Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 28

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 912

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 28

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(XXII) John Lawrence, son or nephew of John Lawrence (21), was born in Maine about 1740. He had a cousin John of North Yar- mouth, who was probably the son of Samuel Lawrence. Both John Lawrences were sol- diers in the Revolution, one from North Yar- mouth, the other from Narragaugus, Maine. The latter was corporal in Lieutenant Thomas Parrat's company, June 25, 1777, serving at Machias in a detachment drafted from the militia. He was sergeant in Captain Thomas Robbins's company in 1778 in Colonel John Allen's regiment at the defence of Machias. He was corporal in the detachment under Lieutenant John Buchanan, Colonel Foster's regiment, in 1778, called out to defend the state stores on board the "Merry " bound from Boston to garrison Machias. The pay roll was dated at Narragaugus. The history of the valley says: "He was one of the very early settlers on the river." It re- fers to the old tradition that a John Lawrence married a Townley, but strange to say failed to mention the vast English estates that most Lawrence-Chase-Townley families have been told falsely, of course, but none the less allur- ingly, awaited the American heirs of John Lawrence and Mary Townley in England. An association was formed and experts hired to investigate the tradition. There was no such estate, of course, though the families were

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connected. John Lawrence came from North Yarmouth to Narragaugus and settled in what is now called the upper corner very near the house now or lately owned by Al- fred Small. As the very first settlers on the river were not there until 1757, Lawrence came we believe about 1760, certainly be- fore the Revolution. He had but one child, John, mentioned below.

(XXIII) John Lawrence, son of John Lawrence (22), was born about 1765, prob- ably in Narragaugus. He married Jennie Rolfe, whose parents settled in the Intervale District near where the schoolhouse now stands. John and his young wife settled on the lot now or lately of Gilbert Sproul and raised a large family of children: I. John, married Wilson. 2. Aaron, married Lucy Leighton. 3. Daniel, married

Sumner. 4. Larkin, mentioned below. 5. William, married Reynolds. 6. James P., married Amy Patten; (second)

Alline; (third) Matilda Jones. 7. Alpheus. 8. Polly, married Aleander Leighton. 9. Jane, married William Campbell. 10. Sally, married Amos G. Guptill. II. Nancy, mar- ried Otis Tucker. 12. Betsey, married George Guptill.

(XXIV) Larkin Lawrence, son of John Lawrence (23), was born in Narragaugus Valley, Maine, probably in what is now Lu- bec, about 1790. He lived and died in Lu- bec. He was named probably for the Lakin or Larkin family, relatives and neighbors of the Lawrences at Groton first, and afterwards in other places. He was educated in the com- mon schools, worked on his father's farm, and followed farming as an occupation through life. He was a Whig in his later days in politics and a Baptist in religion. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. He mar- ried thrice. One of his wives was a Kings- ley. He had six children by his first wife; one by his second and none by the third. Children of the first wife: I. Nelson Lar- kin, mentioned below. 2. Jotham. 3. Lor- ing. 4. Curtis. 5. Infant died young. 6. Louisa. The only child of the second wife was: 7. Mary J.

(XXV) Nelson Larkin Lawrence, son of Larkin Lawrence (24), was born in Lubec, Maine, May 10, 1821, and died at East Ma- chias, Maine, April 30, 1876. He was edu- cated in the common schools, learned the trade of carpenter, worked in various ship- yards along the Maine coast and was a skil- ful artisan. He was a Republican in politics and a Baptist in religion. He married, in

Maine, Anna Watson, daughter of Thomas Watson. She was born in 1823 and died in 1886. Children, born at Machias: I. Thomas, born 1858, died 1878. 2. Francis, born March 8, 1860, mentioned below. 3. Mary O., born 1862, died 1886. 4. Annie, born 1868. 5. Sarah W.

(XXVI) Francis Lawrence, son of Nelson L. Lawrence (25), was born in East Machias, Maine, March 8, 1860. He was educated there in the public schools, and entered upon a mercantile career as clerk in various stores in Machias. In 1882 he came to Lowell, Massachusetts, and accepted a position as clerk in the hardware store of Charles Adams, in whose employ he remained until 1904, when he went into business for himself in the firm of Smith & Lawrence, hardware dealers, Market street, Lowell. The firm has been prosperous, and Mr. Lawrence is reckoned among the most promising and able business men of the younger generation. He is a Re- publican in politics, inclined to independence especially in municipal politics. He and his wife are members of the First Congregational Church, of which he is the treasurer. He married, September 19, 1895, Katharine M. Wager, daughter of William and Sarah (Spurbeck) Wager, of Lowell. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have no children.

(For ancestry see preceding sketch.)

(XVIII) Enoch (or En-

LAWRENCE osk) Lawrence, son of John Lawrence, the immi- grant, (17), was born March - 5, 1648-49; married Ruth, daughter of John and

Ruth Whitney, and widow of John Shattuck, of Watertown. Soon after his marriage he removed to Groton and set- tled in the northern part of the town. He served the town of Groton as a surveyor of highways, tithingman and fence viewer. In King Philip's war in 1675, he served in a garrison and fought the Indians; also served in King William's war. In the year 1702 the Provincial authorities granted him immunity from taxation and a pension of three pounds sterling yearly on account of physical dis- ability contracted in an encounter with the In- . dians in the King William war. He died Sep- tember 28, 1744, aged ninety-five. The fol- lowing is from the third volume of the Groton Land Records. The lands of Enoch Law- rence "his houselot nineteen acres more or less bounded easterly by his own meadow and on all other points by the highways ; twelve and a

f . e d t

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half (acres) of this land he had of his brother Zachary and seven acres he had of his brother Joseph Lawrence. Enoch Lawrence had also twenty-five acres near the Silver mine, ten acres at Babbet, and three and a half in Halfmoon meadow." His children were: I. Nathaniel, born February 21, 1677. 2. Daniel, born March 7, 1681, married Sarah -. 3. Zachariah, born July 16, 1683, married Abi- gail Parker. 4. Jeremiah, born May I, 1686.

(XIX) Nathaniel Lawrence, born February 21, 1677-78, married Anna Scripture, of Ma- son, New Hampshire, about 170I. In the Groton records he is called a sergeant. He was chosen constable in 17II, and afterwards served as surveyor of highways and tithing- man. He died September 12, 1765. His wife died September 30, 1758, aged seventy-three. Children : I. Nathaniel, born May 13, 1702, married, February 4, 1728-29, Dorothy Cham- berlain. 2. James, born August 26, 1705. 3. Anna, born July 3, 1708, married Samuel Wright. 4. Enoch, born November 15, 1710, married Sarah Stevens. 5. Sarah, born March 15, 1713, married Zachariah Lawrence. 6. Martha, born December 7, 1715, married William Blond, of Groton. 7. Joseph, born April 10, 1718, married Elizabeth Martin. 8. Benjamin, born November 6, 1720, married Ruth Dodge. 9. Rebecca, born April 17, 1724, married Joseph Blanchard. IO. Lois, born September 26, 1726, married Bezaled Sawyer. II. Eunice, born.July 25, 1728, died November 15, 1747.

(XX) Captain James Lawrence, born Au- gust 26, 1705, married Mary Martin, of Gro- ton. He was a resident of Groton, West Par- ish (Pepperell), and was chosen one of the standing committee of the parish at its first meeting in 1742. The second meeting was at his house. In 1745 and 1746 he served as selectman. He died January 27, 1800, aged ninety-five. She died in 1799, aged eighty- seven. They lived in Pepperell. Children: I. Mary, born March 17, 1734, married Josiah Stevens, of Townsend. 2. James, born April II, 1736, married Elizabeth Fisk. 3. Lemuel, born June 1, 1745. 4. Benjamin, born Octo- ber 9, 1747, married Sybil Parker, of Gro- ton.

