Re: William Lawless, 1822, Maryland/Missouri

I am working on the Martha Kent side yet have been intrigued with the Lawless family. The following information comes from my deceased grandfather's records.

Their children are:

1. Addie (female) Lawless b. abt 1877 Missouri; md. George Rutledge 21 Sep 1892 Atchison, Atchison Co., Kansas

2. John Wakeman or Wakefield Lawless b. may 1879 Missouri, died after 11 June 1900 possibly Marshal Township, Platte Co, Missouri.

3. Oke Bert or Burt Lawless b. Sep 1881 Missouri; d. aft 11 jun 1900 Possibly Marshal Township, Platte Co., Missouri

4. William or Will Lawless b. dec 1884 Missouri; died aft 11 Jun 1900 Possibly marshal Township, Platte Co., Missouri.

In the Annals of Platte Co., Missouri (book in Salt Lake City 977.8135 H2p)-- 25 Sep 1884 pg. 51 "Jonathan Lawless, apprehended, tried and convicted, is sentenced to 10 years in the penetentiary for the murder of [Mr.] English."Jonathan Lawless was charged with murder of James English.Jonathan pleads "not guilty." Martha Kent Lawless does not come as a witness for the defense.He is found guilty of murder in the second degree.

Martha's grandaughter Mary Peyton Jurgens says that Martha's son who is named Bert was nicknamed Oak.

Martha can be found on the 11 June 1900 census record for Marshall Township, Platte Co., Missouri as Martha Robert (she remarried to Paul Theodore Robert at some time) and is widowed.She can read but not write, rents a home, and is the mother of 9 with only 7 living.She has 3 sons living with her but the census record says their last name is Lollas instead of Lawless.These 3 sons are John, Oke Bert/Burt, and William.

Martha was first married to George W. Leach on 23 Jan 1864 or 1867 in either Iowa or Missouri. They had 3 daughters:

1. Mary Loretta Leach b. 30 may 1867 Iowa or Missouri who md. Jesse Peyton (my line)

2. Rebecca Leach b. abt 1869 Possibly Iowa who md. William Clinton abt 1886 Platte Co., Missouri)Mother gave her permission to marry as she was under the age of 18.

3. Henrietta Leach b. abt 1871 Platte Co., Missouri;1st marriage to George Ross 2 mar 1886 Platte Co., Missouri (mother gave her permission to marry as she was under the age of 18 and he was over the age of 21); 2nd md. Henry Boshalm 17 Apr 1891 Atchsion, Atchison, Kansas

I would love to correspond with both of you to find out more information on the Lawless, Kent, and Leach families as I am stuck!

Jennifer Endsley
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