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Major Eleazer Lawrence (1674–1754), son of Peleg Lawrence and Elizabeth Morse

Mary Scripture (1680–1761), daugher of Samuel Scripture and Elizabeth Knapp

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Eleazer Lawrence, the son of Peleg and Elizabeth, was born on 28 February 1674 in Groton. [1][2] He died on 9 March 1754, age 79. He married Mary, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Scripture, about 1698. [2][3]

Mary, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Scripture, was born on 7 February 1680 in Groton. [1][2]] She died on 29 July 1761 in Littleton. [2]

Eleazer and Mary are buried in the Old Burying Ground in Littleton. The inscription on Eleazer's gravestone says, "Here Lies Buried the Body of Major Elezer Lawrance Who Departed This Life March ye 9 A.D. 1754 In The 80 Year of His Age." The inscription on Mary's gravestone says, "Her lyes the Body of Mrs. Mary Lawrence widow of Major Elezer Lawrence who departed this life june ye 29th AD 1701 in the 82nd year of her age." [4] Inhabitants of Nashoba (later Littleton) bought land from the Indians and later agreed to pool their purchases for the good of town and allocate it according to "interests & former agreements." The agreement was signed on 15 December 1714 by 18 proprietors, including "Eliezer Lawrence."[3]

Eleazer was frequently chosen moderator of town meetings in Littleton. He served as selectman and constable and received the title "major" about 1734. On 17 January 1724/5 Lieutenant Lawrence was on a committee to hire a school teacher. On 8 December 1729 Captain "Elezer" Lawerence was on a committee to hire a school teacher. [3]

Eleazer Lawrence of Littleton, gentleman, made his will on 29 December 1749. He left bequests to his wife Mary; his sons Peleg, Jonathan, David, Eleazer and Samul; his daughters Elizabeth Buttrick, Mary Fletcher, Sarah Cummings, Experience Keep and Prudence Parker. Inventory was requested on the estate of Major Eleazer Lawrence on 8 April 1754. Jabez and Experiece Keep, John and Sarah Cummings, Peter and Prudence Parker, Peleg, David, Eleazer and Samuel Lawrence, Benjamin and Sarah Dvis and Isaac and Mary Rupell asked that their mother be named administratrix on 19 December 1754. Eleazer's will was probated on 19 January 1755. [5]

Children of Eleazer Lawrence and Mary Scripture:

i. Elizabeth Lawrence was born on 28 February 1699 in Groton. [1] She died on 8 December 1734, age 35. [2] She married Joseph Buttrick. He died on 13 November 1751.

Joseph and Elizabeth are buried in the Old Burying Ground in Littleton. Joseph's gravestone says, "Here Lies Buried The Body of Mr Joseph Buttrick Who Departed This Life November ye 13th A.D. 1751 Age 62 years 8 M 3 Ds." Elizabeth's gravestone says, "Here Lies Buried The Body of Elizabeth Buttrick Wife of Mr Joseph Buttrick Who Died December [8, 1734 in Ye 36 year]." [4]

ii. Deacon Peleg Lawrence was born on 1 June 1701 in Groton. [1][2] He died on 27 July 1752, age 56. Peleg of Groton married Ruth Brown after 23 April 1728 (intention) in Stow. [6] Ruth, the widow of Deacon Peleg Lawrence, died on 4 September 1757.

Peleg and Ruth are buried in the Walton Cemetery in Pepperell, Middlesex County. The inscription on Peleg's gravestone says, "A Man of Wisdom, Prudence, Honesty, Public Spiritedness, and Piety, The Poor Man's Friend. Blessed are the Dead, who die in the Lord." The inscription on Ruth's gravestone says, "Here lies the Remains of Mrs. Ruth Lawrence, the widow of Deacon Peleg Lawrence, who departed this life Sept. 4th, 1757 aged about 57 years, who died 5 weeks and 3 days after her husband." [4]

Deacon Peleg Lawrence moved to Groton West Parish, afterwards Pepperell. He was selectman of Groton for three years and a deer reeve. [3]

iii. Deacon Jonathan Lawrence was born on 4 October 1703 in Groton. [1][2] He died on 8 December 1789, age 86, in Littleton. [2] He married first Tryphena Powers in 1727. [2] Tryphena, the daughter of Isaac and Mary (Winship) Powers, was born on 22 May 1711. [2] She died on 25 August 1752. He married second Lydia Fletcher in 1754. [2] She died on 21 March 1805.

