Margaret Peggy Lawrence (1712 - abt. 1739)

Born 12 Jul 1712 in England

Descendants

Died about 1739 at about age 26 in Rappahannock, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Donald Francis [send private message]

Biography

Margaret (Peggy) Lawrence was born on 12 Jul 1712 in England to parents John Lawrence and Margaret ___. She was christened on 23 Jul 1712 in St. Andrew's, Holborn, London, England. She was indicted on a felony charge of thievery on 9 Jul 1729 at age 17. She was tried and convicted in the Hall of Justice of Old Bailey, located in the suburbs of London, on 25 Feb 1730. She was given His Majesty's royal mercy on condition of transportation to some part of America for a servitude of 14 years. Her transportation bond was issued on 9 Mar 1730. She became one of the 109 prisoners whom Jonathan Forward contracted to transport aboard the Patapscoe Merchant, Darby Lux, Commander, from the Newgate Prison, City of London, to Annapolis, Maryland, arriving in Sep 1730.

Tobias Phillips, a second-generation tobacco planter from Rappahannock, Virginia learned of the ship arriving and traveled 100 miles to meet Capt. Lux and inspect the 94 surviving prisoners. Tobias purchased Margaret's bond which entitled him to 14 years of service, and brought her back to his plantation in Virginia. While at the tobacco plantation she bore Tobias two illegitimate sons: John Lawrence, born about 1731, and Thomas Lawrence born about 1733. She did not live out her entire bond of 14 years, dying about 1739. She was not mentioned inTobias Phillips' will dated on 10 Sep 1739.

Sources

• London, England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, Christening on 23 Jul 1712, parents John and Margaret Lawrence

• England Select Births and Christenings, 23 Jul 1712, parents John and Margaret Lawrence

• https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?div=t17291015-45, see attached images

• Emigrants in Bondage, 1614-1775, Annapolis, Maryland, ship Patapsco Merchant, arrival Mar 1730

• Bonded Passengers to America, Vol 1 and 2

• US and Canada Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1730, Maryland

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157873043 (see for more biography)