Elder Stephen Kingsley
M, #6288, b. 1596, d. 4 June 1673
Biography
Elder Stephen Kingsley was born in 1596 in Sutterton, Lincolnshire, England. He and
Marie Spaulding were married on 29 April 1624 in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. He died on 4 June 1673 at age ~77 in Milton, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
Did he marry Alice ? or Mary Spalding?
"Stephen Kinsley received a grant of land at Mount Wollaston in 1639. He was one of six members who formed the church at
Braintree. He signed the church covenant at its formation and was appointed Ruling Elder. He represented Braintree at the General Court before moving to Unquity. In 1656 he purchased a large tract of land of Hutchinson, in connection with his son-in-law, Anthony Gulliver. He was one of the three petitioners for the incorporation of Milton in 1662 and drew the petition. The petition for incorporation, drawn up by
Stephen Kingsley, is signed by Stephen Kingsley, Robert Vose, John Gill, in the names of all the rest of the inhabitants. (History of Milton, by A. K. Teele, p. 34.)
Name of Milton. Up to the time of incorporation this township was embraced within the limits of Dorchester, and was known by the old Indian name of Unquity-quisset, or by contraction, Unquity.
He was the first Representative of the town to the General Court in 1666, and a trustee of the church in 1664. He is generally spoken of as Elder Kinsley, but is sometimes styled Rev. Stephen Kinsley, although never ordained to the ministry. The record of this excellent man is worthy of particular notice. He was a man of strong religious character and of decided ability. In the trials and conflicts of the early
residents, he seems to have been the guide and comforter. Years before the corporate existence of Milton or the establishment
of a church, he conducted religious services on the Sabbath with his friends and neighbors in the little meeting-house and continued the duty several years after incorporation. We have no knowledge of the exact date of his removal to Unquity; it is, however, natural to conclude that he came with his sons-in-law, Anthony Gulliver and Henry Crane. His house was on the hill, a little to the east of the residence of Cornelius Babcock, on the north side of Adams Street. The cellar was filled up by Mr. Babcock, the present owner of the
estate (1887). (History of Milton by A. K. Teele, p. 105.) Elder Stephen Kinsley died in Milton, Mass., June 4, 1673, and his wife Elizabeth died in Milton, Jan. 10, 1668. In his will, proved 1673, he mentions the children of his deceased sons, Samuel and John, and three daughters. His daughter, Elizabeth Kinsley, married in Unquity in 1655 Henry Crane. She was his second wife. Henry Crane was born in England, 1621, and died in Milton, March 21, 1709. His first wife was Tabitha (???), whom he married in England. (History of Milton, by A. K.
Teele.) His daughter, Lydia Kinsley, married about 1640, Anthony Gulliver, born 1619-20.
The following deeds prove the marriage of Lydia to Anthony Gulliver: 1656-7. Anthony Gulliver and Lydia, his wife, deed land. (Suffolk County Deeds, Vol. 27, p. 202.) 1662, March 25th. Anthony Gulliver and Lydia, his wife, signed a deed, which was acknowledged by Anthony (but not by his wife) April 4, 1682. (Suffolk County Deeds, Vol. 12, p. 224.)
John Kingsley came from England to Massachusetts before 1636, and was one of the seven who constituted the first church in Dorchester. Stephen Kingsley, his brother, came to Massachusetts about the same time. His descendants have generally spelled their name Kinsley. Stephen died in Milton in 1673. He was made a freeman; he was a Ruling Elder of the church at Braintree in 1653. Afterwards he was of Dorchester, and in 1666 was a Representative of the town of Milton, Mass. (See Mitchell's Bridgewater, p. 220.) (Extracts from manuscripts of Prof. James Luce Kingsley, of Yale College, in the possession of his son, Mr. William
Kingsley of New Haven, Conn., now (1898) deceased.) "
Representative to General Court for Dorchester, 1650, for Milton, with his son in law, Anthoy Gulliver, 1666. Stephen and Mary Spaulding were married 29 Apr 1629(Parish Register, Boston, Lincolnshire, Eng). They left England from the port of Bristol. They arrived at Dorchester, Suffolk County, MA (1635) and settled on lands once belonging to "Major Burns". On 3 Apr 1637 he was allotted a house lot next to Alex Winchester. He came to Braintree( Mt. Wollaston) , Norfolk County, MA 27Mar 1639, where he was ordained Elder of the Church (17 Sept 1639), Freeman(13 May 1640), was elcted to help administer town affairs, 1640,was representative to the General Court, 1650, 1652; settled on a farm in that part of Dorchester which was taken for Milton in 1662 , where he was a representative 1666 with his son in law Anthony Gulliver.Stephen was granted a great lot for nine heads; four acres a head at Mount Wollaston. This was later changed to seven acres per head; making about 63 acres total. His name does not appear in the list of church members of Boston, but he was one of the original members of the Braintree Church organized Sep 16, 1639. He bought half the Hutchinson farm in Dorchester (later Milton) 23 Feb 1656, anthony Gulliver being one of the other buyers.
