Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1880 — A Remarkable Family. [ARTICLE]

A Remarkable Family.

In the fall of 1809 James C. and Jedediah Lawrence, with their five children, were residing on Nantucket, when the father, thinking to better his circumstances, conceived the idea of removing to Alexandria, Va., where his parents resided. Putting all his possessions on board a vessel, and taking with him his eldest child, a girl, he set sail from here, leaving his family to await his return in the spring. Shortly after leaving here a violent gale sprung up, and the vessel was never heard from. On the 25th of December the mother gave birth to triplets, who were named Francis, James C. and Mary L., respectively. Realizing her destitute condition with seven little children on her hands, she laid the helpless trio in a row on the bed, and remarked, “ Somehow or other a living will be provided for all of you.” Being a woman of remarkable energy, she immediately set about earning a livelihood. Kind friends rendered her what assistance they could, but she relied principally on her own exertions. She opened a store for the sale of d4| goods and small wares, and prospered; She also varied her occupation by taking in washing and keeping boarders, always managing to support herself and children comfortably, and gave each of the seven a good common-school education. The triplets are all living to-day, and have each reared a large family of children, Francis residing in California, James in Wisconsin, and the daughter, Mary, in Nantucket. The parents were strict Quakers, and the children were brought up by their mother to attend Friends’ meeting, though none in after life identified themselves with that denomination.—Nantucket (Mass.') Journal.