#laurens family

[foryourownbosom]

portrait of a young artist, c. 1760s

(happy birthday dear john! 🌻)

[pythiaswine]

what a nice thought, that they might've had a funeral after digging up his original grave near where he died so they could move him to the family plot. something something

[pub-lius]

Hello, I was wondering if you have information on John Laurens’s family? Like, all of them; in depth? Also any sources where you learned the information? Sorry if this is bothersome, I’m just trying and failing to write smth about Laurens that centers around him and is also historically accurate.

hey gang

yes i do!! i have this post as another post about john laurens floating around but i cant find it. i have many posts about him that are tagged with his name if you want previous questions about him or whatever. that biographical information is also included in the google doc linked at the bottom of my pinned post. i believe that doc also contains the online sources i used but most of my laurens-related information comes from John Laurens and the American Revolution by Gregory D. Massey, Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow and George Washington’s Indispensable Men by Arthur S. Lefkowitz (which is a very Laurens-centric book)

also that is so exciting and if you feel comfortable sharing your writing i would love to read it!! nothing heals me like historical accuracy even if its like the tiniest detail that gets mentioned.

also also you didn’t ask for this but i also just wanted to remind you and any other writers who may use my blog for information, you dont need to make everything historically accurate. like it isn’t that fucking deep. the fic im writing rn (read private interest on ao3 xoxo) is like so far from accurate. i used to be a huge stickler for accuracy but it just is Not That Deep. you can write about whatever the fuck you want, and if you want to, use historical fact to ENHANCE your writing with cultural information, foreshadowing, symbolism, small references to outside events, and those other things that make the story feel well rounded and complex. have fun writing and dont let people with sticks up their asses tell you you’re doing it wrong

[yr-obedt-cicero]

“At age eighteen, sister Patsy already knew John more deeply than he would ever know or understand her. Such a brother inspired and represented her own patriotism. Though she had to remain “retired” in the French countryside, utterly remote from urban news and war involvement, in her imagination she could follow at John's elbow and bask in thinking about his exciting part in the transatlantic drama. When Martha wrote of “boldness” in the “glory of the Lord,” and her battles against “floods of conflict” and “seas of tribulation,” she was figuratively aligning her inner self with her own family hero. Consciously, of course, her combative instincts were directed inward, onto her own battleground—the soul and her emerging selfhood.”

— The Life and Times of Martha Laurens Ramsay, 1759-1811, by Joanna Bowen Gillespie · 2001

[affectionately-frankie]

Francis Henderson Sr’s Family

i’m back for a little bit to share what i’ve learned about Francis Henderson Sr’s wife and kids after he moved to Newport, Rhode Island. i am unsure if any of this information has been discovered and shared in the time i’ve been gone, and if so, i’m sorry for repeating information. i haven’t been on Tumblr since my last post, iirc, and i don’t feel like checking, i’m sorry!

For quick background, in Francis Sr’s letters to John Adams, he says that he is living in Rhode Island and briefly visiting South Carolina. Reminiscences of Abbeville also states that Francis Sr lived in Newport and vacationed in South Carolina during the summer. It also states that after he left Junior in Scotland and moved to Rhode Island, he got remarried and had children.

The first of this information is a Newport census report from 1850.

Listed is a 71-year-old man named Francis Henderson, who it says was born in Scotland, which matches Frances Laurens’ ex-husband. Included in the household is a 53-year-old woman named Elizabeth, a woman named Janet, and a man named Robert, both in their twenties. Also included is a woman named Jane Armstrong, who it says was born in Ireland.

Using this information, I was able to find a Find A Grave connected. The cemetery the grave is connected in is located in Newport.

The grave lists three people, Francis Henderson, his wife Elizabeth Gouffran, and their daughter Janet Carruthers. There is a discrepancy, as their graves say Francis died at 80 on March 24, 1853, and Elizabeth died at 75 on March 7, 1855, while the census states they were 71 and 53 in 1850. Janet’s age is also discrepent, but I’m inclined to believe these are the same people, and I’m more inclined to believe that their graves display their accurate ages. This estimates his birth year as 1773 / 1774, meaning he was 21 or 22 when he married 18-year-old Frances Laurens.