(XXI) Lemuel Lawrence, born June I, 1745, married, January 21, 1768, Sarah Wil- liams. He met with a fatal accident at the raising of a barn in Pepperell, April 24, 1773, and died in his twenty-eighth year. Children, born in Pepperell: I. Sarah, born October 13, 1768, married Mr. Bailey. 2. Lemuel, born August 6, 1770. 3. Olive, born Feb-

ruary 13, 1772, married Mr. Bailey, the hus- band of his sister Sarah, after her death.

(XXII) Lemuel, born August 6, 1770, mar- ried, November 5, 1794, Mercy Perham, of Tyngsborough. They resided in Tyngsbor- ough, and their children were born there. He died September 20, 1832. Children: I. Lem- uel, born September 1, 1795, lived in Chelms- ford. 2. Daniel, born September 12, 1797. 3. Clarissa, born October 29, 1799, died unmar- ried. 4. Sarah, born August 23, 1806, mar- ried Lemuel Spaulding, of Winchester.

(XXIII) Daniel Lawrence, born September 12, 1797, in Tyngsborough, married, Septem- ber 25, 1823, Elizabeth Crocker, of York, Maine. He came to Medford in 1823, and entered the firm of Bishop & Goodrich, distill- ers. From that time until the close of the Crimean war was engaged in that business, and he was very successful; for a large por- tion of the time on his own account, and later under the firm name of Daniel Lawrence & Sons. He filled many positions of public trust in Medford, and great confidence was placed in his sound judgment and executive ability. At the breaking out of the civil war he showed a most loyal and patriotic interest in the effort to maintain the Union, and advanced the funds necessary for the equipment of the Lawrence Light Guard then going to the seat of war. In 1858, during a temporary residence in Tyngsborough, he represented the town in the legislature, giving his salary to the town. He died at Poland Springs, Maine, while on a visit, October 2, 1884. Children: I. Mary Ann, born January 29, 1827. 2. Daniel War- ren, October 8, 1830, married Mary Ellen Wiley, October 18, 1857. 3. Samuel Crocker, born November 22, 1832. 4. Elizabeth Maria, born August 5, 1835, married George L. Barr, November 20, 1851. 5. Rosewell Bigelow, born December 22, 1838. 6. William Harri- son, born July 24, 1840.

(XXIV) General Samuel Crocker Law- rence was born in Medford, November 22, 1832, and was a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Crocker) Lawrence. His early education was obtained in the Medford schools, and he was prepared for college at the Medford high school and the Lawrence Academy at Groton. He was graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1855, with the degree of A. B., and received the degree of A. M. in 1858. After graduation he was in the banking business of Bigelow & Lawrence for three years in Chi- cago with success, but returned in 1858 to en- gage in business with his father and brother, under the firm name of Daniel Lawrence &

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Sons. Since 1867 he has been the sole pro- prietor. He early became interested in mili- tary affairs, and became a lieutenant in the Lawrence Light Guard at its start in 1854, an organization named in honor of his father. A little later he was chosen captain of the com- pany, and soon after that was commissioned colonel of the Fifth Regiment of the Massa- chusetts militia. April 15, 1861, or three days after the attack on Fort Sumter, President Lincoln issued a call for seventy-five thou- sand volunteers for three months to defend the capital of the nation. On the 18th of April, Colonel Lawrence issued marching orders for the Fifth Regiment, and his brother, Daniel W. Lawrence, took the orders to the com- manders of the different companies. A con- siderable part of Mr. Lawrence's hurried jour- ney was over the same roads taken by Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride. The er- rands of the messengers were identical, and they were animated by an equally patriotic purpose. The next day the several companies of the regiment, including the Lawrence Light Guard, reported at Boston. The regiment was quartered in Faneuil Hall until the morning of the 21st of April, when it left for New York, and then proceeded at once to Washington. Though the Fifth Regiment served only for three months, it took part in the first battle of Bull Run and suffered severely. The color- bearer of the regiment was killed and Colonel Lawrence was wounded in the battle. In June, 1862, he was commissioned brigadier-general in the state militia, but resigned in 1864. He is a member of the Ancient and Honorable Ar- tillery Company, and was its commander in 1869. For many years General Lawrence has been interested in railroad management. In 1875 the Eastern Railroad was on the verge of bankruptcy. General Lawrence became a large owner of stock in the company. He was elected its president, and by his able manage- ment it was placed on a sound financial basis, and in 1884 it was united with the Boston & Maine Railroad. He has been a director of the joint corporation until the present time. He was elected a director in the Maine Central Railroad in 1875, and has continued in that position since that time, and is a director in many other corporations. When in Harvard College he became a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was a charter member of Mount Hermon Lodge, of Medford, and the Mystic Royal Arch Chapter of Medford, and Medford Council. He joined the Boston Com- mandery of Knights Templar in 1858, and was eminent commander from October, 1873, to