| Last Edited | 7 December 2009 |
Capt. James Leonard
M, #6293, b. about 1642, d. 1 November 1726
Parents
Biography
Capt. James Leonard was born about 1642 at ? in Bilston, Staffordshire, England. He and
Hannah Martin were married before 1668. He and
Lydia Gulliver were married on 29 October 1675 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
1 He and
Rebecca Macy were married on 29 August 1706 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
2 He died on 1 November 1726 at age ~84 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
3,4 He was buried at Neck 'o Land Cemetery in Taunton, Massachusetts.
According to ECL, "the second son of James Leonard was probably born in England; there is not much about him in the public records. What is found is in the records of his brother Thomas. He learned the iron masters trade but for the fact that his first four children were born in Braintree, we assume that he was at the Braintree works until about 1671.
He was given the west hearth of Raynham Forge by his father about 1675. We are led to believe that James worked at the Raynham Forge as long as he worked in iron. He was Surveyor of Highways in 1669 and 1678, on the Grand Jury in 1680 and 1685, a constable in 1686, a Selectman in 1689, 1690, 1691 to 1696, 1697, 1703, 1705, and 1706, representative to the general court 1697-98, 1703-5-6-8-10-17. He is styled Lt. in 1706, 1708, and 1710." See ECL, pp. 35ff.
He was thrifty. He owned a sawmill with his brother Thomas, which he gave to his son Seth in 1712. He aided his son James in the purchase of his uncle Uriah's interest in the Whittington Forge in 1699. He placed his son Stephen as master workman at the West Hearth in Raynham Ironworks.
He built the House of Seven Gables in Raynham in 1700, which remained in the family until 1840.
He died in his 84th year. Will of James Leonard of Taunton, "being aged and under bodily weakness," dtd. March 4, 1725/6, proved. 13 April 1726/7: Wife Rebecca. Sons: James (eldest), Stephen and Seth Leonard. 3 daughters by my first wife: Unis, Prudence, and Hannah Crane who married John Crane of Dighton, dcd. Other daughters: Lydia Brettin, Sarah Hodges, Elizabeth Hall, Abigail Dean dcd. and Darkis Leonard. "My late father-in-law Anthoney Culiver" and my late wife Lydia dcd. Grandson Zephaniah Leonard. Granddaughter Abigail Dean and other children (not named) of my daughter Abigail Dean dcd. My brothers Thomas Leonard and Uriah Leonard. My indentured servant Patriarch Robinson and Abigail Robinson. Sons James and Seth Leonard as execs. Witnesses: Seth Williams, Timothy Jones, and Samuel Leonard, Jr. (5:399/400/1/2/3). Capt. James Leonard had person sources.
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| Last Edited | 3 November 2019 |
Citations
- [S115] Mayflower Descendant, Vol 21, 57, Plymouth County Vital Records
- [S245] Massachusetts Vital Records
- [S625] James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, CD#169, p. 79
- [S801] Samuel H. Emery, HIstory of Taunton, MA, CD Version, p. 372
- [S564] Elisha Clark Leonard - George Marston Leonard, "James Leonard of Taunton, MA, Ironmaster," manuscript, 1959, p. 35.