Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library
CARIBBEANA VOLUME VI
Jamaican Excerpts
LAWRENCE OF JAMAICA
The following pedigree has been drawn up from family papers at Cowesfield House, which the Editor was invited to examine in July 1913. He then checked it with the late Capt. Lawrence Archer's papers in the British Museum (Add MS. 31,228) wherein (fo. 27) is this note:
"This Lawrence of Jamaica pedigree I have most carefully constructed from original sources, public records, private relics of the family an early correspondence, etc. I have however omitted as unnecessary the names of estates and the rank in the local militia held by many of these persons. In short this is simply a pedigree of blood and not of 'honours and rewards.' J. H. Lawrence Archer."
John Lawrence the first settler is given in Hoare's "S. Wilts," v., 74, as a son of Henry Lawrence, M.P., the President of the Council under Cromwell. John's will, which I have perused, gives no evidence in support of such claim, and the. present head of the family, Mr. W. F. Lawrence of Cowesfield, does not wish to put forward any statement which cannot be proved. He agrees that we do not at present know John's parentage. The family tradition is that he left England with James Bradshaw* and landed in Barbados, whence he removed to Jamaica, arriving at Lucea in 1676, abode there in the house of the widow Dunn, situated at Dunshole, a bay in St. James, and married her shortly after. There was a family of London, resident in Winterborne Whitchurch, Dorset, in the 17th cent. with arms obliterated, but crest the usual fish's tail. Of whom John son of John, was bapt. in 1649 and John buried in 1666 and 1691. (Hutchins, i., 201.)
The Lawrences of Creech Grange in Purbeck entered their pedigree in the Visitation of 1628. Arms: Arg., a cross ragulee Gu. (Ibid., 599.)
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* Bradshaw, the son of President Bradshaw, came frequently to Liguanea. Church Notes 1723. Ante, II, 346. James Bradshaw was speaker in 1694.
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John Lawrence, late of the parish of St. Ann in the Island of Jamaica now of Noel St., London, Esq. Will dated 26 June 1780. Weak in body. All my estate and plantations in Jamaica, negroes, cattle etc. and all estate real and personal to my mother Sarah L., William Bolt of Norton St. London, Esq., and Robert Marshall of Jamaica, gent., on Trust to pay debts, and to a free mulatto Mary Campbell £30 c. per annum, and £100 c. a year for two quarteroon boys James Berwick alias Jas. Berwick Lawrence and John Lawrence, children of said Mary Campbell, and £500 c. each when out of apprenticeship. £50 a year for the maintenance of each of the children of my sister Mary Senior, and £800 c. each at 21, she to be maintained on my estate. £250 c. a year to each of the children of my brothers William Lawrence and James Lawrence and my sister Sarah Hilton. To my friend Mr William Gerard of Islington and Mrs Agnes Graeme now living with W. G. £100 st. each, and to my friends the said William Bolt and Robert Marshall £200 st. each. John Franks Taylor in whose house I live and to his wife Jane F., £50 st. each. All residue to my nephew Chr. Senior son of my sister Mary Senior, he to take the additional name of Lawrence. My said Trustees to be Executors and Guardians.
Codicil. Mr William Gerard £100 more and to be one of my Executors. The £100 a year to quarteroon boys to be sterling. Produce to be consigned to William Bolt. 7 July 1780.
Proved at London 27 July 1780 by William. Bolt, esq., power reserved to the others. (365, Collins.)