1875; from all these organizations he has re- ceived the highest honors. He served as grand master of Masons in Massachusetts in 1881- 82-83, and as grand commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Massa- chusetts and Rhode Island in 1894-95. In 1866 he was invested with the thirty-third degree in Masonry, Northern Masonic jurisdiction, and is now lieutenant grand commander of the Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic jurisdiction, and representative there of the Southern jurisdiction. Gen- eral Lawrence has been chairman of the board of trustees of the Medford Public Li- brary for more than thirty years, and was chairman of the board of sinking fund com- missioners for several years.

He was unanimously nominated for con- gress, but declined to be a candidate. He has been averse to holding public office, but yield- ed to the very strongly expressed wish on the part of the citizens of Medford that he serve as the first mayor of the newly organized city. He accepted the office and brought to the service of his native town the financial and ex- ecutive ability of an experienced, broad-mind- ed and large hearted business man. Much to the regret of his fellow citizens, he declined a re-election at the close of his two years' ser- vice. General Lawrence is a public spirited cit- izen with broad views. His residence is on Rural avenue, a short distance from Winthrop square, and his beautiful grounds are open to all. The northern part of his estate of nearly five hundred acres borders on the Middlesex Falls, and the best entrance way for many people is through his grounds. He has pre- pared roadways and proper sanitary conveni- ences and paths and seats at convenient points that are open to all. At the highest elevation, two hundred and twenty-nine feet above the sea level on Ramshead Hill, he has built an observatory, eighty-one feet higher, where a beautiful view can be had of the surrounding country, the sea horizon line being twenty-three and one-half miles, and Mt. Monadnock at Jaffrey, New Hampshire, fifty-eight and one-quarter miles away. He erected at large expense a few years since, an armory for the use of the Lawrence Light Guard, and in hon- or of his father's memory. The different rooms are fitted up for the use of the company and the Association connected with the Light Guard, in a manner unsurpassed by any in New England. He has been for many years a collector of books, and owns what is prob- ably the best masonic library in the world. He has also a large collection of local and military

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histories which is extremely valuable. It was largely due to his co-operation that the celebra- tion of the two hundred and seventy-fifth an- niversary of the settlement of Medford met with such remarkable success in June, 1905. One of General Lawrence's greatest services to his native town has been his indefatigable efforts to save the trees from the gypsy moths. In order to accomplish this he has spared no labor or expense for years, not only taking care of the trees on his own estate, but also those adjoining his own grounds. It has been a source of much regret to his friends that he has persistently declined high official position both in state and in nation.

He was married in Charlestown to Carrie Rebecca Badger, daughter of Rev. William and Rebecca (Taylor) Badger, of Wilton, Maine. Children: I. William Badger, born November 16, 1856. 2. Louise, born Decem- ber 2, 1876, married George L. Batchelder.

