Violet (Blackman) Lawton (abt. 1630 - abt. 1708)

Born about 1630 in Scotland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1708 at about age 78 in Middletown, New Jersey [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Roger Wehr [send private message]

Biography

Violet Blackman was born around 1630-1640 in Scotland.

Her husband, "WILLIAM LAYTON, an Englishman, ...was one of the pioneer settlers of Middletown, New Jersey."^[1]

"1702, Aug. 17-18, he made his will as William Lawton; proved June 28, 1708, in which he named his wife executrix, and she was probably the Violet Lawton to whom letters of administration were issued, and his six children."^[1]

Children

1. William Layton
2. Thomas Layton
3. Andrew Layton
4. John Layton
5. Samuel Layton
6. Mary Layton

Research Notes

Violet's first name is known from her husband's probate.

There was a contemporary woman named Violetta Blackman who was appointed a guardian in 1697. It's unclear whether an adult woman would be appointed a guardian, otherwise this would make her too young to be the wife of William Layton.

• On 28 June 1697, Samuel Webb, joiner, of Barbados paid a bond to serve as guardian of Mary Ann and Violetta Blackman of the Island of Barbados. Jacob Legay of the same place was fellow bondsman. ^[2]

It's possible someone made a stretch and connected her to this person based on an unusual for the time first name, however there was also a Bryan or Bryant Blackman who ten years before was connected to residents of Middletown and Shrewsbury (Ephraim Allen (1652-1692)).

• Administration of the estate of Bryant Blackman ("of the Island of Barbados") was granted to Samuel Leonard of Middletown 28 Oct 1687; an inventory by William Leeds Victor, Ephraim Allin, Joseph Wardell, Thomas Webley was dated 21 Feb 1687/8. The account was dated 1 Apr 1688 by Samuel Leonard, with additional property of "Bryan Blackman" appraised at £18.12 by William Leeds Victor and Nicholas Browne. ^[3]

Meanwhile there was also a Richard Blackman with a corner lot in Burlington circa 1684-1712.^[4]

Samuel Webb, joiner, of Barbados is probably the Samuel Webb, joiner, whose widow conveyed land in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County on 4 March and 12 May 1699 to Edward Wooley and Jedediah Allen (1646-1712).

Further research to rule out or further the idea that "Violetta Blackman" was the wife of William Lawton would be tracking down the Blackman girls and determining whether they settled and married in Monmouth County, and why they were here at all.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Stillwell, John E. Historical and Genealogical Miscellany; Data Relating to the Settlement and Settlers of New York and New Jersey. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co, 1970. Print. Vol. 5, p. 1. https://archive.org/stream/newyorkhistoryne05stil
2. ↑ Nelson, William (ed.), Calendar of Wills, Administrations, Etc. Volume I, 1670-1730. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Trenton, NJ: Archives of the State of New Jersey, 1901, volume 23, page 42
3. ↑ Nelson, William (ed.), Calendar of Wills, Administrations, Etc. Volume I, 1670-1730. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Trenton, NJ: Archives of the State of New Jersey, 1901, volume 23, page 42
4. ↑ https://wwwnet-dos.state.nj.us/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/EarlyLandRecords.aspx

• Shurtleff, William, and Lawton L. Shurtleff. The Shurtleff and Lawton Families: Genealogy and History. Lafayette, CA: Pine Hill Press, 2005. Print. Preview available via Google Books
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Yates Publishing, Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.
• http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=11795205&pid=1952