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George Whitehorne Lawrence of the parish of St, James, county of Cornwall, Island of Jamaica, now residing at Epsom, co. Surrey, G.B., Esq. Will dated, 9 April, 1781. Sick and weak in body. Wife Margery my sugar plant. called Running Gut in St James containing 460 acres, butted N. on the sea, E. on Rose Hall, S. on the Crawl and Tryall est., W. on the Spring est. which was granted me by my father Benjamin L., esq., by deed poll dated 18 Nov. 1766, also those 138 slaves (all names given), mules, cattle and stock. I also give her 543 acres, the moiety of 1060 acres allotted to me at Spring Gut, bounded N. on Fra. Blower Gibbs, E. on the other moiety of the 1060 acres allotted to Benj. L., esq., S. on Findlater, W. on Bluehole and Tryall est. which was granted me by my said father to her during widowhood but if she marry I give to my brother Benj. L. of St James, Esq., £500 c. a year out of said plantation, and if dead to my nephew Benjamin John Lawrence 1st son of said brother B. L. and Mary his wife, and at my wife's death I give said plantation to said bro., and whereas my father conveyed to me 1419 acres the moiety of several runs at Longbay bounded N. on the sea, E. on the other moiety, S. on Jarrett Morris and Brown, W. on Waite and Hamilton and part has been sold and intend to sell the remainder, the proceeds to be applied for debts and balance to wife, and whereas on 2 April 1781 I purchased from John Roberts Hawkins of Epsom a mess. in Church St. or Lane and 1/2 acre in the common field, I give it to my wife, plate, horses and carriages and all residue. If I leave a child all est. to it. My wife Ex'trix and my brother-in-law Sam. Barrett of Trelawny, esq., Ex'or, 9 April 1781.
Sworn 6 Feb. 1783 by the witnesses. Proved 1 Feb. 1783 by Margery L., widow, the relict. (83, Cornwallis.)
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Margery Lawrence of Portman Street, St. Marylebone, widow of George Whitehorne Lawrence, late of Jamaica, deceased. Will dated this 9 March 1798. To be interred in Epsom churchyard in the vault where my husband is buried. My sister Mary Waite of Jamaica, widow, £1000 c. My sister Amelia Thompson wife of Thomas Pepper Thompson of Bulstrode St., esq., £1000 c., and my chariot and horses. To my brother Edward Barrett of J., plate, pictures, furniture at my house at Epsom, and my negro slaves, cattle, horses, mules and stock in J. and all residue for his life and afterwards to such of the children or reputed children of his late son Samuel Barrett by Eliz. Barrett Williams, widow of Martin Williams late of Jamaica deceased, as he may appoint, if he die before me I give all my est. to Samuel, reputed eldest son of my late nephew Sam. B., and in default to Richard the 2d son, Edward the 3d son, George the 4th. My brother Edward Barrett and John Roebuck the elder and John Roebuck the younger of Love L., merchants, Ex'ors.
Codicil. Legacy to butler, coachman, under butler, footman and others. 9 March 1798.
Proved 31 March 1798 by J. R. Sr and Jr, power reserved to E. B. (194, Walpole.)
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Est. of Christ. S. Lawrence - Tripoli 42 slaves
Sarah S. Lawrence --- 40 slaves, 34 stock
William W. Lawrence Hilton Hill 42 slaves, 64 stock
Lawrence Park 174 slaves, 5 stock
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Sacred to the memory of
the Rev. RICHARD BRISSETT LAWRANCE
who departed this life
the 13th day of October 1821
aged 31 years and 3 months.
(Roby, 57; Archer, 53.)
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Underneath this marble
are inter'd the remains of
the honorable JAMES LAWRENCE
of Fairfield in the parish of St. James Esq
who departed this life
in the year of our Lord
1756
in the 47th year of his age.
He was buried there 16th June. (Archer, 94.)
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1796, Nov. In St. James's, Benjamin John Lawrence, esq., and Miss Mary Hind Lawrence, his eldest dau. (Columbian Mag., Ante, IV., 207.)
1797, Feb. At Richmond, Mrs. Lawrence wife of G. W. L., esq. (Ibid., 209.)
l797, Dec. In St. Ann's at Tarentum, John Taylor, esq., to Mrs. Lawrence widow of Benj. L., esq., late of St. James's. (Ibid., 272.)
1798, June. In London, Mrs. Margery Lawrence relict of George Whitehorne Lawrence, esq., of Running Gut in the parish of St. James. (Ibid., 276.)
1798, Aug. In St. James's at Hazelymph, Col. James Lawrence. (Ibid., 277.)
