Lawrence -
Hatteras
Island Group
Genealogy
Report
LAWRENCE
FAMILY
1. Elizabeth
Leurance, born say 1657, the servant of Thomas Townsend, confessed to the
Middlesex County court on 3 September 1677 that she had a child by Ananias. Her
master paid her fine and posted bond for maintenance of the child, so Ananias
may have been a slave or an Indian [Orders 1673-77, 76]. She may have been the
ancestor of
i. Alice,
presented by the Prince George County court on 13 May 1718 for having an
illegitimate child, no race indicated [Orders 1714-20, 186].
2
ii. Martha1, born say 1730.
iii. Drury1,
born say 1734, petitioned the Amelia County court on 26 June 1755 asking to be
discharged from his indenture to Charles Irby [Orders 1754-8, n.p.]. On 9
November 1769 the Lunenburg County court presented Richard Claiborne, Gentleman,
for not listing him as a tithable [Orders 1769-77, 5]. He was apparently
identical to Jury Larrance, an "Indian" taxable in Cumberland Parish,
Lunenburg County, in Henry Blagrave's list for 1772. A Drurey Larrance was
taxable the same year in Richard Claiborne's list for Cumberland Parish; a
Drurey Larrance was taxable in the compiled list for 1774, and a Jerry Laurance
was taxable in the compiled list for 1775 [Bell, Sunlight on the Southside,
291, 293, 339, 361].
3
iv. Robin, born say 1735.
2. Martha1
Lawrence, born say 1728, was living in Brunswick County, Virginia, on 25
September 1751 when the court ordered the churchwardens of St. Andrew's Parish
to bind out her poor infant son Richard Littlepage Lawrence. On 23 May 1753 the
court bound out her son Isham Lawrence [Orders 1751-3, 55, 501]. She was the
mother of
4
i. Richard1, born say 1747.
5
ii. Isham, born say 1745.
iii. ?Frances,
born say 1752, mother of a "Mulatto" child ordered bound out to
Elizabeth Woodward in Sussex County on 17 July 1777 [Orders 1777-82, 18].
6
iv. ?Martha2/ Patty, born about 1754.
3. Robin Lawrence,
born say 1735, died before 14 October 1786 when his widow Sarah married John Thomas,
Brunswick County, Virginia bond. He was called "Indian" Robin Lawrence
when his son Woody registered as a "free Negro" in Charlotte County on
15 April 1811 [Ailsworth, Charlotte County--Rich Indeed, 485]. Sarah was
called Sarah Thomas on the 7 March 1796 Charlotte County marriage bond of
her daughter Mason Lawrence. She was called Sarah Lawrence when she was taxable
on a horse in Charlotte County from 1792 to 1795 [Personal Property Tax List
1782-1813, frames 255, 279, 329]. Robin and Sarah were the parents of
i. Wood, born
about 1767, taxable in the middle district of St. Andrew's Parish, Brunswick
County, from 1782 to 1787: taxable on 2 horses and 4 cattle in 1782, taxable on
a slave and 2 horses in 1788 [PPTL 1782-1798, frames 11, 42, 189, 218]. He was
bondsman for his mother's 14 October 1786 Brunswick County marriage. On 30
November 1786 he sued Charles Brandum in Brunswick County court for a
debt of 8 pounds. On 6 November he and (his mother) Sarah Thomas sold for
5 shillings 200 acres where he was then living at the head of Lloyd's Run which
his father had purchased from Drury Stith [Orders 1784-8, 432, 475; DB 15:60].
He was taxable on a horse in Charlotte County from 1791 to 1810 [PPTL 1782-1813,
frames 231, 279, 329, 386, 451, 519, 657, 726, 792] and was a "Free
Negro" head of a Charlotte County household of 6 "other free" in
1810 [VA:969]. On 15 March 1798 he sold 100 acres in Charlotte County on Turkey
Cock Creek which was part of a tract of land he had purchased from John Sandifer
[DB 8:76]. He registered as a free Negro in Charlotte County on 15 April 1811: Mulatto
complexion, aged 44, born free [Ailsworth, Charlotte County--Rich Indeed,
485].
