The John Lawrence Family

of Cherryfield ME

(Return To Family Index)

1    JOHN SR ¹ LAWRENCE [# 214] s/o? was born at ? bef 1740; died at ? aft 1798; married at ? abt 1760 Mary Townley d/o ? and ?;

The Hon. James A Milliken (1813-1891) was a lawyer at Cherryfield ME 1855-1873, Washington County ME probate judge 1873-1888 and a Narraguagus Valley historian. In 1886, he published a manuscript entitled "The Narraguagus Valley, Some Account Of Its Early Settlement and Settlers."

He wrote, "John Lawrence must have been one of the very early settlers on the river. He was by birth an Englishman. His wife is said to have been a Townley. They came here from North Yarmouth in this State, and settled at what we call the upper corner, very near where the Alfred Small house is {1886}. They had but one child: his name was John. He was a small child when his parents came here. He grew to a man’s estate and married Jenny Rolfe, whose parents lived in the Intervale District near where the schoolhouse now stands {again, 1886}. John and his young wife settled on the lot now in the possession of Gilbert Sproul and there raised a large family of sons and daughters."

2    JOHN JR ² LAWRENCE [# 213] s/o JOHN SR ¹ LAWRENCE and MARY TOWNLEY was born at ? abt 1762; died at Cherryfield ME bef 1817; married at ? abt 1780 Jennie Rolfe [Milliken], d/o Moses Rolfe and Sarah Ingersoll;

See "The Black papers", Maine Genealogist, which says that John settled in Cherryfield 1781, was age 38 in 1798 and had 11 in his family.

John died before 1817 when when his wife was the administratix of his estate [WCPR 4:346].

3    JOHN ³ LAWRENCE [# 6888] s/o JOHN JR ² LAWRENCE and JENNIE ROLFE was born at ? abt 1782 [calc]; died at ? 6 Sep 1844 [gs]; married (1) at ? Wilson [Milliken] d/o ? and ?; married (2) at Cherryfield ME 23 May 1822 [marriage int filed at Harrington ME 6 Apr 1822] Mary ⁷ Dorman [ChfMR], d/o Benjamin Dorman and Eliza Weston; John is buried at Old Cherryfield Cemetery, Cherryfield ME

John has not yet been located in the 1810 and 1820 census.

4    AARON ³ LAWRENCE [# 4022] s/o JOHN JR ² LAWRENCE and JENNIE ROLFE was born at ? 21 Sep 1789 [Leighton]; died at ? 24 Sep 1872 [Leighton]; married at Cherryfield ME 11 Apr 1816 [marriage int filed at Cherryfield ME 17 Mar 1816] Lucy Hope ⁷ Leighton [ChfMR; Milliken], d/o Joseph Leighton and Betsey Jordan;

Aaron moved to MN 1860-1870 where he & his wife died (he was absent from the 1864 voting in Cherryfield). Burials are in the Lakewood cemetery, Minneapolis MN.

Aaron's 1st 4 children are in the Cherryfield ME birth records.

5    DANIEL ³ LAWRENCE [# 4987] s/o JOHN JR ² LAWRENCE and JENNIE ROLFE was born at Cherryfield ME abt 1792; died at ? 29 Jun 1865; married at Cherryfield ME 29 Mar 1815 Elizabeth S ⁸ Sumner [ChfMR; Milliken], d/o John Gabriel Sumner and Elizabeth Moore;

Daniel plead guilty to assault & battery on 29 Aug 1827 [Joseph Adams docket book].

EPRF cites a gs in Columbia Falls as the source of Daniels death date, age 73.

Daniel's 1st 5 children are in the Cherryfield ME birth records.

6    LARKIN ³ LAWRENCE [# 4989] s/o JOHN JR ² LAWRENCE and JENNIE ROLFE was born at Cherryfield ME 15 Aug 1794; died at East Machias ME 28 Jul 1877; married (1) at Lubec ME 15 Mar 1818 [marriage int filed at Lubec ME 9 Feb 1818] Olive Kingsley [Milliken; LubVR] d/o ? and ?; married (2) at East Machias ME 17 Nov 1835 Sarah Andrews d/o ? and ?; married (3) at East Machias ME 7 Nov 1854 Elizabeth Hanscomb d/o ? and ?;

Larkin moved to Lubec ME by 1818 [he was in Trescott ME 1820] and had removed to East Machias ME by 1835 where he died.

7    JAMES PARKER ³ LAWRENCE [# 4993] s/o JOHN JR ² LAWRENCE and JENNIE ROLFE was born at ? abt 1797; died at ? aft 1850; married (1) at Cherryfield ME 16 Aug 1818 [marriage int filed at Steuben ME 1 Aug 1818] Amy ⁷ Patten [ChfMR; Milliken], d/o John Patten and Parmelia Leighton; married (2) at Cherryfield ME 10 May 1821 [marriage int filed at Cherryfield ME 2 Apr 1821] Mary Blake ⁵ Alline [ChfMR; ColMR; Milliken], d/o Benjamin Alline and Lydia Patten; married (3) at ? [marriage int filed at Cherryfield ME 2 Apr 1844] Matilda Jones [ChfTR; Milliken] d/o ? and ?;

Marriage intentions for James's 2nd marriage were also filed at Columbia ME 30 Mar 1821.