1800, Jan. 24. At Edinburgh, Mr. John Hilton Lawrence, 2 son of the late William. Lawrence, esq., of Hilton-hill, Jamaica. (Ibid., 185.)
1811, June. Lately. At Hazelymph, Jamaica, James Charles Lawrence, esq., etc. (" G.M.," 679.)
1814, Dec. 22. At Catherine-hall, near Montego Bay, J., aged 23, much lamented, Mr James Francis Lawrence (only son of Mr Lawrence of Cross). ("Bath Chronicle.")
1815. P. 12. Account of the family of Lawrence of J'ca, also Aug. 1829. (" G.M.")
1815, Jan. 20. In Montague-place, Montague-square, aged 66, Mary wife of Richard James Lawrence, esq. of Fairfield, Jamaica. She was born in J., the dau. of Thomas Hall, esq. of Kirkpatrick and Worcester (descended from a noble family in the Netherlands). Distinguished for her beauty, she was pourtrayed by West in two of his most admired pictures*: first, as Una: and secondly, as Fidelia, in his Fidelia and Speranza; but the memory of her virtues will survive the works of the artist. Her husband and five sons regret her. She is interred in the chapel of St. John Wood, Mary-le-bone. ("G.M.," 184.)
1830, Nov. 8. In Crawford-Strt, having just completed his 85th year Richard James Lawrence, Esq. of Fairfield in J., etc. (Ibid., 472.)
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* These portraits I saw at Cowesfield in July 1913.
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1834, Dec. 9. At Islington, the Rev. John Hambledon, Minister of Holloway Chapel, Middx. to Sophia Anglin, daughter of the late George Lawrence of St. James's, J. (Ibid., 1835, 201.)
1839, Ap. 4. At St. Mary's, Marylebone, James Smith, M.D. of Stevenage, to Mary Brodie, 3rd daughter of the late W. W. L. of L. Park, J. (Ibid., 650.)
1840, Sept. 20. At Carlsbad, Germany, aged 60, Capt. Fred. Lawrence, half- pay, 43d Regt, one of the gentlemen of H. M. Privy Chamber and youngest son of the late R. J. L., esq., of Fairfield, J. (Ibid., 676.)
1840, Sep. 26. 1n Regent-st., aged 67, James Lawrence, who was a Knight of Malta, some- times styled himself Sir J. L. or the Chevalier, 1st son of Richard James Lawrence of Fairfield in J., etc. (Ibid., 1841, 205.)
1850, June 1. At St. Paul's, Hammersmith, J. A. D. Cox, esq., of Ham Common, Surrey, to Mary Brodie, relict of J. T. Smith, M.D. of Stevenage, Hefts, and 3d dau. of the late W. Whitehorne Lawrence, esq. of St. Ann's, J. (Ibid., 202.)
1816, Aug. 29. Indenture between George Lawrence of Montagu Place, co. Middx., esq., and Sarah Brissett Lawrence his wife of the one part; George Reid the Younger of L., esq., of the other. Whereas Thomas Reid the Younger late of Belvidere plantation in the parish of Hanover, J'ca, esq., deceased, by his will dated 24 Aug. 1798 gave his estate called Belvidere of 1350 acres to Trustees and £1000 to the said George Lawrence, and £5000 to be paid at the death of his wife as she should appoint, and gave one moiety of all residue to his nephew Samuel Wells Thompson and his heirs and in default to James Lawrence, George L., Charles L., Henry L., and Fred L. (the sons of his friend Richard J. Lawrence) and others, and testator died 10 Dec. 1798 and Eliz. Reid his wife died and made her will in Aug. 1804 and gave the said George L. £200, now George L. agrees to sell to George Reid his 1/7 (? reversionary) share of Belvidere and the right to the legacy of £200 for the sum of £800. Signed by Geo. L. and his wife. Sealed with Crest: A hind's or greyhound's head couped.
