Mary REZEAU, UE

Female 1766 - 1842  (76 years)


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  • Name Mary REZEAU 
    Suffix UE 
    Born 22 Mar 1766  Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Previous spelling: Rousseau. Mary may herself also be a daughter of Empire Loyalist.
    Gender Female 
    Died 18 Sep 1842  Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • COD: Asthma
    Buried Richmond Hill Presbyterian Cemetery Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Buried beside John.
    Person ID I337  Richard Patterson NJ & ON
    Last Modified 2 May 2020 

    Father Peter REZEAU
              b. 25 Feb 1738, Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 2 Feb 1808, Southfield, Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Mother Mary POILLON
              b. 5 Nov 1744, Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 21 Oct 1789, Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 44 years) 
    Married 10 Dec 1761  Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • St. Andrew's Church, Staten Isl.
    Family ID F2  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Lieut. John LAWRENCE, , UE, & JP
              b. 10 Apr 1754, Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 30 Dec 1821, Richmond Hill, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years) 
    Married 4 May 1783  Saint Andrews Church, Richmond Co., Staten Island, New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • by the Rev. John H Rowland, the Loyalist Rector or St. Andrews Records Vol XXXV, Page 83.

      Corner of 40 Old Mill Road and Richmond Hill Road in Richmondtown, Staten Isl., The original Anglican church was destroyed by fire on March 31, 1867, only a few relics were saved. The town was formerly called Northfield. Reference Number:53945

      The Calendar of NY Marriages reads slightly different:
      1783 May 3, Lawrence, Jonn and Mary Rezeau, by M R Brown, E Record 21, Vol. xxxviii (?) Page 135
    Children 
     1. William Henry LAWRENCE, .11, SUE
              b. 13 Sep 1784, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 10 Jun 1852, Toronto, York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years)
     2. Margaret LAWRENCE, DUE, .iii
              b. 25 Sep 1786, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 15 Sep 1864, Charlotteville, Norfolk Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years)
     3. Major Peter Rezeau LAWRENCE, SUE
              b. 21 Nov 1788, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 19 Aug 1860, Eglinton, (Toronto), York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years)
     4. John LAWRENCE, SUE, The .xi
              b. 22 Oct 1791, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. Aft 17 Sep 1842, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age > 51 years)
     5. Maria Poillon LAWRENCE, .vi
              b. 26 Aug 1794, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 31 Oct 1880, Weston, York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 86 years)
     6. Lieut. Col. Alexander Cairns LAWRENCE, SUE
              b. 23 Nov 1796, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 19 Aug 1879, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Lincoln, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years)
     7. Lieut. Elisha LAWRENCE, Jr., .7, SUE
              b. 21 Jan 1800, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 18 Jun 1869, Gore of Toronto Twp., Peel Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years)
     8. Lieut. Col. Charles Earl LAWRENCE, . 1st, SUE
              b. 27 Nov 1802, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 19 Dec 1868, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Lincoln, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years)
     9. Capt. Abraham PERINE LAWRENCE, SUE
              b. 18 Jun 1805, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 29 Dec 1886, Toronto, York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)
     10. ELIZAbeth Ann LAWRENCE, . Xiv, DUE
              b. 10 Dec 1807, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location
              d.
     11. Sarah Catharine LAWRENCE, .viii DUE
              b. 8 Aug 1810, Saint John, Queens Co., New Brunswick Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 23 Nov 1866, Richmond Hill, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 56 years)
    Last Modified 10 Jan 2010 
    Family ID F93  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Mary is the daughter of Maria Poilion & Peter Rezeau.
      Name: Regarding the Rezeau family name, that is an early Staten Island line. The surname was changed to Rousseau & Roseaux.

      . Grandfather Jacques 'Jacob' Rezeau donated the land for the St. Andrew's Church in Richmond, NY, where Mary & John Lawrence were married.
      . 1783 May 3, John Lawrence obtained a license to marry Mary Rezeau. They were married the next day at St. Andrew's Church, Richmond, NY.

      . Lawrence, Mary, Con 1 Yonge Street, Lot 42, Vaughan [1837 residing with her sons Alexander Cairns & Chas. E. Lawrence.]

      Required for placing a Widow on the Pension, Loyal American & Canadian Corps. Summary Version:
      1821 Jan 28 - We do hereby certify to the best of our knowledge & belief, that Mary Rezeau, now of the Twp. of Vaughan, York co, was the lawful wife of the late John Lawrence in his life time a Lieutenant on the Half Pay of the First Battalion of the American Corps. commanded by Brigadier General Skinner of the New Jersey Volunteers who died in his residence in the above named township on the 13 December 1821, leaving his widow with 7 sons & 4 daughters, six of whom remain yet living with her unprovided for, with the exception of a farm lot of the usual size of 200 Acres with a house & other improvements thereon.
      Signed, W. Allan, Colonel, Commanding the East York Regiment of Militia.
      Jno Meingrg?, Agent to the late Lieut. Jno Lawrence.

      . Mary Lawrence made oath that she was lawfully married to John Lawrence, late Lieutenant on the half pay of American Corps., commonly called the New Jersey Volunteers, under Bridadier Genral skinner, & that she has no pension, allowance of provision made by Government,
      Signed, Mary Lawrence, Sworn York, UC, 28 Jan 1821, W. Allan, JP.
      Ref: C P668, P 432-95 p672.??????

      Lot 6, Con 1 EYS, Ontario Land Registry book North York 170, p127.
      . 1817 Mar 4, Michale Korts etui, to John Lawrence, £500.10s, 200A
      . 1818 Jun 13, WILL John Lawrence, to Mary Lawrence et all, All
      . 1833 Nov 28, B&S, Mary Lawrence et al, Alex C Lawrence et ll £500 & £800, its E40 Acre, Pt 160 Acre.

      . 1824 Ministers & Church Wardens of the Parish of York, York Co., Province of UC, we have seen Mary Lawrence on or since the 24 Dec, 1823 & she resides in Vaughan Twp., York District., was formerly the wife of John Lawrence. Signed, M R Brown, Officiating Minister for Dt. Markham., J B. Macaulay, Thos Ridout, Church Wardens.
      - Oath Mary Lawrence, … lawfully married to late Lieut. JL, Half Pay, 1st Bat. Brig. Gen. Skinner. & that she had had no Pension allowance or Provision, except her widows Pension at the rate of £40 per annum, now obtained.
      Signed, 20 Feb, 1824, Mary Lawrence, Wit: J Jarvis, J P., Home District, UC.

      . Home District, York, I certify I was well acquainted with the late John Lawrence, Lieut. 1st Bat. Gen. Skinners Brigade & was on the same Service with him in the Winter of 1780 & that I also was acquainted with Mrs. Lawrence, before & since her marriage with the said John Lawrence that I have been acquainted with him in the Prov. of NB from he year 1784 until I left that Prince for Upper Canada in the year 1810 & also since his arrival in this Province until his death & I also believe that the said John Lawrence was lawfully married to the said Mary.
      Signed, S. Jarvis, JP., Home District, UC
      XRef: See more testimony from Stephen Jarvis, under John Lawrence, UE

      No. 4. Province of New Brunswick, to wit: Be it remember On 10 Mar1815, personally appeared Samuel Sheppard of Parish of St. Mary, York Co, NB, shown, made oath & declared that he well knows John Lawrence, a 1st Lieut., late 1st Bat. Skinners, at present a Magistrate & resided, York Co. He was present when John Lawrence was married to Mary Reseau by the Reverend W Rowland, 4 May, 1783 at Richmond on Staten Island, US of A.
      That the peace os 1783 they with himself & others of the Disbanded corps came to this Province & John Lawrence & his wife have resided in York co. ever since the Peace in 1783 & always esteemed & respected as lawful man & wife by all ranks in Society,
      Signed, Garrit Clopper, Notary Pub.
      . York in Upper Canada, to all to whom it may concern, I Stephen Heward, Esquire, Notary Public, in the Town of York, UC, certify the within writings are true copies of an original deposition made by Samuel Sheppard, Parish of St. Mary, York co., NB, yeoman, before Garret Clopper Esq., Notary Public, Fredericton, NB, Signed, S. Heward, NP, of UC.
      . I certify Garret Clopper is a Notary Public, Signed, P. Mainland [i.e. The Gov. Gen. of UC.!]

      . Province of NB, Be it Remember that in 1815, Garret Clopper Esq, Public, Saint Marys Parish, sworn that he well knows John Lawrence a First Lieut., late 1Bat Gen. Skinner Brigade, at present a Magistrate & a resident in York Co. aforesaid; that he was present when said John Lawrence was married to Mary Rezeau by Rev. Mr. Rowland on 4 May 1783 at Richmond, Staten Island, USA & that at the Peace in 1783 that with himself & others of the Disbanded Corps. came o this Prov. & that the said John Lawrence & his wife have resided in his neighbourhood from that period until the present time & have always been esteemed lawful man & a wife. Signed. Danl. Clopper, Not Pub.

      No. 3. London District, Upper Canada, Personally appeared before me, John Backhouse, of Walsingham, Esq., Justice of Peace, William Hutchinson, Esquire of Walsingham, a Captain on the half pay of late 1st Battalion of NJ Volunteers & Catharine Hutchinson, his spouse, sworn, the they were present when Lieut. John Lawrence, 1st Bat. NJV & Mary Rezeau of Staten Island were lawfully married or or about 4 May 1783 9being before the said 1st Bat NJV were disbanded) & that John & Mary Lawrence were married at Richmond , Staten Island by Rev. John H rowland, Rector of St. Andrews Church, Staten Isl., in the presence of the subscribers & other witness:
      Signed, 7 Aug, 1815, W. Hutchinson, Jp. & Catherine Hutchinson. Wit: Joh Backhouse, JP.

      . 1824 Nov 23, Yonge Street, York Co., UC. I certify the late John Lawrence, Vaughan Twp., York Co, UC, in his lifetime, a lieutenant on the half pay, first Bat. NJV, who depart this life at Vaughan Twp., in the month of Dec 1821, died of the Asthma & that I attended him as physician during his illness, for some time previous to & at the time of this decease. Signed, Asa H Reid.
      - We James Miles & Michale Sloot, Justices of the Peace, certify the above subscribers, Asa J Reid, did practice as a physical in Vaughan Twp., for some time previous to & at the time of the deceased John Lawrence & he departed this life the math of Dec 1821, signed, , Yonge St., 23rd Nov.,1824. James Miles & Michael Sloot, JPs.

      No. 5. We subscribers do certify JohnLawrence, late Vaughan Twp., departed this life on Sunday 21 Dec 1821 & that his remains were entered at Vaughan aforesaid, 1 Jan, 1822.
      Signed, Vaughan, 1822 Feb 17, William Jenkins, Minister of United Congregations of Scarboro, Markham, Vaughan & Whitchurch;
      James Couse?, James Miles, Elder, Robert Marsh, Elder.

      . In the handwriting of Mary Rezeau Lawrence:
      {John Lawrence, son to William & Margaret Lawrence was born the 10th day of April 1754.
      Mary Lawrence, daughter to Peter & Mary Rezeau, was born 22 day of March 1766.
      John & Mary Lawrence was Marred the 4th Day of May 1783 -
      William Lawrence son to John & Mary Lawrence was b. 13 Sep 1864 about sunrise on Monday. Ref: Page 443 [or film page 690].

      . 1825 July 5 - I hereby certify that Eliza Ann Lawrence & Sara Catharine Lawrence are personally known to me & I believe from this appearance that the time of their respective births as stated, is true. Signed, York, James Miles, JP.
      . 1825 July 5, York, The Family Names. Personally came before me a Justice of Peace, Peter Rezeau Lawrence, son of the late John Lawrence, taketh oath & saith that he is aquatinted with his father's handwriting & believes that he wrote down the time of the birth of the family as get bit stand & in particular, the time of the births of Eliza Ann & Sarah Catharine Lawrence as they are entered upon this paper.
      Signed, 5 July 1825, Peter Rezeau Lawrence, & James Milles, JP.
      to page 446 [film p 695]

      . 1837 Toronto & Home District Directory :
      Mary Lawrence & Charles Lawrence, Con 1, Lot 42, Vaughan Twp. York Co.

