Person Page 69

Benjamin Bryant was born on 24 October 1741 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He and Elizabeth Bates were married on 21 February 1782 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹

He and his new wife moved to Hartland, VT, sometime between 1782 and 1784.

Ensign Elkanah Leonard was born on 15 May 1677 in Raynham, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹ He and Charity Hodges were married on 25 March 1703 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹ He died on 29 December 1714 at age 37 in Lakeville, Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.² He was buried in Lakeville Cemetery (Thompson's Hill), Lakeville, Massachusetts.³

Elkanah practiced law in Middleborough. He was the only lawyer at the time. He was appointed Major in militia early in career, First Regiment, Plymouth County Militia. He's covered in Fanny Leonard Koster, Genealogy of the Leonard Family, p. 80. Children are listed in the Genealogical Register of Pilgrim Families, p. 171.

ECL: He also learned the bloomers art. His father purchased two of three tracts of land in Middleborough in 1700 and with Philip King built the dam at Trout Brook, a saw mill, and commenced on a forge when he bought out King and finished the forge . Young Elkanah was put there to manage the forge when he was 24 years old. In 1703 he married Charity Hodges and built a house on the west side of the brook below the dam. He was a smart, capable young man and soon had a lively business -- mills, forge, lumberman, store owner. In 1706 he was chosen constable of the town, but refused to serve and was fined 5 pounds penalty. On 7 Oct 1708, he sold to Elkanah Leonard several pieces of land, including his iron mine swamp. On March 1, 1709/10 he was elected with Capt. James Vaughn and Rodolphus King as Selectmen. He continued in this office the rest of his life. He was addenda member #22, First Church of Middleborough, and had child Timothy baptized there in 1713. He died at the young age of 37, leaving a large property in Plymouth and Bristol Counties.

His son, Elkanah, was appointed guardian of Rebecca and Jemima Leonard, daughters of Elkanah Sr., late of Middleberry. April 15, 1724/5 (5:63). Benjamin Hodges of Middleborough was appointed guardian of Elkanah's children Joseph, Simeon, and Abiah. April 20, 1724/5 (5:64). Plymouth Court records also show that Ephraim Hodges, Elkanah's wife's brother, was appointed guardian of Abiah, Simeon, and Jemima Leonard (Elkanah's children). This should be checked further, but it is evidence that later-born children had died. Ensign Elkanah Leonard had person sources.⁴ He and Charity Hodges were married on 25 March 1703 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay.

Capt. Joseph Leonard was born on 9 April 1705 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ He and Hannah Pratt were married on 9 April 1729 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ He and Fear Southworth were married on 18 November 1731 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.² He died on 27 June 1776 at age 71 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

The 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th generations from Elkanah Leonard are directly from the ECL-GML manuscript, as corrected. Checked and rechecked several times, since there is confusion about which Joseph was which, death dates, and the children of each marriage.

Benjamin Hodges was appointed guardian of Joseph, Simeon, and Abiah when Elkanah, their father, died. 5:63 dtd. April 20, 1724/5. ECL lists 3 more children, but indicated no further information about them. They do not appear in the guardianship records.

Joseph Leonard was a common name in Middleborough in the 1700's. There were at least 7 of them living in Middleborough. Mayflower Society genealogist complained about the difficulty of keeping them straight. See discussion under Joseph Leonard, Jr. b. 29 July 1732.

There is confusion about Joseph and Fear's children. ECL notes about Fear, Simeon, and Nathaniel: "Last 3 names given me by Mrs. Haskins but she could tell me little about them." They are not listed in Middleborough VR's as children of Joseph and Fear, so I have not included them here although they are included in the ECL-GML manuscript as nos. 241, 242, and 243.

In the Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families, under Benjamin Southworth, the following: "Nathaniel, son of first Constant, m. 1672, Desire, d. of Edward Gray, and had Constant, 1674, Mary, 1676, m. Joseph Rider; Ichabod, 1678; Elizabeth, m. James Sproat; Nathaniel, 1684, m. Jael Howland; Edward, 1688, m. Bridget Bosworth. Nathaniel, Middleboro', son of above, had Fear, 1709, married a Leonard; Gideon, Nathaniel, Samuel, and Hannah, m. a Sproat." Fear Southworth married Joseph Leonard, the father of Joseph Leonard, Jr. Joseph Leonard, Sr. did not have a son Samuel, but did have a Gideon, Nathaniel, and Hannah (who married Robert Sproat) among his children." This is an incomplete list of Joseph's children with some errors (e.g., the Hannah who married Robert Sproat was Joseph's son's daughter Hannah).

Per John Howland of the Mayflower, Fourth Generation, p. 221. Children listed are Joseph, Timothy, Hannah, Abiah, Gideon, Fear, Simeon, and Nathaniel. Last three have no birthdates and are not listed in Middleborough VR's. Book has Joseph marrying possibly Ruth White. (Another Joseph, not this Joseph. If the Joseph who married Ruth White had been this Joseph, Joseph would have been 13 when Ruth's first child was conceived. Also, Joseph sold to his son Joseph 16 acres on 18 May 1781. That Joseph also would have been another Joseph, since this Joseph died in 1783).

Was there another child, Rebecca, who married ? Ellis? Per Mayflower VR, CD #167. She is not included, since no further evidence could be found to support inclusion.

