Family:William Lawrence and Elizabeth Smith (6)

On 10 March 1681 Elizabeth Lawrence, widow of William, was made guardian of her seven children -- Mary, Thomas, Joseph, Richard, Samuel, Sarah and James. "Whereas William Lawrence late of Flushing deceased, hath left a considerable estate and seven young children that is to say Mary, Thomas, Joseph, Richard, Samuel, Sarah and James whose proportion and share of their said Father's estate according to Law amounts to each of them Two hundred Eighty Eight Pounds sixteen shillings one penny half penny the whole being Two thousand twenty one pounds twelve shillings four pence half penny which is and remains in the hands and possession of Elizabeth the widow and administratrix of the said William and mother to the said Children who desiring in Countil to be admitted their guardian, These are to certify that said Elizabeth Lawrence is by advice of the Countil Admitted and allowed off to be guardian for the said seven children, and to have possession and enjoy their said portions giving sufficient security to satisfy and pay the same to them and each of them when they shall attain the age of twenty one years or be married. Given under my hand and seal in New York this 10th day of March in the 33d year of his Maj.es Reign."

On 30 March 1681 the record shows (entered at the desire of Mr. Richard Smith) "These presents Wittnes that whereas there is a purpose of joining in Marriage with Capt. Philip Carteret of New Jersey itt is joyntly and Fully agreed between him and the aforesaid and me Elizabeth Lawrence late wife of -- Capt. William Lawrence of Flushing deceased -- that I the aforesaid Elizabeth doe reserve liberty to give and dispose of all my right of land and meadow or housing within the Neck called Tews Neck unto any of my sons whom I shall see good and that no engagement whatever shall impead this agreement. Elizabeth Lawrence. Witness: Richard Smith; Sarah U Smith (mark); Abigail Nicolls."

"The Family of Richard Smith of Smithtown, Long Island" Frederick Kinsman Smith Smithtown Historical Society, Smithtown, NY, 1967

"Elizabeth Smith (Richard), b. probably in 1643, died in July 1712, m. (lic. 4 Mch 1664) Captain William Lawrence, of Flushing, L.I., as second wife. They had seven children. He died in 1680, and she m. (2-lic. 26 Mch 1681) Governor Philip Carteret of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, b. 1639, son of Helier Carteret, Attorney General of the Isle of Jersey, and his wife Rachel...Captain Philip Carteret was appointed Governor of the Province and came from England in 1665. He served in that office until the change in proprietorship of the Province led to his retirement, only four weeks previous to his death, which occurred in December, 1682."

"Captain William Lawrence, the first husband of Elizabeth Smith, was one of the patentees of Flushing, in 1645. He was the owner of Tew's Neck and lived there. He was bap. at Great St. Alban's, Hertfordshire, England, 27 Jly 1622, son of Thomas and Joan (Antrobus) Lawrence. His father died 20 Mch 1624/5, and his mother m. (2) John Tuttell, who came to this country with his wife and most of the children, including William Lawrence, then in his thirteenth year, in the spring of 1635, in the Planter...William Lawrence married twice and had by his first wife three children, Elizabeth, William, and John."

The Thomas book giving genealogies of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, Lawrence B. Thomas, 1896, p412 - 416

William Lawrence, third son of Thomas and Joan Antrobus Lawrence b S. Albans, Hertfordshire, Eng, and bapt 27 July 1622 was brought to New England in 1635. His mother married John Tuthill in 1627, St. albans; tuthill was a mercer of Ipswich; on 2 Apr 1635 the list of passengers to New England onboard the ship Planter, contains John Tuttell, a mercer, aged 39Y Joan aged 42 John Lawrence aged 17 William Lawrence aged 12 Marie aged 9 Abigail Tuttell aged 6 Simon aged 4 Sara aged 2 Jo. aged 1 Joan Antrobus, aged 60 (mother of Mrs. T)

On 10 Oct 1645 he along with his brother John was one of the 18 original incorporators of Flushing on Long Island, and seems to have made his permanent residence there. On 22 Apr 1655 he was made a magistrate of Flushing. On 25 Mar 1656 he was elected by the council Presiding Magistrate of the town.

On 10 July 1662 with his brothers John and Thomas and his father-in-law Richard Smith he is among the taxables at Middleburgh (Newtown), Long Island. On 7 Jan 1664 he was supposedly to have summoned some Indians to Flushing to discuss land but he wasn’t there. In 1665 he was a Captain of the Queen’s Co Militia. On 27 Sept 1666 he was one a jury in a lawsuit between Gravesend and Flatbush. In 1667 Rev Francis Doughty, Minister of Flushing complained that the year before William’s wife put his contract for salary under “a pye in the oven”. On 18 Dec 1666 William of Flushing was fined 15 pounds for seditious word and to make an apology to the court. On 24 Feb 1670/71 Captain Wm Lawrence with consent of the major part of inhabitants of Flushing receives a patent of his land where he lives with the addition of a piece of swampy meadow ground lying with the Neck. 29 Sept 1672 one his negroes at Flushing was complained of as a theif. 31 Aug 1673 he was sheriff of Flushing and the same year he commanded the Flushing Foote Companie at surrender of NY to Dutch. 19 May 1674 it is complained that Richard Smith of Nessequack with the aid of his son-in-law William Lawrence, the Sheriff, in a lawsuit had chosen such jury as were favorable to him. 14 Sept 1675 Captain Wm Lawrence be added to justices of peace of North Riding of LI. In Oct 1677 judgement is entered against him in a suit for 6 pounds 19 shillings 5d. 7 May 1678 constable and others complain of him fencing the highway 29 Apr 1679 his negro Andreas is convicted of murder of a squaw - conditionally manslaughter Early in 1680 he died and his widow Elizabeth by 25 Mar 1680 and eldest son by a former venter administered his estate; inventory returned to court on 19 Apr 1680.

By unknown wife he had William and John

By Elizabeth dau of Richard Smith (license 4 Mar 1664) 1. Mary b 1665; m 1682/83 James Emott, Sec of Province of NJ who died Apr 1713 with 4 sons and fortune of 2,000 pounds; m2 Rev Edward Vaughan 1714 in Elizabethtown; he died 12 Oct 1747 2. Joseph 3. Thomas b1668; d 26 Oct 1687 4. Richard was at schol bet 1695-1702; m lic 24 Sept 1699 Charity Clarke of Brookhaven; had dau Charity Dayton 5. Samuel b 1672 - 16 Aug 1687 and with bro Thomas buried in rear of Meetinghouse at Elizabeth 6. Sarah m James Tillett 7. James

After his death Elizabeth mar Hon Captain Philip Carteret b 1639 Seigneur of Manor of La Houque, Parish of S. Peter, Island of Jersey, and Governor of Province of East and West jerseys and removed to Elizabeth with her 7 children. He died bet Dec 10-20, 1682 leaving his estates in Jersey to his mother and to wife all his estate in NJ and all negroes save Black Jack who was to be freed; she stayed there a year after his death. 29 May 1684 she spoke of many wrongs done her to council, including the payment of her husband’s salary as governor - nothing given her. 29 Sept 1683 list of taxables at Flushing appears Widow Cartwright (Carteret) with 4 males, 30 upland acres, 50 meadows, 2 horses, 14 oxen, 3 cows, 4 younger cattle, taxed 1 pound 3 shillings 9 d

In 1685 she married Colonel Richard Townley, of Littleton, Middlesex, Eng who emigrated to VA in 1683 and the following year moved to East NJ; 27 May 1685 he was appointed Justice of Court of Common Right; he was captain of Foot Company at Elizabeth 11 Dec 1686; he died Apr 1711