Person Page 130

Sarah Leonard was born in 1739 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Elkanah Leonard and she were married on 21 June 1759 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ She died on 17 April 1817 at age ~78 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

ECL says Capt. Philip's oldest daughter married "Old Lawyer Leonard's" oldest son for his second wife. They had two sons, Big Tom as he was called, a solid old fellow who lived on the paternal farm, and Rev. George Leonard, who was first an orthodox minister and preached in Connecticut but soon left there and afterward became an Episcopalian and settled over two parishes in Vermont. He married late and died soon after without issue. Big Tom left a large family. Sarah Leonard had person sources.^2,3

Mary Sanderson was born on 16 February 1627 in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. She died in November 1691 at age 64 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Was she Mary Lincoln, Mary Sanderson, or Mary Bryant? Were they the same person in different marriages?

Thomas Caswell was born on 20 October 1618 in Somerset, England. He died on 9 October 1697 at age 78.

Did he marry Mary Sanderson or Mary Lincoln, or are they the same person? who was born 24 Aug 1630 and died aft. 1697?

Capt. William Canedy was born in 1729 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He and Charity Leonard were married on 6 December 1753 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ He died on 26 March 1804 at age ~75.

Also spelled Canada. He was a captain, 4th company, Taunton militia. He fought in the French and Indian War. He lived in that portion of Lakewood known as Beech Woods.

"At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, Captain William Canedy, an influential man in that part of the town now Lakeville, had served with distinction in the French and Indian War. When questioned concerning his loyalty, he replied that he had fought for his kind, had held a commision as captain from his Majesty's governor of the province, and he could not be a traitor in his old age." Weston, History of the Town of Middleborough, 1906, p. 155. He and Judge Oliver were included in the list of loyalists in Middleborough during the Revolutionary War, but he (unlike Oliver) was not banished nor was his estate confiscated.

They had at least 4 children.

Lt. John Weston, Jr., was born in 1733 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He and Elizabeth Leonard were married on 14 April 1757 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹ He and Priscilla Sturtevant were married in 1776 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He died on 15 November 1815 at age ~82 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

They had 3 children. Lt. John Weston, Jr., had person sources.²

Daniel Sears was born on 22 May 1756 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

Capt. James Leonard was born on 6 May 1723 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He died on 14 July 1793 at age 70 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

According to ECL, he never married. The inscription of his tombstone reads as follows (per ECL): "Erected in the Memory of Capt. James Leonard, in whom prudence, economy, benevolence, and generosity were happily and conspicuously united; in various capacities through life he sustained the character of a man of strict probity and honor, an obliging friend, and a kind and hospitable neighbor. Died July 14, 1793, aged 70 years. Honored, Beloved, Lamented."

James' death in Taunton was mentioned in the Providence Chronicle (newspaper) of 8 August 1793.

James' will names housekeeper Lydia Willis, faithful boy Zadock Harvey, nephew Nathaniel Leonard, Jr., son of brother Nathaniel, and brothers Abijah Leonard, Abiathar, and Samuel, as well as nephew Zadock, son of brother Abiathar.

A Mrs. Abigail Helman Harvey Villaret, daughter of Frederick L. Harvey, claimed descent from this James and thereby, membership in the DAR. It would likely have been this James she was talking about, given the additional information about family members that Abigail supplied, but this James had no children, making a direct line of descent unlikely. He could have had a son, James, born in 1750 or 1752 in Whitehall, NY, or elsewhere, but there is no indication James lived other than in Taunton, MA.

