Oft repeated, but not well documented, is that James and Henry (and brother Philip?) came to Massachusetts about 1643-45 from Pontypool, Monmouthshire. No birth or marriage records for Pontypool exist before 1650. There is no evidence their father, Thomas, was in Pontypool, so birth there seems unlikely. It is possible they worked there (their Wanderjahren/journeyman years in iron refining?) and were recruited from there for New England.
“During the time of Cromwell and again following the Restoration of Charles II, many furnaces and forges in South Wales and the Forest of Dean were destroyed, but those at Glyn Trosant, Pontypool, were only partially damaged by some of Cromwell’s troops in 1645 and were quickly restored.[1]”
Gilbert Russell, grandson of Onyan Russell of Sussex, iron refiner of Trevethin, Monmouthshire, (Onyan1-William2-Gilbert3) was appointed master workman for the making of the forge hearths at Pontypool (per Awty, M.B. Donald, Elizabethan Monopolies, Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd, 1961, pp. 133 205-6). He and other Russells were active until 1629. Were the Russells instrumental in the Leonards serving their apprenticeships at Pontypool? Henry Leonard is said to have married Mary Russell b. abt. 1624-5, m. abt. 1645 in Lynn (Barton). Was Mary from Pontypool or from Sussex? Ralph Russell, bap. 1607 at Buxted, Sussex, (Peter-Anthony-Ralph) was one of the original iron workers at Saugus (Hartley), and one of the original recruits to create a forge at Taunton. (Ralph Russell and family apparently came after the Ann Cleve? He was at East Grinstead, Sussex from 1641 to 1647, first appears at Saugus in 1650.)
“Some of the equipment for the original Taunton forge was imported by James Leonard from Pontypool and other workmen left Monmouthshire for Massachusetts at the same period.[2]”
Monmouthshire (Wales)
Thomas Leonard born 11 Nov 1680 in Llanbadoc, Monmouthshire.
Mary, wife of Joseph Leonard, buried 17 Mar 1696 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
In south Wales, James Leonard, whose three children, William, Thomas, and Anne, were baptized at Trevethin between 1696 and 1703... (Awty)
Joyce, dau. Of Thomas Leonard of Langattock, buried 16 Jun 1700 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
William (Guliellmus) Leonard bapt. 1 Feb 1701, Llanbadoc, Monmouth, son of William (P018701 – 1582-1870, Source Call No. 0104876)
Alice, wife of Thomas Leonard, died 12 Oct 1703 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Thomas Leonard buried 31 Aug 1710 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
James Leonard, b. ca. 1714, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, m. Ann Bowan. Descendants in Leonard data base
William Leonard, b. 3 Dec 1716 in Llangatock juxta Caerleon, son of Thomas Leonard, b. 1680. (See below)
Anne, dau of Thomas Leonard, buried 10 Jan 1724 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Katherine Leonard of Ponteer buried 16 June 1734 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Joseph Leonard, b. 6 May1735 in Llangattock juxta Caerleon, d. 27 Jul 1828 in Banchory Devenick, Aberdeen, son of William Leonard, b. 1718, m. Isobel Mollyson, son William, b. 1773 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, d. 1842. Latter married Jean Cossar b. 1774 and they had a son William b. abt. 1810 in Davnich Kincarine, Banchory. He married Elizabeth Findlay b. 1810, and they had a son John b. abt. 1841 in Skene, Aberdeenshire. He married Maggie Coutts, and they had a daughter Maggie Jane Leonard 1882-1969. She married Andrew Nicol Moir (Moir family tree).
Thomas, son of William Leonard, b. 1718, and Jane, born 18 May 1738 in Llangatock, Monmouthshire.
Philip Leonard, son of William Leonard b. 1718 and Jane, born 10 May 1741 in Llangatock juxta Caerleon, Monmouthshire. He died in Llangatock.
Anne, dau of Joseph Leonard, buried 27 Nov 1754 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Mary Leonard buried 6 Sep 1756 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
William Leonard buried 7 October 1758 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Margaret Leonard buried 25 February 1759 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Thomas Leonard of Penrhos buried 3 Aug 1763 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
James Leonard, an infant, buried 19 May 1767 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Mary Leonard of Penrose, widow, buried 26 Jun 1773
Ann, wife of William Leonard, butcher, buried 13 Feb 1777
William Leonard buried 25 Jan 1778 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
William Leonard Sr. buried 10 Aug 1797 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Phillip Leonard, Sr. buried 13 Aug 1797 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Thomas Leonard buried 14 Feb 1802 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Mary Leonard, 81 yrs., Malpas, buried 31 Oct 1816, St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Thomas Leonard b. 4 Q, 1837, Pontypool Vol. 26, p. 91. See also p. 136.