Joseph Leonard deeded 28 Jun 1733, recorded 22 Oct 1734, to his brother, Elkanah of Middleborough, Attorney at Law, a lot of 64 acres in the Sixteen Shilling Purchase, originally in the right of David Thomas. The deed of sale was witnessed by Josiah Richmond and Mary Southworth.

It would appear that when Joseph died, his son Ensign Joseph Leonard was his only heir. No marriage records occur for any of the children, except possibly Hannah (and that's really another Hannah), nor are there further records of their activities. Timothy is said to have had a son, "Black" Samuel Leonard, according to the Elijah Leonard biography/genealogy in the Ontario archives, but there appears to be no supporting record in Massachusetts. Abiah/Abigail was published to Ephraim Hackett on 1 February 1761, with the marriage recorded on 18 June 1761. A Hackett typescript written by Lewis Wendell Hackett (1998) says that Abiah/Abigail died 19 March 1762. Middleboro VR's (p. 245) record that an unnamed wife of Ephraim Hackett died on that date. Later records concerning a Gideon and a TImothy Leonard refer to the children of Joseph's son, Joseph.

There is confusion about the date of death of Joseph. Family History of Central NY, tracing the descent from James, Thomas, Elkanah, and Joseph, says he died in 1775. (CD157, p. 1075). Middleborough VR's say a Capt. Joseph Leonard died 27 June 1776. WW listed his death as 27 Jun 1770 in the 1920 Boston Transcript, probably a typo of "0" for "6.) He was Captain of the Third Company (Weston, p. 200), but the dates of his captaincy are given in Ebenezer Weaver Peirce in "Historic Sketches (1873) as 1762-1773.

Middleborough VR's give the date of death of a Lt. Joseph Leonard as 1 November 1783. This is the date Joseph's son Joseph is thought to have died.

On 15 April 1777, the inventory of the estate of Joseph Leonard, late of Middleborough, Gentleman, was taken. This Joseph? He died insolvent, couldn't pay all just debts. It appears that his grandson, Joseph Leonard, was left with the chore of straightening out Capt. Joseph's estate after the latter's son died in 1783. Plymouth Co. PR #12633, 29:174-6, 253-4, 30:542-3 (Joseph Leonard). Plymouth Co. LR 61:1, 136 (Joseph Leonard). Capt. Joseph Leonard had person sources.³

Fear Southworth was born on 3 February 1710 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ Capt. Joseph Leonard and she were married on 18 November 1731 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.² She died on 23 April 1784 at age 74 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

In case the issue ever comes up, descendancy from the Mayflower families for this line of Leonards can be documented through Fear but with a twist. Nathaniel Southworth's will, quoted in Mayflower Families through Five Generations, Vol. 15, James Chilton, p. 108, mentions Fear Leonard.

ECL gives Fear as daughter of Nathaniel and Gail (Howland) Southworth. This is correct, although not without controversy.

The "Catalogue of Members of the First Church of Middleborough," 1854, lists Jael Bennet as the wife of Nathaniel Southworth and mother of Fear. However, Jael is listed in Isaac Howland's will as his daughter. Fear is also a Mayflower descendant through her father, Nathaniel Southworth whose mother, Desire Gray, is the daughter of Mary Winslow, daughter of Mary Chilton (p. 108, Chilton Silver Book).

There are several versions of her death date: 25 December 1755 or 23 April 1784. ECL gives date as 23 June 1784. Her death is not recorded in Middleboro VR's. Fear Southworth had person sources.³

Capt. Nathaniel Southworth was born on 18 May 1684 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ He and Jael Howland were married before 1710. He died on 8 April 1757 at age 72 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ He was buried in Nemasket Cemetery, Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts.¹

He was a Captain in the militia. He owned land in Tiverton, RI, and Middleborough, MA. Nathaniel was member #135 of the First Church of Middleborough, m. bef 1710, d. Ap 8, 1757, ae 72, per membership roles of the First Church published in 1854 and again in Weston's History of Middleborough, 1905.

Nathaniel is #113 (or #126) in Chilton Silver Book of Mayflower descendants, 5th generation, names daughters Fear Leonard and Hannah Sprout, p. 108. Nathaniel was the line carrier. Wife is listed as Jael Bennett, not Jael Howland in Catalogue of the Members of the First Church of Middleborough, and was named Jael Southworth in Isaac Howland's will. Capt. Nathaniel Southworth had person sources.²

Jael Bennet was born in 1678 in Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ She died on 9 November 1745 at age ~67 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.² She was buried in Nemasket Cemetery, Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts.²

She was member # 137 of the First Church of Middleboro, MA, admitted Ja 22 1727?, "o Bennet, d. No 9, 1745, ae 67." (She was not a Howland? She would have been born in 1678? She was 7 years older than her husband?) Her husband Nathaniel was member #135, m. bef 1710, d. Ap 8, 1757, ae 72.

I can't find any info on a Jael Bennet(t), other than a Jael Bennett b. to Peter Bennett and Priscilla Howland. This Jael Bennett b. (m.?) 20 Sep 1744 in Middleboro m. Paul Pratt. She's listed as Jael Howland in marriage to Nathaniel Southworth. There was also a Jael Bennet b. 22 Sep 1717 in Middleboro to Peter and Priscilla Bennet (per The Corbin Collection, Vol. 3, CD NEHGS) who m. Abiezer Edson of Bridgewater about 1740. Jael as a name seems to run in the Bennet family.