(XXV) William Badger Lawrence was born November 16, 1856. He was prepared for college at the Boston Latin School, and graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1879. At the Latin School he was a Franklin Medal scholar, and was colonel of the Boston School Regiment at the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settle- ment of Boston. In college he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Signet societies. He fitted for his profession at the Harvard Law School, graduating in the class of 1882, and received the degree of LL.B. He was admitted to the state and United States courts in the spring of 1883. Upon his return from extended travel in Europe, he began the prac- tice of law in the office of the late Nathan · Morse, one of Boston's best known lawyers. His office is now at 18 Tremont street (Kim- ball building). Boston. He has given special attention to railroad and corporation law. He is a member of the Boston Bar Association, and one of the proprietors of the Social Law Library. Mr. Lawrence has long been identi- fied with public affairs of Medford. While it was a town he served on the board of select- men, and as overseer of the poor 1888-89-90. He was mainly instrumental in securing the passage in 1890 of the original gypsy-moth legislation, appropriating $50,000. In 1891 and again in 1892, he represented Medford in the lower house of the legislature, and in 1893 and 1894 was senator for the first Middlesex district, comprising the cities of Somerville and Medford, and the towns of Arlington and Winchester. While in the house he served on the committee on judiciary, probate, insolvency

and drainage, and in the senate both terms as chairman of the committees on the treasury and of the joint committee on expenditures, and was a member of the committee on the judiciary and floor chairman of the commit- tee on rules. He has always taken a warm interest in public matters, and has been es- pecially active in promoting progressive mu- nicipal movements, notably the passage, against vigorous opposition, of the metropoli- tan sewerage act, which has proved of such benefit to the district, whereby was abated the sewage nuisance in Mystic river and lower Mystic pond. In the years 1885 and 1889 he was active in averting the threatened division of the town of Medford, and later in securing the city charter. He has been for some years a trustee of the New York Savings Bank. He was a charter member and one of the organiz- ers of the Medford Club, and has been a mem- ber of the University Club almost from its in- ception. He is a life member of the Medford Historical Society. In politics Mr. Lawrence is a Republican, an active member of the party organization, and for some years served on the Republican state committee. He has been much interested in congressional matters, and has been a strong supporter of the Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge and of Hon. Samuel W. McCall. He was a delegate to the last National Repub- lican convention that nominated Theodore Roosevelt for president, and Charles W. Fair- banks for vice-president. He has been much interested in railroad matters for quite a num- ber of years. He is clerk and director in sev- eral railroad, corporations. He has given much study to the question of merging all the rail- roads of New England into one corporation. For ten years he was one of the directors of the Somerville Journal Company, and is now one of the proprietors of the Medford Mer- cury.

Mr. Lawrence for several years devoted con- siderable time to the Masonic fraternity, being a past master of Mount Hermon Lodge, past. high priest of Mystic Royal Arch Chapter, past thrice illustrious master of Medford Coun- cil, Royal and Select Masters, past commander of Boston Commandery, Knights Templar, past district deputy grand master, past junior grand warden of the Grand Lodge of Massa- chusetts, past deputy grand high priest of the ' Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts, past grand master of the Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters of Massachusetts, also its grand treasurer, and a member since 1896 of the Supreme Council thirty-third degree. Scottish Rite, N. M. J.

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Mr. Lawrence was married October 2, 1883, to Alice May, daughter of J. Henry and Emily (Nickerson) Sears, of Brewster, Mas- sachusetts, and a lineal descendant of Rich- ards Sears, who settled in Plymouth in 1623. Mrs. Lawrence is also descended in eight dif- ferent lines of descent from Elder William Brewster, and also from George Soule, an- other of the "Mayflower" passengers. Chil- dren: 1. Marjorie, born September 9, 1884. 2. Samuel Crocker, (2), born September 12, 1888. 3. Ruth, born August 10, 1890. 4. William B., Jr., born October 3, 1896. The family resides on Rural avenue, Medford, with a summer residence in South Yarmouth, Mas- sachusetts.

