Notes for ROBERT SIMMONS "SIMEON" LAWS:

Son of Benjamin and Anna (?) Laws.
Born: March 25, 1780 in Norfolkshire, England.
Died: February 14, 1867 in Yaphank, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.
Buried: Yaphank Prebyterian Churchyard, Yaphank, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.
Immigration: On "The Ridge" with Captain Randall in 1795 after a 6 week trip from England.
Residence: Yaphank, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.
Occupation: Farmer and Deacon of the Yaphank Presbyterian Church.
Married: Elizabeth "Betsy" Randall February 18, 1803 in Ridge, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.

Benjamin Laws and his wife Anna, with their six children, came from England to escape religious persecution in about 1795. Mrs. Laws (Anna) was from Wales, Benjamin Laws from Norfolkshire, England and was a shepherd. They settled at Ridgeville (Ridge), L.I. The crossing took six weeks. They were influenced to settle on Long Island by a Capt. Randall, in whose ship they crossed. According to the story told to Alice Raynor by her grandmother, the Laws family originally lived in Wales. In the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror put collars on the necks of the conquered Welsh. To escape this harsh treatment the Laws emigrated to England, where they became well-to-do, acting as shepherds to the King of England.

The house that John Laws built, probably about 1820, is still standing. After the death of John Laws it was sold, for the benefit of the heirs, to Horace Randall who in turn sold it to his son Charles. Charles Randall, in turn sold it to Mr. Weis. It is still owned by Mr. Weis.
(findagrave.com/Source: Suffolk County Historical Society)