Find A Grave connects this grave to that of a man named William H. Henderson, born in 1816. If this is the son of Francis Henderson and Elizabeth Gouffran, the H likely stands for Hoggan, as another grave found is for a nine-year-old girl named Elizabeth Hoggan Henderson, the “eldest daughter of Francis & Elizabeth G. Henderson.” A grave for a Robert J., who was listed on the 1850 census, is not connected. However, a Newport record does list the death of a Robert James Henderson, born est. 1826 and died in 1914, and is described as the son of Francis Henderson and Elizabeth G. Henderson.

With this knowledge, my personal current belief is that after arriving in Rhode Island, Francis Henderson Sr remarried to Elizabeth Gouffran, and they had at least three children, possibly four or more, including daughters named Elizabeth and Janet, a son named Robert, and possibly another son named William. Unlike Francis Junior, all of these children remained in Newport, Rhode Island. There is no evidence that, unlike their father, they vacationed in South Carolina as they are not mentioned in Reminiscences despite it otherwise being very information heavy. They likely never left / moved away from Newport, unlike their older half-brother.

[stasiaorleanka]

The flower was born and died alone

I was thinking about John and Martha (his sister). Martha taking care of Frances so i made a short fic about it. And Mepkin Abbey is so beautiful so i had to do the fic which plot happens here.

https://www.postandcourier.com/features/mepkin-abbey-in-moncks-corner-offers-sacred-space-for-the-weary-soul/article_04b5b4f6-27ca-11e8-b544-f3ffba3fa711.html

https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/john-laurens-grave-site-in-the-mepkin-abbey-gardens-monks-corner-south-carolina--92605336069087693/ ^^^^photos from here :)

[my-deer-history]

The Will of James Laurens

Notes:

The handwriting here was incredibly difficult to decipher, so there are lots of gaps below - either words I could not make out at all, or some where I've included my best guess. If you have any corrections or suggestions to offer, please do let me know!

There are no line breaks in the original document, but to make for easier reading, I have added them in where they seemed most fitting.

Although all the other names are given in their English forms, for some reason the name Mary is given in the French form of Marie instead.

Transcript:

In the Name of God so be it on this sixth day of the month of September in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two in the afternoon at the City of Vigan diocess of Alais in Languedoc I the undersigned James Laurens a Native and Inhabitant of Charles Town Capital of the State of South Carolina in North America but having been for several years in Languedoc because of my health being at present in an infirm state but of sound understanding and having the use of my Memory I find it necessary to explain my last will and testament and make the [—]

and first I recommend my Soul to God in the name of Jesus Christ and as to my body that it be buried in the most private manner and the least expensive

and as to what relates to my estate I dispose as I think I ought institute in [manner] following first it is my will that my proportion which is two fifth part of the debt in Great Britain in the partnership of Hawkins Petrie and Company be paid therewith the just and lawful Interest unless that an argument can be made with the Auditors to receive the payment in South Carolina

I give to my most dear and beloved wife Marie Laurens an annuity of five hundred pounds sterling during her natural life to be paid regularly every six months in advance in the proportions of two hundred and fifty pounds sterling to commence from the day of my decease and it is my will that all my Real and personal Estate be liable for the payment of the said annuity unless that my Testamentary Executors and Executrices should choose to give her some other security for the payment of the said annuity to the satisfaction of my said wife and in case my said wife shall remain in Europe after my decease it is my will that the said annuity be paid to her at the place of her residence [clear] of all deductions and expenses whatsoever

I give unto my said wife all the money I have at present or that I may have in the hands of Mr William Manning of London and also the sum of five hundred pounds sterling invested for my account in the Consolidated Bank of London in the name of Mr John Savage if those two sums exceed the sum of twelve hundred pounds sterling Madam Laurens shall have a right to receive the whole and she shall render an account of the overplus to the Executors but if the said two sums shall not make twelve hundred pounds sterling then it is my will that my Executors and Executrices or some of them pay the sum that shall be wanting in sterling or in that which shall be equivalent to its full value in sterling

