b.c.1689
m. 22 Nov. 1709 Great Coggershall, Essex, ELIZABETH CLARK

Issue- All children bpt. Great Coggershall

?bpt. 9 July 1732 Great Coggershall, Essex
m.1. 25 Dec. 1759 Great Coggeshall, Essex, Martha Sharpe
2. 3 Apr. 1763 Chigwell, Essex, ELIZABETH PALFREEMAN

Issue- all bpt. in Chigwell, Essex

Ref:

Parish Registers for Chigwell and Coggershall

?bpt. 29 June 1766 Chigwell, Essex
m.1. 28 Feb. 1793 Tillingham, Essex, Susanna Osborne (bpt. 6 Sept. 1767 Bradwell, d. of George and Mathannah Osborne)
2. 13 Aug. 1794 Bradwell-Juxta-Mare, Essex, SARAH MAY
will 3 Jan. 1833 Bradwell Juxta Mare, Essex

St. Peters Church- c. 655, Bradwell-Juxta-Mare, Essex page 1, Page 2

An interesting Story from Essex Family History:

"St Peter's Chapel normally has a tranquil and calming air and is a place that feels good in a way that cannot be explained. Occasionally usually late at nigh the atmosphere seems to change and it suddenly becomes unsettling. Local people have reported seeing lights inside but on arrival the chapel is deserted and dark and even seeing dim figures inside.

The origin of the stories about St Peter's and Othona are unclear but they may be connected to the popularity of Othona and the adjoining St Peters Chapel for use by smuggling gangs from 1700 to about 1850 . Shadowy figures seen in the distance, lights that are extinguished quickly when someone is heard and muffled hoof beats would all have been practiced associated with smugglers. The rumour of ghosts may have helped to keep the Revenue men and nosy locals away."

And another ghost story from Bradwell:

"In the early 1800's the butler of the Rector of Bradwell committed suicide in his small room on the upper floor. Occupants since then have heard footsteps pass when no one is visible. A maid, unaware of the legend, who was to sleeping the room refused to do so after just one night for reasons that she could not explain. The ghost of a young child has also occasionally been seen at Bradwell Lodge."

One has to wonder given Benjamin's occupation as a gardiner if his employer might have been Sir Henry Bate Dudley, rector and squire of Bradwell who lived at Bradwell Lodge and was editor of "The Morning Post Newspaper". Sir Henry lived until 1842 and counted Thomas Gainsborough, David Garrick, William Hogarth and Mrs. Sarah Siddons as his friends and was known for his lavish dinner parties. He spent �28,000 of his fortune draining the marshland around Bradwell and reclaimed over 250 acres (enviromentalists today would be horrified!). Sir Henry was very interested in new machinery and farming techniques and published a paper which led to the formation of the Essex Agricultural Society in 1793. Sir Henry also wrote a number of plays and comic operas most of which were performed at the Theatre Royal in London. The common phrase "Wonders will never cease" is attributed to Sir Henry in a letter to his friend David Garrick who afterwards used it in his plays.

In his will Benjamin Lawrence of Bradwell near the Sea, Gardiner gave his daughter Mary Anna Christmas Lawrence his freehold house which he was living in adjoining the Kings Head Inn in Bradwell including the yard and garden. He also gave her all of his furniture, wearing apparel, plate, linen, printed books, monies, securities and accounts receivable. She was also to pay all of his debts and funeral charges. He gave to his son Benjamin Jr. of Tillingham, Baker his freehold house at Bradwell in the tenure of John Hews, Butcher along with the other buildings, yard and garden, trees, plants and shrubs in several plantations. He gave his grand-daughters Hannah Susannah and Matilda Lawrence when they reach the age of 21 all his freehold garden, cottage (formerly used as a Collar maker's shop) adjoining the church yard in Bradwell. Benjamin Jr. and Mary Anna Christmas were appointed executors. Benjamin Jr.'s father-in-law George Turner was a witness to the will.

Benjamin Lawrence's Will(1): Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Article on Bradwell in "White's Directory" for 1848 , Page 2

Issue- All children bpt. in Bradwell. First child by Susannah, last five by Sarah

Ref:

(1) Essex Record Office- will D/AER 36/387

Parish Registers- Tillingham, Essex c/o Rev. S. G. Brown

5II. BENJAMIN (WILLIAM 1, WILLIAM 2, BENJAMIN 3, BENJAMIN 4)

bpt. 1 Nov. 1795 Bradwell-Juxta-Mare, Essex
m. 22 Sept. 1816 Tillingham, Essex, SARAH STUTTLE (4) TURNER
d. 17 June 1841 Tillingham

Benjamin and Sally were listed in the 1841 census for Tillingham (census- Page 1, Page 2). They were living on South Street and he was a baker. Also listed are Sally, age 80, Elizabeth, age 15, Benjamin age 15, George, age 14, Susan, age 12, Louisa, age 9, Henry, age 8, and Lucy, age 6. Also living with them were Sarah Rummings, age 20, and Sarah Rummings, age 1, and Thomas and Sarah Powl, ages 20 and 50 who were also bakers. (1) Sarah Rummings and her husband Frederick and their family moved to Liverpool by the 1851 census.

