Early History of The Lawrence Family
The Lawrence Family history can be traced back as far as 1854 when Frances Everett was born in Monticello, Florida. Frances was born before the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the American Negro slaves. However, it is not know whether Frances was freeman or slave. Her father’s name, as listed on her death certificate, was James Everett. Her mother’s name is not known, but we do know that she was of the Cherokee nation. Frances married Jim Lawrence, who was from the Caribbean Islands. Not much is known about Jim. Prior to recording Frances Butts’ narrative, known Family history accounted for eight children born to Jim and Frances. Following is a list of the children of Jim and Frances Lawrence as recalled by Frances Butts. (Throughout this booklet, Frances’ narratives are in italics.)
Jim and Frances Lawrence had eleven children: (without regard to birth order)
Spencer, Alfred, Josephine, Missy, Catherine*, Bessie, Jim, Jr. (James), Cora, Rosa, Janie (Monk), Samuel (Man, and three children of Jim’s from a previous marriage: Ella, Rebecca, (Name unknown)
*According to Catherine’s death certificate, her father was William Clinton.
The Lawrence children apparently all left the Monticello, Florida area (which is in North Florida) and migrated to other areas, mostly in the State of Florida. It is not known if there are descendents of Jim and Frances remaining in the Monticello area. A study of the 1920 Florida Census Records reveals a Solomon Lawrence, wife and children and a William Lawrence, wife and children living in Chaires, Florida in Leon County. Monticello and Chaires are situated next to each other, Chaires in Leon County and Monticello in Jefferson County, Florida. In our talks with family members, there has been no mention of a Solomon or William Lawrence from any account of the Family history and it unknown if they are related to the Lawrence Family we know today.
It is not known how long Jim and Frances were married or how long they lived in the Monticello area. It is believed that Frances Lawrence lived in Monticello until about 1938 but there is no record of Frances or Jim in the 1920 Florida Census.
Frances Lawrence, widowed, became ill in 1938 while living in Monticello, Florida. Her daughter, Bessie Lawrence Robinson, moved her to Laurel, Florida [near Sarasota] to live with her. Frances lived in Laurel for about four years until she died on March 3, 1942 at the age of 88. Frances is buried in Sarasota, Florida.
The authors visited the cemetery in Sarasota where Frances is buried. However, the grave was not found due to the overgrown and unkempt condition of the cemetery. While visiting Sarasota, the authors were able to obtain a copy of the death certificate of Frances Lawrence (see page 6).
The family has spread out throughout the United States. Lawrence Family members live in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Texas, Arizona, and other states, with the largest number of family members still residing in Florida, mostly in Central and South Florida.
As of the second edition of the Lawrence Family history, the Oldest Living Lawrence Family Member, in the year 2007, is Catherine Graham Morris, age 93, born 1914, daughter of Catherine Lawrence Graham, granddaughter of Jim and Frances Lawrence.
The history of the Lawrence Family is told in this book through the descendents of Jim and Frances Lawrence. Each child of Jim and Frances is assigned a number that is referenced through the text and extended to the next generation.
The second edition of this history of the Lawrence Family contains known information of the 4 th, 5 th and 6 th generations. Information is taken from the Family Newsletter and from biographies submitted by individual family members. For family members for whom the authors have no information or for whom no biographies were submitted, only the name is listed.
