Hannah Lawrence was a daughter of John Lawrence and Anna Burling.[1][6]
Hannah Lawrence came from a respected and proud
Quaker family, who had arrived in the
New World already in the 17th century and had settled on
Long Island.[1]
Hannah’s father, John Lawrence (1732–1794),[7][8] was a successful merchant, whose ancestors held
royal patents to
Flushing and to
Lawrence, Long Island. John Lawrence’s great-grandfather was William Lawrence from
St Albans, northwest of
London. William Lawrence, at the age of twelve, sailed with his mother and siblings from London to
Massachusetts,in 1635. Later, he received the rights to 900 acres of land in Vlissingen,
New Amsterdam, corresponding to today’s
College Point and Flushing on Long Island. William Lawrence was a landowner, councilman, sheriff and judge in
Queens County, NY. [1]
Hannah’s mother was Anna Burling (1735–1821).[9] The Burling family came from
Barking, today an eastern suburb of London. The Burlings were Quakers. They were persecuted in England and emigrated to America to escape.[1]
Personal life
Hannah Lawrence married
Jacob Schieffelin (1757–1835), on August 13, 1780.[10] The couple married secretly in Manhattan, six weeks after they met. A few day later, Hannah was expelled from the Quaker Association because her wedding plans had not been approved. At the time of their wedding, Jacob Schieffelin was still a British officer, while the Quakers were mostly anti-British.[1][11]
The couple had nine children, seven of whom reached adulthood: Edward Lawrence,
Henry Hamilton, Effingham, Anna Maria, Effingham Lawrence, Jacob, John Lawrence, Cornelia,
Richard Lawrence.[1]
Works
Notebook of Poems (Manuscript of Poems by Matilda, Hannah's pseudonym, 1774–1794)[12]
On the purpose to which the avenue adjoining Trinity Church has of late been dedicated, 1779. "This is the scene of gay resort, Here vice and folly hold their court, Here all the martial band parade, To vanquish – some unguarded Maid. Here ambles many a dauntless Chief. Who can, O great beyond belief? Who can, as sage historians say, Defeat – whole Bottles in array. …"[12][13][5]
Epistle - Armida to Renaldo ... Subject from Tasso's Jerusalem delivered[14]
An Eulogy on the merits of the indefatigable lustical Orator[14]
The forsaken Bower. To Miss B ... (by Matilda, Rocon Hall, Bloomingdale)[14] (Note: The Schieffelins’ summer house Rooka Hall in
Manhattanville was adjoining Dr. Samuel Bradhurst's mansion and
Alexander Hamilton's
Grange[1])
The Lark. Translated from the German.[14] Note: Another handwriting
Lines written on a blank leaf of Phocion's* Letters (*By the late General A. Hamilton. Written by Cornelia). "Thus he, whose fearless youth was spent in arms, In doubtful conflicts, and in wars alarms. The purpose gained for which he bravely fought, excells in strength of reasoning, depth of thought ..."[14] Note: Cornelia was one of Hannah's pseudonym
^
abcLawrence Schieffelin, Hannah (1790–1818).
"Poems". Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. "Poems" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1790–1818. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
^
abcdefLawrence Schieffelin, Hannah (1797–1801).
"Notebook of Poems (kept at New York City and at Newtown, L.I.)". Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. "Notebook of Poems (kept at New York City and at Newtown, L.I.)" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1797–1801. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
Further reading
Louise V. North, Janet M. Wedge, Landa M. Freeman, Carol Berkin (2011). In the Words of Women: The Revolutionary War and the Birth of the Nation, 1765 - 1799 (First Edition). Lexington Books.
ISBN978-0-7391-5019-1
Birmingham, Stephen (2016). America’s Secret Aristocracy: The Families That Built the United States. First Lyons Press edition.
ISBN978-1-4930-2476-6. Chapter 8, Page 67 – 77
Van Buskirk, Judith L. (2003). Generous Enemies: Patriots and Loyalists in Revolutionary New York (Early American Studies). University of Pennsylvania Press.
