Thomas Lawton (#770) and Elizabeth Salisbury (#771)

770. THOMAS LAWTON
771. ELIZABETH SALISBURY
Parents: George Lawton (1540) and Isabell Smith (#1541)
Parents:
BORN: 17 April, 1614
BORN: 1616
Cranfield, Bedfordshire England
Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England
DIED: 29 Sep, 1681
DIED: 16 Nov, 1654
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Portsmouth, Rhode Island

MARRIED: 29 May, 1635 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire England

CHILDREN


i.
Elizabeth
b. 10 Sep, 1637, d. aft 16 Mar, 1719

ii.
Daniel
b. 1639, d. 28 Jun, 1719

iii.
Rebecca
b. 1641

iv.
Ann
b. 1645, d. 1703
385.
v.
Sarah
b. 16 Sep, 1647, d. 5 Jul, 1718

vi.
Isaac
b. 11 Dec, 1650, d, 25 Jan, 1731

Thomas Lawton and Elizabeth Salisbury were married at the Church of Sts Peter and Paul in Cranfield, Bedfordshire on 29 May, 1635. He was a farmer, and most likely did not own his own land. Elizabeth’s parents are frequently said to be John Salisbury and Margaret Crowley, but I can’t find any supporting evidence for that. Thomas and Elizabeth soon had their first child, Elizabeth, who was baptized at the Cranfield church on 10 September, 1637. Then, for reasons that are not at all clear, the family, along with Thomas’s brother George (and also our ancestor #884), departed for Portsmouth, Rhode Island. At this time, the king was deeply unpopular for many reasons, and many Englishmen were leaving to start a new life in America. The Puritans almost invariably departed for Massachusetts or Connecticut, so it is clear by choosing Rhode Island that they were not Puritans. Once in Massachusetts, many Puritans fell in with various dissenting preachers and followed them in exile to Rhode Island or New Hampshire. Rhode Island later became a safe haven for Baptists and Quakers, but these religions were unknown in America at the time of the Lawtons’ migration. Those leaving for purely economic reasons generally settled outside of New England, given the strict religious environment there. So at this point I don’t really know why Thomas and George brought their family to the fledgling, bickering, religiously strident colony of Portsmouth. My best guess is that the Lawtons were Puritan sympathizers, but may have had friends or relatives who became followers of Anne Hutchinson while in Boston. So perhaps the Lawtons originally planned to meet their connections in Boston, but following the exile of the Hutchinsonians to Portsmouth, the Lawtons changed plans and met the Hutchinson exiles directly in Portsmouth.

This is of course just guesswork, but what is known is that Thomas and Elizabeth were in Portsmouth soon after the first settlers. Shortly after their arrival, there was a schism in the community, with people loyal to the Hutchinsons remaining in Portsmouth and those loyal to William Coddington leaving to found Newport. Thomas was one of the 29 original signatories to the Portsmouth Compact, which was the governing compact for those who remained in Portsmouth. (Thomas signed his mark, while brother George was able to sign his name.) Since the Lawtons didn’t appear to be particularly distinguished in England, and the other signatories had been part of the exiles from Boston, I think his being admitted as a signatory may further support my hypothesis that he had family or other connections to some of the Hutchinsonian exiles.