ii. Sarah, born
say 1767, "daughter of Robert Lawrence, deceased," married Peter Rouse,
19 October 1786 Brunswick County bond, Wood Lawrence bondsman.
iii. ?Levina,
born about 1768, married Alexander Flood, 4 April 1792 Charlotte County
bond. She registered in Charlotte County on 26 November 1806: Mulatto
complexion, aged 38, born free [Ailsworth, Charlotte County--Rich Indeed,
485].
iv. ?Berry/
Littleberry, born about 1769, taxable on a horse in Charlotte County from 1791
to 1799 [PPTL 1782-1813, frames 231, 279, 329, 386, 451]. He married Hannah Jumper
(daughter of C. Jumper), 7 March 1796 Charlotte County bond, John Williamson
surety. He registered as a "free Negro" in Charlotte County on 21
October 1799: Black complexion, aged 30, born free [Ailsworth, Charlotte
County--Rich Indeed, 485]. Berry registered again in Pittsylvania County
using his Charlotte County papers: a fifty-year-old black man with
"mulatto" wife Hannah (aged thirty-five) and four daughters
[Register of Free Negroes, pp. 6-7, nos. 16-20]. He was a "free Negro"
taxable in Pittsylvania County from 1810 to 1815 [PPTL 1797-1812, frame 688;
1813-23, frames 39, 62, 142].
7
v. Nanny, born say 1770.
vi. Mason, born
say 1775, married John Williamson, 7 March 1796 Charlotte County bond,
Littleberry Lawrence surety. John Williamson was a "Mulatto"
taxable in Charlotte County from 1798 to 1806 [Personal Property Tax List
1782-1813, frames 425, 456, 697].
vii. ?Ferguson,
taxable in Charlotte County in 1798 and 1799 [Personal Property Tax List
1782-1813, frames 420, 451].
4. Richard1
Lawrence, born say 1747, infant son of Martha Lawrence, was living in Brunswick
County, Virginia, on 25 September 1751, when the court ordered the churchwardens
of St. Andrew's Parish to bind him to Drury Stith, Gentleman. Richard was called
an "Indian" on 26 September 1758 when the court again ordered the
churchwardens to bind him out [Orders 1751-3, 55; 1757-9, 244]. On 28 October
1771 the court ordered the sheriff, Thomas Stith, Gentleman, to pay him 1 pound,
4 shillings for repairing the bridge over Sturgeon Run at Drury Stith's [Orders
1768-72, 423]. He was called Richard Littlepage Lawrence (signing) on 25
September 1775 when he and his wife Tabitha sold 100 acres in St. Andrew's
Parish, Brunswick County, on Loyd's Run which he had been devised by the 26 July
1765 will of Drury Stith [DB 11:491]. In 1784 he was paid 6 shillings by Thomas
Lundie, guardian of Thomas Stith, for making shoes [Guardians Accounts
1780-1808, 27]. He was taxable in the middle district of St. Andrew's Parish
from 1784 to 1796: called Richard Littlepage Lawrence when he was listed with
his son Miles in 1785 [PPTL 1782-1798, frames 77, 109, 189, 217, 251, 286, 339,
516]. On 26 July 1784 the Brunswick County court ordered the churchwardens of
St. Andrew's Parish to bind out his children, "it appearing he does not
take proper steps in bringing them up," and on 24 September 1787 the court
ordered the overseers of the poor to bind out his son Zachariah. On 25 August
1788 he was presented for living in adultery with Nancy Chavous. This was
probably the case against him which was dismissed on 24 March 1790 [Orders
1760-84, 471; 1784-8, 572; 1788-92, 60, 299]. He was the father of
i. Miles, born
say 1767, taxable in the middle district of St. Andrew's Parish, Brunswick
County, from 1784 to 1804: under the age of twenty-one when he was taxable in
Richard Lawrence's household in 1784, called Richard's son in 1785, a "M"(ulatto)
taxable from 1804 to 1807, crossed off the list in 1809 [Personal Property Tax
List 1782-1798, frames 77, 109, 286, 339, 378, 414, 448, 516, 615; 1799-1815,
frames 16, 116, 168, 225, 275, 319, 371, 418, 457].
ii. ?Sterling,
born say 1769, taxable in St. Andrew's Parish, Brunswick County from 1799 to
1814: a "M"(ulatto) taxable from 1804 to 1809, perhaps married to
Tabitha Lawrence who was listed with him in 1813. He was listed as a
"FN" in 1814, probably identical to Sack Lawrence who was taxable in
St. Andrew's Parish from 1796 to 1798 [Personal Property Tax List 1782-1798,
frames 516, 565, 615; 1799-1815, frames 16, 66, 116, 168, 225, 275, 319, 418,
457, 494, 535, 622, 652]. Sterling was head of a Brunswick County, Virginia
household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:721].