According to research by Dick Benson, a James Leonard of Taunton purchased 40 acres of land in Smithfield, RI, 1 Jun 1751. He was a freeman at Smithfield in 1752. He had a daughter named Catherine. He sold his Smithfield land 6 Jun 1754 and purchased a dwelling house and land in the neighboring town of Gloucester, RI, on 5 Mar 1757. He named his wife Anne in a deed of 5 Feb 1761. He is listed with a family with two males over 16 and two females over 16 in Gloucester in the 1774 RI census. He sold his land in Gloucester to his son, Gulliver Leonard, on 8 Apr 1778. This would appear to be James Leonard, born 1690, son of Uriah Leonard and Elizabeth Caswell. His age would have made it unlikely he served in the Revolutionary War. And there is no indication he had a son James. Capt. James Leonard had person sources.¹

Abijah Leonard was born in 1726 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He died on 12 February 1801 at age ~75 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

He was a soldier in the French and Indian War. He was unmarried, according to ECL.
He received 3 acres and 135 rods of James Leonard's lands. Abijah Leonard had person sources.¹

Col. Nathaniel Leonard was born in 1728 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He and Mary Williams were married in 1750. He died on 10 February 1795 at age ~67 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹ He was buried in February 1795 at Plain Cemetery in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

He was on the muster roll of officers who marched on the alarm of 19 Apr 1775. He was a major, then a Lt. Col. in Col. Timothy Walker's regiment in the Revolutionary War. He was mustering officer for the Revolutionary Army at Taunton (DAR). He died suddenly "at his son's house a few minutes after arriving there," per ECL He was a delegate to the Convention to ratify the Constitution in 1788. He was "a member of the Federal Court." His farm was later bought and occupied by the Taunton Insane Asylum (1894). He was a member of the Mass legislature in 1776-80, 1787, 1788. DAR #58825. DAR Patriot Index. Col. Nathaniel Leonard had person sources.² He was born on 1 March 1729 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Mary Williams was born in 1734 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Col. Nathaniel Leonard and she were married in 1750. She died on 31 October 1801 at age ~67 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

She was a sister of Sarah, who married Abiathar Leonard.

Capt. Abiathar Leonard was born in 1730 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He and Sarah Williams were married on 26 May 1760 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹ He died on 13 July 1810 at age ~80 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.²

He was a farmer and iron worker, selectman in 1777. He served in the Revolutionary War (DAR). DAR has his birth abt. 1740. He made wrought iron nails.

Abiathar is mentioned in the Williams Genealogy, which says he died February 18, 1795.

FLK has this Abiathar and his line descending from James Leonard and Mehitable Phillips. That appears to be an error. Capt. Abiathar Leonard had person sources.³

Sarah Williams was born in 1736 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Capt. Abiathar Leonard and she were married on 26 May 1760 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹ She died on 14 February 1826 at age ~90 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

She was the sister of Mary, who married Abiathar's brother Nathaniel. Sarah Williams had person sources.²

Rufus Leonard was born on 24 April 1741 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.¹ He and Deliverance Willis were married on 23 June 1767 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He and Bathsheba Cobb were married in 1770 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He died on 12 September 1821 at age 80 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.²

Rufus Leonard had person sources.³

Rufus Leonard and Deliverance Willis were married on 23 June 1767 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. She died on 16 February 1768 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Phebe Leonard was born in 1733. She died on 9 July 1782 at age ~49 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Phebe Leonard had person sources.¹

William Drake was born in 1729 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Mehitable Leonard was born about 1732 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Andrew Hodges and she were married on 2 March 1752 in Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. She died in 1770 at age ~38 in Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Received a bequest of land from father when he died: 4 acres and 16 rods, divided by Benjamin Williams, judge of probate, of the lands of James and Mehitable Leonard.

-- MERGED NOTE ------------

Was she the daughter of Nathaniel Leonard? Check Hodges Genealogy. Mehitable Leonard had person sources.¹

Andrew Hodges was born in 1729 in Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He and Mehitable Leonard were married on 2 March 1752 in Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He and Abigail Hoskins were married after 1770. He died in 1777 at age ~48 in Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

He was a veteran of the French and Indian War. They had 7 children. Andrew Hodges had person sources.¹ He and Abigail Hoskins were married on 17 May 1773.

