Lawe - William J.A. 1774 to 1817

[Lance Matthews]

When William married at Harwich in 1802, it showed him living in Felixstowe parish Suffolk. I would love to know where he was born and the name of parents and siblings. In later years he became a surgeon to the Board of Ordnance, Harwich, Essex. Any help will be most appreciated.

[Milliepede]

I wonder if he would be mentioned in newspapers? 

Long shot but one might mention his beginnings, his obituary for example if there was one.

[Lance Matthews]

 Regrettably, I have no further information. Perhaps there would have been an obituary in as Essex paper.

[Pennines]

Lance - do you have access to ancestry please?

I was just doing a search for your William, when a 'hint' came up for a William Aldboura James Lawe, baptised 19 Aug 1773 in Dundalk, Louth, Ireland. THEN this person came up in a public family tree on Ancestry - showing father, as per baptism record - as Captain George John Lawe and mother Mary Reed/Read. The tree shows William's death as 16 Oct 1817 in Harwich.

Maybe his was an Army birth.

Army births can often be found on Find My Past. Haven't time now, but I will check later if no-one finds it beforehand.

[Lance Matthews]

I think you are spot on. I could not find information in the UK, but saw there were quite a few Lawes in Ireland. I am not on Ancestry. He did die in Harwich. Pretty sure that he did not have children. His widow married. Thank you for your help.

[Pennines]

OK I am back -- evening meal interfered!

It was nothing to do with me, Lance - I was simply searching Ancestry and the 'hint' came up from the Ireland Select Births and Baptisms. That led to the hint for the family tree.

I have now searched the British Armed Forces Births on Find My Past - but I can't find him unfortunately.

The baptism is on Family Search;

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FRQL-LLL

However if you do have access to Ancestry - please DO look at the family tree. According to that, William's grandfather was Robert Lawe, Barrackmaster General of Ireland. So an important family.

In addition there is an image of a page of George Lawe's Will and other very interesting images to do with this family.

[Pennines]

William's death is in the Suffolk Chronicle of 25 Oct 1817 - it does not give any details of his early life, or even mention that he was married.

Gist of it being that he died suddenly and was Surgeon to the Board of Ordnance at Harwich. He was praised for his urbanity and benevolence and was much respected.

[Lance Matthews]

Thank you both for your valued input. At lease I now know for sure that William Lawe's parents, Mary Read/Reed and George Lawe were married at St Nicholas, Dundalk, Louth on 24.05.1767 from the church records.

[Pennines]

Lance - there is an entry on the National Archives for Sarah Lawe, widow of William, regarding relief of officers widows, when he died.

There may be more records for both him and for his father if you do a search.

I don't know if you are interested, but you can order a copy of those documents but there will be a fee.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10062866