8
iii. Winny, born say 1771.
iv. Zachariah,
son of Richard Lawrence ordered bound out by the overseers of the poor on 24
September 1787 [1784-8, 572].
5. Isham Lawrence, born
say 1745, son of Martha Lawrence, was ordered bound out in Brunswick County,
Virginia, on 23 May 1753 [Orders 1751-3, 501]. He purchased 5 __ and 1/2 acres
on the south side of Flat Rock Road in Brunswick County for 150 pounds on 8
August 1780 [DB 14:189]. He was taxable in Brunswick County from 1782 to 1794:
taxable on a horse and 2 cattle in 1782 [PPTL 1782-1798, frames 11, 109, 217,
251, 286, 360, 448]. He and Daniel Duggar were sued for debt of 6 pounds in
Brunswick County court on 28 March 1785. Otha Jumper sued him and his
unnamed wife for trespass, assault and battery. The suit was dismissed at the
defendant's cost on 26 April 1785 [Orders 1784-8, 78, 93, 119, 125]. He was
taxable in Lunenburg County from 1795 to 1804, taxable on 2 tithes and a slave
in 1801 [PPTL 1782-1806]. He was counted in a "List of all free Negroes
& Mulattoes in the lower District of Lunenburg" with his wife Letitia
and children: Richard, Polly, Sally, and Griffin in 1802 and 1803 [LVA, Free
Negro & Slave Records, 1802-1803 p.1]. Lettence was head of a Surry County, North Carolina household of 7
"free colored" in 1820. Isham's children were
i.
Richard2, married Sally Barber, 23 September 1817 Surry
County, North Carolina bond. He was head of a Surry County household of 5
"free colored" in 1830.
ii.
Polly.
iii.
Sally.
iv.
Griffin.
6. Martha2/
Patty Lawrence, born about 1754, registered in Petersburg on 18 August 1794: a
dark brown woman with long black hair, five feet high, about forty years old,
born free & raised in Dinwiddie County [Register of Free Negroes
1794-1819, no. 41]. She was the mother of
i. Stith, born
about 1775, ordered to be bound apprentice in Dale Parish, Chesterfield County,
on 7 November 1783 and in June 1784 [Orders 1774-84, 496, 541]. He registered in
Petersburg on 16 November 1796: a dark brown Mulatto man, pitted with the
small pox, short knotty hair, stout & well made, five feet nine inches high,
Twenty one years old, born free & son of Patty Lawrence a free Mulatto woman
& raised in County of Prince George [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819,
no. 117]. He was taxable in Petersburg from 1800 to 1804, listed in the
Chesterfield County part from 1801 to 1804 [PPTL 1800-33, frames 7, 40, 95,
132].
ii. ?Rhody, born
about 1779, registered in Petersburg on 14 August 1800: a dark brown Mulatto
woman, five feet three inches high, twenty one years old, short bushy hair,
holes in her ears for rings, born free & raised in the Town of Petersburg [Register
of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 160].
iii. Peter2,
born about 1784, registered in Petersburg on 19 January 1802: (son of Patty
Lawrance, a free Mulatto woman) a dark brown Mulatto boy, seventeen to eighteen
years old, five feet three and a half inches high, pitted with the small pox
[Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 222].
iv. ?Fanny, born
about 1774, registered in Petersburg on 14 August 1800: a dark brown Mulatto
woman, five feet one half inches high, twenty six years old, with bushy hair,
born free & raised in the County of Prince George. Renewed 15 July 1805
[Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 161]. She was head of a Petersburg Town
household of 1 "other free" and a slave in 1810 [VA:119a].
7. Nanny Lawrence,
born say 1770, was living in Brunswick County, Virginia, on 20 March 1808 when
her son Willie registered as a "free Negro" [Wynn, Registry of Free
Negroes, 8]. Her children were
i.
