© January 2005

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

22937 Long Branch Road, Rush, KY 41168

tklaiber@deliverancefarm.com

Lawrence Waters, was born About 1603 in England. He settled in Watertown, Massachusetts and is listed in First Settlers of New England as being there in 1635.

His first grant was for eight acres. He added other grants including four acres of plowland which neighbored the Garrett Church property, four acres of meadow, several entries for upland with a total of 37 acres, a 105 acre farm also in the uplands.

Lawrence began disposing of his holdings in Watertown in 1646 after the grantees of Nashaway Plantation sent him, his father-in-law Richard Linton, and John Ball to make preparations for settlement there. It would be come the oldest town in Worcester County. Renamed Lancaster, the three were the first inhabitants with Lawrence Waters building a house on a slope near the "centre road." A petition to the court incorporated the town in May 1653. The town voted to limit the number of families to 35. Lawrence and his wife Anna Linton Waters had six children. While establishing themselves at Nashaway they lost an infant daughter Rachel on 31 March 1650.

The family settled in where it appears Lawrence was the carpenter of the village. The family utilized John Prescott’s grist mill that lay near the Nashaway River. They lived a very Puritan life. Lawrence’s wife Anna was once admonished and fined for dancing.

Six children in all were born at Lancaster. In 1659 the town repealed the "35" rule opening the town to more settlers. The same year son Ephraim died in June. In 1662 he was released from paying a five shilling per anum fee to the military company. Exemptions usually were due to age or infirmary. Since Lawrence would be in his 60's it is assumed that he was exempt due to age.

Lawrence, a carpenter by trade and his wife gave property to son Stephen in August 1666. In September 1670 son Adam died. The Indians had lived tolerably beside the Lancaster residents until August 1675 when eight people were killed throughout the town of Lancaster. They returned in February burning homes and murdering. The Waters removed the Charlestown with son Stephen. Daughter Mary Waters Davis and family were also under the protection of Charlestown. Son Lawrence was a soldier in King Philip’s War.

He remained on the rolls of Lancaster as a property owner but as indicated in General Court Records of Charlestown he received what would be considered a pension for being "aged and blind" in October 1676. On 6 February 1679/80 wife Anna died in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Lawrence Waters died 9 December 1687, Charlestown. Both he and his wife are also listed in ‘Deaths of Sundry early Proprietors and residents of Lancaster as attested by wills, inventories, diaries, records or other towns, et cetera."

i. Mary Waters, born 27 January 1637/38 in Watertown, Middlesex County Massachusett; died 29 March 1713; married Samuel Davis 20 March 1655/56 in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

ii. Lawrence Waters, born 14 February 1633/34 in Watertown, Middlesex County Massachusett; died 26 September 1693 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

iii. Sarah Waters, born 07 December 1636 in Watertown, Middlesex County Massachusett.

iv. Rebecca Waters, born Abt. 1644 in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

v. Daniel Waters, born 06 February 1641/42 in Watertown, Middlesex County Massachusett.

vi. Stephen Waters, born 24 January 1642/43 in Watertown, Middlesex County Massachusett; died 15 January 1719/20 in Charlestown, Suffolk County Massachusetts.

vii. Adam Waters, born 1645 in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died 15 September 1670 in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

viii. Jacob Waters, born 01 March 1649/50 in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died 15 December 1714 in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

ix. Rachel Waters, born 01 March 1649/50 in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died 31 March 1650 in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

x. Samuel Waters, born 14 January 1651/52 in Lancaster, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died 02 May 1729 in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

xi. Joanna Waters, born 26 March 1654; died 21 April 1694.

xii. Ephraim Waters, born 27 January 1654/55; died 17 June 1659.