Litchfield enquirer., 1881-03-03
OBITUARY AND A TRIBUTE. DEACON ACORS WELLS LAWTON.

The last of the Baptist pioneers in church which once numbered B hundred snd fifty members, died Feb. 16, inst. The church was in Cornwall Hollow. The Deacon who was the pioneer and last pillar was A. w. Lawton. His long patronage of your paper may possibly entitle him to brief notice in its columns He was not the man to throw overheard paper or . man, principle or practice because of some unpopular opinion. Mir. Lawton was . native of Rhode Island, and brought to Goshen s good portion of Roger Williams fire and tho baptism of the spirit to guide 1t. He was born at Hopkinton city, May 1st 17s7. the third son and seventh child of family of nine whose average age was sixty-fve years-the family of Joseph and Anna Lawton. A44.71 -
 Young Lawton was 17 years of age when Stonington was bombarded by the British, and seventeen years later his personal courage was tested in the bloodless victory by whicn he won woman for a wife from the oldest house in Stonington, the Cheeseborough, abbreviated to 'Cheesebro. The first man to settle in Stonington, was William Cheese. borougg. A descendant of his was Rev. Ellhu Cheeseborough, whose niece Mary O., was mar. ried to Lawton. Dec. 2od, 182l The newly married couple retrested to the hills of Hart land the same year. The great misfortune of mothers was hers. when. in giving birth to twin sons, June 1898, her own life was the sacrifice. Mir. Lawton and Elizabeth Clark, of Hartland, were married in May 1925, by which i've sons came, all but the third surviv- ing.
 In 1897 Mir. Lawton removed with his fami. ly. to Goshen, purchasing . new farm which has been his home ever since. and has SUD- ported him in honorable comfort and In the exercise of hearty hospitality to the friends his geod cheer snd good works drew around him. His ssn Giles retains the farm. He was again bereaved through the loss of his wife, and again was married to descendant of the Cheeseboroughs, Mrs. Jane Bartholo- mew, in 1863. Although not the mother of, she has been faithful mother to his children, and rests in their confidence, until she shall be released from her scene sf faithful labors. In the concentric circles of his duties M:. Lawten's home-circle was the first and dearest. He commanded bis children in love. His memorials are in them. In his circle of re- lations he was admired for his excellent aual- itics. In his church-ci he was s.pillar, " essential to all it's interests, giving his voice heartily to its ''songs of lofty cheer" his money for it's support, and for the support of the Christian Secretary from the fret, 1894 He led in the organization of the Baptist church, was Treasurer of the Widow Fund of the Baptist Association of Litchfield Couu. ty until it disbanded, but was of too liberal spirit and opinions to limit his support to his own denomination. -7+*
 At his funeral, Congregational minister, Chas. N. Fitch, oficiated. and the deacons of two Congregational churches, in Goshen and North Cornwall, were bearers, and the large attendance of representative people of both parishes showed the high regard in which he was held.
 In his circle of citizenship he was selectman of Goshen represented his town in the Legis. lature in the year 1858, and served his town with credit and confidence in all his places of trust a-i..s=.~e,s .,s,is.sios1e F.r .ss
 He hes finished the work which God gave him to do" He had longer time in which to do 1t than ia allased to most men. sS years and g months, and he did 1t with . more spontaneous. free and loving spirit than is common to man. So his friends loved Dea. Layton, for the life of, Christ was beautiful in hun. REV. GuAs. NEWTON FfroH.
 CREAM HILL, Feb. 2lst, 1881,