William Lawless (1736-1791) was a shoemaker from Bristol. In 1761, he married Rebecca Dyer. William and Rebecca had multiple children, at least two of whom died young. There was also a son named John. William was counted as a head of household in the 1774 Rhode Island Census. In 1775, he served as a serjeant in Sion Martindale‘s Company in the Army of Observation. He then served as a lieutenant in Thomas Allen‘s Company of Archibald Crary’s Regiment before getting command of a company. At one point, he commanded Colonel Crary’s Company. He also served in Rhode Island’s other state Regiment, commanded by John Topham. In 1780, William was listed as a member of the Senior Class Militia Company
Bristol, Rhode Island in the Revolutionary War 1775-1783
Rev War Bristol 