Thomas Leonard d. 2nd Q,1838, Pontypool, Gwent, Monmouthshire.
Thomas Leonard b. 1Q, 1839, Pontypool Vol. 26, p. 113
Thomas Leonard b.3Q, 1839, Glamorgan,Gwent.
Thomas Cullimore Leonard d. 4Q 1841, Glamorgan, Gwent.
Thomas Leonard d. 2Q, 1844, Pontypool.
James Leonard, 80 yrs., Cross St., buried 23 May 1847 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
James Leonard, 7 mos., Cross St., buried 23 Feb 1854 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Mary Jane Leonard, 73, Cross St., buried 14 Jan 1855 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Emma Leonard, 81 yrs., Cross St., buried 1 June 1856 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Thomas Leonard’s children:
William, born to Thomas Leonard 3 Dec 1716 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Philip, born to Thomas Leonard 13 Mar 1721 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
John, born to Thomas Leonard 30 Jun 1726 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Anne, born to Thomas Leonard 9 February 1724 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Anne, dau of Thomas Leonard, buried 19 Sep 1753 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
William and Jane’s children:
Joseph, born to William and Jane Leonard 6 May 1735 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Philip, born to William and Jane Leonard 10 May 1741 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Jane Leonard buried 1 Nov 1747 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
John, born to William Leonard 1 Jul 1745 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Joseph Leonard’s children:
Mary, born to Joseph Leonard 10 April 1739 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Mary, dau of Joseph Leonard, buried 2 Jan 1741 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Philip and Jane Leonard’s children:
Philip, born to Philip and Jane Leonard 10 May 1741 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
William Leonard married Rachel Evans 30 May 1748 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon; IGI: married 3 Feb 1747 at Llangattock Juxta Caerleon, Monmouth (IGI M071481, 1725-1837, Source Call No. 0104928)
Rachel Leonard, wife of William, buried 24 May 1752 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
James Leonard’s children:
Jruiwith, born to James Leonard 24 Feb 1754 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
William Leonard married Anne Edwards 6 May 1760 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon, also IGI
Elizabeth, born to William and Anne Leonard 30 June 1761 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Phillip, born to William and Anne Leonard 27 June 1763 (1 yr. old) St. Cadoc’s Caerleo
William, born to William and Anne Leonard 20 Nov 1763 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
James, born to William and Anne Leonard 11 Dec 1764 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
James, born to William and Anne Leonard 9 Nov 1766 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
James, born to William and Anne Leonard 29 Jan 1768 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
John and Anne Leonard’s children:
John, born to John and Anne 8 Feb 1766 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Philip, born to John and Anne Leonard 6 Jan 17 69 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Philip Leonard married Margaret Aaron 15 February 1795 St. Cadoc’s Caerleon
Anne, born to Phillip and Margaret Leonard 8 May 1795 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Phillip, born to Phillip and Margaret Leonard 23 Mar 1800 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
James, born to Phillip and Margaret Leonard 20 June 1802 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Thomas, born to Phillip and Margaret Leonard 20 June 1802 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Margaret, born to Phillip and Margaret Leonard 15 Dec 1804 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
William Leonard m. Cicelia Jones 2 Feb 1806 Tevethin, Monmouth (IGI 7030202, Source Call No. 0538654)
William and Elizabeth Leonard’s children: William a farmer of Langattock
James, born to William and Elizabeth Leonard 24 Apr 1814 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Elizabeth, born to William and Elizabeth Leonard 24 Apr 1814 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
John Leonard married Mary Anne Davies 20 Aug 1820 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
William Leonard m. Ann Jones, 9 Aug 1823, Trevethin, Monmouth (IGI 7027505, Source Call No. 0538630)
Levi Leonard married Ann Charles 2 April 1839 (Only Leonard living in Caerleon in 1840, according to tithe map.) A laborer, living on Cross St., haullier after 1847
Ann, born to Levi and Ann Leonard 25 Jan 1840 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Mary Jane, born to Levi and Ann Leonard 3 Jul 1842 St. Cadoc’s Caerleon
Elizabeth, born to Levi and Ann Leonard 29 Sep 1844 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Emma, born to Elizabeth Leonard, servant maid, 6 Jul 1864 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Emma, born to Levi and Ann Leonard 18 Jul 1847 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
William, born to Levi and Ann Leonard 7 Apr 1850 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Henry, born to Levi and Ann Leonard 31 Jul 1853 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
James, born to Levi and Ann Leonard 31 Jul 1853 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Philip Charles, born to Levi and Ann Leonard 16 Sep 1855 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
Levi Leonard, age 56, buried 29 Jan 1860 St. Cadoc’s, Caerleon
[1] Simcox, “The Early Pontypool Ironworks,” p. 9
[2][2] Simcox, p. 9