Major

Parents: Thomas Lawrence (1588–1624/25) and Joane Antrobus (1592–1661) Spouse: (1) Name not preserved; (2) Mary Ferguson Children: William (by first wife); by Mary Ferguson: Thomas (1644–1703), Elizabeth (165?–1683), Martha (1653–1699), Jonathan (1659–1729) Kinship: Eighth great-granduncle of the post–World War II Smith generation

Early Life and Emigration Thomas Lawrence was among the earliest members of the Lawrence family to arrive in North America. In 1635, he sailed on the Planter with his mother, her second husband John Tuttell, and his brother. The family first settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, before relocating to Long Island.

Settlement and Landholding By 1644, Thomas had become one of the original patentees of Hempstead under a land grant from Dutch Governor Willem Kieft. This marked the beginning of his long association with landownership and civic affairs on Long Island. He later settled in Newtown, Queens County, where he developed into a prominent landowner and farmer.

Civic and Legal Activity Thomas played an active role in establishing and securing the civic structure of early Long Island communities. He participated in town governance, property distribution, and boundary organization. His involvement in regional affairs occasionally led to legal entanglements, including a 1651 incident in New Haven regarding funds belonging to Governor Peter Stuyvesant, indicating his participation in regional trade and financial matters.

Military Service By 1690, he had been commissioned as Major of Horse for Queens County. His appointment reflected both his local standing and his capabilities as a militia leader during a period when Long Island towns relied heavily on local defense forces.

Political Alignment Thomas supported Jacob Leisler during Leisler’s Rebellion (1689–1691), aligning himself with the Protestant settler faction challenging the appointed colonial administration of New York. His stance placed him within the populist faction opposing the established mercantile and political elite.

Family and Later Life Of his known children, the lines of his daughters Elizabeth and Martha appear to have ended, while his sons continued the family’s presence on Long Island. After Thomas’s death, his widow Mary Ferguson reportedly encountered difficulties with her stepson William concerning family property.

Legacy Thomas Lawrence’s role as an early settler, landowner, town official, and militia officer helped establish the Lawrence family’s continuing prominence on Long Island. His civic, military, and political involvement contributed to shaping the early development of Queens County and the Long Island communities in which his descendants remained influential for generations.