Rev., Capt. Samuel Leonard, was born on 1 February 1673 in Raynham, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He and
Katherine Dean were married on 17 April 1701 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
1 He died on 13 April 1745 at age 72 in Raynham, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
2 He was buried at Town Center Cemetery in Raynham, Massachusetts.
3 Samuel was deacon, captain, justice of the peace. For more information see Fanny Leonard Koster, pp. 63-64. She lists all of the children. See also NEHGS Register, 1851, p. 411, which mentions nine children.
His birth was published in Taunton VR births, page 257. He was born in Taunton before 1731, when Raynham became a separate town.
ECL: Upon his father's death, he became clerk and manager of the Raynham Ironworks. He was master workman on the East Hearth of the Bloomery. "A man of distinction in piety, a Deacon, as were all his sons," according to ECL. Samuel Emery: He was a bloomer of iron, a justice of the peace and deacon of the church at Raynham.
His dispute with Zephaniah Leonard (Stephen3, 2, James1) kept the courts busy for some years. Sam succeeded in getting Zephaniah out of Raynham Forge, but Zephaniah went over to Whittenton and created another forge that was very successful.
Will of Samuell Leonard, esq., "The Eldest of That Name in Raynham...being in the Seventy-first Year of my age, " dtd 6 July 1744, prob. 8 July 1745. Wife Katherine. Sons: Samuell (eldest), Abiell, Elijah, & George (last 3 called "three youngest sons"). Daughters: Bethiah Howard, Hesadiah Wales, Phebe King, Sophia Dean, and Abiah King. The Rev. John Wales, Pastor of the Church of Christ in Raynham. "My young kinsman Simeon Read (under 21) who doth dwell with me." My Negro man Gambo. Mentions lands in Raynham, Taunton, Taunton North Purchase, and Norton. Wife and son Samuell to be Executors. Friends and kinsmen Col. George Leonard and Colonel Ephraim Leonard, Esqs., both of Norton, to be oversears. Rev., Capt. Samuel Leonard, had person sources.
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