She may have been an unlisted daughter of John Bennet, Deacon, born 1642 in Salem, Essex Co., MA and died 21 Mar 1717/18 in Middleborough, buried in the old cemetery "at the Green," across from the First Congregational Church on Plympton St., Middleborough. He was the son of Peter Bennet. His wife was Deborah Grover, Pearce, b. bef. 26 Mar 1648 in Beverly, Essex Co., MA and died 22 Mar 1717/18 in Middleborough, buried with John "at the Green." They had a son Peter Bennet, Capt., b. between 8 and 18 Sept. 1674 in Beverly. He married Priscilla Howland 30 Oct 1700 in Bridgewater. She was the daughter of Isaac Howland and Elizabeth Vaughan. Peter would have been the brother of Jael. John and Deborah had John, b. 19 Mar 1672/73, Peter, above, Ebenezer, b. between 19 May 1678 and 1679, Joseph, born 28 June 1680, Deborah, b. 3 April 1683, Samuel, b. 23 April 1686, and Elinor, b. 18 Dec 1689. Is there a will for John Bennet?

One needs to ascertain whether there was ever a Jael Howland, dau. of Isaac. Supposedly, a Jael Southworth was mentioned in his will.

A "John Bennet sr., (4) Dea. 1695, d. Mh. 21, 1718, ae. 76. s. of Peter, of Bristol Eng., arr. in Va 1665, here, 1692" was member #3 of the First Church of Christ in Middleborough, December 16, 1694, of the first 20 members who organized the church, as was his wife, #4, "Deborah Bennet, (3) o. Grover, m. in Beverley, 1671, came here in 1692, d. Mh. 22, 1718, ae. 70." John would have been born in 1642 and Deborah in 1648. John and Deborah Bennet appear to be likely candidates to be the parents of Jael Bennet. Her brother might have been member # 147 "Samuel Bennet sr., fa. 3, sis. 92 (221) chi. Samuel, b. 1710," and a sister, Deborah Bennet "Vaughan, (297, m. 1711, o Bennet, fa. 3, br. 147, d. Ap 26, 1761, ae. 79th." But if Jael were a sister of them and daughter of John, it seems to me this would have been entered in their records.

A quick check of Ancestry.com found the following children of John Bennet, b. 1642, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, and Deborah Glover, b. 26 March 1648 in Beverly, Essex Co., MA: Sarah, Mercy, John b. 1671, Beverly, Peter b. Sep 1674 Beverly, Ebenezer, b. 19 May 1678 Beverly, Joseph, b. 28 Jun 1680 Beverly, Deborah, b. 3 April 1683, Beverly, Samuel, b. 23 April 1686 Beverly, Eleanor, b. 18 Dec 1689 Middleboro. Jael could be an unlisted daughter.

William Hodges was born in 1625 in Taunton or Bristol, Somerset, England. He and Mary Andrews were married about 1648 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He died on 2 April 1654 at age ~29 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹

He arrived about 1643. He was one of the original stockholders of the Taunton Iron works. William Hodges had person sources.¹

Mary Andrews was born in 1629 in England.¹ William Hodges and she were married about 1648 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. She died after 1700 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹

Mary Andrews had person sources.¹

Henry Andrews was born on 24 October 1608 in Daventry, Northamptonshire, England. He and Lady Mary Poole were married on 10 February 1627 in Somerset, England. He died on 3 March 1652 at age 43 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹

Another source says he was married to Mary Pool, b. 1622, d. February 14, 1643 in Taunton. Or did he marry Mary Street?

He was one of the first seven freememan of Taunton and one of the first two deputies to the general court. He was one of the first stockholders of the Taunton iron works. Henry Andrews had person sources.¹

Lady Mary Poole was born on 29 April 1609 in Devon, England. Henry Andrews and she were married on 10 February 1627 in Somerset, England. She died on 14 February 1643 at age 33 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹

Did she marry a Wadsworth? Lady Mary Poole had person sources.¹ She was christened on 10 February 1610 in Saxilby, Lincolnshire, England.

James Leonard was born about 1620 in Pontypool, England/Wales? He and Mary Jane Martin were married in 1640 in England.¹ He and Margaret Ford were married before 1662 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.² He died on 1 September 1691 at age ~71 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹

Mentioned, but without source, as place of birth is Cleobury Mortimer, where there were Leonards and also an iron works. There is no known birth record yet discovered for James Leonard. Most sources say he and his brother, Henry, came from Pontypool, Wales, where there was an iron works, although that does not mean that either Henry or James was born there. James' father, Thomas, appears to have been an itinerant in the west England, moving from furnace to furnace in various towns as work demanded. His and his brothers' move to America occurred during the English Civil War, 1642-1651, when the Royalist forces were destroying the ironworks in the west of England to avoid their supplying armaments to the Parliamentarian forces. This could have been a factor in their emigration. Also, a probable cousin, John Leonard, had come to America in the 1630's, and a Captain Nathaniel Leonard, rumored to be an earlier generation, had been in Nova Scotia and possibly Maryland in the 1620's searching for likely ironworking sites.

There has been uncertainty as to when and how James Leonard first came to America. Some sources say he first came to Providence, RI, in 1645. He was paid for bringing his goods from Providence by the Lynn/Saugus Ironworks in 1651. On January 10, 1645/6 in Providence, 25 acres of land were granted to a number of inhabitants, including James Leonard, but his name had been crossed out.

