Silas Leonard
M, #3131, b. 1746, d. 1796
Parents
| Father | Seth Leonard (b. about 1694, d. before 5 February 1751) |
| Mother | Deborah Hall (b. 15 February 1708, d. before March 1761) |
Family: Mary Hackett (b. 3 April 1755, d. 23 September 1833)
Biography
Silas Leonard was born in 1746 in Lyme, New London County, Connecticut. He and
Mary Hackett were married on 1 September 1774 in Lyme, New London County, Connecticut.
1 He died in 1796 at age ~50 in Parma, Monroe County, New York. He was buried at Leonard-Atchison Cemetery in Hilton, New York.
2 There was a Silas Lenard who 9 March 1761 applied in Lyme, CT, as a minor between the age of 14 and 15 choosing to live with his uncle, Isaac Hall, as guardian until he was 21. Does this mean his mother died shortly before this date?
He told his children they originally came from Leeds, England, to RI and through CT to MA to NY (DAR Mag. 1917:353).
He was killed by the falling of a tree at Onondaga or at Hilton/Parma while clearing land.. He lived first in Canaan, CT, and later in Stockbridge, MA. In 1796 he went to Parma, NY, with his sons Jonathan, Silas, and Lewis, (see History of Monroe County, NY), joining the Atchinson family from Tolland County, CT. Silas and family were the second family to settle in the Phelps & Gorham Purchase. In 1798 after Silas had died, his son Jonathan went back to Canaan and brought his mother and sisters Lucy and Thankful to live in Parma (see History of Monroe County, NY), per ECL.
He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving under General Gates at Saratoga, and witnessing the surrender of Burgoyne. The records show a Silas, a soldier in a regiment from CT (Boston Transcript, Oct 3, 1917, May 15, 1916, and August 21, 1916). He served as a corporal in Capt. Jonathan Calkins' company, Col. Latimer's regiment. (DAR)
Descent from Seth to Dorothy Leonard Stansbury checks against descent chart from Dorothy Leonard Stansbury. Information on the Internet has Silas marrying Persis Henshaw Hincher rather than Mary Hackett, and his son Jonathan marrying Persis Henshaw. Dorothy's genealogy is in the stacks at NEHGS. She was quite a thorough researcher and made a trip to England to view the early Leonard ironworker sites.
Grassy Hill Congregational Church (NE of Laysville in the Town of Lyme) or Hamburg Congregational Church (which?) indicates early marriage of Silas Leonard and Mary Hacket 1 September 1774.
Also, a Silas Leonard enlisted 3 August 1781, discharged 4 January ?, "short levies," Second Regiment, Col. Swift, per Vol. XII, Revolutionary War, CT Historical Society Collections.
Kathleen Rodegeb, a descendant of Silas, sent info on the Parma Cemetery via e-mail 4 February 2006. Silas' tombstone indicates a death date in 1796 according to the e-mail, but ECL info has him moving to Parma in 1797. Silas Leonard had person sources.
3 | Last Edited | 26 October 2013 |
Citations
- [S600] Old Lyme First Congregational Church Records, Vol. 2, p. 42.
- [S353] GenWeb, Monroe Co., NY
- [S564] Elisha Clark Leonard - George Marston Leonard, "James Leonard of Taunton, MA, Ironmaster," manuscript, 1959, p. 135
Seth Leonard
M, #3133, b. about 1749, d. before 1800
Parents
| Father | Seth Leonard (b. about 1694, d. before 5 February 1751) |
| Mother | Deborah Hall (b. 15 February 1708, d. before March 1761) |
Biography
Seth Leonard was born about 1749 in Lyme, New London County, Connecticut. He and
Comfort Blancher were married on 14 November 1771 in Granville, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
1 He died before 1800 in Granville, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Seth appears in the 1790 Census with a family of 8 -- 2 males and 6 females. There is no Seth in the Granville censuses of 1800 and 1810. Comfort Leonard appears in the 1820 census, a household of 2 females.
A Martin Leonard, age 57 (born about 1750) died as a result of a fall in Granville July 31, 1808. Could he have been related to Seth? He would have been born within a year or two of Seth. A Martin Leonard, b. 16 June 1751, unmarried, broke his neck, 1805. This Martin was the son of Luther Leonard; his brother Oliver had a son Chester who married in Granville in 1800. There are only four Leonards mentioned in Granville VR's: Martin, Chester, Nathaniel (of Sheffield m. Olive Tibbals of Granville 8 Jan 1788), and Seth Lonarde (sic) who m. Comfort Blancher (no other Blanchers or Blanchards in Granville). Martin, Chester, and Nathaniel are all of the John Leonard of Springfield branch of the Leonard family.
