & witnessed the ceremony.
John Teetzel was a boy at that time & was at the house of his father on the opposite side of the Street from the said house where the said marriage took place & that the other members of the family were present & public records were not made & he know the said parties, signed, Jane Teetzel & John Teetzel.
Note2: In 1830 Jane Lawrence was not yet married to Mathias Teetzel. Who is William Simons? Is this name an error, or did Bildad have another second name? - PJ Ahlberg 2018.
. Affidavit2: 1867 Dec 19, A.D. Esther King, wife of Henry King, Millburgh, Berrien Co. That she well knew the Late Richard S Lawrence & his Widow Elizabeth Lawrence. He surviving him were: Clarissa Lawrence born May 16, 1852; Rebecca about 13 years, Almira born Dec 22, 1856. Esther was present at the birth of Clarissa & Almira. She knew Richard & his family more that 15 years [before 1852]. Signed, Esther King.
. Affidavit3: 1867, Feb 5, Notary Public for Hester Teetzel, wife of John Teetzel, resident of Benton. Knew well RSL & his widow Elizabeth L. His children, Clarissa L, about 14y, Rebecca Lawrence born June 6, 1854 & Almira L, about 8y. Elizabeth continues to support all her children nor allow anyone to adopt their children. Deponent says she is a sister of said Richard S Lawrence & being present at the birth of Rebecca Lawrence & now lives near neighbors to Elizabeth Lawrence. Sworn & Signed, Hester Teetzel.
* 1895 Jan 26 - Mrs. Charles [Rebecca] Carrao has returned from Benton Harbor, where she was summoned by the illness of her mother.
Ref: Jackson Citizen Patriot, MI.
. Afterward Mary Lizy lived with her daughter Ester Lawrence King.
. Michigan Death Certificate, Benton, Berrien Co., #158,
Elizabeth Lawrence, died Jan 8 1904, aged 90 years, 4 months 19 days,
Born 1813 Aug 19th.
Aged at marriage:15 years.* [= married 1828], widow
(Note3: Upper Canada Marriage Bond dated 13 Oct, 1830 = age 17 years. - PJA)
Parent of 12 children, 5 are living.
Father: Simons, born Canada, Mother, don't known name or where born,
Resided Benton Harbor,
Died of Heart failure or Paralysis, an old age. 3:00 AM.
Informer: Myra Grow, Benton Harbor, MI.
In the margin is partially written: Myra Grow, daughter of deceased [?] her former xx.
Note4: Year/Age of marriage given by daughter Myra Lawrence Grow, in the death MI. Death Certificate is incorrect, based on the above Ontario Marriage Bond, Lizy was age 17 at her marriage. - Likewise Myra was aware only of her grandfather's surname was Simons & she thought incorrectly he was born in Canada. PJ Ahlberg, 2018.
Obituary1
. 1904 Jan 8 - Old Resident Dead, Died at Home of Her Daughter at Twelve Corners
Mrs. Elizabeth Lawrence died at 8 o'clock this morning at the home of her daughter Mrs Henry King, at Twelve Corners, aged xx years.
Mrs. Lawrence's maiden name was Elizabeth Simons. She was born in Canada in 1813, coming to Benton Harbor in 1858, when it was but a village. She & her husband purchased the Major Britton place near Eastman Springs where they resided for sometime & later resided in the Braunson? house now occupied by Mrs Lamport, this being one of the first houses built here.
The deceased has 5 children: John Lawrence, Mrs Henry King of Twelve Corners, Mrs Clara Collins of Chicago, Mrs. Charles Corrao of Ann Arbor & Mrs Myra Crow of this city. The funeral will be held at 11 o'clock Saturday morning at the Twelve Corners Church conducted by Mr. Merrifeld.
Ref: News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI.
Obituary2
50 Years Ago [c1902]. At the home of Mrs Myra Grow on Edwards Ave., Morton Hill, last evening, a party of relatives assembled in honor of Mrs Elizabeth Lawrence, mother of Mrs. Grow who is leaving soon for the home of another daughter at Ann Arbor.
There is doubless not another living resident of Benton Harbor whose life is more closely identified with the early life & growth of the city than that of Mrs. Lawrence, who was Elizabeth Simons, born in Canada & married to Richard Lawrence at the age of 15 years. In the spring of 1858 they came to Benton Harbor & settled on the Major Britain place near Eastman Springs. Mr Lawrence was both a farmer & carpenter & assisted in building the residence known as the old Brunson house, upon the bluffs, now occupied by Mrs. Lamport. This was the first residence built within the city limits. The Lawrence lived on the Britain place for 8 years then moved on the Maher place, 2 miles from Miller where they remained until 1865 when the husband died in the war. The widow then purchased a home of S Brunson, standing where Dunbar's meat market now stands.
Mrs. Lawrence has been the mother of 13 children, 10 of whom grew to maturity, 5 now living. She will celebrate her 89th birthday the 13th August. She entertained the company yesterday with many tales of pioneer days & gave the younger members an exhibition of how they tripped the light fantastic 60 years ago.
Ref: News Palladium Newspaper, Benton Harbor, republished 1952 Jul 28th.
All Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -
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1813 - 1904 (90 years)