James' son, Thomas, who accompanied him on his trip to America, was born in Kinver, South Staffordshire, in 1641, while his second son, James, was thought to have been born in nearby Bilston, Staffordshire, in 1642. The birth of his third child, Abigail, in 1645, in Braintree, MA, indicates he was there by that date. John Winthrop's first forge was erected at Braintree in 1644, although it was not successful and became a satellite forge converting the sows and pigs produced by the blast furnace at Saugus (Lynn) into bar iron (see E. N. Hartley's "Ironworks on the Saugus," 1951, Chapter Six, particularly p. 116). The Braintree operation had difficulty recruiting skilled bloomers, and James may have been one of the first employed there. His fourth child, Joseph, is listed in Braintree records as having been born there 25 October 1647, again indicating James' presence there. James' fifth child, Benjamin, was born in 1650, although it has not been established whether he was born in Braintree or Lynn.

Did he and Henry come from Pontypool, Monmouthshire? There appear to have been Leonards in the Pontypool area since the early 1600's. A Thomas Leonard mentioned in deed of July 29, 1633, bordering lands of John Powell, John Gerbon, and Phillip Morgan in Trevethin (Parish near Pontypool, with a bridge near swamp and pool there in 1490, the pool later became forge pond). An ironworks was in operation before 1634, and there's a record of a complaint against John Wylde for failure to collect monies from it, instead selling iron at a discount to his friends. Thomas Morgan was recorded as selling charcoal to it in 1640. The works were apparently owned by the Hanburys, probably Richard b. August 1618.

Unfortunately, church records for Pontypool go back only to 1650, but there were Leonards there after that year. Thomas, son of Jacob Leonard, was baptized January 9, 1699; William, son of Jacob Leonard, was baptized July 23, 1696; Gwenllian, wife of Thomas Leonard, buried March 15, 1656; Mary Leonard married Alexander Lewis January 26, 1656; a son of Philip Leonard was born October 27, 1656. Sarah, daughter of James Leonard, baptized September 1, 1705; Ann, daughter of James Leonard, baptized March 13, 1702. Local records include a mention of a Thomas Leonard in 1790, a John and Mary Leonard who died at age 84 in 1774. These indicate there were Leonards and ironmaking in the Pontypool area after James and Thomas left. These Leonards had names identical to or similar to those who emigrated to America. There was even a Theophilus Leonard, iron refiner, who died March 31, 1900 in nearby Pontnewydd, Wales, perhaps just a coincidence. (Source: old documents at the Monmouthshire County records office near Pontypool, October 2003. A researcher with more time could probably find some interesting material here.) Elisha Clark Leonard paid 5 pounds to a clergyman in Pontypool to check the records for James and Henry, but he reportedly found nothing. GML reported that later researchers found nothing about them either. So the theory is that James and Henry were not in Pontypool very long.

Probably James and his young family (and his older brother Henry) were also ironworkers in the Bilston, Staffordshire, area prior to their immigration. Bilston became a center of the "Black Country" iron industry. George Marston Leonard includes a note on one of his tables that "James, son of Thomas, son of Henry of Bilston, Staffordshire..." from McKenzie, Colonial Families, Vol. IV. Apparently, the Leonards left a claim to the ownership of some heavily mortgaged ironworks there, moving on as the mining districts became less productive. Years later (1821?) an ironworker in Bilston by the name of James Leonard sent a letter to James Leonard, ironworker in or near Taunton, MA, stating that the extensive iron works there in Bilston belonged to the Leonards. The Leonards in Taunton decided not to undertake the expense of an extended suit to regain the works. The Leonards may also have been involved in some of the ironworks in Somersetshire, England, and Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales, as well.

James Leonard was but a short time at the Saugus Ironworks and at Braintree for a longer time. At the sale of the Braintree works, he became a partner. With the invitation from Taunton, he moved there, erected a forge and furnace, and continued as master workman, a position he held for the rest of his life. ECL believes Oliver Purchase was the one who induced Henry and James along with Ralph Russell to come to Taunton. He conveyed the two hearths at Taunton to his sons, Thomas and James, and they in turn conveyed them to their sons. He purchased a lot on Mill River and erected a one-hearth forge, which he called Whittington Forge. His son Joseph was the masterworkman at Whittington Forge. His two other sons, Benjamin and Uriah, were also trained as "bloomers." About 1682 James Leonard built a house for himself a short distance from the Taunton (Raynham) Ironworks on the north side of the road. It was a gambled roof house two stories in front and running back to one story in the rear. When he died in 1691, he left an estate valued at 500 pounds, a very respectable sum in those days (from Elisha Clark Leonard and George Marston Leonard's unpublished manuscript).

More about the involvement of James and Henry Leonard in early ironworks in Massachusetts and New Jersey can be found in Bill Barton's articles, "The Establishment of the Iron Industry in America," "Pre-American Ancestry of Our Leonard Ironworkers," and "Leonard Siblings Henry, James, Philip, Sarah, and Thomas in America and Some of Their Descendants," ,

"The names of those who hath put in themselvest to be proprietors to the Bloomerie, viz.: Hezekiah Hoare, Thomas Gilbert, Richard Williams, Walter Dean, George Hall, Oliver Purchis, James Walker, John Tisdale, Wm. Parker, Mr. Gilbert, Sr., Peter Pitts, Richard Stacey, John Cobb, Wm. Hodges, Nathaniel Woodward, Timothy Holloway, James Burt, Edward Bobitt, Johnah Austin, Sr., John Parker, Samuel Wilbore, Miss E. Pole, and Jane Pole. Additional records show the names of Wm. Pole, Timothy Lindall of Salem, Nicholas White, Sr., Henry Withington, John Turner, Thomas Lincoln, Sr., Anthony Slocum, James Leonard, Thomas Amsbery Jos. Wilbore, Henry Andrews, John Hall, James Phillips, Frincis Smith, Geo. Watson, Gov Leverett, and Major Edward Tyng of Boston, Nath'l. Paine and Stephen Paine of Rehoboth, John Cary and Nathaniel Paine, Jr. of Bristol, Benedict Arnold of Newport, and Richard Thayer of Braintree."

