3216. Robert Lawrence
Robert Lawrence was the son of [Sir] John Lawrence <p7.htm> and Grissell Gibbons <p7.htm>. Robert Lawrence was born circa 1617 at England.1 Robert Lawrence married Elizabeth Adkinson before 1638 at England. Robert died after 19 October 1682 at Virginia.2 Robert entered Oxford University on November 4, 1631, and possibly studied law at the Inner Temple in the following year. Upon becoming of legal age and receiving his inheritance, he married and departed for the Virginia Colony with his wife, Elizabeth.1,3 Robert Lawrence received two patents on August 25, 1642, in Isle of Wight Co.: 200 acres upon Lawnes Creek, adjoining the lands of Mr. Harding and the widow Bennett's lands for importation of himself, Eliza his wife, John Backwell, and Edward Ison; and 100 acres on Lawnes Creek adjoining his own land and the land of Mr. Tooke for the importation of James Long and Margerie Aldrige.4 The patent for 200 acres was renewed on September 12, 1644.5 This land subsequently was conveyed to Daniel Washburne on July 8, 1652, witnessed by James Pyland and Robert Sabin.6 Robert's eldest son, Robert Jr., was born about 1639. He was not used as a headright when Robert obtained land in Isle of Wight in 1642 for importing himself and his wife, therefore he was probably born after Robert's arrival in Virginia. On September 28, 1643, Robert received a patent for 150 acres near the mouth of Lawnes Creek adjoining John Stocker, Georg Hardie, and Thomas Gyer for the importation of Thomas Merrick, Wm. Penny, and John Pond.7 On August 20, 1644, Robert Lawrence and Ellis Brown patented 400 acres in Lower Norfolk County upon the east branch of Elizabeth River adjoining John Sidney and Richard Woster, 300 of the acres due by assignment of a patent dated May 22, 1637, from Thomas Sawyer, and the remaining 100 acres for paying the costs of importing two servants.8 Robert joined other Puritans migrating to Nansemond Co., Virginia prior to 1659. Robert was a justice of Nansemond County, Virginia in 1659-1660. On March 14, 1659/60, he petitioned the Virginia House of Burgesses to have a "writ of ease granted him from his future officiating as a Commissioner in the County of Nanzemund."9 He probably became a quaker about this time and was not in sympathy with the policies and actions of the Church of England and the Government towards the Quakers and Puritans residing in the County.1 Early Quakers differed widely from the sedate, punctual, peace loving and well ordered society that we know in America today. Initially they assumed disorderly characteristics. They denied all respect to magistrates and under a zealous impulse they burst into churches, disturbed public worship and exhorted ministers and congregations with fervid railings and reproaches. They sought no offices, courted no parties, flattered no one in power, cared nothing for earthly vanities, refused to take measures for national defense and denounced war.10,11 Testimonial given by Thomas Jordan at a Quaker meeting the 1st month, 1661, stated that he was "taken at a meeting at Robert Lawrence's and bound over to the court of Nansemond" for refusing to take certain oaths prohibited by their faith.12 On April 17, 1667, Lt. Col. John George patented 360 acres on Castle Creek adjoining Francis Place and Robert Lawrence.13 Robert Lawrence probably was living as late as 19 October 1682 when Robert Lawrence, the elder, witnessed the Quaker wedding of John Scott and Elizabeth Belson.14,15 The exact date of death perished in the destruction of the records of Nanesmond County. Additionally, a Robert Lawrence witnessed the marriage of Robart Jones and Martha Rice on "the tenth day of ye fift month in the year 1683."16 Records existing in other locations prove that he left four sons, but it is impossible to prove the names of any daughters.1
Children of Robert Lawrence and Elizabeth Adkinson:
Robert Lawrence Jr. (c 1639 - b 23 Jan 1720/21) George Lawrence Henry Lawrence ( - b 27 Sep 1739) John Lawrence ( - bt 1696 - 1700)
[S78] <s3.htm> Hugh Buckner Johnston, Manuscript, The Lawrence Family of England, Virginia, and North Carolina Virginia State Archives.
[S196] <s3.htm> Jr. Miles White, Early Quaker Records in Virginia, page 7.
[S80] <s3.htm> John BennettI Boddie III, Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County Virginia, page 491.
[S484] <s3.htm> Nell Marion Nugent and Dennis Ray Hudgins Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume 1, page 130.
[S484] <s3.htm> Nell Marion Nugent and Dennis Ray Hudgins Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume I, p.155.
[S80] <s3.htm> John BennettI Boddie III, Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County Virginia, page 519.
[S484] <s3.htm> Nell Marion Nugent and Dennis Ray Hudgins Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume 1, page 146.
[S484] <s3.htm> Nell Marion Nugent and Dennis Ray Hudgins Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume 1, page 156.
[S195] <s3.htm> Richmond, Virginia 1915, House of Burgesses Journals : page 4; DAR Library Special Collection, Reel 81.1, March 13, 1659/60.
[S80] <s3.htm> John BennettI Boddie III, Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County Virginia, page 111.
[S542] <s3.htm> Southern History Association, So. History Assn. Publications, Early Quaker Records in Virginia, page 411.
[S80] <s3.htm> John BennettI Boddie III, Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County Virginia, pages 118-119.
[S484] <s3.htm> Nell Marion Nugent and Dennis Ray Hudgins Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume II, page 20.
[S196] <s3.htm> Jr. Miles White, Early Quaker Records in Virginia, page 6.
[S542] <s3.htm> Southern History Association, So. History Assn. Publications, Early Quaker Records in Virginia, page 225.
[S542] <s3.htm> Southern History Association, So. History Assn. Publications, Early Quaker Records in Virginia, page 223.
Available at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~lawrpaul/robtlawr/p4.htm#i5438
3217. Elizabeth Adkinson
Source for last name: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~lawrpaul/robtlawr/p4.htm#i5438