Rachel (Smith) Austin (1744 - 1827)

Born 4 Mar 1744 in Easton, Bristol County, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Wife of Jonathan Lawrence — married 22 May 1765 in Brockton, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 30 Aug 1827 at age 83 in Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA

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Biography

Rachel Smith was the daughter of Benajah Smith and his wife Mary Hill.^[1] She was born on 4 March 1744 in Easton, Massachusetts.^[2]

She was married twice. Her first husband was Jonathan Lawrence who she married on 22 May 1765 in Brockton, Massachusetts.^[3] They had two sons, Libbeus and Jasiel. Some of what is known about this family comes from the efforts of Rachel's grandchildren to recover a supposed inheritance from England.^[4] The oldest son Libbeus had one son John A Lawrence, who in turn had one son Norman J Lawrence who died without heirs. The other son Jasiel Lawrence Sr had a son Jasiel Lawrence Jr who is the one who claimed the English inheritance. Jonathan Lawrence was dead by 1779 by which time Rachel had remarried.

Rachel's second husband was John Austin, and by him she had two more sons. Soon after their marriage, Rachel and John moved to Worthington, Massachusetts.

Birth

Born: 4 March 1744 in Easton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

"Rachel Smith Daughter of Beneja Smith of Easton Born of His wife Mary on y^e fourth day of March: 1744"^[5]

She was the daughter of Benajah Smith and Mary Hill.

Marriages and Children

Married: 1st - Jonathan Lawrence on 22 May 1765 in Brockton, Massachusetts.^[6] They had two sons. Jonathan Lawrence died by 1779.

Married: 2nd - John Austin about 1779.

Children of John Austin and Rachel Smith:

1. Jasiel Lawrence.
2. Libbeus Lawrence.

Children of John Austin and Rachel Smith:

1. Timothy Austin. Born on 17 April 1780. Married Rebecca Harris, 15 children. Died 15 December 1859 at Ripley, Ohio.
2. John Austin. Born on 17 October 1783 at Worthington. Married Lodima Herrick Daniels, 10 children. Died 25 August 1827 at Becket, Massachusetts.

Death

Died: 30 Aug 1827 in Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA.

"Rachel, w. John, Aug. 30, 1827, a. 83. G.R.6." ^[7]

Sources

Footnotes and citations:

1. ↑ Austins of American Newsletter, (August 1980): pages 7-8. Some Descendants of John Austin of Worthington, Massachusetts, by Charles Maxwell Austin.
2. ↑ Lucas. "Easton Vital Records", in Mayflower Descendant, vol. 46 (1996): page 177.
3. ↑ Vital Records of Brockton. (1911): page 281.
4. ↑ Usher, James. History of the Lawrence-Townley and Chase-Townley Estates in England. (1883): page 15.
5. ↑ Lucas. "Easton Vital Records", in Mayflower Descendant, vol. 46 (1996): page 177.
6. ↑ Vital Records of Brockton. (1911): page 281.
7. ↑ Vital Records of Worthington. (1911):121.

Source list:

• Easton. James W. Lucas. "Easton, Massachusetts, Vital Records", in The Mayflower Descendant, volume 46 (1996): page 177.

• Brockton. F. Apthorp Foster, ed. Vital Records of Brockton Massachusetts to the Year 1850. (Boston: NEHGS, 1911): page 281.

• Worthington. Vital Records of Worthington, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. (Boston: NEHGS, 1911).

• Austins of American Newsletter, (August 1980): pages 7-8. Some Descendants of John Austin of Worthington, Massachusetts, by Charles Maxwell Austin.

• Usher, James. History of the Lawrence-Townley and Chase-Townley Estates in England. (1883): page 15.

• DAR. Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, volumes 73. (1923): page 238, DAR #72672.

• DAR. Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, volumes 74. (1924): pages 169-170, DAR #73455; DAR #73456.

• DAR. Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, volumes 95. (1927): page 117, DAR #94360.