Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Daniel Lawrence of Groton, MA and Canaan, CT (52 Ancestors, #22)

Daniel Lawrence > Daniel Lawrence Jr > Esther Laurence > George Palmer Ransom > Samuel Ransom > Jameson Harvey Ransom > Charles Francis Ransom > Lillian Emma Ransom > Charles Lloyd Walters

Daniel Lawrence was the son of Enoch and Ruth (Whitney) Lawrence. He was born on March 7, 1680 in Groton, Massachusetts and he probably grew up in that town. According to the History of Windham County, Daniel, his wife Sarah, and their children settled south of Plainfield, Connecticut around 1708 where Daniel "became a prominent public man." He was given the liberty to vote in 1709 and he was chosen to be Surveyor of the Highways. Daniel served as Selectmen for 15 years, serving his first term in 1716.

There seems to have been an ongoing debate over the location and arrangements of the meeting house, which would also serve as the place of worship. Daniel's name can be found in connection to many of the various proposals. In September 1720, Daniel was part of a committee to determine the seating arrangement in the new meeting house. Those over 50 years old were seated according to age and the rest were seated based on their estate. The task was a difficult one and the committee was "allowed one pound in money for care and service." The arrangements were unsatisfactory to many and in 1721, it was voted that a new arrangement would be made.

Daniel was a deputy from Plainfield to the General assembly in Hartford (1723), responsible for "removing all encumbrances on the public roads of the town" (1729), and moderator of Plainfield's town meeting (1740). In 1735 he received the title of "Captain," indicating he had prior military experience.

Around 1742, he moved to Canaan, CT where his sons Daniel Jr and Isaac had moved, and he and his wife and daughter Elizabeth were admitted into the church in January 1743. He was named as a town inhabitant on December 4, 1744 and resided in the area until his death on May 8, 1777. Daniel and many of his descendants are buried in the Mountain View Cemetery in North Canaan, CT.


Sources: Massachusetts Births and Christenings, FamilySearch; Connecticut Deaths and Burials, Ancestry; Find A Grave; History of Windham, Google Books; Historical Sketches of Some Members of the Lawrence Family, Ancestry

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