Judge

Parents: Joseph Lawrence (1741–1813) and Phebe Townsend (1740–1816). Spouse: Anne Townsend (1782–1845), his cousin. Children: Solomon Townsend Lawrence (1808–1839), Henry Effingham Lawrence (1810–1875), Lydia Ann Lawrence (1811–1879), William Effingham Lawrence (1813–1871), Robert Townsend Lawrence (1816–1842), Effingham Lawrence (1820–1878), Mary Nicoll Lawrence (1822–1896), Joseph Effingham Lawrence (1824–1878), Cornelius B. Lawrence (1826–1896). Kinship: Fourth great-grandfather of the post–World War II Smith generation.

Early Life and Farm Holdings Effingham Lawrence belonged to the Bayside branch of the family, a rural area of Queens at a time when the borough extended eastward as far as Hempstead. He owned and managed the Bayside Farm as his principal estate, along with three additional farms, forming a substantial agricultural holding. He chose a landholding and agricultural life rather than the mercantile or maritime careers common among some of his relatives.

Breeding and Agricultural Innovation In his early years he devoted particular energy to improving livestock. He bred “thoroughbred” cattle, a period term for carefully kept pure strains, and became an early and enthusiastic importer and breeder of Merino sheep. His account books record the purchase of a Spanish ram and two ewes for the considerable sum of $2,200. He corresponded with breeders as far as Canada and the Carolinas to improve stock, and the large Merino flocks he developed became the foundation of flocks in Vermont, Canada, and the Western states. These were said to be the progenitors of the “Canadian mutton” sold in early New York City markets. His account books also record daily farm realities: seed, lime, and fertilizer purchases; fencing; wool sales; seasonal labor; and the ongoing commercial balance between the farm and the growing markets of New York City. He was regarded as an early advocate of the liberal use of plant foods and fertilizers.

Agricultural Leadership in Queens County By 1817 he was among the prominent men who organized the Agricultural Society of Queens County, formed to “improve the method of farming and raising of stock and advancing rural economy.” Queens then encompassed a large area extending to Hempstead. Rufus King of Jamaica, the statesman and diplomat, was elected the society’s first president, and Judge Lawrence served as one of the two vice presidents. The first meeting was held in the old Mineola courthouse in 1819, and an exhibition was held that same year. In July 1841 a new Queens County Agricultural Society was formed to replace the original body, and on this occasion Judge Lawrence was elected its president. The first fair under the new organization took place on October 15, 1842, at Anderson’s Hotel in Hempstead. Before the event, William Cullen Bryant, the poet, journalist, and horticulturist, composed an ode that was sung at a local church. Attendance at these fairs ranged from 6,000 to 20,000 visitors, attracted both by the agricultural exhibits and the racetrack. Later fairs were also held at Jamaica.

Horses, Hunting, and Social Life Judge Lawrence was also known as a breeder of fine horses, and in his younger days he took part in the hunt. In season he would pack up his family for a two-day trip to Smithtown to visit his relative Richard Smith. The countryside around Lake Ronkonkoma provided excellent fox and deer hunting, and these excursions reflected both the social rhythms and country sporting life of the Long Island gentry of the period.

Stone House and Later Life Stone House (see Houses and Estates) was built in 1822 by Isaac Stansbury for Judge Lawrence on 49 acres overlooking Little Neck Bay in Queens. He continued to oversee and improve his properties into his later years and remained active in agricultural affairs. Judge Lawrence died in 1850 and was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Bayside.