Lydia Leonard was born in 1734 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Col. Robert Crossman and she were married on 12 January 1755 in Little Compton, Rhode Island. She died on 24 June 1829 at age ~95 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Doublecheck. Three Robert Crossmans and many Lydia Leonards in data base -- ample opportunity for error without corroborating information. Division of James Leonard's lands by judge of probate Benjamin Williams gave her part of Cedar Swamp next to lands of Zephaniah Leonard and the forge pond. Lydia Leonard had person sources.¹

Col. Robert Crossman was born on 12 January 1734 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He and Lydia Leonard were married on 12 January 1755 in Little Compton, Rhode Island. He died on 15 December 1823 at age 89 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Eliphalet Leonard was born on 4 March 1730 in Easton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He and Silence Howard were married on 4 July 1755 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County Massachusetts.¹ He died on 23 October 1805 at age 75 in Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts.

He was a bloomer and made steel for the Revolutionary Army. He was the first to make steel in Easton, MA. He was a Captain in the Militia. Jonathan Leonard, his son, erected a furnace capable of making 3 tons at a time. In 1813, he erected another in Canton making 100 tons a year (p. 369, The New England States, William T. Davis, ed., Vol 1, D. H. Hurd & Co., Boston, 1897).

More from ECL: "Sometime before 1771 Eliphalet Leonard, Jr., had erected a forge on the road east of the Washington Street Methodist Church. It was deeded to him in 1765, and not long after he erected a forge. It is said that he was the first person to attempt the making of steel in this country. We are aware that claims of this kind must be received with caution, but it was made by the well-known Jonathan Leonard, the son of Eliphalet. Jonathan wrote in a letter February 23, 1826 (see NEHGS Register Vol. XI, pp.289-90), "as to the making of steel, the first attempt made in this country, so far as my knowledge goes, was made by my father Eliphalet about the year 1775/6. He led to the attempt by the extreme scarcity of steel and the difficulty of procuring it for the manufacture of arms, then in great demand for the defense of the country. He constructed several furnaces and so far succeeded as to supply himself and some of his neighbors. In 1787 I obtained further insight into the business and erected at Easton a furnace capable of making 3 tons at a batch. This continued until 1808, in consequence of commercial restrictions, I erected another in the same place capable of making 10 tons at a batch. In 1813 I erected another furnace in Canton where I now live (1826) and where I made about 100 tons of steel per year." As to the manner in which he obtained insight into the business, it is told that Jonathan, hearing that steel was being manufactured by an improved process in Pennsylvania, went there where it was made. When he came to the place he assumed the ways of a simpleton, gradually arousing the sympathies and humorous interest of the workmen. He received menial employment about the furnace, meanwhile keeping his eyes open and profiting by the knowledge he gained. This Jonathan, who became known as "Quaker Leonard," was eccentric and bright enough to have done all this. He paid a poll tax in Easton from 1785 to 1792; after that his name disappears, but he was taxed as a nonresident as he continued the business. About 1792/3, Eliphalet, 3rd, brother of Jonathan, built the dam which is known as "The Shovel Shop Pond Dam" and erected a forge there and a nailors shop. Later he built a house there and it was the first painted house in Easton Village. It is the home in which Oakes Ames was born. Eliphalet, 3rd, did not meet with much success, and he was bankrupt in 1801. The place was sold in 1803 and finally passed into the hands of Oliver Ames. In this section of town the iron business was carried on exclusively by the Leonards."

Katherine Guild, his granddaughter: "He was a self-educated man, remarkable for his intelligence and acquirements. His beautiful residence was the resort of the first literary men of Boston, as well asmanyothers who claimed the hospitality so well known to be found there."

Was he born in 1730 or 1731? Did he die Oct 23 or Oct 27, 1805? Eliphalet Leonard had person sources.²

Silence Howard was born on 10 September 1736 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County Massachusetts. Eliphalet Leonard and she were married on 4 July 1755 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County Massachusetts.¹ She died on 12 May 1802 at age 65 in Easton, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Howard or Haward? Married before?

Sarah Leonard was born on 19 January 1733 in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. John Adam and she were married on 16 November 1749 in Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut.¹ She died on 16 November 1815 at age 82 in Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut.

Sarah Leonard had person sources.^2,3

John Adam was born on 29 May 1714 in Vowfield, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He and Sarah Leonard were married on 16 November 1749 in Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut.¹ He died on 9 April 1802 at age 87 in Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut.

John Adam was an iron worker.