William Lawrence (1783-1848)

He was one of the leaders of the early development of the New England textile industry. He was born in Groton and came to Boston in 1809, establishing himself as a commission merchant from the following year (1810). Having prospered considerably, he formed a partnership with his brother Samuel as W. & S. Lawrence in 1822. They started off as importers before turning to domestic manufacturing. It was through their agency that the first incorporated agency for the manufacture of woollen goods was formed, the Middlesex Manufacturing Company, based at Lowell. They continued in the woollen commission business until William retired in 1842 "with an ample fortune". He endowed the Groton Academy (today known as Lawrence Academy) and was a director of the Suffolk Bank. In 1813, he married Susan Ruggles Bordman and they had nine children, four of whom survived him.