ISBN978-0-8122-1822-0
Hannah Lawrence was a daughter of John Lawrence and Anna Burling.[1][6]
Hannah Lawrence came from a respected and proud
Quaker family, who had arrived in the
New World already in the 17th century and had settled on
Long Island.[1]
Hannah’s father, John Lawrence (1732–1794),[7][8] was a successful merchant, whose ancestors held
royal patents to
Flushing and to
Lawrence, Long Island. John Lawrence’s great-grandfather was William Lawrence from
St Albans, northwest of
London. William Lawrence, at the age of twelve, sailed with his mother and siblings from London to
Massachusetts,in 1635. Later, he received the rights to 900 acres of land in Vlissingen,
New Amsterdam, corresponding to today’s
College Point and Flushing on Long Island. William Lawrence was a landowner, councilman, sheriff and judge in
Queens County, NY. [1]
Hannah’s mother was Anna Burling (1735–1821).[9] The Burling family came from
Barking, today an eastern suburb of London. The Burlings were Quakers. They were persecuted in England and emigrated to America to escape.[1]
Personal life
Hannah Lawrence married
Jacob Schieffelin (1757–1835), on August 13, 1780.[10] The couple married secretly in Manhattan, six weeks after they met. A few day later, Hannah was expelled from the Quaker Association because her wedding plans had not been approved. At the time of their wedding, Jacob Schieffelin was still a British officer, while the Quakers were mostly anti-British.[1][11]
The couple had nine children, seven of whom reached adulthood: Edward Lawrence,
Henry Hamilton, Effingham, Anna Maria, Effingham Lawrence, Jacob, John Lawrence, Cornelia,
Richard Lawrence.[1]
Works
Notebook of Poems (Manuscript of Poems by Matilda, Hannah's pseudonym, 1774–1794)[12]
On the purpose to which the avenue adjoining Trinity Church has of late been dedicated, 1779. "This is the scene of gay resort, Here vice and folly hold their court, Here all the martial band parade, To vanquish – some unguarded Maid. Here ambles many a dauntless Chief. Who can, O great beyond belief? Who can, as sage historians say, Defeat – whole Bottles in array. …"[12][13][5]
Epistle - Armida to Renaldo ... Subject from Tasso's Jerusalem delivered[14]
An Eulogy on the merits of the indefatigable lustical Orator[14]
The forsaken Bower. To Miss B ... (by Matilda, Rocon Hall, Bloomingdale)[14] (Note: The Schieffelins’ summer house Rooka Hall in
Manhattanville was adjoining Dr. Samuel Bradhurst's mansion and
Alexander Hamilton's
Grange[1])
The Lark. Translated from the German.[14] Note: Another handwriting
Lines written on a blank leaf of Phocion's* Letters (*By the late General A. Hamilton. Written by Cornelia). "Thus he, whose fearless youth was spent in arms, In doubtful conflicts, and in wars alarms. The purpose gained for which he bravely fought, excells in strength of reasoning, depth of thought ..."[14] Note: Cornelia was one of Hannah's pseudonym
^
abcLawrence Schieffelin, Hannah (1790–1818).
"Poems". Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. "Poems" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1790–1818. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
^
abcdefLawrence Schieffelin, Hannah (1797–1801).
"Notebook of Poems (kept at New York City and at Newtown, L.I.)". Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. "Notebook of Poems (kept at New York City and at Newtown, L.I.)" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1797–1801. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
Further reading
Louise V. North, Janet M. Wedge, Landa M. Freeman, Carol Berkin (2011). In the Words of Women: The Revolutionary War and the Birth of the Nation, 1765 - 1799 (First Edition). Lexington Books.
ISBN978-0-7391-5019-1
Birmingham, Stephen (2016). America’s Secret Aristocracy: The Families That Built the United States. First Lyons Press edition.
ISBN978-1-4930-2476-6. Chapter 8, Page 67 – 77
Van Buskirk, Judith L. (2003). Generous Enemies: Patriots and Loyalists in Revolutionary New York (Early American Studies). University of Pennsylvania Press.
ISBN978-0-8122-1822-0