Thomas LAWTON

                   B-(Abt. 1610 Archives)
M-Wife #(2) Grace Parsons, widow of William Bailey
Sources:R.I. Families p 164 by Benns;
Gen. Cesc. of Rhode Island p 122-123; Cranfield, Beds.,Par. Reg.;
Made will 5 Jun 1647 proved 20 Sep 1681

English Prelude, by Marguerite Allis - G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1936,
       page 126:  Some emigrants from Cheshire: Thomas Lawton, born in Chester settled at Portsmouth, R. I.


DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS LAWTON:
        by Elva Lawton

       Aquidneck (Rhode) Island was acquired from the Indians and settled in 1638 by a group of liberals, called Antinomians, whom the authorities had ordered out of Boston.  23 in number, they met on the 7 Mar. 1638 and signed a compact incorporating themselves into "A Bodie Politick" to be guided and Judged by the Laws of Our Lord Jesus Christ given in his holy word.  Thus the first form of government was theocratic.  Thomas Lawton was not of this group.  Because of the dissention over spiritual leadership and beliefs, the group did not remain intact.

       Dr. Clarke and associates with the help of Roger Williams purchased of the Narragansett Tribe of Indians, the Island of Aquidneck, length about 15 miles, deed Mar. 24, 1638 and the Consideration was 40 fathoms of white beads, 10 coats and 20 hoes.
       At a town meeting Apr. 28, 1639 a compact was made.  In contrast to the Mosaic law of the first compact, the new government was based on English law.  The underwritten names are 31 in number and include both George and Thomas Lawton.
       The town record of "Janiwary the 25th, 1648" brings out that George and Thomas were brothers:
        "It is granted that George Lawton shall have 40 acres of lande nere his brother Thomas at the Hunting swampe when he has built suffissient mill on Mr. Boston's farme."
       Edward West, Portsmouth Historian, states that the brothers George and Thomas came to Portsmouth in 1638; that Thomas was deputy one year and Commissioner for four years.  He was granted land near the top of Quaker Hill and land south of Union Street.  He acquired much land south of Union Street which he called Hunting Swamp Farm.
       By grant and purchase, Thomas acquired extensive lands both in Portsmouth and on the mainland.  He had land near the top of Quaker Hill and a tract of perhaps 40 or 50 acres near the present town hall, extending from East Main Road to the shore.  His holdings outside of Portsmouth include 600 acres in Warwick, lands across the Sakonnet River on Puncatest Neck, a house and lot in Martha's Vineyard, land in Dartmouth, Mass., and in Shrewsbury, N. J.  In 1660 he received a deed of lands in Narragansett from Cadganaguant, Chief Sachem, who "had formerly received many kindnesses from him."
       In his will Thomas Lawton gave his elder son Daniel both Hunting Swamp Farm and Long Swamp Farm.  And Daniel added to them so that by deeds he disposed of a total of about 500 acres, including all the land adjoining the west side of East Main Road for nearly a mile from Union Street to near the town line.
       Thomas Lawton's son Isaac also prospered so that he gave each of his four sons a house and farm.
       Thomas made his will 5 June 1647, proved 29 Sept. 1681.  He names his wife Grace, sons Daniel and Isaac, daughter Elizabeth Sherman, wife of Peleg Sherman, daughter Ann Slocum, daughter Sarah Sisson, son-in-law George Sisson.


Slocum burial grounds.
              (Information from Sherman Genealogy by F. D. Sherman)