James Leonard was allowed to keep an "ordinary" (bar) in Taunton. The license was revoked in 1664/5, some months after his first wife died, but later conveyed to his son, Thomas.

According to legend, James Leonard frequently entertained Massasoit and King Philip, who journeyed from Mt. Hope to the hunting grounds at Fowling Pond. Fowling Pond is in Raynham, was one mile north of the Ancient Iron Works on present-day King Philip's Street near the end of Mill Street. Fowling Pond was said to be two miles long and three-quarters of a mile wide in King Philip's time, but today has disappeared. James repaired their guns and conferred favors that led to a lasting friendship. King Philip conveyed to James Leonard about two hundred and fifty acres at Mattapoisett Neck in Swansea in October 1665, but the deed was lost by the Plymouth Court, who rejected James' claim to the land. Tradition says that out the outbreak of KIng Philip's War in 1675, Philip gave strict orders that his men were never to harm a Leonard (although young Uriah Leonard was almost shot by King Philip's men early in the war, a bullet having passed through his hat as he rode his horse to escape an attack). It is conjectured that because of the Leonards Taunton was not attacked during the war. (Philip's orders were actually not to disturb certain families including those of James Leonard, John Brown, and Capt. Thomas Willett, all of Taunton -- Hurd, p. 346).

One peculiarity to check out: although several Leonards were officers in the militia of the time, there's little mention of Leonards fighting in Philip's War. Bodge in "Soldiers of King Philip's War" mentions Jacob as serving under Capt. Woodworth, Thomas credited under Capt. Thomas Brattle October 19, 1675, and Thomas at Lynn, August 24, 1676. More research needs to be done to uncover the activities of the Leonards during Philip's War.

One of the garrison houses used during King Philip's War was the Samuel Leonard house erected in 1653 by James Leonard at the site of Taunton's Ancient Iron Works Company now in Raynham. A memorial plaque marking the spot is located seven-tenths of a mile east from Route 44 along the south side of Route 104.

Another traditional story is that Philip's head was deposited in the basement of Leonard's house for safekeeping before being sent to Plymouth. However, none of the early historians indicated anything but that the head was sent directly to Plymouth for display. (Philip was shot by Alderman, a Sakonnet Indian, on August 12, 1676, in a swamp at the foot of Mt. Hope in Bristol. His head was set on a pole in Plymouth and stayed there for a generation. For more on King Philip's War, see Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias, "King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict," Woodstock, VT: The Countryman Press, 1999.

ECL notes that James had 68 grandchildren. A chart gives those present at a Thanksgiving family party in 1690, and I've checked all the grandchildren alive then against the chart (there were 45 living in 1690).

Account of Estate of James Leonard of Taunton dtd. August 24, 1697. Agreement about estate among Isaac and Hannah Dean, Joseph Leonard, Uriah Leonard, Thomas Leonard, Benjamin Leonard, James Leonard, John and Abigail Kingsley, and Isaac and Rebecca Chapman. (1:44). "(167) Account of Thomas Leonard of Taunton, administrator of the estate of his "Hon.: father Mr. James Leonard" late of Taunton deceased. Paid: "to his Mother in law Ms. Margaret Leonard"; to his brother James Leonard; "his two Brothers Joseph and Uriah Leonard they & Josephs Executrix Possess what they were to have"; to his brother Benjamin Leonard; to his brother and sister John and Abigail Kingsley; to his brother and sister Isaac and Rebecca Chapman; his brother and sister Isaac and Hannah Dean have received their due, Debts and other charges have been paid to the following persons: Ensign John Hall, Nathaniel French, Eliazer Carver, Joseph Willis Senr., Mr. Danforth (for) Rate, Samuel Waldron, Isaac Dean, William Hoskins, Thomas Dean, Benjamin Dean, Nathaniel Bun for Jnth Macomber, Cooper, John Crane, Philip King, Richard Burr, Saml Hall Sen., John Macomber Junr., John Crane for Jnth Echee, Nath. William's widow, John Thresher, Mr. Pool for goods in Taunton and Boston, Mr. Burton clerk. Cary clerk. Dated August 24, 1697 and exhibited same day before John Sallin, Judge of probate, who allowed the same. John Cary Registr: Recorded Sept. 4 1697 by John Cary Registr:"

William Reed Deane in "Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family" lists all of James' children but John (NEHGS Reg. 1851:414(3)).

James' associates at Taunton were Ralph Russell and Anthony Slocum. The latter two went on to found Dartmouth, MA. James Leonard had person sources.³

Mary Jane Martin was born in 1619 in Pontypool, England/Wales? James Leonard and she were married in 1640 in England.¹ She died on 25 February 1664 at age ~45 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

She was also referred to as Margaret and Jennie Martin.

