Thomas Laurance, my 3rd great grandfather, was born Decmeber 29, 1797 North Carolinia to William Laurance. At this time, we believe his mother was Sarah Caruthers. By 1814, at the age 16, Thomas was living with his family on Hannah's Branch, which was then in Smith County, TN. From his father's will, we do know for sure that Thomas had brothers, Pharis and Lewis and sisters, Nancy Self, Matilda Driver, Susannah Overall and Mary Hunt.The early records do use the Laurance spelling. However, both spellings can be found in records. William spelled it Laurnace when he signed his name. In Pharis Laurance Bible, on births it is spelled LAURANCE on deaths it is spelled LAURENCE until the last two entries then LAWRENCE. So apparently it evolved between 1820's and 1880's. In records for Thomas, the Lawrence spelling is most common - but his tombstone does have the Laurance spelling.
Thomas married Susannah Pafford and had 8 children that lived to be grown. He died August 14, 1880 and is buried next to Susannah in Pisgah Methodist Church Cemetery in DeKalb Co., TN.
Levi Lawrence of Smith Cty to Thomas Hunt 75 acres on the waters of Smith Fork. Registed 1838
Witness: Hardy Hunt and Thomas Lawrence.
. . . I do appoint Jacob Fite and Thomas Lawrence executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal this the 8th day of December 1833
A-29: 6 June 1836, Thomas Lawrence appointed guardian of Elijah Duncan who it has been represented to this court is so far impaired with old age that he is not capable of taking care of his estate; Laurence posted bond with securities John Davis and Soloman Davis for $500.A-76: 1 Aug. 1836, Thomas Lawrence, guardian of Elijah Duncan, came into court and reported that said Duncan has recovered his proper mind and wishes to take charge of his estate and effects again; court appointed John Reynolds and Peter Reynolds as commissioners to settle with said Lawrence and report to the next or succeeding term of the court.
A-93: Sept. 1836, Peter Reynolds and John Reynolds commissioners appointed at the last term of this court to settle with Thomas Lawrence, guardian of Elijah Duncan, have made report which was received by the court and ordered to be spread upon record in the Guardians Book, and the original filed in the office; and on motion of said Thomas Lawrence, he was released of his guardianship for the said Elijah Duncan, holding himself accountable for all arrearages in his hands of the said Duncan's effects.
We, BENJAMIN, WILLIAM, JOSHUA, DAVID, HENRY, LOUIS, and LUCRETIA TAYLOR; JOHN and NANCY TAYLOR; and SAMUEL JACKSON and MARTH PLUNKETT; all legatees of JOSEPH TAYLOR, deceased" to ISAAC TAYLOR, also one of the legatees, for...$300, 140 1/2 acres ajdoining HEZEKIAH DAVIS in District 16 of DeKalb Co, TN:
Witnesses: RANDAL PALFOR, THOMAS LAWRENCE
. . .and all the rest of my property shall be sold by my executors and all the money that I have in hand and all that is due to me shall be collected by my executor and they shall divide it equal unto seven parts and my son Pharis one part, my son Thomas one part, . . .. . .I do hereby constitutde and appoint Pharis, Susana and Thomas Lawrence and Lewis sole executors of this my last will and testament. . .
RANDOL PAFFORD to THOMAS PAFFORD, 80 acres bearing this date
-proven by LEWIS LAWRENCE and THOMAS LAWRENCE
RANDOL PAFFORD to THOMAS PAFFORD, $150, Hannah's Branch of Smith's Fork, it being the place where the old THOMAS PAFFORD now ilves adjoining HEZEKIAH DAVIS near R. PAFFORD's spring, adjoining CHARLES HILL, THOMAS LAWRENCE's southeast corner, head of Sugar Camp Hollow on conditional corner made by THOMAS LAWRENCE and BLAKELEY ALLEN, conditional corner made by HUGH ALLEN and LEWIS LAWRENCE, head of DAVIS' old field, 80 acres part of 100 acre tract that HEZEKIAH DAVIS has and part of a 100 acre tract made by WILLIAM WHITE.
Witnesses: LEWIS LAWRENCE, THOMAS LAWRENCE"
PHARIS SELF elected in District No 16 came into open court and was qualified as constable by taking several oaths . . . bond together with ABNER SELF, ISAAC TAYLOR, JOSHUA TAYLOR and THOMAS LAWRENCE . . . in the amount of $4,000
Randal Pafford to Thomas Lawrence 85 acres on Hannah's Branch of Smith Fork
BENJAMIN T. TAYLOR of Jackson Co., TN, to RANDOLPH PAFFORD . . . for $77.50 . . . land on Waters of Fall Creek, including an improvement of WILLIAM COOPER bought of ABSOLEM COLDWELL and also the house and plantation containing by estimation fifty (50) acres.