1821, Mar. 17. The Trust deed of Bayswater Chapel, Covenant, between the Rev. George Lawrence of Great Ormond St., St. George the Martyr, and Edward Orme of Bayswater, to produce a deed of even date relating to the ministry of the said Lawrence (who signs).
1821, July 10. Bayswater Chapel, Original assignment of rent charge between the Rev. George Lawrence and Sophia Anglin Lawrence of Colebroke Row, Islington, his sister. Sigs. of both parties.
1841, May 19, George Lawrence of Cowsfield, co. Wilts, esq., for £6,500 sells to Lawrence Hislop of St James's, J'ca, all that estate in Trelawny formerly called St James's, now Weston Favell, containing 300, 256 and 264 acres. (Ante, II., 367.)
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1669 Nov. 13 George son of Mete and Elizabeth Lawrence.
1703 Sept. 28 Ann daughter of John and Sarah Lawrence.
1711 June 3 Hannah daughter of John and Hannah Lawrence (B. 24 May 1711).
1771 July 24 Richard Harris Lawrence. (14 years of age).
1787 Jan. 14 Richard son of William and Sarah Lawrence.
George Lawrence and -
Richard Harris Lawrence and
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1781 Mar. 9 James Crossby son of William Lawrence and his wife Frances.
1794 Jan. 7 Mary Hind, dau. of Benjamin John Lawrence and his wife Craufert Ann (B. 17 Nov. 1793).
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1729 Oct. 23 Samuel, son of Timothey and Ann Lawrence (of Parish St Andrews) B. 23 Oct. 1729.
1754 Oct. 30 Margaret Mary, dau. of Richard and Mary Lawrence (B. 4 Apr. 1754).
1759 Dec. 6 William, son of Richard and Mary Lawrence. (B. 30 Jan. 1759).
1762 Oct. 10 John, son of James and Ann Lawrence. (B. Nov. 19, 1761).
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1729 June 12 Timothy Lawrence & Ann Galvin.
June 12 Lawrence Lawrence & Anne Elizabeth Thorne.
1733 Aug. 5 Richard Harris, son of Timothy and Ann Lawrence.
1735 Aug. 8 Susannah, dau. of Timothy and Ann Lawrence. (B. Apr. 27 1735).
1750 July 19 Timothy, s. of Timothy and Mary Lawrence. (B. June 16 1750).
1751 Feb. 28 George, son of Richard and Mary Lawrence. (B. 20 May 1750).
1753 June 28 Elizabeth, dau. of Timothy and Mary Lawrence. (B. 13 May 1753).
1770 May 18 Sarah, dau. of Richard and Mary Lawrence. (B. 23 Nov. 1769).
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1789 Aug. 21 Elizabeth Mathias, dau. of John Mathias and Sarah Williams Lawrence. (B. May 1 1782).
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1755 Apr. 18. Ann, dau. of Henry Lawrence and Mary his wife aged 6 months and 28 days.
1757 Nov. 5 Henry Hodge, son of Henry and Mary Lawrence aged 6 months and 10 days.
1759 July 15 Sarah, dau. of Henry and Mary Lawrence (B. July 13, 1759).
1763 Apr. 26 John Grant Thompson, son of Henry and Mary Lawrence (B. Sept. 21 1762).
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1794 Apr. 14 Mary Jean, dau. of William George Lawrence and Ann Grey his wife (B. 12 Jan. 1794).
1795 June 19 George Whitehorne, son of Benjamin John Lawrence and Comfort Ann his wife (B. 2 Dec. 1794).
1798 Dec. 7 Benjamin John, son of William George Lawrence and Ann Grey his wife (B. 8 Feb. 1797).
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1765 Oct. 8 Lemon Lawrence Lawrence and Elizabeth Rachel Lawrence
1772 Apr. 26 Stephen Lawrence & Susannah Moone.
1777 - James Charles, son of James Lawrence, Esqre., and Mary his wife.
1779 Aug. 29 Sarah Brissett, dau. of James Lawrence, Esqre, and Mary his wife (of the parish of Westmorland, B. 15 March 1779).