Is this Seth really the son of Seth of Uriah and Deborah Hall or another Seth? Seth would have been 1 or 2 years old when Seth died, but we've found no record of a guardian being appointed. Older siblings were assigned guardians per the court.
Seth had a son, Seth, according to ECL, born 20 Dec 1799 in Granville. There was a Seth born on that date in Westmoreland, NH, but that's an entirely different Seth. That Seth married Sally Hill. There were two other Seths born in 1799, but neither can be tied to Seth and Comfort.
It may have been that Seth and Comfort were quite poor and "farmed out" their children to relatives. There is also the repeat of the name, Abiel, in both the Jedidiah and Seth branches from Seth and Deborah and also the multiple baptisms of children in both of these branches. Seth Leonard had person sources.
2 | Last Edited | 28 September 2017 |
Citations
- [S259] Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850
- [S564] Elisha Clark Leonard - George Marston Leonard, "James Leonard of Taunton, MA, Ironmaster," manuscript, 1959, p. 136
Henry Leonard
M, #3138, b. before 1 January 1561/62
Parents
Biography
Henry Leonard was born before 1 January 1561/62 in Etchingham, Sussex, England. This is according to the Awty-Barton theory.
Henry Leonard and the origins of James Leonard:
"James, son of Thomas, son of Henry Leonard of Billston, Staffordshire..." McKenzie, Colonial Families, Vol. IV, quoted by George Marston Leonard in his notes.
Hannah Leonard Dean's account, dictated to her grand-nephew, Zephaniah Leonard, states that Henry Leonard was her great-grandfather. See George Marston Leonard's Introduction for more about Hannah's account.
W. D. John & Anne Simox reported that James and Henry Leonard left the Hanbury ironworks at Pontypool about 1646 and migrated to the New England colonies. They were "descendants of John Leonard (Lyonarde), a Frenchman who arrived in England in 1514 and had constructed some of the early water-driven blast furnaces in the Wealden district of Southeast England (Sussex)." Unfortunately, no documentation is offered. See also: Brian G. Awty, "The Continental Origins of the Wealden Ironworkers, 1451-1544," "Aliens in the Ironworking Areas of the Weal: The Sussex Rolls, 1524-1603," and "Provisional Identifications of Ironworkers among French Immigrants Listed in the Denization Rolls of 1541 and 1544," Economic History Review, 2nd Series, Vol. XXXIV, #4, Nov. 1981, Wealden Iron Research Group Bulletin, 1984, 2nd series, 4:13-17 and 23 and 73, and Wealdon Iron Research Group Bulletin, 1979, pp. 2-10. As quoted from Bill Barton, "Pre-American Ancestry of our Leonard Ironworkers," from his website, . An article, "Glimpses into the English and Continental Ancestry of Certain Braintree and Saugus Ironworkers of about 1650: Vinton, Leonard, Pray, Pinion, Tyler, and Russell" by Robert E. Bowman (The Essex Genealogist, May 2000), also postulates and supports a French origin for the ironworker Leonards.
Bill Barton's theory is that that the French ancestor of the above Leonard line is Henry Leonard, alias Quintin (baptized January 1, 1561/2 at Etchingham, Sussex, not his brother John (baptized January 29, 1547/8 at Frant). The father of Henry and John was Martin Lenard, alias Quintin (buried March 2, 1591/2 at Burwash), fyner, and the grandfather was Quintin Leonard. The above Henry Leonard Quintin had a son (?) Lenard baptized February 22, 1590/1 at Fletching, Sussex. These two paragraphs from Bill Barton, "Pre-American Ancestry of Our Leonard Ironworkers," website.
Fanny Leonard Koster ("Annals of the Leonard Family, private printing, 1911) said the earliest record she found of a Leonard was John Leonard, 1509 - March 12, 1591. He married Elizabeth Harmon. He was a barrister of Lincoln's Inn and Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas. He was the son of John Leonard, St. Botolph's Church, Chevening, Kent, England, who d. 1555, age 76 (b. 1479). He was prothonotary of North Wales. He purchased Chevening Manor "in the 4th year of King Edward VI." Chevening is to the north of Sussex 30 or so miles. One of his line, Sampson Leonard, married Margaret Fiennes, Lady Dacre, through whom the title of Lord Dacre and the castle at Herstmonceux in Sussex is said to have passed.
