Thomas Lawrence (abt. 1733 - 1797)

Born about 1733 in Rappahannock, Virginia

Ancestors

Son of Tobias Phillips and Margaret Peggy Lawrence

Descendants

Died 10 Mar 1797 at about age 64 in Traphill, Wilkes, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Thomas Lawrence was born about 1733 in Rappahannock, Virginia to parents Tobias Phillips and Margaret (Peggy) Lawrence. Margaret was an indentured servant and mistress of her bond owner, Tobias Phillips. Thomas took his mother's surname. His mother Margaret had been sentenced to 14 years of "transportation bond" in London, England for a felony on 9 Jul 1729 as recorded in the records of the "Old Bailey" court. When Margaret died in 1740, Thomas was therefore required to serve out her sentence and became a servant to Tobias at age 7. He served Tobias until Tobias' death when he served Tobias' widow, and after her death he served their son George Phillips who was his half-brother. George did free him eventually.

Thomas married Lucy Womack about 1751 in Richmond, Virginia. Children: George Washington, William Jesse, Mary, John Townley, Polly, Thomas, James, Henry Hardy, Lucy. He died on 10 Mar 1797 in Traphill, North Carolina. He was buried in the Roaring River Baptist Church Cemetery on 10 Mar 1797 in Wilkes, North Carolina.

In Tobias Phillips' will in 1740 he states: "Wife Hannah the use of my servants Joseph (Pecton) and Thomas Lawrence; son George to pay Thomas Lawrence 500 lbs of tobacco for his freedom dues."

They moved from Rappahannock (now Richmond), Virginia to Pittsylvania, Virginia about 1765. He bought land in Pittsylvania County on the Mountain Fork of Snow Creek, a tributary of the Pigg River, from Capt. Hugh Innis for 10 lbs. sterling. He sold this land on 25 Aug 1773 to William Stegall for 25 lbs 10 shillings. They were living in Wilkes, North Carolina in 1782 when he witnessed signing of a deed on 25 Jan 1782.

Thomas was an elder at the Roaring River Baptist Church on Little Sandy Creek of the east prong of Roaring River near present-day Traphill, North Carolina. The church was organized in 1779. He is last mentioned in the church minutes of 10 Mar 1797.

Sources

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LT18-F2F

• US Federal Census 1790

• North Carolina Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index

• Wilkes County North Carolina Census 1784-87

• Church Minutes, Yadkin Association of Baptist Churches, North Carolina, 1790-1797

• Records of Roaring River Baptist Church, North Carolina

• State of North Carolina No. 920, unto Thomas Lawrence, "100 acres in Wilkes County, on a creek, one fork of the easter branch of Roaring River..." 18 May 1789

• Wills of Richmond, Virginia, Tobias Phillips, 1740

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43231044