Fifth Generation

387. Col. Daniel LEONARD⁵²⁰ was born on 18 May 1740 in Norton, now Mansfield, MA. He died on 27 June 1829 at the age of 89 in London, England.³⁴ Daniel grew up in the part of Taunton that later became Mansfield and was a graduate of Harvard, 1760, ranked 2nd in his class. He also received a degree from Yale in 1766. He was admitted to the bar and began his practice in Taunton. He became King's Attorney in 1769. He and Robert Treat Paine were elected members of the Massachusetts General Court from Taunton in 1773 and 1774.

Daniel married 2nd Sarah Hammock, whose father had left her a fortune. This enabled Daniel to live in high style. Daniel "always liked the flashpots of life. He wore hats and clothes trimmed with gold lace and travelled from Taunton in a gorgeous coach and four," according to ECL, who devoted 7 pages of his manuscript to describing Daniel. He was satirized by Mercy Warren in "The Group" as Beau Trumps, a play on his fancy dress. (John Adams diary: "Velvet coat, neckerchiefs and wrist falls of exquisite Irish lace, satin trousers, and silver embroidered on his cocked hat" and his enjoyment of playing cards.)

Daniel had servants. Ann Barney took care of his daughter and accompanied him to Halifax, London, and Bermuda. His coachman was Spencer Lyne.

He was bred to the law, and was, before the Revolution, a member of the General Court, an able political writer, and, according to President Adams, "supported the Whig (Revolutionary) cause with great eloquence and energy" until 1772. He was possessed of brilliant talents and acquired great popularity, because of which Governor Hutchinson was led to "exercise his blandishments upon him, and, as he seldom failed when he applied them in all their force, the tempter prevailed" and Mr. Leonard became a Loyalist. In 1774 he was an addresser of Hutchinson and was appointed a Mandamus Councillor the same year. He wrote defending the Loyalist (Tory) position under the signature of Massachusettsensis, answered by John Adams under the signature of Novanglus.

He lived in Taunton on the Green near where the Court House stands. On the day in 1774 he became a Mandamus Councillor, he was driven from Taunton by a mob. He removed to Boston. When to Halifax in 1776 (with family of 9) and finally to England to reside. In 1778 he was proscribed by the General Court of Massachusetts and his property confiscated. He was appointed Chief Justice of Bermuda in 1781, holding that position until 1815 when he returned to London at age 75. Daniel visited the United States in 1799 and 1708. His father, Ephraim, left his property to his grandson Charles, provided he take an oath of allegiance to the United States.

According to the American of August 2, 1829, he was killed by the accidental discharge of a pistol. He was a native of Massachusetts, a classmate at Harvard with John Adams, and was one of the last of the Loyalists that were expatriated at the time of the Revolution. His remains were brought back to Newport and interred there.

For more detailed information about his life and times, please see "Two Men of Taunton" by Ralph Davol, Riverside Press, 1912. It is the story of two Leonard descendants, Robert Treat Paine and Daniel Leonard 1740-1829. Both were well-known and associated with the leaders of the American Revolution. See also Fanny Leonard Koster's book on the genealogy of the Leonard family, pp. 87-91. See Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family, pp. 410-411, for proof. Also NEHGS Register, 1851, p. 409-411. Also, ECL's manuscript, pp. 156-162.

Col. Daniel LEONARD and Anna WHITE were married on 2 April 1767 in Norton, Bristol Co., MA.¹¹¹ Anna WHITE, daughter of Samuel WHITE, was born on 25 February 1741 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. She died on 14 April 1768 at the age of 27 in Norton, Bristol Co., MA.

Col. Daniel LEONARD and Anna WHITE had the following children:

Col. Daniel LEONARD and Sarah HAMMOCK were married on 4 March 1770 in Boston, Suffolk Co., MA.⁵²¹ Sarah HAMMOCK, daughter of John HAMMOCK and Sarah HODGSON, was born about 1739. She died on 30 July 1806 at the age of 67 in Aboard ship John Joy on way from Bermuda to Providence.⁵²² She was buried in Newport, Newport Co., RI. Her father was rich and endowed her accordingly, which made Daniel a wealthy man. She died at sea on her way from Bermuda to Newport, RI, July 30, 1806. She is buried at Newport.

Col. Daniel LEONARD and Sarah HAMMOCK had the following children: