| Notes |
- JL was nearly 6 feet tall & very broad-shouldered.
- Resided Woodbury, NJ, with his brother who was studying law, from 1794-96.
- . After the Revolution James' father's reduced circumstances, had necessitated he attended a grammar school at Burlington. When his father, John Brown Lawrence died in July 1798, James's brother relented to permit James to study for 3 months with Mr. Griscomb of Burlington to learning navigation & naval tactics.
. Mr. Lawrence, Sr. was anxious the James should adopt his own profession as lawyer. At the age of 13, James began the studied law at Woodbury, but entered the Navy 4 Sept., 1798, also.
Ref: to a letter published on Oct 18 1812 in the Magazine of Am. History XXV, p 283.
. 1798 Dec 6- 54 Appointments have been made in the US Navy, among which we notice: Lieut. John Waddell of Trenton, James Lawrence of Burlington, Lieutenant.
Ref: Genius of Liberty Newspaper, Morristown, NJ.
. John Lawrence was for many years one of the most influential men in the Western division of New Jersey.
Ref: Colonial History of Sate of NJ, Volume XXIX.
. James was born in Burlington. 'It is said that when an infant in arms, the house in which his parents were living was repeatedly struck by short form the English ships in the river'. Later he lived in Woodbury, NJ. His mother Martha Tallman died when he was an infant, leaving his half-sister Elizabeth Lawrence (married Michael Kearney) to raise him in her home in Perth Amboy.
. Hunter-Lawrence-Jessup House, 58 N Broad St., Woodbury, NJ, - Historic house run by the Gloucester Co. Historical Society. James lived here in 1800.
. His father John B Lawrence wanted James to be a lawyer also, however he left his Wood law studies at 16 or 17 for a midshipman warrant. In a naval battle in Halifax Habour, Capt. Lawrence was shot when his his the Chesapeake was boarded.He suffered four days of extreme pain before expiring on 1 June, 1813 in the 32nd year of his age.
...on page 207-8, Woodbury is 9 miles s. of Philadelphia.
... James L., was once a student at the village academy, & resided with his brother John Lawrence, Esq. He [John] is remembered as an amiable youth, quiet in manner, & genteel in person.
Another report said he was chivalrous, generous, just, kind of heart, gentle, & pure. James Lawrence, Captain United States Navy. Commander of the New York & London: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 337 pp.
It should be remembered that short months before his death, that James. Lawrence, then captain of the Hornet had sunk the British ship the Peacock on 23 Feb. 1813. When he returned on 4 May, 1813 to NY City he was given a banquet in his honor at the new Washington Hall, one of finest hotels in NYC. Thus the fame of James Lawrence was already established.
"Don't give up the Ship" motto of US navy. Died in Naval battle on the USS Chesapeake. He was given a full military funeral by the British at Halifax, Nova Scotia. However at the request for remains of Capt. Lawrence & Lieut. Ludlow were first reburied in Salem where Hon. Jos. Story gave eulogy JL was finally laid to rest with his wife at Trinity Church in New York.
Ref: New York Herald Tribune.
. 1952 Mar 29, there was a reproduction of a painting by Alonzo Chappel of "The Death of Captain Lawrence" on the frigate "Chesapeake" in 1812, Navel engagement against the British frigate "Shannon". Midshipman William Sitgraves. Cox was court-marshaled & thrown out of the U.S. Navy in 1814, charges with neglect of duty because he helped carry Captain James Lawrence below on June 1,1813. When the Chesapeake under Lawrence, was captured by the British frigate Shannon, after the bloody 15 minutes battle of Boston Harbor, as Captain Lawrence was being carried below, he uttered the famous phrase, "Don't give up the ship."
After a few broadsides the ships fouled & Lawrence received a musket ball in the leg & later in the abdomen. As he was carried below to surgery he cried, "Don't give up the ship"; but the enemy had already boarded it. He died in Halifax in a few days, June 6, 1813.
Permission was given to convey Capt. Lawrence's body from Halifax to Salem, Mass on the ship Henry. On Aug 17,1813. "under management of the family of Capt. Lawrence plans were made to convey the body to NY." At NYC on Sept 16 a funeral was held with an estimated 50,000 people assembled to honor the national hero. Pallbearers: Capts. Hull, Stewart, Brainbridge, Blakely, Creighton & Parker & Lieut. Ballard & Wilkinson. Chief Justice Story delivered the eulogy. The city furnished the tomb for this final resting place.
The following gold medals, for victories by the Navy of the US, over British vessels of war, during the last war between the US & England, were decreed by Congress & the state of Penn. War was declared in June 1812 & the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent, Dec. 1814:
(#12) To the nearest male relative of Capt. James Lawrence, of NJ, of the sloop of war Hornet*, for the capture of Brig. Peacock, Capt. Wm. Peak, on the 24th Jan, 1813, after an action of 15 minutes. Passed January 11, 1814.
Ref: Halifax, N.S. Historical Society.
Note1* James Fenimore Cooper, writer of many famous novels, Last of the Mohicans & A life Before the Mast, lived in the co-joining houses of his father John Lawrence & JF Cooper:
Cooper's naval career was short but sufficient to acquaint him with the traditions of the Navy & several of its young, rising officers. He obtained a midshipman's warrant in 1808. The Navy Department first assigned him to duty in the bomb ketch Vesuvius at New York. From there, he was sent northward to assist Lieutenant Melancthon Woolsey, who was superintending the construction of the brig Oneida at Oswego, New York. This vessel was intended to enforce the embargo laws on Lake Ontario. At the outbreak of the War of 1812, she was the Navy's only purpose-built war vessel on the lake. Cooper's last assignment was service on board Wasp, commanded by Lieutenant James Lawrence, who sent him on recruiting duty. Despite their disparity of age & rank, Cooper & Lawrence became close friends, possibly because of their sharing a mutual birthplace, Burlington, New Jersey. In May 1810, Cooper requested a year's furlough from the Navy for personal reasons. He resigned his commission a year later.
Ref: James Fenimore Cooper Society, 2001.
. 1802 Apr 6 - Stationed at Tripoli on the Enterprise for 5 years.
Elements of J Lawrence's character were: Love of the sea; Fearlessness; Hyperkinesis: He was high strung & sensitive, quick & impulsive, but in all critical situations his coolness was remarkable. He inspired all with ardor & was a general favourite with his men. He was chivalrous, generous, just, king of heart, gentle & Pure. Physically he was nearly 6 feet tall & very broad-shouldered.
. 1813 Apr 13, US Ship Hornet, To P C Van Wyck, Esqr.
Sir I have been honored with your poise letter of the 1st inst, enclosing the Resolution passed by the Common Council of the NYC on the 29th march last, approbatory of the conduct of myself & the Officers & crew of the Hornet during the engagement with his BM Sloop of War Peacock. For these testimonials of public regard from such a respectable & honorable body, I cannot but feel the sincerest gratitude, & I assure you, Sir I shall ever esteem, the honors that have been so liberally award by the Common Council of the NYC as amongst the highest most valuable which my country can bestow. In these sentiments I am cordially reciprocated by the Officers and crew I have the honor to command & they trust, with myself, to future opportunities to become more worthy of the distinguished honors which have been already conferred.
For your Individual good wide & congratulations I beg you to accept my sincere thanks, With sentiments of sincere respect & esteem, I have the honor to be,
Signed, James Lawrence.
Ref: Collections of the NY Historical Society for the year 1885.
. 1813, Sept 17 New York, Yesterday ... the remains of the brave & gallant Capt. Lawrence & Lieut. Ludlow were interred in Trinity Church Yard. The procession was the most numerous & solemn ever exhibited in this city, at 50,000 persons. The navy procession of the Boats from the Navy Yard to the Battery was highly interesting.
Ref: The Adams Centinel dated 1813 Sept 29.
. 1813 Oct 1813 - Notice. Person having demands against the Estate of Captain James Lawrence, late of the United States Navy, will exhibit the same to the undersigned - & those indebted will please to settle their accounts. COX & MONTAUDEVERT, Administrators.
Ref: Evening Post Newspaper 1813 Dec 10.
. 1808 Nov. 29. Letter to Peter Russell, Gov. of Upper Canada, from Dr. William Gamble*, on behalf of James Lawrence, he is requesting information on the in land in Toronto, Ontario belonging if John Brown Lawrence.
Note2: Is Wm. Gamble related to the Archibald Gamble, who with Julia L Montaudevert & others who filed for land partition in NY state?
Numerous books & commentaries may be readily found on Capt. James Lawrence. - PJA.
. 1813 Sep 27, Capital Hill - Communications - the John bull story of the late Capt. James Lawrence having been born in Bristol, in England is 'very like a whale'.
Capt. James Lawrence was the son of John Lawrence, Esq. of Burlington, in the state of NJ, & if I am not very much mistaken, was born in 1776; his house was directly opposite to Powell's Academy & at present belongs to general Bloomfield. I well recollect the day after Capt. Lawrence was born - an old negro servant belonging to Mr. Lawrence met me: I asked him how his mistress was? He said, "quite well - had got a fine son with an eye like a bull" I was intimate in the family of Mr. John Lawrence, who was the eldest son of Elisha Lawrence, of Chestnut Grove, in Monmouth county, NJ.
It is probable that Capt. Lawrence's grandfather might have been in England - of this I am not certain; he was upwards of 70 years of age when I first become acquainted with him & I understood that Elisha Lawrence & his brother John were among the first settlers of Monmouth county.
this short statement of the family of the late Capt. Lawrence, being founded on unquestionable authority, you will do the friends of the deceased an act of justice by giving is publicity. W. G.
Ref: Niles Weekly Register, volume 5.
. Extract of a letter from Captain Jamison to Messrs. Cox & Montaudevert of this city, dated Providence, R.I. May 10.
I have the pleasure to inform you I arrived here yesterday, in your schooner Liberty, in 12 days from New Province, with 80 prisoners. I am sorry to inform you that our sloop of war, Frolic has been captured by the British frigate Orpheus v sent into New Providence. She arrived 2 days before I sailed. She threw over 11 guns & cut away her anchors, but all to no purpose. She was taken between the Havana & Matazies. I had not time to get the particulars of her capture from the officers. Charles Jamison.
Ref. Mercantile Advertiser, New York City.
. Further Research: Box 19/21, Lawrence, James Lawrence; others, inc. large photos James Lawrence. Archives Documents, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs; Reference to Judge Richard Hartshorne Family Papers, Manuscript Group Call# MG1363, New Jersey People: Individuals, Families, & Groups, NJ Historical Society, Newark, New Jersey.
. Isaac Whitaker, b. Jan. 11, 1780; d. Feb. 23, 1857; was a schoolmate & chum of Capt. James Lawrence, of the "Chesapeake," of "Don't give up the ship" fame; Capt. Lawrence tried to induce Isaac Whitaker to accept a commission on his ship, but he declined; buried at Deerfield.
Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - - [1, 2, 3]
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1781 - 1813 (31 years)