Charles Farrar Lawrence

 

Luther Lawrence was a farmer. The Lawrence family lived across the street from the Oak Hill schoolhouse (District No. 2 School), where Charles was a student, in a fine home filled with books. Charles had an older brother, Luther, and four older sisters, Thirza, Mary Jane (who died at age 5), Sarah, and Jane. After Charles, were three younger sisters, Julia, Isabella, and Coralie.

 

The Lawrence family had lived in Pepperell, by way of Groton, since the 1700s. Going back 7 generations, Charles’ ancestor John Lawrence (spelled variously Larrance, Laurance, Laurence, Lawranc, Lawrance, Lorance) came from England and settled in Watertown by 1636. In 1662, John moved his family to Groton, where he was elected a selectman. He had 15 children by two wives, including Charles’ 4x great grandfather the Deacon Nathaniel Lawrence.

 

Two of Charles’ ancestors served in militia. His great grandfather, Captain Thomas Lawrence Jr., served in the Groton Militia during the French and Indian War. He was killed at the age of 37 at Half-Way Brook near Lake George. His son, Major Thomas Lawrence III, Charles’ grandfather, served during the Revolution and was wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

 

Charles was educated at the Oak Hill school, Lawrence Academy in Groton, and Pepperell Academy. After graduation, he became a banker, working with his uncle, Charles Farrar, in the New York firm of Lawrence, Frazier and Co. He lived at the Windsor Hotel in Manhattan, and was a member of the New York Athletic Club. He died of pneumonia on May 12th, 1897 at age 55. He left no descendants. 

 

Charles wrote his will in 1893. In it, he left $100,000 “to found and maintain a free public library” in Pepperell.

Twelfth, I give and bequeath to the town of Pepperell aforesaid the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, in trust, however, to found and maintain a free public library which shall include an art gallery in said town to be known as “The Lawrence Library,” the title to which should be in the said town. I direct that fifty thousand dollars of said sum be devoted to the purchase of a lot near the centre of said town to be selected by my executors (with whom I desire Doctor John N. Farrar, aforesaid, to advise as to such selection) and the erection of a suitable brick and iron fire-proof building to contain said library and art gallery. 

I further direct that twenty-five thousand dollars of said one hundred thousand be applied to the purchase of furniture and books to be placed in said building, and that the remaining twenty-five thousand dollars be applied to the general maintenance and care of said library and gallery.

I also give and bequeath all the books and works of art of which I shall die possessed to the said town of Pepperell and I desire that the same shall be preserved and kept in said library and gallery.