Lawrence, Robert

  General Notes:

Sir Robert Lawrence was born in about the year 1150 A.D. in the
direct vicinity of Lancaster , Lancashire, England. His father, also
named Robert, was a silversmith and worked for the resident Lord
of Lancaster Castle. Lancaster Castle, built on the remains of three
Roman forts, was first established in about the year 1100 A.D.
Today it serves as a prison for Britain.

In the year 1187, Robert Lawrence answered the call to the Third
Crusades under King Richard the Lion-Hearted. After traveling
aboard ship to Cyprus, he arrived in present-day Palestine to fight
in the battle of The Siege of Acre where he scaled the walls, along
with four other men, and opened the gates to the armies of Britain.
Acre fell, but was given back to the Turks a year later. In return for
his bravery, Robert Lawrence was knighted by King Richard in
1191 and given Ashton Manor, sometimes called Ashton Hall,
which is located three miles south of Lancaster , as a fief. His armor,
a red cross on a white field, (a cross raguley, gules) is registered
with The College of Arms in London, England. There are several
Ashton's and Ashton Halls in Lancashire and they should not be
confused with Ashton Manor of Lancaster . Diana Hanson 7/26/97


1191 A.D. had arms (a cross raguley,gules) conferred upon Sir Robert Lawrence by Richard Coeur de Lion for his braveyin scaling the walls of Acre in Syria.Sir Robert Lawrence of Ashton Hall in Lancashire was knighted by King Richard the Lionhearted,for gallant conduct at the seige of Acre, when that famous city of Syria was recovered from the Saracens by Knights of the third Crusades, A.D. 1191.
____________________________________________________________

ancient History


The name Lawrence comes down through history from a very early date. It
also appears very early in American records.

Authorities seem to agree that the name comes from the Latin, Laurentious.
Authorities do not entirely agree as to the meaning of the word. The
meaning is usually given as "Laurel Crowned." It is sometimes given as
"flourishing like a green bay tree". For this last use, see the first page
of the town records of Hingham, Massachusetts. There does not seem to be
much doubt, however, that the first meaning named above is the more
correct. In connection with the ancient coat-of-arms of the family, a
crest was used by some Branch es of the family (our own Branch for
instance), represented by two laurel Branch es forming a chaplet, which
would seem to confirm the meaning "Laurel Crowned."

It is impossible to trace the family in the earliest stages in England,
prior to the 12th century A.D. At that time we find Robert Lawrence , an
officer in the army of King Richard 1(Couer- de-Lion), engaged in the third
crusade, attempting to wrest Palestine (the holy land) from the Infidels.
There he distinguished himself, especially at the Siege and Battle of Acre,
where he was the first to scale the walls of the city, and place thereon
the Crusaders' Banner. For this he was knighted by King Richard, and was
thereafter known as Sir Robert Lawrence . Historical records show that this
battle took place on the 12th of July, in the year 1191, A.D.

It will be remember in history, that after a truce was established in
Palestine, the Crusaders turned their faces toward their far away homes.
Many of them, however, became scattered; and King Richard himself was
seized by the Duke of Austria and imprisoned for several years. Upon his
release, and return to England, and the resumption of his duties as King;
he did not forget Sir Robert Lawrence , but conferred upon him Ashton Hall,
with its income and rentals. Thereafter he was known as Sir Robert
Lawrence of Ashton Hall. Ashton Hall is located about three miles from the
city of Lancaster , Lancashire County, England. King Richard also conferred
upon the family a coat-of- arms, which is described as, --

Argent, a cross reguly, gules." "Dan Bell" <Danl@Sedona.net>

Sir Robert, a son ,, and the immediate successor, of the knight of the
Crusades, to the estate of Ashton Hall, married a daughter of James
Trafford, Esq., of Lancashire ; by whom he had a son and heir, James
Lawrence .

Robert married Daughter Of Trafford, daughter of James Trafford and Unknown. (Daughter Of Trafford was born in 1170 in Lancaster, Lancashire County, England.)