1780 Dec. 25 Mary Brissett and Elizabeth Reid, Twin daus. of James Lawrence of the P. of Westmorland, Esqre, and Mary his wife, B. 24 Oct. 1780.
1784 Jan. 10 Emily, dau. of James Lawrence, Esqre, and Mary his wife (B. 29 Sept. 1783).
1791 June 5 Richard Brissett, son. of James Lawrence, esqre, of the parish of Westmorland and Mary his wife (B. 11 July 1790).
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Judith, dau. of John and Esther Lawrence of Westmorland Parish, B. Jan. 13.
Matilda, dau. of Brooks Lawrence, Cornet and Adjutant of the 13 Light Dragoons and Rosanna his wife, B. Dec. 19 1797. (Thos. Warren, rector.)
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1772 July 25 Mary Ann, dau. of Benjamin and Mary Lawrence. (B. 4 July 1772).
1780 June 13 Sarah Jane, dau. of Benjamin and Mary Lawrence. (Feb. 4, 1781), sic.
George, son of George and Sophia Lawrence. (July 20, 1782).
David son of George and Sophia Lawrence.
1784 Apr. 19 Susannah Anglin, dau. of George and Sophia Lawrence.
Lawrence William, s. of George and Sophia (B. June 11 1786).
Sophia Anglin, dau. of George and Sophia (B. 6 Feb. 1788).
Emily, dau. of James and Mary Lawrence (B. 4 June 1786), sic.
Thomas Reid, son of James and Mary Lawrence (B. 17 June 1786), sic.
Thomas Tharp, s. of James and Mary Lawrence of Westmorland Parish (B. 26
March 1788).
1796 Oct. 4 Susan Frances, dau. of Benjamin and Mary Lawrence.
William George, s. of Benjamin Lawrence. (B. 19 June 1794).
Oct. 10 Stephen, s. of George and Sophia Lawrence. (B. May 8 1779).
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1743 Feb. 22 Sabina Jane, dau. of John Lawrence.
1750 Dec. 26 Richard Cornelius, s. of John Lawrence deceased and Mary his wife. John Pool, rector.
1767 Sept. 18 Mary Pool Lawrence, dau. of Lemon and Elizabeth Rachel Lawrence. (B. 14 Oct. 1766).
William Hudson, s. of James and Ann Lawrence.
Ann Rebecca, dau. of Thomas B. Lawrence. and Sarah his wife.
Barron Lawrence.
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Parishes of St. Dorothy, St. John, St. David, St. George and Portland, no baptismal registers of Lawrence.
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1690 May 10 John Lawrence of St. James. Sons John, James and Benjamin, dau.-in-law Eliz. Dunn. (Liber 7, fo. 13.)
1705 Sept. - John Lawrence of St. Anns, son John in England, dau. Ann.
John Lawrence of St. Jago de la Vega, wife Sarah, dau. Anne.
1713 July 6 John Lawrence of St. Catherine, Queenstown plantation, wife Hannah, daus.
Mary and Hannah, sister-in-law Ann Eves.
1717 Jan. - John Lawrence of St. Catherines, wife Eleanor.
1736-7 Feb. 9 John Lawrence of St. James, sons James, George, Richard, Ezekiel and Benjamin, daus. Rachel, wife of Jeremiah Downer, and Mary Sarah Lawrence, grand-dau. Susannah, dau. of my dau. Susannah Lawrence. (Liber 21, fo. 47.)
1739 Aug. 27 John Lawrence of Westmorland, sons Barron, Jenkins, John-George and Thomas, daus. Judith, Esther and Frances. Grand-dau. Mary Pinnock.
1743 May 4 Lawrence Lawrence of St. James, wife Susannah, sons Lemon Lawrence Lawrence and George Lawrence, daus. Susannah Dunbar, Cath. and Rachel.