On his mother's line William Badger Law- rence is descended from :

(I) Giles Badger came from England about 1643, and settled in Newbury, Massachusetts. He died there July 17, 1647. His wife's name is not known. His son

(II) John Badger was born June 30, 1643, and lived in Newbury. His first wife Eliza- beth died April 8, 1669. For a second wife he married Hannah Swett, February 23, 1671. He had four children by the first wife, and ten by the second. He and his wife both died of small-pox. His estate was valued at £943 9S.

(III) John Badger, son of the foregoing, was a trader and lived in Newbury. He mar- ried Rebecca Brown, October 5, 1691. They had seven children, all born in Newbury.

(IV) Joseph Badger, son of the above, born in 1698. He went to Haverhill, Massachusetts, and became a successful merchant. He mar- ried Hannah, the daughter of Colonel Na- thaniel Peaslee, of Haverhill, and he had seven children by her. She died, and he married Hannah, the widow of Rev. Ebenezer Pearson. Her maiden name was Moody. She had three children. They lived in Haverhill, Massa- chusetts.

(V) Enoch Badger, son of Joseph Badger, was born May 11, 1736, .in Haverhill. He married Susanna White, of Haverhill. They removed to Gilmanton, New Hampshire, but died in Sandown. His brother Joseph was General Joseph Badger, member of the state council, judge of the probate court, and brig- adier-general in the New Hampshire militia. One of General Badger's sons was representa- tive to the New Hampshire legislature, state senator, president of the senate, and governor of the province of New Hampshire.

(VI) Joseph Badger, son of Enoch Badger, was born November 2, 1766. He married Mary Webster, daughter of Caleb Webster, of iv -- 17

Gilmanton. They lived in Farmington, New Hampshire. He was a tanner by trade. Mary Webster Badger was a cousin of Daniel Web- ster, the great orator and statesman.

(VII) Rev. William Badger, son of Joseph and Mary Webster Badger, was born April 12, 1804, died in Medford, Massachusetts, May 14, 1865. He was a man of marked ability and distinguished himself in his profes- sion. He was settled some time in Wilton, Maine, and had other important pastorates. He married Rebecca Taylor, of Roxbury, Maine. She was a daughter of Captain Wil- liam Taylor, who served during the entire Revolutionary war. He told his children that the proudest moment of his life was at the sur- render of General Burgoyne, when the sol- diers of his company were dressed like scare- crows, while Burgoyne's men dressed in fine uniform passed between the lines.

(VIII) Carrie Rebecca Badger, daughter of Rev. William Badger, was born at Wilton, Maine, November 12, 1837. April 28, 1859, she was married to General Samuel C. Law- rence, of Medford, Massachusetts.

(For ancestry see preceding sketches).

(XXIV) Daniel Warren

LAWRENCE Lawrence, second child and eldest son of Daniel (23)

and Elizabeth (Crocker) Lawrence, was

born October 8, 1830. He has con- stantly been identified with Medford, ex- cept for two intervals-,in 1849, when he went to California, during the gold fever, and there spent several months; and in the summer of 1864, when he served for three months in the Union army. He has been effi- cient in various responsible public and private stations, serving as selectman in 1869-70, rep- resentative in the legislature in 1875-76-80, treasurer of the Medford Savings Bank for several years and afterward president, and for twenty-nine years a member and treasurer of the boad of commissioners of the sinking fund. He is, as was his father, a member of the Universalist Society, and he recently present- ed a parsonage to the society. He is a Mason, a member of Boston Commandery, Knights Templar, and has attained to the thirty-third degree of the Scottish Rite. He married, Oc- tober 18, 1851, Mary Ellen Wiley, daughter of John Wiley, of Wakefield, and their children are : I. George W., born November 8, 1852, married Mary Witherell, of Medford. 2. Rosewell B., January 31, 1856. 3. Samuel W., March 5, 1860, married Helen E. Withington,

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Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 28

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 912

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 912