Jonathan and Tryphena are buried in the Old Burying Ground in Littleton. The inscription on his gravestone says, "Erected In Memory of Deacon Jonathan Lawrance who departed this life Dec ye 8th 1789 Aged 86 years ? months." The inscription on Tryphena's gravestone say, "Here Lies Buried The Body of Mrs Trypheuny Lawrance Wife of Mr Jonathan Lawrance Who Departed this live August Ye 25th A.D. 1752 In Ye 42 year of her age." Lydia is buried in the Congregational Church Cemetery in Hollis, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. The inscription on her gravestone says, "Erected to the memory of Mrs. Lydia Lawrence wife of Deacon Jonathan Lawrence who died March 21 1805 in the 90 Year of her Age." [4]

iv. Captain David Lawrence was born on 26 December 1705 in Groton. [1][2] He died on 28 September 1790. He married Hannah Sawtell of Groton. [2] She died on 8 May 1791.

David and Hannah are buried in the Old Burying Ground in Littleton. The inscription on David's gravestone says, "Erected In memory of Cap David Lawrance who departed this life Sep ye 28th AD 1790 In the 85th year of his age." The inscription on Hannah's gravestone says, "Momento Mori Erected In memory of Mrs Hannah Lawrance (Relic of Capt David Lawrance) who departed this life May the 8th 1791 in the 67 year of her age." [4]

David was admitted to full communion on 27 December 1761. He was a captain in the militia. [3]

v. Eleazer Lawrence of Littleton married Lucy Tuttle of Littleton on 25 June 1731 in Groton or Littleton. [1][2] Lucy was probably the daugher of Simon Tuttle, Sr. [2] She was baptised on 13 (20) 1712 in Ipswich. [7]

vi. Mary Lawrence was born about 1710. [2][2] She died on 4 December 1780, age 70. [2] Mary Lawrence of Littleton married Captain Samuel Fletcher, Jr. of Chelmsford on 17 September 1729 in Westford, Middlesex County. [2][2] Samuel, the son of William Fletcher, was born about 1707 and died on 11 March 1780. [2]

William and Mary are buried in the Westlawn Cemetery in Westford. The inscription on William's gravestone says, "Memento mori Here lies Buried the Body of Capt. Samuel Fletcher. He departed this Life March 11th 1780. In the 74th year of his age." The inscription on Mary's gravestone says, "Memento mori Here lies Buried the Body of Mrs Mary Fletcher wife of Capt Samuel Fletcher, who Departed this Life Decr 4, 1780. In the 71st year of here age." [4]

vii. Samuel Lawrence was born on 22 May 1714 in Groton or Littleton. [1][2] Samuel Lawrence of Littleton married Mary Hildreth on 5 May 1737 in Littleton. [2][8] She died on 17 March 1788, age 70, in Littleton. [2]

Phillis, a Negro child belonging to Sam[ue]l Lawrence, was baptised on 2 June 1745 in Westford, Middlesex County. [8]

After Mary's death, Samuel moved to Ashby [probably in Middlesex County] and died there. [2]

viii. Experience Lawrence was born on 22 June 1719 in Littleton. She died after 9 August 1774. She married Captain Jabez Keep.

x. Prudence Lawrence was born on 7 April 1722 in Littleton. [2] She married Peter Parker on 4 March 1742 in Littleton. [2] Peter Parker, the son of James and Abigail (Prescott) Parker and grandson of Samuel and Abigail (Larkin) Parker, was born on 6 August 1719 in Littleton. [2] He died on 6 January 1788 and is buried in the Old Burying Ground in Groton. [4] The widow Prudence Parker married Shubael Hobart of Hollis, New Hampshire on 28 July 1790 in Hollis. [1] Shubael, the son of Shubael and Martha (Prescott) Hobart, was born on 29 September 1715 in Groton. [1][9] He died on 30 September 1805 in Westford, Vermont. [9] He married first Esther Parker on 7 June 1739 in Groton. [1] Esther, the daughter of Phinehas Parker and Abigail Scripture, was born on 23 January 1721/2 in Groton and died on 20 November 1789 in Groton. [9]

Peter's gravestone says, "In Memory of Mr Peter Parker who departed this life Janr ye 6th in the 19th year of his age." [4]

References:

1. Vital Records of Groton, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849, 2 vols. (Salem: Essex Institute, 1926–1927).

2. Records of Littleton, Massachusetts: Births and Deaths (Littleton: Littleton, 1900).

3. Robert M. Lawrence, Historical Sketches of the Some Members of the Lawrence Family (Boston: Rand Avery Co., 1888), 19–21.

4. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 26 May 2023), memorial pages for

5. "Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871," database with images, Ancestry, Eleazer Lawrence: case 13676.

6. Vital Records of Stow, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1911).

7. Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, 2 vols. (Salem: Essex Institute, 1910), vol. 1, vol. 2.

8. Vital Records of Westford Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1915).

9. Marilyn Fitzpatrick, "James Parker of Groton," Essex Genealogist, vol. 14 (1994): 30–34.

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Revised 27-May-2023

©2019 A. Buiter