Thomas and Elizabeth had five more children all born in Portsmouth. The first of these, David, was born sometime in 1639, the same year as their arrival in America, so in all likelihood Elizabeth was pregnant at the time of the voyage. The Lawtons were given land in town, but Thomas also used his probably limited savings to augment his land holdings. The town sold land to townspeople at the rate of 2 shillings per acre until all the land was purchased by 1713 (approximately $15 per acre in today’s money adjusted for inflation, or $300 in today’s economic power). He was originally granted land at the top of Quaker Hill, on the east coast of Aquidneck along present-day E. Main Street and now the location of the town hall. He gradually expanded this plot to approximately 50 acres. He also received a grant along Union Street, which runs across the middle of the island between the two main roads from Portsmouth to Newport. This became his Hunting Swamp Farm. He also acquired a second farm in Portsmouth which he named the Long Swamp Farm, in very close proximity to Hunting Swamp Farm and possibly adjoining it. Long Swamp Farm lies further south toward Newport, bounded by E. Main Road to the west, Wapping Road to the east, Sandy Point Road to the north and Bramans Lane to the south. The two farms aggregated to around 160 acres. Thomas also acquired substantial holdings outside of Portsmouth, including six hundred acres in Warwick, Rhode Island, land in Puncatest Neck, Tiverton, Rhode Island, a house and lot on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, land in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and land in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. He also received a grant of land in Narragansett from the local Indian sachem Cadganaguant in 1660, who had “formerly received several kindnesses from” Thomas.

Thomas appeared to be focused on farming and land speculation rather than civic duties. For such a large landowner, his involvement in government and religion seems light. He served as town commissioner in 1655, 1656, 1658 and 1661, and as Portsmouth’s deputy to the general assembly in 1666. As far as I can tell he doesn’t appear prominently in the records of any of the town’s churches, although several generations of his descendants were Quakers.

Wife Elizabeth died sometime after 1654, the year in which she last appeared in the Portsmouth records by signing a land deed. Thomas later remarried, to Grace Parsons, in Portsmouth on 9 August, 1663. Grace was the daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Parsons of Portsmouth, and the widow of William Bailey. Their marriage was not a happy one, but it’s hard to develop an accurate picture of what happened. Most Lawton family histories state that Thomas probably left to fight in King Philip’s War in 1675, and Grace petitioned the town and later the state for financial aid during her husband’s absence. I view this as unlikely given the town records. Many even say he died during the war, which is plainly incorrect as Thomas’s will was proved several years after the war.

Thomas was 61 at the time of King Philip’s War, unusually old for an army volunteer. He also had no reason to get involved, as Portsmouth was never at risk of Indian attacks given its island location, and Thomas had no prior history of military involvement or training. By the time he had written his will in 1674, it is clear that the marriage was under strain. His will states that “although Grace have not behaved herself towards me as a wife ought to do towards an husband, yet for the manifestation of my care of her, I do hereby give, bequeath unto her all the goods that are yet remaining in my custody of those that were hers when I married her and also one good feather bed and bolster; also 12 pounds per annum for life in lieu of all right she has.” Then, in 14 June, 1676, the Portsmouth town records state that Grace had presented her many grievances to the town often, and to the (Rhode Island) Assembly several times for due and sufficient maintenance. The town found that, since Grace had been severely neglected in Thomas’s absence, his son Daniel, whom they referred to as the agent of Thomas, should pay Grace six shillings a week, that in turn all moveable goods in Grace’s possession should be given to Daniel, and that Grace should have the right to remain in the house she was currently occupying. While most histories believe Thomas’s absence was related to King Philip’s War, I think given his age and the reference in his earlier will to their marital problems, Thomas most likely had moved to one of the other towns where he maintained farms. Also, almost every family in New England was affected by King Philip’s War, but none that I have seen were petitioning for relief from the government. In a normally functioning family they would have taken care of one another, and certainly the Lawtons had ample funds to take care of Grace. So I think that Thomas’s family had rejected Grace and frozen her out of the family’s finances, and her grievances were about this mistreatment rather than her difficulties due to her husband’s war activities. The subsequent resolution of this problem seems more like a divorce settlement than a welfare case as well.

There is one last reference to Thomas and Grace, an agreement dated 20 April, 1677 between Thomas and Grace’s son from her first marriage, John Bailey. I am guessing that Grace was unhappy with the six shillings a week she was receiving from Daniel, and continued to press for better financial treatment. In the agreement between Thomas and John Bailey, Thomas leased a house, with farm and orchards to John for as long as Grace was alive. As payment, John was required to pay Grace ten pounds a year, and another three pounds was due to Thomas’s daughter Elizabeth. When combined with David’s payments, Grace would now be receiving twenty five pounds annually, or approximately $70,000 in today’s economic power, plus the free use of her home. It is unclear whether these agreements superseded the provisions in Thomas’s 1674 will entitling Grace to twelve pounds annually. It is clear, however, that all these agreements show that Thomas and Grace were not living together, and that Thomas was trying to placate Grace and buy her cooperation when his estate was finally settled.