1744 Apr. 4 John Lawrence. of St. Anns, sons Charles and William, dau. Eliz., brother William, brother-in-law C. Allen.
1747 Feb. 1 John Lawrence of St. Anns, sons William and Charles, bro. William, dau. Eliz.
1753 Jan. 19 John Lawrence of St. Anns.
Dec. 2 Timothy Lawrence of St. Andrews, wife Mary, sons James, Timothy, dau. Eliz., wife, Benj. Lawrence and - Gaberdon, Ex'ors.
1756 Sept. 8 James Lawrence of St. James. Will dated 8 May 1746. Wife Mary, daus. Susanna, Eliz. and Mary Lawrence, sons (one late son) John, Richard James, James, reversion to Philip Anglin s. of Philip Anglin by my sister Sarah Dunn, Lemon Lawrence s. of Lawr. Lawrence by my Sister Susanna Lawrence, and John Dunbar s. of Patrick Dunbar by my niece Lawr. Dunbar. (Lib. 30, fo. 176.)
1758 Apr. 4 Richard Lawrence of St. James, wife Susanna, sons Stephen and George, daus. Ann Thain, Sarah and Mary Ann Petgrave. Wife, Benjamin Lawrence and - Gaberdon, Ex'ors.
1759 May 28 Peter Lawrence, sister Bridget Burke, niece Cicely Madden, nephew Walter Lawrence.
1763 Apr. 14 Jenkins Lawrence of Kingston, legatees Pinnock, Drummond and Anderson.
1766 Dec. 11 George Lawrence of St. Anus, wife Eleanor, nephew William Lawrence Gaberdon, wife's two children by a former husband Mary and George William Edwards.
1777 Sept. 25 Richard Harris Lawrence of St. Andrew. Mother Ann Scott, sister Eliz. Burnside, dau. Sarah Lawrence.
1779 Feb. 2 Will. Lawrence of St. Anns, wife Sarah, son John.
Fo. 31. " There was an intimate connection between certain Jamaica and American families of Lawrence, and I have pedigree of Pennsylvanian Lawrences who had estates in Jamaica and eventually settled in the latter island.
"Some of these Lawrences were connected by marriage with Sir Philip Francis (Junius?) and with the family of William Penn the Founder of Pennsylvania. There was also a double connection through the families of Allen and Masters. John Lawrence (will 1690) is said to have been a son of Henry L. Cromwell's President of Council and his descendant James of Fairfield is given his arms in Burke's General Armory. (Fairfield in St. James, Jamaica.)
Lawrence Lawrence is supposed to have been the last of the family of Iver in Bucks. He was born in the 17th century. His daughters lived to a very advanced age and that (? the will-Ed.) of the eldest surviving (Mrs. Cath. Franklyn is recorded 1831*) at Doctors Commons.
There was also a branch of an Irish family of Lawrence at Portland, Jamaica. Mr. Roby's "History of the Parish of St. James " is found on a comparison with Lawrence wills to be inaccurate in several instances."
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* Year uncertain.
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1663 May 11 John Lawrence Footland St. Catherine.
1684 Sept. 8 John Lawrence St. Anne.
1686 May 4 John Lawrence 300 a. St. James.
1687 - John Lawrence 120 a. St. Anne.
1710 Sept. 7 John Lawrence 170 a. St. James.
1718 Feb. 10 John Lawrence 500 a. St. James.
1728 May 5 Benjamin Lawrence 300 a. St. Anns.
1729 Apr. 12 Peter Lawrence 500 a. Portland.
1742-3 July Lawrence Lawrence 300 a. St. James.
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1685 John Lawrence to Hunt.
1705 John Lawrence to Mary Petgrave.
1705 John Lawrence to Will. Whitehorne.
1706 John Lawrence to Garland.
1743 James Lawrence to Michael Petgrave.
1743 Lawrence Lawrence to Thomas Harding.
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1694 - Griffith, master of the ship - of Bristol.
1709 Apr. 13 Peter of Port Royal.
1710 Feb. 16 Richard, merchant of London to Mr. Watkins.
1715 - Richard, merchant.
1719 Feb. 1 Matthias, mariner of Kingston.
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