Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1851-12-11

Centennial Family Gathering.
The descendants Of Capt. Lsaae Lon.
renee. one Of the FIRST settlers Of the tow
Of Canaan, held festival Thanksgiving
day in the house built by him in that
place just 100 years ago Capt. Law
renee was born in Groton, Mass, Feb.
25th. l704. Early in life he removed
with his parents to Plain6eld, in the east
ern part Of this State. married, purchas-
ed Of the COLONY Of Connecticut lands in
Canaan, in 1897, and in the Spring OF the
following year took his family and goods
in cart, and with team composed Of
a yoke of oxen and horse, started for
his possessions ia this Chem new and
western country. From New Hartford
to Canaan, distance by their course of
80 miles or more, they had to cut their
way through heavily wooded forest,
sleeping in or under their cart at night,
They reached Canaan I'd June, / 1913, and
encamped under an oak tree near the pre-.
sent site Of the village. Soon after they
made a temporary shelter half under
ground on the side of the hill, in which
they remained during the winter; the
next spring they put up better build
ing, and in 1851, erected the house in
which this meeting was held. 1t is
two story good sized building, the frame
of which is sound and in a condition to
last one hundred years longer for aught
that can now be seen. The present CO.
vering was put on IN 1906. by hi. grand
son. Capt Josiah Lawrence. In front Of
this house Is large step>stone on which
is inscribed the date of his arrival in Ca
naan. the time he built the house and the
names of his family. The writer has
heard many curious surmises from tray
elers passing through the town as they
have read this inscription, some suppo-
sing it to be the family vault.
Capt. Lawrence was farmer, of ex-
cellent character, and m IN who made
life aOorth something 10 himself and the
community in which he lived, and has
left to his posterity a good name, an in>
hertance which it is hoped they value
more than large estate in land, or in
gold. He acquired large possessions,
and at one time owned twenty slaves
these he liberated long before his death
except one who was made free by his
heirs. He was consistent Christian, a
member ofthe LIST Congregational Church
organized in Canaan, and Jne of the num-
Der set off from that in December, 1869.
to form new one in the second society,
He was man of active habits, possessed
hardy constitution, and enjoyed robust
health until a late period Of lie and went
to the grave in peace in Dec. I'd, 1893,
in he Goth year Of his age.
Over three bundled of his descendants
can now be counted up who are known
TO be living this number, it is presu--
med, does not includ. one half of them.
There were present at this gathering IS
persons from different States, aud from
Canada, their ages varying from eleven
weeks to beyond that of three >score-and.
ten. Fifty eight of this number were
his own posterity, sixteen Of them their
husbands and wives. and one adopted
member. The company passed eight
hours together in pleasant and varied ex.
ercises, suspendng them long enough to
partake of Thanksgiving supper.
Papers were read relating to the his
tory of the Laurcnce's from the first that
is known of the name in Italy and Eng
land. three centuries ago, to the present
The services were concluded by singin
a hymn, after which, they adjourned to
meet in the same place Thanksgiving day
In the year 1851.
The autographs Of those present with
their ages and residence, are preserved
in book to be shown atsthe next Cen.
tcnnial meeting of the family. Quite
collection of interesting family relics were
exhibited, among which was loom made
from the Identical oak tree under which
the family took shelter the first night af-
ter their arrival in Canaan, lis years
ago, and among the original papers read
was the solloquy of this old loom giving
its history from the period of its quiet
existence in the lonely wood te the pre-
sent. 1t has been kept in the family, has
done good service, and is yet in disable
condition. but in consideration of past
labor is now released from further toll
and put up in the old house. that they
may spend the remainder of their days
in each others company.
A more particular account of this
meeting with revised Genealogy will be
published in pamphlet form for the mem
bers OF the family. One object of this
notice is. to elicit information about his
scattered posterity; it being supposed
that 1t will meet the eye of some branch
es not represented at this assembIage. II
1t does, they are requested TO send their
address to Frederick Laurence, Canaan,
Conn.,. wilhsu pafiicuiars as are need
cd to make this Genealogy complete and
correct. -
2 ---->---~-----~--------
nAmong the Representatives to the
. pnnn.rluan;a 4 an;alatnra .I,naar ~ III.