Thomas most likely died in September, 1681 as his will was proved on 29 September. In summary, he left most of his Portsmouth property to eldest son Daniel, the Tiverton property to Isaac, and the remaining Portsmouth property and the Dartmouth property to eldest daughter Elizabeth. Daughter Anne received a token amount, having already received her share, and daughter Sarah received fifty pounds. The full will reads as follows:

"In the name of God Amen the 5th day of June in the year of our Lord OneThousand Six Hundred Seventy Four, Anno Regm Regis Carolus Secundi AnglisCXXV3...I, Thomas Lawton of Portsmouth upon Rhode Island in New England, yeoman, being in perfect bodily health and sound memory pray to Almighty God for his soul knowing the uncertainty of this present life and being desirous to settle that outward estate that this Lord hath...I do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say first and principally I recommend my soul to Almighty God, hoping to receive full pardon and remission of my sins by Jesus Christ my [...] and my body to the earth to be buried in decent manner as by my executors or overseers hereafter named shall be thought most convenient.And as touching such worldly estate this Lord has sent me my will and meaning is that the same shall be employed and bestowed as herein and by this my will is expressed.)Imprimis, I do pronounce and make void all wills by me formerly made and I declare and appoint this my last will and testament.I will that all debts I justly owe to any manner of person or persons shall be paid in convenient time after my decease, by Executors hereinafter named. I do hereby declare that although Grace have not behaved herself towards me as a wife ought to do toward an husband, yet for the manifestation of my care of her I do hereby give and bequeath unto her all the goods that are yet remaining in my custody of those that were hers when I married her, as also one good feather bed and bolster. Item, I give and bequeath unto the said Grace the sum of 12 pounds per annum in current pay at Rhode Island during the time of her natural life to be paid unto her by my executors hereinafter named, in lieu of what right or interest she might have or claim on any of my lands or to anyother of my estate. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Daniel Lawton, his heirs and assigns forever all that farms that is now in his possession commonly called and known by the name of Long Swamp farms with the rights, privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging. Item, besides what assurance I have formerly given unto my said son Daniel Lawton of a certain farm commonly called Hunting Swamp farms upon Rhode Island aforesaid I do hereby further ratify and confirm the said farms unto my son Daniel Lawton, his heirs and assigns forever. And my will is that William Wodell shall have and enjoy the said farms with the store upon the same for and during the term of years that are yet to come and unexpired as they are mentioned in a lease that I have granted unto him under my hand and seal. That the said William performing his part of the covenant therein exprest. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son, Isaac Lawton his heirs and assigns forever all that farms of mine lying and being at Puncatest with the privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging. As also all the lands rights and privileges that I have, may or shall have upon Martha's Vineyard in New England aforesaid. Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Shearman the wife of Peleg Shearman, and her heirs forever one quarter share of land lying and being unto the said Peleg.... at Pon..ganset in the Township of Dartmouth in New England. Item, I give and bequeath unto my said daughter, Elizabeth Shearman her heir and assigns for ever all that plot or parcel of land mine that is now in the tenure and occupation of the said Peleg Shearman lying in Portsmouth aforesaid, and adjoining to that land that Philip Shearman gave unto the said Peleg. Item, I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth Sherman her heirs and assigns forever all that my now dwelling house with all the land belonging to this same as the same is situated, lying and being between the land of William Wodell and the land of Philip Shearman. Item, I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth Shearman her heirs and assigns for ever all that pasture of mine in Portsmouth aforesaid that is commonly called and known by the name of the 50 acres as the same is lying and being betwixt the land of William Hall and the land of Thomas Wood.Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Anne Slocum the sum of 5shillings in lawful money of New England to be paid unto her by my executors here after named immediately after my decease as the full of her portion (with what I have already given her) from my estate. Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Sarah Sisson the full sum of 50 pounds in lawful money of New England to be paid unto her by my executors within the space of one year next after my decease. Item, I give and bequeath unto my overseers hereafter named the full sum of pounds in lawful money of New England as a token of my love. Item, I give and bequeath all the remainder of my real and personal estate whatsoever it may be found unto my daughter Elizabeth Shearman and Sarah Sisson their heirs and assigns to be equally divided between them. Item, I do hereby nominate and appoint my son Daniel as the sole executor of this my last will and testament. Item, I do hereby also nominate and appoint my loving friend William Wodell and my loving son-in-law George Sisson to be overseers of this my last will and testament assigning them to assist my executor as they can in the performance of this my last will and testament. Item, my will is that my executor shall not sell or dispose of any part of my estate but by the advice of my overseers or one of them. And further my will is that my executor shall not under any pretense whatsoever claim any more of my estate than is exprest to be given unto him in this my last will and testament.Also my will is that all the debts that I shall justly owe at the time of my decease be paid out of my personal estate before the division be made betwixt my daughters aforesaid. For witness I the said Thomas Lawton have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written.”