      . 1842 Oct 5, Personally appeared before me Charles E Lawrence, Vaughan Twp, Yeoman, taketh oath & said that Mary Lawrence, the wife of Hon Lawrence, deceased, late a lieutenant in the NJ Volunteers, died in Vaughan Twp., on the 18 Sept, 1842 at about 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
      Signed, 5 Oct 1842, Charles E Lawrence & R C Gaffer, JP, Magistrate.
      I certify that I knew the deceased Mrs. Mary Lawrence & believe her to have died at the time above, Signed, 7 Ot 1842, Thornhill, Adam Townley, Clerk. {p.670]
      Ref. Pension Applications for Widows & Family of British Military Officers 1776-1881. P 432-695 [film p 668]

      . In regards to the Perrine surname given to her son Abraham Perine Lawrence:
      Wm. Perrine of Upper Freehold, Middlesex Co. NJ fled to New York;
      . 1777 Jul 4 estate inquisition for forfeiture, estate confiscated.

      . Lieut. Colonel John Lawrence was the son of Wm. & Margaret Lawrence. He was born Apr 10, 1754; & died Dec 30, 1821 at Vaughn, Canada ae. 66. He married on Staten Island, May 4, 1783, Mary Rezeau, Daughter of Peter & Mary who died Sept 18, 1842. They had 11 children.

      . RICHMOND ROAD, Current Courthouse is the third in Richmond, was erected in 1827. Across the road from St. Andrew's Church was the LaTourette House is on was once the location of a Revolutionary War-era fort, mills & quarries. In this was the headquarters for Lieut. Colonel John Graves Simcoe & his officers. Two battles actually took place here, at the near by St. Andrews Church. One can see the close circle where John Lawrence & Mary Rezeau could have first met.

      . REZEAU BURIAL GROUND, A portion of the Rezeau family burial ground adjoins the courthouse on the west. Susannah Van Pelt, who lacked but 6 months & 5 days of reaching the century mark, was the last of the 5 generations of Rezeau to be buried here.

      . REZEAU HOUSE, Said to be very old; is now the unpretentious southern portion of a saloon on the west side of the Fresh Kill Road just south of Center Street.

      . DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH SITE, Opposite the Rezeau house,
      on property now owned by William Flake at the southern corner of Center Street, formerly stood the Dutch Reformed Church; date of erection not known. As the first English missionary came to Staten Island about 1702 & held services in the French church at Green Ridge until St. Andrew's was finished in 1711, it is possible that the Dutch church was not standing at that time. This building was burned by the British "because it was a rebel church." About 1798, members of the Reformed Church at Port Richmond secured permission to erect a new house of worship on the foundations of the old, but curiously enough they spoke of it as "The Old French Protestant Church." It stands on the corner of Fresh Kill & Mill Roads. This building was completed in 1808 & was used up to about 1884, when it was abandoned & fell on evil times.
      Ref: History, story Legend of the old King's Highway, now the Richmond Road, Staten Island, N.Y. 1916.

      . 1926 Sep 2 - Several mistakes in the NJ Historical Society for July by E Alfred Jones, Histl Society, London: Lt Col & Gen. Elisha Lawrence, Dr John Lawrence, 1747 AND Lieutenant John Lawrence: son of Wm & Margaret Lawrence, Monmouth Co., B. Apr 10, 1754 …list their all 11 children with full correct birth dates. Jos. Tisdale of UC & Chas Earl Lawrence, yeoman at Vaughan, UC, in 1842 {is this then from a directory?
      Ref: Monmouth Inquirer, Freehold NJ.
      Note: Published in NJ 1926! It would be interesting to know actual & accurate source of this letter. - PJ Ahlberg, 2018. - - - [1, 2, 3, 4]

  • Sources 
    1. [S88] Wm. S. Horner, Moreau Brothers of Freehold, NJ., 1932. .

    2. [S27] City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Reference Library, Yonge & Bloor St., MS251, Reel 1 .

    3. [S105] Ontario Archives.

    4. [S13] Michael S. Adelberg, Pg. 164.