Whether she was the daughter of Isaac Martin or one of his brothers has not been proven. The Martin brothers were in Rehoboth, MA, during that town's early days about 1645. Since two of James Leonard's children were born in England, he must have married Mary there. It's conceivable that the Leonards and the Martins emigrated together, although there's been no record supporting that hypothesis. The Rehoboth Martins appear to have come from Dorset in England.



According to ECL, Susanna Leonard (Nathaniel6, Elkanah5, Elkanah4, Elkanah3, Thomas2, James1) states that 1st wife of James was Jennie Martin, no source given. ECL also notes, "see VA land records of a Martyn family." Mary Jane Martin had person sources.¹

Deacon, Major Thomas Leonard, was born on 3 August 1641 in Kinver, Staffordshire, England.¹ He and Mary Watson were married about 1661 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He died on 24 November 1713 at age 72 in Raynham, Bristol County, Massachusetts.² He was buried at Neck of Land Burying Ground in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Thomas was baptised August 8, 1641, in Kinver, Staffordshire, son of James and Jane Leonard. Kinver, originally known as Kinfare, is located on the Stour River in South Staffordshire, 7 miles SW of Dudley. Immediately across the river is located Whittington. Is this why James Leonard in 1666 named his "forge or blomerie with one hearth" on the Mill River in Taunton, MA, "Whittington Iron Works?" See "Pre-American Ancestry of our Leonard Ironworkers (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bart/Leonard2.htm)."

One of the shareholders in John Winthrop's "Company of Undertakers of the Iron Works in New England" was Thomas Foley (1617 - 1677). He and his brothers were probably the foremost ironmasters in the Black Country (iron ore country in Staffordshire) at that time, owning iron and mine works as far afield as Monmouthshire. Their father, Richard Foley, started the family fortune with an iron works near Stourbridge, 3 miles east of Kinver. Could he have been involved in recruiting the Leonards when Winthrop was having a difficult time conscripting experienced ironworkers in England?

Thomas is buried in same lot with son Joseph and grandson Joseph. D. Hamilton Hurd in "History of Bristol County, MA," gives his date of death as December 21, 1713. Samuel Emery in the "History of Taunton" gives his date of death as November 13, 1713.

He was foreman and manager of the Taunton ironworks from 1683 to 1713, according to Fanny Leonard Koster. He was treasurer, according to Samuel Emery in "History of Taunton," which gives many excerpts from his record books. His record books are now in the archives of the Old Colony Historical Society.

About Thomas Leonard, from Elisha Clark Leonard/George Marston Leonard manuscript:

"It is evident from the habits displayed in the various offices he held and the conditions under which he had to perform the duties connected with the same that he was a man of rare judgment, of great ability, and of untiring industry. He was careful and conscientious in all his actions whenever he was called upon to perform some duty. He was quick, versatile, and popular, and he seems to have become the leading man in the community and acquired the confidence of the leading men in the Massachusetts Colony. The amount of work that he accomplished was remarkable and the skill and correctness displayed in the various papers that he drew up and are still extant would lead one to believe that he had received a careful legal training. Yet we know that it was the result of his own special efforts at self education, since he was unable to write his name when he first arrived. His family was moving about from England to various parts of America. His mother, burdened with the cares of a growing family under pioneer conditions, died when Thomas was 21. We must believe that it was his mother, through her oversight and encouragement, laid the foundation of the character displayed by her eldest son.

"Under the instruction of his father, he learned the iron manufacture trade and became an expert "bloomer" and refiner. It is almost certain that as early as 1666 he had become skilled sufficiently that his father left the oversight and management of the manufacture of iron at the Taunton works to him, leaving James free to devote his time to the Whittington works. In 1696 he and his brother James obtained a grant of 200 acres of land in the North Purchase for encouragement to build a forge on the Cowesitt River. He and James continued to own and operate this forge until 1707, when James sold his share to his nephew George, son of Thomas. In 1700 Thomas, together with Philip King, commenced to build a forge at Trout Brook in Middleboro. An agreement between Thomas Leonard and Henry Andrews was signed in 1701 allowing Thomas Leonard to mine ore on Andrews' lands. The next year, Thomas purchased King's portion, finished the forge, and placed his youngest son Elkanah to manage it and the sawmill that he erected at the same time. Thomas gave this forge and lands to (his son) Elkanah in his will."

"He was appointed by the Court at Plymouth an ensign of the militia company at Taunton in 1665. No doubt that he immediately set himself to work to become efficient as a military officer. In 1884, a book entitled "The discipline of the young artilleryman" was found with Thomas Leonard's autograph and given in his will to his son, Samuel. In 1690, he became Captain of the East Taunton militia.

"In 1668 Thomas Leonard was one of the purchasers of the North Purchase, later set aside as the town of Norton. In 1669 he was on a committee to make a list of the free inhabitants of the town. In 1682 he was elected one of the Selectmen of Taunton and a Deputy to the Court at Plymouth. These offices he continued to hold with but a single exception until 1691. After the union of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies, he was chosen a Representative to the General Court at Boston in 1694/5 and again in 1698/9. On May 6, 1675, his father conveyed to him the East Hearth at the Taunton Works as Masterworkman. In 1683 he was appointed Clerk of the Ironworks, which position he held until his death in 1713. Taunton purchased and possesses the account books that he maintained, giving a clear indication of his methodical habits. From the time Thomas Leonard became Clerk and manager until his death, the Taunton Ironworks paid 15% per year on its shares.

