Second Generation

5. Joseph LEONARD was born on 25 October 1647 in Braintree, MA. He died on 18 October 1692 at the age of 44 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.^10,23 He was buried in Neck O'Land Cemetery, Taunton, MA. Joseph learned the bloomery art from his father at Raynham and at his coming of age took the place of master workman at the Whittington Forge where he remained the rest of his life. He inherited a one-third interest in the forge at his father's death and later came to own a half interest.

He made his will three days before he died. Children: Edward Leonard, William Leonard, Samuel and Experience Hodges, Mehitable Leonard, and Silence Leonard, all of Taunton. 1712. Will dtd. 15 October 1692, prob. 30 March 1692/3. (1:45). Why wasn't son Joseph mentioned? Did he die before 1692? (6 April 1705?) See Bristol Co., MA Probate Records, 1687-1745, Volume III (PartI) 1710-1717, on CD 502. Grave stone said he died 18th of October 1692 in the 44th year of his age.

Check: Did he have a son Ebenezer who died young? There's a tombstone "here lies Ebenezer son of Joseph Leonard of Dorchester."

Joseph LEONARD and Mary BLAKE were married on 15 December 1679 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.²⁴ Mary BLAKE, daughter of William BLAKE and Anna LYON, was born on 20 March 1655 in Dorchester, Suffolk, MA. She died after 1712 at the age of 57. She is sometimes listed as Black vice Blake. Sister was Ann Blake, who m. Thomas Gilbert of Taunton. She is also listed as being from Milton,MA. Marriage date to Joseph alternatively listed as September 21,1678, by GML.

Joseph LEONARD and Mary BLAKE had the following children:

44	i.	Mary LEONARD was born on 2 October 1680 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.¹⁰ She died on 3 June 1685 at the age of 4 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.¹⁰
+45	ii.	Experience LEONARD.
46	iii.	Joseph LEONARD²⁵ was born on 23 January 1684 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.^24,26 He died on 6 April 1705 at the age of 21 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.²⁷ He was buried in Neck O'Land Cemetery, Taunton, MA. He died unmarried. Alternative birth date 28 Jan 1684 in Taunton, from OneWorldTree.
+47	iv.	Mehitable LEONARD.
48	v.	Edward LEONARD was born on 2 November 1688 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.²⁸ He died on 24 June 1716 at the age of 27 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. He died unmarried. According to ECL, he "seemed to flounder around in his affairs, mortgaging and remortgaging his property. The sale of his remaining interest would indicate that he ran out of his property and died poor." He mortgaged property at Whittenton on March 10, 1714/5. Inv. of Est. of Edward Leonard of Taunton, dtd. 25 June 1716. Apprs.: John Wilbore, Seth Williams, and Samuel Deane (3:283/4). Will in 1716 named brother William and sister, Mehitabel, wife of John Harvey.
+49	vi.	William LEONARD.
50	vii.	Silence LEONARD was born (date unknown). Died in infancy.