Sir John Laurence, of Delaford

John Lawrence was baptized on 1 December 1588 in England.1,2 He married Grissell Gibbons in 1609 in England.1,2 John died on 12 November 1638 in England at age 49.1 He was interred on 14 November 1638 in Chelsea Church in Chelsea, Middlesex, England.1

    John was also known as [Sir] John Lawrence Baronet.

John Lawrence, Esq., was from Delaford in Iver, Buckinghamshire and Chesea, Middlesex.3 Hugh Buckner Johnston in his Lawrence Family manuscript relates the following concering Sir John Lawrence:
"Sir John Lawrence, Knight and Baronet, was a wealthy merchant of London. He purchased on share of stock in the Virginia Company in Virginia on June 23, 1620, a fact that may entitle his descendants to membership in the Order of the First Families of Virginia. In June 1632, Sir John Lawrence, "Adventurer", and others, recorded their plans to transport three hundred colonists for agriculture, mining, etc., to Long Isle, about one hundred fifty miles north of Jamestown. On August 24, 1635, he was party to a suit in the High Court of Admiralty in London, and his kinsman and factor, Richard Bennett, testified concerning goods sent to Virginia on the ship Revenge."4
He entered Oxford (St. John's College) 27 May 1603 at age 14. He received a B. A. from Oriel College on 29 October 1604 and a M. A. from St. Edm Hall on 7 July 1615. John was knighted at Royston 26 January 1609/10 and was made a baronet on 9 October 1628.1
On a large tablet of black marble, affixed to the east wall:
Sacred to the memory

    of Sr. John Lavrence late of Iver in ye covnty

    of Bvcks Knight and Baronet who married Grissill

    davghter & co-heire of Gervase Gibbon of Benenden

    in the county of Kent Esq. by whom he had issve

    seven sons and fovre daughters Hee deceased the

    xiith of Novembr. 1638. aged 50 years

What bad men dy & tvrn to their last sleepe

    What stir the poets and engravers keepe

    By a fained skill, to pile them vp a name

    With termes of Good & Just ovt lasting fame.

    Alas poor men, svch most have neede of stone

    And Epitaphs, the Good ( indeed ) lack none

    Theire owne trve worth's enovgh to give a glory

    Vnto th' uncankerd record of theire story.

    Such wass the Man lyes heere yet doth pertake

    Of verse and stone bvt tis for fashion sake.

Arms: Argent, a cross raguly gules, on a chief azure three leopard's heads or; on a scutcheion of pretence the arms of Ulster; impaling Sable, a lion ramp. between three escallops or. (Gibbon)5
"In 1637, Margaret, Countess of Nottingham; Elizabeth, Countess of Devonshire; Edward, Lord Gorges; sir John Danvers and Sir John Lawrence, with others protested against the amount levied on Chelsea (it being at a rate four times greater than that of other taxes), but took care to state their complaint was only against the amount, and not against the tax itself. The Sheriffs replied that the unusual rate was "in respect of persons of honour and quality who had summer houses there, but land and property elsewhere." In the following year (1638), Sir John Lawrence, Nicholas harman, and Sir John Abeale drew up another partition, stating that, by appointment of the High Constable, they had lately made a 'ratement' for ship-money, according to every man's estate. They had rated themselves and som few others at a higher proportion, in order to spare the minister and some of the weak estate. The Sheriffs, however, who were strangers to the place, at the instigation of some 'factious spirits,' had struck out the names of these abatements upon the petitioners, the Countess of Devon and Sir John Fearne. They prayed that the first rate might be confirmed, but with what sucess is not recorded."6
John made a will on 19 October 1638. His will reads as follows:
I, Sir John Lawrence of Delefords and Iver, Bucks Kt. and Bt., desire to be buried in my Chapel at Chelsea. All my interest in the Parsonage of Dorking, Surrey, which I, with my brother-in-law Richard Colville, purchased of Richard Hollman, to my sister Martha Jackson, widow, and she be dead at my decease same to her daughter Martha. 300 pounds to my oldest daughter, Ann Lawrence; 200 pounds to my second daughter Frances Lawrence; bequests to servants; all my interest in 7010 pounds which long since I recovered my judgement of Anne Babington, executrix of Vry Babington, dec., in H. M. Court of Exchequer due me from the estate of Robert Bromley, dec. Of what can be recovered 1/2 to my eldest son John Lawrence and the other moiety to my younger children. 100 marks towards the finishing of my house at Iver. Rest of personal estate to my younger children, Anne, Robert, Frances, Grissell, and Henry, those age 21 to be paid soon as possible and the others to be paid at 21 or marriage. All portions of my younger children to amount to 900 pounds apiece and all my houses and land at Chelsea to provide this. * * * The settling of wife's estate has cost me more at this date than double the value of her inheritance, were it to be sold. The legacies of 5000 pounds which I have given her younger children is more than double the value of her estate after her decease. Wife Dame Grissell to sole extrx. provide she shall settle within 12 months after my death all her estate in lands and tenements on her eldest son John Lawrence and heirs male and in default of same to son Robert Lawrence, etc. Witnesses Pugh Flood, clarke; Samuel Forest, John Hynde, Martha Jackson, Rice Thomas.7

The reference "all my interest in 7010 pounds which long since I recovered my judgement of Anne Babington, executrix of Vry Babington, dec., in H. M. Court of Exchequer due me from the estate of Robert Bromley, dec." refers to the heirs of the estate of John Bromley whom Sir John Lawrence's mother, Martha Cage, married after the death of Sir John's father, Sir Thomas Lawrence.

    His will was probated on 21 January 1638/39.