Witnesses: THOMAS LAURENCE, LEWIS LAURENCE, Subscribing Witnesses.
Signed: B. T. TAYLOR "
Thos Lawrence -50 improved acres, 183 unimproved acres, $400 cash value of farm, $75 value of farming implements, 3 horses, 2 mules, 2 cows, 2 oxen, 4 other cattle, 32 sheep, 47 swine, $297 value of livestock, 20 bushels of wheat, 1300 bushels of Indian corn; 25 bushels of oates,Neighbors on one side
Moses Fletcher, ? Taylor, Wiliam Self, Bethel Phillips, Ezekiel Bass, Philip Hass
Neighbors on the other side
R.Wilson, Thos Hunt, William B. Stokes, Wm. C. Avant, Rachel Bass, John Rigsby, Littleton Hullett, John W. Bass, Ruben Simpson
Thomas Lawrence 52 M, Farmer $40 NC Susanna 42 F, NC Mary 18 F, School TN Evaline 15 F, School TN Thomas W 13 M, School TN Balinda P. 9 F, School TN James M. 8 M, School TN Julia 4 F. TN -should be Adelia or Delia
Thos Lawrence ---1 female black slave age 23 ---1 female black slave age 4 -- 1 female black slave age 2
Thomas W. Pafford, Executor of John Pafford, appoints William Pafford his power of attorney to demand from Thomas Lawrence, Executor of Thomas Pafford. Said Thomas W. Pafford is a resident of Benton County
ASA DRIVER to JOSHUA TAYLOR, for $100, 30 acres in District 12 "excluding one quarter of a acre whare the grave is"
Witnesses: ABNER N. SELF, THOMAS LAWRENCE.
We, John Davis and wife Elizabeth, Samuel Simpson and wife Susan, Riley Reynolds and wife Christena, James H. Close and wife Helen . . . distributive shares of fund arising from the sale of the slaves of the estate of Pharis Lawrence, dec'd
Settlement made by Thomas Lawrence, administrator of Elizabeth Pistole, dec'd. Receipts for shares given by: James Pistole $26.43 Zachariah Robinson and wife Alsa 26.43 James Lee and wife Anna 26.43 William R. Pistole 26.43 Solomon Davis and Wife Sarah 26.43 Pilot Deen and wife Sarah 26.43 Benjamin Pistole and wife Lanir 26.43
Received of Thomas Lawrence, the administrator of the estate of Elizabeth Pistole, our distributive share of the personal estate of said dec'd, signed James K. Buller, George W. Daves, Ann D. Lee and Burrel Lee, W.W. Griffith and Benjamin F. Davis, Benjamin Thomas (guardian of minor Wm. B. Thomas), Wm. R. Pistole, Susannah Deen, and Pilot Deen, by Benjamin Thomas attorney. >
Thomas Lawrence granted letters of administration in the estate of Pharis Larence, dec'd
Bond for Thomas Lawrence, Administrator of James Batey and Esther Batey, dec'd. Monies from sale of slave given to administator for distribution and to pay debts of said estate.
Lawrence, Thomas 63 M NC Farmer $900 $5000 Susannah 56 F NC Adelia A. 13 F TN
Thomas LAWRENCE 71 MW Farmer 900-1154 NC Susannah 64FW NC Evaline RANKHORN 13 FW TN Benjamin 11 MW TN
Thomas LAWRENCE Self M M W 82 NC NC VA Susan LAWRENCE Wife F M W 75 NC NC NC Thomas PAGE Other M M W 25 TN Farm Laborer TN TN Emaline PAGE Other F M W 23 TN Housekeeper TN TN Adella PAGE Other F S W 5 TN TN TN Morde M. PAGE Other F S W 6M TN TN TN
Susannah Pafford, the d/o Thomas Pafford and his 2nd wife, Nancy, was born August 16, 1801 in Stokes Co., NC. According to the 1860 census, Susannah could neither read or wright. She died September 16, 1880 and is buried next to her husband in Pisgah Methodist Church Cemetery in DeKalb Co., TN.She would be age 8-9 on the 1810 Stokes Co., NC Census with her parents and in the 1820's lived in Hamilton Co., TN. In March 1822, her father received several small land grants in Warren Co., TN. By June 1839, the Pafford family were living on Hannah's Branch very near the Laurance family.
1840 -DeKalb Co, TN Census, p. 19 Thomas Pafford 0100000001-00000001Neighbors on one side included:
James Arnold, Isaac Taylor, Mary Burton, William Fite, Ferris LawrenceNeighbors on other side included:
Charles Hill, Shadrick Kelly, Ferris Self, Solom Davis, Samuel VanoverIn July 1849, Thomas Lawrence was appointed administrator of the estate of Thomas Pafford, dec'd.