Willie1, born about 1787, "a base born Child of Colour,"
bound to Edward Murden of Halifax County, North Carolina. On 16 September 1796
the court charged Murden and John Harrison with having sold him (into slavery)
and removed him from the state. He was apparently recovered because he
registered as a "free Negro" in Brunswick County on 20 March 1808: a
mulatto man abt 21 years of age near 6 feet high is reputed to be the son of
Nany Lawrence a free woman residing in this county.
ii.
?Thomas, born about 1792, registered in Brunswick County on 25 May 1813: a
mulatto man about twenty one years of age five feet ten inches high of a bright
complection... born free in this county as appears by the certificate of John
Elliott [Wynn, Registry of Free Negroes, 16].
iii.
Sarah, born about 1785, a base born child, no race mentioned, bound apprentice
to Mascoff(?) Daley, spinster, by the 18 February 1800 Halifax County, North
Carolina court.
iv.
Pheba, born say 1790, head of a Halifax County, North Carolina household of 3
"other free" in 1810 [NC:33].
8. Winny Lawrence,
born say 1771, was the "free Mulatto" mother of Francis Littlepage
Lawrence who was baptized in Bristol Parish, Virginia, on 26 August 1792 [Chamberlayne,
Register of Bristol Parish, 334]. She was the mother of
9
i. Francis, born 20 June 1791.
9. Francis
Lawrence, born 20 June 1791, was baptized in Bristol Parish, Virginia, on 26
August 1792 [Chamberlayne, Register of Bristol Parish, 334]. He was
living in Greensville County on 23 January 1794 when the court ordered the
churchwardens to bind him to Edmund Branscomb [Orders 1790-9, 237]. He was
taxable in St. Andrew's Parish, Brunswick County, Virginia, in 1811 [Personal
Property Tax List 1799-1815, frame 535]. He registered as a "Free
Negro" in Brunswick County on 28 March 1820: about twenty eight years of
age five feet five & 1/4 inches high and of a yellow complexion ... by
occupation a carpenter who it appears by the evidence of Thomas Lanier was born
free [Wynne, Register of Free Negroes, 31]. He was head of a Halifax County, North Carolina household
of 6 "free colored" in 1830 and was probably the father of
i.
Willie2, born about 1821, a fifteen-year-old boy of color ordered
bound apprentice to John Sumerville by the Halifax County court on 15 August
1836 [Minutes 1832-46].
Other members of the Lawrence family
were
i. Moses, born
say 1760, a "Mulatto" head of household in Buxton's list for the 1784
census of Nansemond County [VA:74] and a "Free Negro" taxable on 4
horses and two slaves in Nansemond County in 1815 [Yantis, A Supplement to
the 1810 Census of Virginia, S-14].
ii. Drury2,
born say 1760, a "yellow" complexioned soldier born in Prince George
County who lived in Dinwiddie County when he was listed as a substitute who
served in the Revolution [NSDAR, African American Patriots, 151].
iii. John,
married Pheribe Darden, 10 January 1793 Southampton County bond. He was
head of a Southampton County household of 7 "other free" in 1810
[VA:92].
iv. Peter1,
born about 1772, registered in Petersburg on 13 October 1794: a dark brown
Mulatto man, five feet eight and a half inches high, twenty two years old, born
free & raised in County of Prince George [Register of Free Negroes
1794-1819, no. 92].
v. Bilcey, head
of a Washington County, Virginia household of 1 "other free" in 1810.
vi. Fed, born say
1780, a "mulatto lad" who ran away from Edward Harrison of Prince
George County according to an ad placed in a Virginia newspaper on 18 August
1792 [Headley, 18th Century Newspapers, 201].
Members of the Lawrence family in
Essex and Westmoreland counties were
i. John, a
"free Mulatto" overseer living on Ronand's land in Westmoreland County
in 1801 [Virginia Genealogist 31:40].
ii. William, head
of Westmoreland County, Virginia household of 2 "other free" in 1810.
iii. Jane, head
of Westmoreland County, Virginia household of 2 "other free" in 1810.
iv. Cornelius,
born about 1797, obtained a certificate of freedom in St. Mary's County,
Maryland, on 28 November 1816: aged nineteen years ... light complexion ...
born free [Certificates of Freedom 1806-64, 37]. He registered in Essex
County, Virginia, on 21 June 1824: born free by certificate of St. Mary's
County, Maryland, 27 years of age [Register of Free Negroes 1810-43, p.46,
no. 115].
End of file
|