1841 Census- Tillingham, Essex page 1, Page 2

Article on Tillingham in "White's Directory" for 1848 , Page 2 , Page 3

Issue- all children baptized in Tillingham

Ref:

(1) 1841 Census for the parish of Tillingham, Essex- pp. 10-11

Parish Registers- Tillingham, Essex c/o Rev. S. G. Brown
Census Report- Tillingham, Essex, 1841

m. MARY (2) TAYLOR
will 16 Feb.-16 May 1710, Exeter, NH

David had a ten acres grant in Exeter 30 March 1674 and bought from Israel Leavitt in 1677 land granted to Joseph Taylor. He was accepted as an inhabitant 11 March 1678/9. David also owned a sawmil on Exeter Falls. He was on the grand jury in 1683, 1698 and in 1700. He was on the jury in 1698, a constable in 1682, a representative in 1696 and in 1703.

David was a lieutenant in the militia and served 2 days duty at the Oyster River Garrison during the summer of 1696. He and others were in possession of 8 barrels of powder for protection as they expected Portsmouth, NH to be attacked.

In Nov. 1705 David was on a committee to select a minister for the town and to suggest the salary.

In the names of God Amen. I David Larance of Exeter in the Province of Newhamshire in New England do make and ordain my last will and testament in manner and form following

Impr I will that my Just debts and funeral charges be paid, and for my funeral my will is that thirty pounds shall be expended out of my estate

Item: I give unto my son William Larance eight acres of my middle marsh lying in Hampton, and six acres of upland Lying in David Robinsons field.

Item: I give unto my son Joseph Larance my Lower marsh Lying in Hampton, and five acres in my great pasture Lying next to Jonathan Robinsons lands.

Item: I give unto my two sons William & Joseph my saw Mill Lying upon Exeter falls, they paying their mother five pounds a year during life.

Item: I give unto my daughter Phebe Rawlings two acres of my middle marsh at Hampton, and thirty pounds in money to be paid out of my estate.

Item: I give unto my well beloved wife Mary Larance my dwelling house Barn and land belonging to it on both sides of the way, except what I before gave to my son Joseph, together with seven acres of Marsh lying at Perkins's and five pounds a year to be paid by my two sons as above expressed, during life. And all my houshold goods and four Cows, and a yoak of neb Oxen and a Cart & Chains and all things fitting for it, & fifteen sheep and all the swine, to be for her own proper use & to dispose of as She sees cause.

Item: I give unto my Grandson David Larance my dwelling house and Barn, and the land adjoyning or belonging to it On both sides of the way, together with four acres of the marsh after his Grandmother's decease.

Item: I give unto my two sons William & Joseph the other three acres of Marsh lying at Perkins's, and all the rest and residue of my stock not already disposed on.

Item: I give to my Grandaughter Mary Stevens fourscore pounds in money to be payed out of my estate when she comes of age or upon marriage day if married before.

Item: I give to my Grandson Jonathan Larance five pounds money.

Item: I give to my Grandson Nathll Stevensn five pounds.

Item: I give to my son Rawlins's Eldest daughter five pounds.

Item: I give to the Chh of Christ in Exeter five pounds to be layed by them for a silver Cup to be used at the sacrament.

Item: My will is that my two sons William and Joseph shall pay my Just debts Legacies & funeral Charges and then the rest and residue of my whole estate both real and personal shall be equally divided between them, only their mother shall have the use of the Negro during life & then to return to them to be equally divided between them.-

finally: My will is and I do hereby appoint my well beloved wife mary Larance & my two sons William & Joseph to be the Joynt Execurs to this my last will & testament and do hereby revoke disannull and make void all former wills and testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof, I the sd David Larance have hereunto set my hand and seal, this sixteenth Day of February Anno Dom: one thousand seven hundred & nine, ten, Annoq RR Anne magnae Brittaniae &c. Octavo:

Signed, Sealed & owned In present of

                              his
William              X              Taylor
                            mark

Jethro pearson
Mehitable X Things mark

proved 16 May 1710
Inventory of the estate of Lt. David Lawrence taken 20 May 1710 amounted to £1220.10.0, signed by James Sinclair and Moses Leavitt. (1)

Issue-

Ref:

(1) New Hampshire State Papers- Vol. XXXI, pp.649-51

Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- p.419
History of Exeter, NH- Charles H. Bell