"In 1684 he was appointed to solemnize marriages in Taunton. In 1685 he was appointed an Associate Justice for the County of Bristol, which office he continued to hold until his death in 1713. He also apparently studied medecine, due to the remoteness of help to Taunton. He also had a large farm. Will dtd. January 29, 1711/12 probated February 5, 1713/4."

He was appointed ensign of the First Military Company in 1665. He served as captain and major of the First Regiment of County of Bristol. He was connected with the military history of Taunton for forty-eight years. He left extensive records of his actions during various military campaigns. For example, during King William's War, he led an expedition to Little Compton in 1691, noting how long each member was out, whose horse they used, and what money they spent. On that particular expedition, John Leonard using Mr. Arnold's horse, George Leonard and his own horse, and Uriah Leonard using John Eddy's horse, were out for two to six days each (see Samuel Emery's History of Taunton).

Another source: Squaw Betty, niece of King Philip treated both families of the Leonards when they were stricken with typhoid fever. She gathered herbs, prepared and administered the medicine, and nursed them back to health. In return, they offered her wampum but she declined the same. However, she did accept as a present a pretty red cloak and in it she said she hoped to be buried.

The Eddy Family in America, 1930: John Eddy was in Capt. Thos. Leonard's First Military Company of Taunton. There may be more in Emery, History of Taunton, p. 354.

Will of Thomas Leonard "the eldest of ye name in Taunton" being in his 71st year of age, dtd. 29 Jan. 1711/2, prob. 5 February 1713/4. Mentions wife, wife's father, five sons, two daughters, grandson Thomas of son John, brothers Benjamin and James. Lands in Middleboro, Taunton, Rehoboth, and Taunton North Purchase. Friends Elder Henry Hodges, Deacon Ezra Deane, Deacon Israel Thrasher, and Seth Williams to be overseers. (3:179-185).

Children checked against the list in NEHGS Reg. 1851, p. 414(3), "Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family." Deacon, Major Thomas Leonard, had person sources.^3,2,4,5 He was baptized on 8 August 1641 in Kinver, Staffordshire, England.

Mary Watson was born on 2 August 1642 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ Deacon, Major Thomas Leonard, and she were married about 1661 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. She died on 1 December 1723 at age 81 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹ She was buried at Neck of Land Burying Ground in Taunton, Massachusetts.

She's mentioned as a daughter of George Watson and married Thomas Leonard in Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, Vol. III, p. 1946. She died in her 81st year, per gravestone. (History of Bristol County, MA, by D. Hamilton Hurd, Philadelphia, 1883.)(Also Savage, p. 80.) Mary Watson had person sources.²

Lt. Joseph Leonard was born on 29 July 1732 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ He and Abigail Raymond were married on 7 May 1752 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He and Abigail were published 4 April 1752. He was Joseph 3rd in publishment.^1,2 He died on 1 November 1783 at age 51 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.^3,4

ECL: "He was a Lieutenant in the Militia." He had also served in the Revolutionary War. There are 11 Joseph Leonards identified in "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution." Some are repeats from serving in various alarms or marches. Joseph 3rd (distinguishing identity mark) is listed twice: as a corporal in Capt. William Tupper's Company and as a private in Capt. Amos Wade's Company, although probably some of the other entries also apply to this Joseph. His son, Joseph 5th, also served in Capt. Amos Wade's Company.

Joseph is various referred to in court documents as a joiner (carpenter) by occupation. He apparently lived in the Muttock area of Middleborough and worked at Peter Oliver's forge and slitting works, later operated by Abiel Washburn. During the time he worked there, Jesse Bryant, who would later become father-in-law of Joseph's son, Nathaniel, was foreman, and about 50 men were employed full-time there. The works were on the Nemasket River, where permission for a dam had been obtained, providing a sluiceway for herring to move through. See pp. 359-367 of Weston's "History of the Town of Middleborough" (1909).

He is referred to as Joseph Leonard 3rd in marriage by Benjamin Ruggles and Joseph 3rd as a private in the militia during the Revolutionary War.

ECL/GML notes refer to Massachusetts Vital Records as source of birth date for Joseph and Joseph and Abigail's marriage date. They note an alternative marriage date of October 11, 1753, per Boston Transcript. Middleboro VR's record the marriage as 7 May 1752.

He sold 3+ acres of land in Middleborough to Samuel Miller in a deed dated 25 Feb 1783, witnessed by Elijah Shaw and Zebedee Sprout. Samuel Miller had bought 8 Apr 1780 neighboring land from Robert Sprout, duly signed by Robert Sprout and his wife, Hannah (Leonard) Sprout and witnessed by Gideon Leonard and Joshua White. Joseph Leonard sold on 25 Nov 1778 5 acres of land from his homestead farm to Robert Sprout, Jr. The deed was signed by Joseph Leonard and his wife, Abigail (latter's mark).

When he died, his eldest son, Joseph, was appointed to administer his estate. He died in 1 November 1783 (Middleboro VR's, deaths, p. 331). "WW" lists his death date as 1 Nov 1782 in the Boston Transcript, probably an error. Joseph Leonard IV was appointed administrator of his estate on 2 February 1784. In the "Court of Common Pleas - April 1785 - The following persons were empowered, upon their petitions, to sell their decedents' real estate for payment of debts and charges as listed. Each was ordered to post notification 30 days before the sale and to account with the judge of probate for the proceeds: 7. Joseph Leonard IV, adm. Joseph Leonard, Gent. (Middleborough): £137.11s. *Additional Information from Appellate Records, May 1786." (Joseph Leonard IV had previously been Joseph Leonard 5th, but since Joseph Leonard 1st died in 1776 and Joseph 3rd died in 1783, while Joseph 1730 had moved from Bridgewater to Middleboro, he had moved up a notch from 5th to 4th.)

