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heavy indebtedness at the time of his death ne-
cessitated the sale of his real and personal estate,
and resulted in litigation that lasted until 1820.
LAWRENCE, THOMAS (ca. 1645-1714). BORN:
ca. 1645 in Chelsea, Middlesex, England; elder
son. IMMIGRATED: in 1692 as a free adult; prob-
ably left his family in England. RESIDED: in St.
Mary's City, St. Mary's County; Annapolis, Anne
Arundel County; returned to England in 1705/6.
FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: Sir John Lawrence
(?-1681) of Chelsea. MOTHER: Mary (?-1664),
second daughter of Sir Thomas Hempson of Tap-
low. BROTHER: John. MARRIED in 1674 Anne Eng-
lish (?-1723) of St. Clement's Dane. CHILDREN.
SONS: John (1676-by 1714), who married Eliza-
beth (?-1701); Thomas Lawrence (ca. 1677-1701);
and Henry (?-by 1701), who died as a volunteer
on the royal ship Carlisle. DAUGHTERS: Anna
(1675-?); Margaret. PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCA-
TION: matriculated at St. John's College, Oxford,
1661, B.A. 1664/65; Middle Temple, 1664; prob-
ably University College, Oxford, M. A. , 1668. RE-
LIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican. SOCIAL STATUS
AND ACTIVITIES: acceded to baronetcy in 1681;
arrived as provincial secretary, and perhaps ac-
quired post through his friendship with William
Blathwayt; returned temporarily to England, No-
vember 1694-August 1696, May 1698-1701, and
finally returned permanently in January 1705/6.
OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: royal placeman. PUBLIC
CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Upper House, 1693
(attended the final days of the 2nd session of the
1692-1693 Assembly), 1694-1697 (absent from
the 2nd through the 6th sessions), 1697/98-1698
(resigned before the 2nd session of the 1697/98-
1700 Assembly). OTHER PROVINCIAL OFFICES:
Council 1691-1698 (suspended March-Septem-
ber 1693, and not fully reinstated until May 1694;
served as president of the Council from Septem-
ber 22 to September 25, 1693, and from May 7
to July 26, 1694); secretary, 1691-1693, 1694-
1698, 1701-1714 (from 1705/6-1714 his deputy
Philemon Lloyd (ca. 1674-1732/33) officiated in
Maryland while Lawrence remained in England);
justice, Provincial Court, 1692-1693, 1694 (chief
justice, May-October 1694); judge, Court of Vice
Admiralty, 1697. STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE IS-
SUES : serious disagreements with Gov. Lionel Co-
pley (1648-1693) over the perquisites of the sec-
retary's office led to Lawrence's suspension in
1693; reinstated by Gov. Francis Nicholson (1655-
1727/28) from whom he enjoyed much support;
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the subject of much controversy and divisiveness
in the colony and Assembly, Lawrence became
the target of a growing nativist sentiment against
royal placemen. WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. AN-
NUAL INCOME: about £200.0.0 sterling per year
from the secretary's office, 1705/6-1714. WEALTH
AT DEATH. DIED: on April 25, 1714, in London.
LAND: none in Maryland.
LAWRENCE, THOMAS (ca. 1677-1701). BORN:
ca. 1677, in Chelsea, Middlesex, England; second
son. IMMIGRATED: probably in 1692, as a minor
with his father. RESIDED: in St. Mary's City, St.
Mary's County; Annapolis, Anne Arundel County.
FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: Sir Thomas Law-
rence (ca. 1645-1714). MOTHER: Anne English
(?-1723). BROTHERS: John (1676-by 1714); Henry
(?-by 1701). SISTERS: Anna (1675-?); Margaret.
PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate, probably
had considerable schooling (his brother attended
Oxford). RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican. SO-
CIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Mr., by 1698; his
father, the provincial secretary, dispensed pa-
tronage beneficial to him, and he followed his
father in that office. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE:
placeman; engaged in His Majesty's service "by
sea," mid-1690s. PUBLIC CAREER. PROVINCIAL
OFFICE: provincial secretary, 1698-1701; Coun-
cil, 1700-1701 (appointed on October 22, 1700,
but died before actually serving under sworn oath).
LOCAL OFFICES: clerk, Talbot County, 1694-1698V
99 (a deputy actually served during most or all of
this period; Lawrence's appointment aroused much
opposition from the Talbot County justices).
WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: On April 15, 1701, in
Annapolis. PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV, £265.5.1
and 77,086 pounds of tobacco (including 1 servant
and books); FB, £66.2.2 and 33,292 pounds of
tobacco before payment of legacies and distri-
bution. LAND: none.
LAWSON, JOHN (?-1668). IMMIGRATED: in 1650
as a free adult with his wife. RESIDED: in Poplar
Hill Hundred, St. Mary's County. MARRIED Dor-
cas (?-by 1668). CHILDREN. SON: John. DAUGH-
TERS: Jane, who married first, Thomas Wright
(?-ca. 1673), second, (first name unknown) Ry-
der of Poplar Hill Hundred, and third, Thomas
Long (?-1691); Dorcas, who married Peter Car-
wardin. PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Protestant. SOCIAL STA-
TUS AND ACTIVITIES: arrived with three servants;
Mr., upon arrival; Gent., by 1668. OCCUPA-
519
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