Genealogy Richard Remmé, The Hague, Netherlands » Robert Lawrence (± 1617-> 1682)

Personal data Robert Lawrence 

• He was born about 1617 in Chelsea, Middlesex, England.
• He died after October 19, 1682 in Nansemond Co., Virginia, Later Perquimans Co., North Carolina.
• A child of John Lawrence and Mary Grisselle Gibbons
• This information was last updated on December 4, 2022.

Household of Robert Lawrence

He is married to Elizabeth Adkinson.

They got married before 1638 at Warfield, Berkshire, England, Great Britain.

Child(ren):

1. John Lawrence  ± 1643-> 1696 
2. Ann Lawrence  1650-1727 

Notes about Robert Lawrence

Justice for Nansemond County Virginia for 1659-60.
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.(4) Robert's 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.

1638 migrated from Chelsea, Middlesex, England
On October 19, 1682, Robert Lawrence, the elder, witnessed the wedding of John Scott and Elizabeth Belson.
Robert Lawrence received two patents on August 25, 1642, in Isle of Wight County : 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.[CI:192:?3:CI] The patent for 200 acres was renewed on September 12, 1644. This land subsequently was conveyed to Daniel Washburne on July 8, 1652, witnessed by James Pyland and Robert Sabin.[CI:196:?3:CI]  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.[CI:193:?3:CI] 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.[CI:195:?3:CI]
Robert joined other Puritans migrating to Nansemond County , Virginia prior to 1659. Robert was a justice of Nansemond County, Virginia in 1659-1660 for 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." [CI:191:?3:CI] 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.[CI:197:?3:CI]
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.[CI:226:?3:CI]
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.[CI:198:?3:CI] On April 17, 1667, Lt. Col. John George patented 360 acres on Castle Creek adjoining Francis Place and Robert Lawrence .[CI:199:?3:CI]
Robert Lawrence probably was living as late as 1682 when Robert Lawrence , the elder, witnessed the Quaker wedding of John Scott and Elizabeth Belson.[CI:200:?3:CI] The exact date of death perished in the destruction of the records of Nanesmond County. Records existing in other locations prove that he left four sons, but it is impossible to prove the names of any daughters.[CI:107:?3:CI]
Robert Lawrence , son of Sir John Lawrence , Merchant of London, appears to be the first of this Lawrence family in virginia.He obtained a patent of 100 acres of land on Lawne's Creek,Isle of Wight,and another one of 200 acres "adjacent to the widow Bennett and Mr.Hardy , August 25,1642". He was a justice of the peace for the county of Nansemond in 1959-60. his wife was named Elizabeth.(17th century page491) . See Nicholson's Herald & Genealogist; vol.1V, for a more detailed and complete study of this family. Dates in Historical Southern Families Vol.1 page 181 by John Bennett Boddie 1958
William, John, Robert,and Giles Lawrence make their appearance on the ancient records of Colonial Virginia at about the same time and in the same locality.Every indication points to them being brothers.Source is Brøderbund WFT Vol. 5, Ed. 1, Tree #2828, Date of Import: Apr 23, 1997,Frank H Phelps 1680 Columbia Dr.,Englewood,Fla.34223-2518 941-475-5364 The Lawrence Familt exerpt from probably Library of Congress,Pages 613-614
Robert Lawrence belonged to the Quakers, or else was a Quaker sympathizer, because in a deposition by Thomas Jordan,the famous Quaker minister,made in July 1661,he declared he had been persecuted." by six weeks imprisonment for being taken at a meeting in my own and released by a King's proclamation.Secondly , taken at a meeting at the house of Robert Lawrence and bound over to the court at Nansemond County.And , He adds, taken by distress by Sheriff Thomas Godwin.
My estimated birth date for Robert is 1617. He married Elizabeth in England prior to imigrating. I have no surname for Elizabeth. What is the source for the surname ADKINSON? His son Robert was born circa 1639, who married Jane (or Joane) Gay, a widow, based on a deposition he made in March 1707/08 where he stated he was born in 1639 (source Boddie:17th Century Isle of Wight). Robert (Sr.) received a headright in 1642 for importing himself and wife Elizabeth. His son Robert was not mentioned for the headright therefore it appears that he was born after they arrive. Therefore it is estimate that Robert and Elizabeth imigrated circa 1638 probably shortly after his father Sir John died. Robert the Elder (believed to be Robert (Sr.) witnessed the Quaker wedding of John Scott and Elizabeth Belson in 1682 therefore his death date is after that.

+++++++ There was another William Lawrence in Queens County at this time whose family migrated to Monmouth County,New Jersey. The Lawrences' who came on the ship Planter were the St. Albans Lawrence 's. There was also a Henry Lawrence in MA who was an original immigrant not connected to the St. Albans Lawrence 's. Also a George Lawrence in MA. A John Lawrence from Wisset, England. A Robert Lawrence in Virginia of Ashton Hall, England. Numerous "Laurens" whose name transposed to Lawrence over the years and a Johannes Lorentz from Germany whose descendants changed there names to Lowrance and Lawrence .There are quite a few more who could be original immigrants and not connected to any of the above. "Dennis A. Lawrence " ((XXXXX@XXXX.XXX))

Occupation-Justice for County of Nansemond

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Timeline Robert Lawrence

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