Robert's birth date is based on an affidavit he made in 1708. "Robert Lawrence of Nansimond County aged about sixty nine years Examined and sworne saith. That abouth forty seven years ago this Deponent seated a plantation on the south west side of Chowan River abuth three or four miles aboth the mouht of Morattock where he lived about seven years, by which means he had often occassion of passing and repassing the Chowan, in which he often took notice and still very well knows a large creek on the said South west side of Chowan commonly called and known both by the English and Indians by the name of Weyanoke Creeke which creek issueth into Chowan abouth twenty miles above Morattuck River mouth and accortind to the best of his Deponents judgement abouth twenty miles below the mouth of Maherine River and this Deponent further saith that he never heard either the Blackwater Nottaway or Maherine River or any other River or Creek but that above mentioned called by the name of Weyanoke Creek. Signed: Robert R. Lawrence Sworn and addressed as the former."3