There was an iron works and forge on the Herstmonceux estate in 1574. In 1626 patent rights for making steel were granted to Sampson Lennard's grandson, Richard Lennard, Lord Dacre, who died at Herstmonceux in 1630 and is buried at Herstmonceux. There were also extensive iron works near Chevening, in the western part of Kent on the Sussex line, which gradually had to be abandoned. Queen Elizabeth was one of those who urged persons acquainted with the iron business to go to Monmouthshire to develop the iron there. This may account for the Leonards of Kent and Sussex going to Monmouthshire to manage the iron works. (John S. Wurts, "Magna Charta Series, Parts I&II, p. 254.) There were ironworks during this period in Pontypool, Monmouthshire, and near Pensford/Publow in Somersetshire.
There was also an ironworks at Billston, Staffordshire, at which Leonards worked. (Fanny Leonard Koster, Annals of the Leonard Family, p. 27). James and Thomas were ironworkers. Several of Thomas' children were born at Bilston or Cleobury Mortimer.
Some genealogists, including Fanny Leonard Koster, have Thomas as the son of Sampson Leonard. There's mention by people who have seen Sampson's will said that he died a bachelor (not true, and that doesn't really explain how the Dacre title remained in the family four or five more generations). According to Koster, Samson and Margaret had three sons -- Henry, George, and Thomas -- and five daughters -- Anne, Mary, Margaret, Elizabeth, and Frances. Sir Thomas Barrett Lennard was the last of the Leonard line to hold the title (d. February 12, 1786). See Appendix A for correspondence between Sir Harry Barrett-Lennard and Elisha Clark Leonard regarding Leonard claims to Dacre ancestry.
A Henry Leonard was made Governor of Nova Scotia in 1632. From there he went to Maryland. A James Leonard was transported on July 24, 1635, on the "Assurance" from Gravesend to Virginia with son Thomas. From there they may have gone to Providence and later to Lynn and Braintree, assuming it's the same Leonards, doubtful since "our" James' son Thomas wasn't born until 1841. Lucy A. or Elizabeth F. Leonard is listed as a source for this information.
Other notes:
St. Leonard's is a parish in County Sussex, adjoining Hastings on the coast. St. Leonard's forest near Horsham, also in Sussex, is part of the ancient Andredwald. Leonard is not an ususual name in the England of the period.
Marriages at London: A Henry Leonarde married Isabella Fuller May 6, 1576, at St. Martin in the Field, London. He was born about 1551 near St. Martin in the Field, London. Henry Leonard of Waltham, Holy Cross, Essex, yeoman, and Mary Eves of St. Martin La Grad, spinster, at St. Leonards in said precinct, August 12, 1616. But is either our Henry?
A Henry Leonard appears in the Cheshire (Chester) City Council minutes of 1618, giving him L100 of the City's money to put 51 poor people to work in fustian making. He apparently had some deal with the Company of Mersers and Ironmongers to do this. A mercer is one who deals in the textile fabric, and fustian is a cotton fabric. But is this our Henry?
Check out TAG 10:162-166, TAG 10:200-201, TAG 11:53, and TAG 53:101-104 for Leonard material. Internet site cites Leonards as sons/daughters of Thomas and Elizabeth Leonard of Publow (later Pensford, referred to as Spensford, Somersetshire) Somersetshire, England.
Manning Leonard visited Monmouthshire in 1864, found nothing useful in the records, but an aged man by the name of John Leonard took him to the graveyard near the ancient church of Trevethan where early Leonards named John and James were buried.
There is a Rice Leonard of Rehoboth (in 1654), dau. Rachel b. Jan. 26, 1673, Sarah b. 1676, Sary buried in February 1676, unaccounted for. According to Manning Leonard, he had no surviving male issue. Also a Benjamin Leonard of Rehoboth, about the same time. And an Elizabeth Leonard, child of Richard Leonard, born beginning of August 1652, Mary, born beginning of September 1654, Sarah, born latter end of August 1651, unnamed, born September 20, 1654, in Rehoboth VR -- Births. They haven't been connected to the James Leonard line. A "Mr. Leonard" is on a list of those whose shares were declared forfeited to the town of Rehoboth for non-fulfillment of conditions on October 24, 1643. And on June 9th, 1645, lots were drawn for the great plain in Rehoboth, with "Mr. Leonard" no. 37 on the list.