I also give unto my said beloved wife all the plate [—] [—] my wearing apparel table [service] and furniture of every denomination whatsoever whether in France London or America

I also give unto my said wife all and [—] my Male and Female Negroes excepting the female Satira whom I declare free from all servitude whatsoever and I [recommend] it to all my Executors and Executrices to assist the said Negro Woman if she be reduced to poverty or in any other distress

I give unto my dear friend Elizabeth Petrie widow and sister of my dear wife an annuity of fifty pounds sterling payable every six months in advance during her natural life unto my friend Edmond Petrie as a token of my regard an hundred pounds sterling and to each of his Brothers namely Alexander and George fifty pounds sterling and to his sister Marie Petrie fifty pounds sterling

I give unto my dear Brother Henry Laurens as a token of my unalterable friendship and esteem the sum of five hundred pounds sterling and twenty pounds sterling to purchase a Mourning Ring as a remembrance of his Brother

I give unto my dear Niece Martha Laurens as a token of my friendship for her and as an acknowledgement for the service she has rendered to me and my family and for her good and gentle conduct upon all occasions five hundred pounds sterling

I give unto my Nephew Francis Bremar of South Carolina the sum of three hundred and twenty pounds sterling to my Nephew John Bremar two hundred and fifty pounds sterling to my Niece Martha [L—] widow two hundred and fifty pounds sterling

I give unto my dear sister in law Ann Sanders as a token of my friendship and esteem fifty pounds sterling

I give as a mark of my friendship and respect for the memory of my deceased friend Jacob Motte to each of the Children of his last Marriage two hundred pounds sterling

I give unto my worthy friend Isaac Motte as a token of my friendship fifty pounds sterling to my worthy friend Louis Gervais as a token of my friendship fifty pounds sterling

I give three hundred pounds sterling to be distributed amongst my poor relations in such proportion as my Executors and Executrices shall think proper

I give five hundred pounds sterling to be distributed among the poor of South Caroline at the discretion of my Executors and Executrices I give unto the Protestant Church at Vigan fifty pounds sterling and in case that the Roman Catholic Church should pretend to and could possess [herself] of this Legacy It is my will that It shall become void and of none effect

And lastly I give unto my dear Nephew John Laurens to my dear Niece Martha Laurens to my dear Nephew Henry Laurens Junior and unto my dear Niece Marie Eleanor Laurens Minor and unto their Heirs for ever all my [Real] and personal Estate of what kind soever and at what place soever they be situated to be equally shared between them subject nevertheless to the payment of the annuity of five hundred pounds sterling to my wife and as my said Niece Marie Eleanor Laurens is under age her share shall remain in trust in the hands of my said Brother Henry Laurens her father and in case that my said Nephew and Niece Henry Laurens and Marie Eleanor Laurens shall happen to die in their minority it is my will that the share to them here above bequeathed shall go and be divided in equal shares between their Brothers and Sisters who shall survive each as [—] [them]

I nominate for my Executors and Executrices of this my will my Brother Henry Laurens my Wife Marie Laurens my Nephew John Laurens my Niece Martha Laurens and my Nephew Henry Laurens

such is my last will and testamentary disposition which I will that it avail in the best manner it [can] by law which [—] of the difficulty I have to explain myself in french though I understand the Language I have transcribed it in English on an [separate] sheet of paper and Mr Louis Gendre Notary Public of Vigan aforesaid wrote and translated it into French upon this sheet of paper dictated by my dear Niece Martha Laurens and in my presence and that of my dear Wife my dear Nephew Henry Laurens and my dear Niece Marie Eleanor Laurens and the said translation made the said Mr Gendre read over the contents to me distinctly and intelligibly and which I clearly understood and comprehended and I declare that it comprises my will most expressively and it is my will that it be fulfilled after my decease the same as though it had been done at Charlestown the place of my residence even though it should not have all the required formalities In testimony thereof

I have signed my name under the two foregoing pages at the [House] where I reside at Vigan aforesaid on the day and year as above I annul all other wills which I have heretofore made Note the utilization of the words and [—] fifty pounds sterling I give as a mark of my friendship as approved James Laurens

--

(Thanks to @nordleuchten for filling in some of the gaps!)