His gs is in the Old Cerryfield cemetery but is partially unreadable [died May 13, ???? age 60 yr 3 mo 2 ds]. This indicates that James must have died about 1857. His last mention in the census records is 1850.

James's 5 children are in the Cherryfield birth records.

8    WILLIAM ³ LAWRENCE [# 4991] s/o JOHN JR ² LAWRENCE and JENNIE ROLFE was born at ? abt 1788; died at Lubec ME 23 Jul 1830 [LubVR; Eastport Sentinel]; married at ? [marriage int filed at Lubec ME 9 May 1813] Lydia Reynolds [Milliken; LubVR], d/o Jonathan Reynolds and Priscilla Wilder;

William is listed as the 8th child of John & Jenny (Rolfe) Lawrence because this sequence is the same as that used by Milliken. However, William's death, as reported in the Eastport Sentinel, occurred at age 42. This and census records give his approximate birth as 1788 suggesting that he was an earlier child, probably the 4th.

Milliken stated that William married --- Reynolds so it is assumed that he must be the William Lawrence in Lubec that married Lydia Reynolds. Also note that his brother went to Trescott & Lubec.

William moved to Lubec ME by 1811 where he is listed in the Lubec special census and where he remained until his death. His children are listed in the Lubec ME birth records.

As indicated, William and his wife both died in 1830. At least 2 of their children predeceased them but others would have still been quite young then. What became of them has not yet been determined. An examination of the Washington County Probate records around 1830 might yield an answer.

9    SAMUEL ⁴ LAWRENCE [# 11711] s/o AARON ³ LAWRENCE and LUCY HOPE ⁷ LEIGHTON was born at Cherryfield ME 13 Feb 1819 [ChfBR]; died at ? aft 1880; married (1) at ? [marriage int filed at Cherryfield ME 7 Sep 1846] Mary Jane ⁴ McKenzie [ChfMR], d/o Joel McKenzie and Delina Larrabee; married (2) at ? 15 Sep 1855 Helen McKenzie [MachMR], d/o Joel McKenzie and Delina Larrabee;

Early Pleasant River Families, Tibbetts & Lamson, states that Samuel Lawrence married at Machias ME 7 Sep 1846 Betsey McKenzie, d/o Joel & Delina (Larrabee) McKenzie and that Samuel died after 1846 and Betsey after 1850. However, the Cherryfield marriage records state that Samuel married Mary Ann McKenzie, (not) Betsey, and a gs in the Old Cherryfield Cemetery says "Mary Jane McKenzie, w/o Samuel, d Feb 15, 1848, age 22." Also, Cherryfield marriage records state that Betsy McKenzie filed intentions to marry Leonard Lawrence 9 Oct 1846.

Samuel Lawrence moved to St Anthony MN shortly after his wife's death (1850-1855). He is the Samuel Lawrence of St Anthony MN in the Machias ME marriage records that married Helen J McKenzie of Machias in 1855 (Helen was a sister of Samuel's first wife, Mary Jane). Samuel was living at St Anthony MN in 1860 with his brother William.

In 1870, Samuel was a lumberman at St Anthony MN with wife Helen (age 36, b ME), children Fred (age 14, b MN), Charles (age 11, b MN), Jesse (daughter, age 6, b MN), Thaddeus (age 3, b MN) and Robert (b in MN March 1870) [1870 census for St Anthony MN, roll 6, pg 720].

In 1880, Samuel was at Minneapolis MN with wife Ellen and children Fred, Chas, Jesse and Thaddie [1880 census for Minneapolis MN, roll 621, pg 5, enum dist #231].

10   ALEXANDER ⁴ LAWRENCE [# 11712] s/o AARON ³ LAWRENCE and LUCY HOPE ⁷ LEIGHTON was born at Cherryfield ME 3 Apr 1821 [ChfBR]; died at ? aft 1870; married at Cherryfield ME Feb 1847 [marriage int filed at Cherryfield ME 30 Jan 1847] Margaret Colson [ChfMR] d/o ? and ?;

Alexander moved to St Anthony MN between 1864-1870. He was at St Anthony in 1870 with his wife, Margaret [1870 census for St Anthony MN, roll 6, pg 717-718].

11   WILLIAM HARRISON ⁴ LAWRENCE [# 11714] s/o AARON ³ LAWRENCE and LUCY HOPE ⁷ LEIGHTON was born at Cherryfield ME abt 1829; died at ? aft 1870; married (1) at Beddington ME 27 Aug 1854 [marriage int filed at Beddington ME 27 Aug 1854] Laura Ann ⁸ Dorman [BeddBR], d/o Israel Dorman and Joanna Kingsley; married (2) at ? bet 1864-1870 Adelaide W Campbell, d/o Dennison Campbell and Martha Wakefield;

William’s father-in-law, Israel Dorman, moved from Beddington ME to MN in 1857 with several brothers and children. William Lawrence & his wife must have moved to MN about the same time. William was at St Anthony MN in 1860, lumberman, age 31, living with Samuel Lawrence, age 40.

