LAWRENCE: Descendants of Major Samuel Lawrence of Groton, Massachusetts with some mention of allied families. 1904By Robert Means Lawrence This 1904 publication is a genealogical memorial of the Lawrence family and branches. This volume is a sequel to the compiler's "Historical Sketches of Some Members of the Lawrence Family, 1888. The focus of this book is the history of the Major Samuel Lawrence of Groton, Massachusetts. Lawrence is an ancient name with records dating back to the 1100s. They settled early in America, being part of the colonization and formation