[my-deer-friend]

Busy transcribing the will of James Laurens and... my fucking god.

[goblinqueen97]

The historical drama between the Gadsden and Laurens family paternal figures was REAL.

[lil-gae-disaster]

Tbh I'm crying over the whole Laurens family- John Generation.

:c they all deserved better.

it's 2023 and I'm still crying over people who have been dead for over 200 years

[wistfulwatcher]

in a n o t h e r life

[hipsternumbertwo]

Cinderella's Castle Cast Reveal (Part 1) Kickstarter

[petalsfordany]

Courtney Eaton unintentionally being a comedian and wonderful

[stasiaorleanka]

I LOVE THIS!! Martha and John my beloved <3

the sunlight dances beyond the yard and painted your eyes in green

but you're fixated on the candytufts and you hadn't the time for me

i wonder if you’ll leave me behind someday among the wildflowers and the lilies sleeping by the way

but it's okay, because I would do anything,

for you.

[yr-obedt-cicero]

Do eleborate

After Henry decided to take his three boys, Harry, Laurens, and Jemmy to Europe for their education, Jemmy seems to have caught small pox. After recovering he reportedly gained some noticable weight reported in a letter from Henry Laurens to Peter Nephew, [December 20, 1771];

My Sons, thank God, are very well. I wish this may find you and your family as well, and that you may long continue so. Your Acquaintance Jemmy is now scribbling by me. He has pass'd safely through the Small Pox and is now as fat as a little Pig. He desires me to give his best Compliments to Mr. & Mrs. Nephew, and thank them for their kindness to him when he was in Distress.

Laurens, Henry. The papers of Henry Laurens. United States, University of South Carolina Press, 1968.

(Italics are mine)

[affectionately-frankie]

I did more surface level research on Francis Henderson Sr's family. I did some basics back in March, which you can see here. Something else that is important for later information is the research into the possible descendants of Francis Henderson Jr, which you can find here. With new evidence that's popped up, I think it's even more likely that Francis Henderson Jr possibly had a child.

To start, as far as I'm aware, there seems to only be evidence of four children by Francis Sr and his second wife, Elizabeth. William Hoggan Henderson (1816 - 1897), Elizabeth Hoggan Henderson (d. 1828 aged nine), Janet Henderson Carruthers (1822 - 1856), and Robert James Henderson (c. 1826 - c. 1914).

William married a woman named Mary (1817 - 1906). The couple only had one child, Anna, born 1849 and died 1855 at the age of six.

Janet obviously married due to her surname, but I couldn't find any information regarding her marriage, or if she had any children. It's likely that the marriage was short-lived and childless, as she died at 34 and was buried with her parents.

Robert has the most sources out of all of his siblings (including Francis Jr). Robert married a woman named Haley Russel Salisbury. Apparently, she was born in France. They had at least three children, a daughter named Mary Phillips Henderson, born c. 1862, and another daughter born in 1865 probably named Isabel Henderson. They had another son, William H Henderson, born c. 1869.

I couldn't find any later sources for Mary or Isabel (but to be completely honest, I didn't look too hard), but I found one for William. He married a woman named either named Bertha or Elizabeth and had four children. Mary, born c. 1892, William, born c. 1895, George, born c. 1900, and....Mahala, born 1906.

Now, if you read the research I did on the supposed descendants of Francis Jr, you probably had the same reaction I did, of "Hmm??? Mahala???" While I initially wrote it off as a wild coincidence, when I went back to all of my previous research on Mahala (who, for the uninitiated, was allegedly the only surviving grandchild of Francis Jr), it actually lines up shockingly well. Mahala, her husband Coleman, and their children all moved to Rhode Island sometime between 1898 and 1900. I even pointed out in my post that the fact Mahala and her family decided to go to Rhode Island, where their supposed great-grandfather's family lived, was interesting. And Mahala isn't exactly a common name, even in this time period.

I don't know. It seems pretty likely to me that Mahala got into contact with her maybe-cousins and decided to go live with them. It's obviously just speculation; it could just be a wild coincidence.

I haven't done any further research because I was just eager to share after being gone for apparently eight months.