| 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. - . - [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]
- 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. - - -
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1655 - 1741 (86 years)