Thomas and Elizabeth had six children. There is a reference to a Rebecca Lawton (iii) in the Cranfield records, who is assumed to be the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth. She is not named in Thomas’s will, however, so if she were in fact their daughter, she must have died before her father. All the children were Quakers and married into Portsmouth Quaker families. The eldest daughter, Elizabeth (i), was born in Cranfield in 1637, and came to Portsmouth with her parents at the age of two. She married Peleg Sherman in Portsmouth on 25 November, 1657. He was a farmer who, like many of his generation, left Portsmouth as all the available farmland was already purchased. He and Elizabeth moved to the new town of Kingstown in southern Rhode Island, where they raised eight children. Peleg died in 1719 and Elizabeth died some time later, most likely in Kingstown.

Daniel (ii) was most likely born in Portsmouth in 1639. He married Rebecca Mott in Portsmouth on 26 May, 1669. He was a farmer who inherited substantial property in Portsmouth from his father in 1681. Daniel and Rebecca had twelve children, all born in Portsmouth. (I believe that one of these daughters, Rebecca, is causing the confusion mentioned in the preceding paragraph, and incorrectly being counted as a child of Thomas and Elizabeth, rather than a grandchild). Daniel and Rebecca both died in 1719. I assume some type of epidemic was afflicting Rhode Island in 1719, since three of the four children of Thomas and Elizabeth then alive died that year, including our ancestor Sarah (#385). Ann (iv) was born in 1645, and married Giles Slocum, the son of the Giles Slocum that built Portsmouth’s gristmill on the property of our ancestor Thomas Cooke (#1544). Giles and Ann had seven children, all in Portsmouth. Their great granddaughter, Mary Coggeshall, returned to England around the time of the American Revolution (A large number of Lawton descendants were loyalists and either returned to England or moved to Canada during the war). Mary Coggeshall married into the English aristocracy, and Queen Elizabeth II of England is descended from her, making our ancestors Thomas and Elizabeth Lawton one of the few American families from whom royalty is descended rather than the other way around. Lastly, Isaac (vi) was born 11 December, 1650. He married Mary Sisson, the sister of our ancestor George Sisson (#384), in 1672. Mary died in 1674, most like during childbirth. Isaac remarried shortly thereafter to Elizabeth Tallman, with whom he had eleven children, all in Portsmouth. Elizabeth died in 1701, and Isaac promptly remarried, this time to Naomi Hunt. Naomi was married to Isaac’s cousin George, (the son of Thomas’s brother, George), who died in 1697. Isaac was the only Lawton to live through whatever happened in 1719, dying in Portsmouth on 25 January, 1731, at age 81.