James Charles William Lawrason
ID # 3109, (1866-1923)
| Father | Peter Columba Lawrason (1838-) |
| Mother | Charlotte Hall (1840-) |
| Birth | James Charles William Lawrason was born on 10 December 1866 at Brant Twp., Bruce Co.. |
| Christening | He was christened on 24 August 1873 at Wolverton, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co.. |
| Marriage | He married Anna E. Hammer on 24 June 1891 at Chatham, Kent County, Ontario. Mrge reg. 005851-91 Chatham, Kent County Charles W. Lawrason, 22, bachelor, carriage trimmer & painter, Methodist. Born Walkerton, residing Stratford. Parents Peter and Charlotte Lawrason. Anna E. Hammer, 22, spinster, Methodist. Born and residing Detroit. Parents Jesse and Jane Hammer. Witnesses Mrs. J. H. Sowerby, Chatham, and Miss Jessie Clubine, Chatham. On 24 June, 1891, at Chatham, by Rev. J. H. Sowerby. |
| Marriage | He married Charlotte Baker Gray on 11 September 1901 at Collinwood, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Marriage license and registration, Cuyahoga County, State of Ohio, page 407. Application 27629, marriage license issued September 10th, 1901. Charles W. Lawrason, age 30, painter, residing Collinwood, Ohio, born Mackinac, Michigan. Parents P. C. Lawrason and Charlotte Hall. Times previously married none. George Baker Gray, age 20, born and residing Collinwood, Ohio. Parents E. A. Gray and Eunice Baker. Marriage solemnized by S. A. Cook of Willoughby, on 11 September, 1901. Names of witnesses not given. |
| Death | He died on 22 May 1923 at Flint, Genesee County, Michigan, at age 56. |
| Burial | He was buried on 24 May 1923 at Grace Lawn Cemetery. |
| Note | There is an anomaly with our information for James William Lawrason. Based on information put together, the following is probably at least a portion of the story, though there is room for error. Unquestionably, 'James William Lawrason' is the name he was baptized with. According to Wesleyan Methodist Baptisms (transcribed by Ida Reed and as they appear on Bill Martin's excellent genealogy webpages) James and his siblings were all baptized the same day, August 24, 1873, at Wolverton in Blenheim Township in Oxford County. James' date of birth is given as December 10, 1866, at Brant Township in Bruce County. Note here with regard to what follows that Walkerton is in Brant Township. The 1871 census taken at Brant Township, James is shown as James W. 'Laurison', age 4, born Ontario. The 1881 census taken at Blenheim Township shows him as William, age 15, born Ontario. As of the 1891 census taken in the city of Stratford in Perth County, James, as he is shown, is age 23, born Ontario, a house painter, and still with his parents. The 1891 census was taken on March 31 of the year. To this point we have no information that 'Charles' is in any way one of his given names. We only enter Charles as a part of his name for the reason that he seems to have gone by Charles in later years. Three months later, on 24 June, 1891, 'Charles' W. Lawrason as he is now known is still residing in Stratford, but he married in Chatham in Kent County to Anna E. Hammer, age 22, born and residing in Detroit. He is shown as age 22, which would place his birth in approximately 1869. He shows his parents a Peter and Charlotte Lawrason. He decribes his place of birth as Walkerton, which is in Brant Township in Bruce County. In the 1891-92 city directory for Detroit, published by R. L. Polk & Co., page 692, we find a Charles Lawrason, painter, rooming at 156 Congress West. With him is his brother Nelson, also a painter. Also with them is Mortimer Lawrason, a cousin. No spouses are mentioned. At the time of the 1900 U.S. census, he is in Collinwood Village, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and there he is shown as a house painter, age 29, born in Michigan, and both parents born in Canada. He is boarding in the household of Edward and Eunice Gray, and one of their daughters is Georgia B. Gray, age 17. On September 11th, 1901, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Charles W. Lawrason, age 30, painter, born Mackinac, Michigan, parents P.C. 'Lawrence' and Charlotte Hall, married Georgia Baker Gray, age 20. At the time of the 1910 census at Cleveland, Charles and Georgia are residing there. He is a railroad conductor. He shows his place of birth as Michigan as well as that of his parents. His age is given as 41 and Georgia's as 27. They have with them two children. The 1912 city directory for Cleveland, Ohio, published by the Cleveland Directory Co., page 932, is of particular interest. This shows Charles at 889 East 144th. With him is Peter C. Lawrason, his father. No spouses are mentioned. This is the last record we find of Peter Columba Lawrason. By 1920, Charles 'Lorison' and his wife Georgia are in Flint, Michigan, and he is working as a finisher in an auto plant. They now have three children, all born in Ohio. On May 22, 1923, in Flint, Charles William Lawrason died. His parents are shown as Peter Lawrason and Charlotte Hall. He is buried in Gracelawn Cemetery in Flint. On November 26, 1925, Georgia Gray Lawrason, age 43, married George Wood. Both were residents of Flint. No birth registration has been found for a Charles William Lawrason being born in Michigan. His middle name certainly was William and he appears as William in the 1881 census. Agewise, the information seems to wander with the record, but 'James' hasn't been found elsewhere after the 1891 census. For some reason, James chose to go by Charles and to claim a Michigan birth. Death registration: State of Michigan Certificate of Death Nbr. 646 Name, place of death (and residence): Charles William Lawrason, 219 Livingston Drive, 6th Ward, Flint. Married. Wife Georgia Lawrason. Born December 10th, 1877. Age 45 years, 5 months, 12 days. Varnisher, Buick Motor Company Birthplace Michigan, Peter Lawrason and Charlotte Hall, birth places of both unknown. Informant Mrs. Georgia Lawrason, Flint, Michigan. Date of death May 22nd, 1923, burial May 24th, 1923, Grace Lawn Cemetery. |
| Last Edited | 3 Dec 2016 |