The following from "The American Genealogist" January 1999, page 16 discounts the Lawrence of Wisset pedigree as fraudulent. The material from these pages contains the following: [Somerby's technique seems to be that he would happen across a family with the same name -- or, at least, surname -- as that of a well-known immigrant. He would then either invent a document, such as a will, that seemed to prove the connection across the sea, or, in other instances just imply that such a document existed, without providing any specific detail, such as he did in the ancestry purported for Abraham, John and Richard Bowne of Watertown. Once he had "established" the connection into England and traced the line back as far as he could in local records, Somerby would then fabricate a link to another family of the same surname, often in an entirely different country. ............. In his fraudulent account of the ancestry of the Lawrences of Watertown and Groton, Mass., Somerby followed these same steps, in this instance making a grand leap between Co. Suffolk and Co. Lancaster" see H.G. Somerby, "Pedigree of Lawrence; compiled from Heralds' visitations, inquisitions post mortem, deeds, charters, wills, parish registers, and other original manuscripts" [FHL film #s 2.358 and 1.016,919]; Bond, Watertown, 2:1080-81; H.G. Somerby, "Pedigree of Lawrence" NEHGR 10(1856); chart facing 297; and especially Rev. John Lawrence, The Genealogy of the Family of John Lawrence of Wisset in Suffolk, England and of Watertown and Groton, Massachusetts {Boston 1857} 1-12. G. Andrews Moriarty in "Pre-American Ancestries: V. The Lawrence Family of Groton and Boston, Massachusetts." TAG 10(1933-34):78-83, demolished the pedigree. According to Somerby, the will of John Lawrence of Wisset, dated 2 June 1606. "refers to him (i.e.Henry) as having removed from Wisset to New England and settled in Charlestown." This is of course, absurd, as New England did not exist in 1606. Moriarty states that most of Somerby's "productions are fearfully and wonderfully concocted but, in justice to his memory, I must state that some of his pedigrees which I have examined have been carefully and accurately compiled upon authentic record evidence. Hence I have been forced to the conclusion that Mr. Somerby gave his clients exactly what they wanted." Indeed, though most of the Lawrence wills Somerby cites do exist, it is not surprising that the will of John Lawrence, yeoman, of Wisset, co. Suffolk (dated 2 June 1606; proved 7 March 1607/8) makes no mention of New England, though wife Johane, sons Henry and Robert Lawrence, with others are named (Archdeaconry of Suffolk R31/429 (FHL film #96,942]). And though this Suffolk Lawrence family was traced to 1471, it does not spring from the Lancashire family of that name, which in turn is not descended from an entirely fictitious crusader named Sir Robert Lawrence.]