The inventory dated 3 July 1784 notes: "Real estate in several parcels, as the same had been sold in the life time of said Joseph by deeds from him, which was not acknowledged in his life time nor since, but the same deeds given up to Ensign Joseph Leonard, son to the deceased who was considered as the only heir to the decedant's estate, and the said Ensign Joseph Leonard has given deeds of the same lands to the same persons & acknowledged them for convenience to the purchaser only, as the other deeds were not acknowledged, notwithstanding which the Administrator supposes that the premises hereafter appraised as the estate of said Joseph Leonard."

There is a land record dated November 10, 1790, referring to him as Ensign Joseph Leonard, his widow Abigail, and 4 youngest daughters (probably Abiah, Fear, Abigail, and Remember) of Middleboro.

In an account of 12 August 1785 Rufus Richmond was paid for two coffins, probably for Joseph but for who else?

Note that ECL has his death date as 2 Nov 1788 and says that's according to Middleborough VR's. Middleboro VR's as above show a death date of 1 November 1783 for Lt. Joseph Leonard.

Many of Joseph's relatives, direct and by marriage, were members of the First Church of Middleborough. These would include his grandmother, Charity Leonard, his maternal grandparents Nathaniel Southworth and Jael Bennet, his wife's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather (Barnabus Raymond, John Jr., and John Sr.), his son Nathaniel's wife, Betsy Bryant, her parents, Jesse Bryant and Mercy Shaw, grandparents Jesse Bryant and Susannah Winslow, and great-grandparents Conant. See Membership of The First Church of Middleborough, 1854, which lists its membership through 1854, repeated in an appendix of Thomas Weston's HIstory of Middleborough, 1905.

Many of Joseph's children have the same names as those of Joseph's father, Joseph, but there's little or no information about them. The GML charts list Joseph, Noah, Gideon, Hannah, Timothy, Abiah, Nathaniel, Fear, Abigail, and Remember.

Plymouth Co. Probate Indexes 1686-1881 list Joseph 4th, 1784, admin. docket 12633. Check for land record dtd 10 Nov 1790 concerning his widow and four daughters. Lt. Joseph Leonard had person sources.⁵

Abigail Raymond was born on 3 October 1732 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ Lt. Joseph Leonard and she were married on 7 May 1752 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He and Abigail were published 4 April 1752. He was Joseph 3rd in publishment.^2,3 She died on 15 July 1810 at age 77 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

Received quarter acre of homestead farm of Benjamin Reed, 1790. She was the widow of Ens. Joseph Leonard.

In the 1800 Census she was living alone. Death date of 1810 is uncertain, not listed in Middleboro VR's.

The Raymond Genealogy, p. 127: "Barnabas, 24, prob. son of John 10, m. Alice..., and had at Middleboro, Mass.: Deborah, b. Aug. 1, 1729 (a Deborah m. John Cushman, of Plympton, February 3, 1746), Abigail, b. October 3, 1732 (an Abigail m. Joseph Leonard, 3rd, of Middleboro, May 7, 1752. ..."). Abigail Raymond had person sources.⁴

Barnabus Raymond was born on 21 May 1710 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ He and Alice Bent were married on 8 May 1729 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.²

Barnabas was member #325 of the First Church of Middleboro, admitted 14 Feb 1742. The Church records his birth date as Ma 21, 1710, fa #213 (John Raymond, Jr., m. 1st bef 1703, 2nd m. 1726, whose father was #104, John Raymond Sr., who d. in 74th year, Ju 5, 1725.) See pp. 84-87. Barnabus Raymond had person sources.³

Alice Bent was born on 21 May 1710 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Barnabus Raymond and she were married on 8 May 1729 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ She died on 11 August 1743 at age 33 in Middleborough or Braintree.

Alice Bent was fined for fornication in Middleborough in March 1753 (not sure it was this Alice Bent).

She was member #255, First Church of Middleboro: "255: July 1736, Alice Raymond, (325), m. 1729, o. Bent, dau. Experience?

She either died at a date after 1755 or Barnabus had a second wife who was the mother of William, Experience, Remember, and Elizabeth. Or the 1743 date of her death is wrong. Alice Bent had person sources.²

Sarah Seamans was born in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Nathaniel Leonard and she were married before 21 February 1815 in Bristol, Rhode Island.¹

Lydia Bangs was born in 1642.

Elizabeth Cooke was born in 1570 in Pemmersley, Essex, England. Col. Edmund Reade and she were married on 14 August 1596 in Wickford, Essex, England. She died in 1637 at age ~67 in Essex, England.

Col. Edmund Reade was born on 23 May 1563 in Wickford, Essex, England. He and Elizabeth Cooke were married on 14 August 1596 in Wickford, Essex, England. He died on 1 December 1623 at age 60 in Wickford, Essex, England.

Hannah Stanton was born on 7 November 1670. Edward Carr and she were married on 6 October 1686 in Jamestown, Newport County, Rhode Island. She died on 1 June 1752 at age 81 in Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island.

Hannah Stanton was born on 7 November 1670 in Jamestown, Newport County, Rhode Island.

John Watson was born after 1636 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He died in 1644 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.