William's 2nd marriage to Adelaide Campbell, widow of George Schoppee, must have been at MN. Adelaide's step-father, Alexander Campbell, and mother, also moved to MN.

William was a manufacturer of flour at St Anthony MN in 1870 living with his wife Adelaide (age 33, b ME), two of Adelaide's children by her first husband, Adelaide's mother (Martha Campbell), Adelaide's brother (Lewis Campbell) and Adelaide's sister, Matilda Campbell [1870 census for St Anthony MN, roll 6, pg 696].

12   FRANCIS C ⁴ LAWRENCE [# 11715] s/o AARON ³ LAWRENCE and LUCY HOPE ⁷ LEIGHTON was born at Cherryfield ME abt 1831; died at ? aft 1870; married at Cherryfield ME 4 Sep 1855 Mary Colson [ChfMR], d/o Samuel Colson and ?;

Francis moved to St Anthony MN very soon after his marriage [son Edward born there in 1856]. He was a lumberman at St Anthony MN in 1870 living with his wife Mary, age 33, and 5 children [1870 census for St Anthony MN, roll 6, pg 698].

13   LEANDER ⁴ LAWRENCE [# 11718] s/o AARON ³ LAWRENCE and LUCY HOPE ⁷ LEIGHTON was born at Cherryfield ME abt 1836; died at ? aft 1870; married at Gouldsboro ME 6 Dec 1859 Susan Baker Whitten [ChfMR], d/o David Whitten and Lavina Wakefield;

Leander moved to St Anthony MN between 1864-1868. He was there in 1870 with his wife Susan, children Anna (age 8 b ME), Lucy (age 6 b ME) and Arthur (age 2 b MN), Leander's parents, and Richard Whitten, Leander's brother in law [1870 census for St Anthony MN, roll 6, pg 702-703].

14   LEONARD ⁴ LAWRENCE [# 20115] s/o DANIEL ³ LAWRENCE and ELIZABETH S ⁸ SUMNER was born at Cherryfield ME 23 Apr 1819 [ChfBR]; died at ? ; married at ? [marriage int filed at Cherryfield ME 9 Oct 1846] Betsey ⁴ McKenzie [CentMR], d/o Joel McKenzie and Delina Larrabee;

Leonard may be the Leonard Lawrence at St Anthony MN in 1870 (age 52, b ME) with Martha Lawrence (age 30, b RI), Charles Lawrence (age 19, b MI) and Lewis Lawrence (age 7, b CA) [1870 census for St Anthony MN, roll 5 part 2, pg 43].

15   DANIEL E ELLIOT ⁴ LAWRENCE [# 16614] s/o DANIEL ³ LAWRENCE and ELIZABETH S ⁸ SUMNER was born at Cherryfield ME 27 Apr 1821 [ChfBR]; died at ? aft 1907; married at Cherryfield ME abt 1846 [marriage int filed at Cherryfield ME 9 Oct 1846] Sophia Anna ⁷ Allen [ChfMR], d/o Amos Allen and Catherine "Kate" Sawyer;

Daniel moved to MN after 1870.

16   RICHARD COFFIN ⁴ LAWRENCE [# 14357] s/o DANIEL ³ LAWRENCE and ELIZABETH S ⁸ SUMNER was born at Cherryfield ME Sep 1839; died at Columbia Falls ME abt 1907 [gs]; married at Columbia Falls ME 19 Feb 1867 [marriage int filed at Addison ME 29 Nov 1866] Almeda E Tucker, d/o Justus Smith Tucker and Permelia Worcester; Richard is buried at Epping Cemetery, Columbia ME

Richard was a farmer and laborer at Columbia and Columbia Falls ME.

17   ALBERT GALLATIN ⁴ LAWRENCE [# 7843] s/o JAMES PARKER ³ LAWRENCE and MARY BLAKE ⁵ ALLINE was born at Cherryfield ME 13 Nov 1823 [ChfBR]; died at Cherryfield ME 8 Apr 1882 [gs]; married at Harrington ME 13 Sep 1846 [marriage int filed at Harrington ME 21 Aug 1846] Rebecca W ⁶ Nash, d/o James Nash and Betsey Randall; Albert is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, Harrington ME

18   WELLINGTON ⁴ LAWRENCE [# 13895] s/o JAMES PARKER ³ LAWRENCE and MARY BLAKE ⁵ ALLINE was born at Cherryfield ME 21 Sep 1825 [ChfBR]; died at ? aft 1850; married (1) at ? aft 1840 Susan Lawrence(mn) d/o ? and ?; married (2) at ? Harriet ⁶ Nash, d/o James Nash and Betsey Randall;