R.D. Leonard has Henry, b. 1555, d. 1630, marrying Lady Throckmorton. This Henry was the son of Sir Henry Leonard, b. 1530, and Lady C. Baker, b. 1535. Sir Henry was said to be the son of Sampson Lennard, b. 1500, and Lady M. Fienes, b. 1515, Pontypool, d. 10 Mar 1611, Chevening, Kent, England. Sampson was the son of John Leonard and Elizabeth Harmon.
St. Leonard was a nobleman serving in the court of the French King, Clovis I, in the first half of the sixth century. He influenced the king to set prisoners free. He became a hermit near Limoges and died in 559 A.D. He is the patron saint of all prisoners, captives, and slaves. His saint's day is November 6th. In Germany he is also the patron saint of horses.
| Last Edited | 24 December 2017 |
Rev., Ensign Elijah Leonard
M, #3149, b. 18 April 1719, d. 30 July 1808
Parents
Family 3: Hannah Pitts (b. 20 February 1736, d. 13 March 1828)
Biography
Rev., Ensign Elijah Leonard, was born on 18 April 1719 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
1 He and
Hannah Peirce or Pitts were married about 1748 in Raynham or Taunton, Massachusetts. He and
Hannah Leonard were married on 10 July 1755 at Church of Christ in Raynham, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Stover, Raynham VR's, gives date of intent as 8 Feb and date of marriage as 24 Feb 1755.
2 He and
Hannah Pitts were married on 17 September 1764 in Dighton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
3 He died on 30 July 1808 at age 89 in Raynham, Bristol, Massachusetts. He was buried at Town Center Cemetery in Raynham, Massachusetts.
4 He resided at Raynham near the Old Forge (Raynham Forge). He eventually took over management of the forge, ran up debts, and finally sold the forge to the Deans.
Did Elijah and Hannah have a son, George, born 1749 (before they were married? Or is marriage date wrong?). And a son, Elijah, born 1749 or 1753? Was Elijah married once before marrying Hannah Leonard? To whom? To a Susannah LNU, married abt. 1747, Susannah dying before Elijah marrying Hannah Leonard? Elijah named his first daughter Susannah.
Another thought: the two Hannah Peirce/Pitts have different fathers and mothers and could be different people.
ECL says that Elijah Leonard bought of Elnathan Jones his homestead for 240 pounds on April 4, 1752, which perhaps indicates he was married before 1752 and before his marriage with Susan Leonard. This seems to be about the best explanation of the births of George and Elijah and perhaps Job Strong Leonard as well. No more definitive information of their origins has been found.
Was Elijah the Elijah Leonard who kept the records of the Raynham Church of Christ from 18 April 1765 until some later date when Rev. Perez Fobes took over? He apparently was a deacon of the Church.
Was his highest militia rank Ensign or Captain? He is referred to as Capt. Elijah Leonard in his marriage to Hannah Pitts. See notes to Hannah Pitts.
The 1790 Census lists an Elijah Leonard household consisting of 3 males over 16 and 3 females.
Dighton VR's, Book B1, p. 191, lists and Elijah Leonard of Taunton marrying a Hannah Peirce of Dighton Nov 1781. This or Elijah? Did he marry a third time?
ECL mentions a child, Henry. There was a Henry Leonard b. abt. 1790 who lived in Lee, MA, and who was the child of an Elijah Leonard and Hannah ? (probably Peirce) of Dighton. Who was the Elijah Leonard of Berkshire Co., was it he who married Hannah Peirce?
In his mother's will, Elijah received land in Easton.
There was also an Elijah Learned, occasionally spelled Leonard, b. 14 Nov 1739 in Charlton, Worcester Co., MA, married to Rachel Kingsbury. This family goes back through a series of Isaacs to Bermondsey, Surrey, England.
Elijah's two account books are on file with the Massachusetts Historical Society. Rev., Ensign Elijah Leonard, had person sources.
5 He and
Hannah Pitts were married on 17 September 1764 in Dighton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
| Last Edited | 25 December 2019 |
Citations
- [S315] Massachusetts Town Birth Records -- Taunton
- [S89] Raynham VR, Church of Christ, manuscript records, OCHS, Taunton.
- [S568] Vital Records of Raynham, MA, Margaret Harris Stover, 1997, p. 89
- [S582] Old Cemeteries of Southeastern Massachusetts, Charles M. Thatcher, 1880's.
- [S564] Elisha Clark Leonard - George Marston Leonard, "James Leonard of Taunton, MA, Ironmaster," manuscript, 1959, p. 57, p. 101. #87.