Fourth Generation

160. Capt. James LEONARD²⁵³ was born in 1699 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. He died on 1 February 1771 at the age of 72 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. ECL: His father gave him in 1749 one-half of his homestead at Whittington, the southerly half comprising about 200 acres. He was a selectman in 1736 and 1743 and a Lieutenant in the Militia. He became no compos in 1769. Judge Benjamin Williams of Probate Court gave each of his children 120 pounds worth of his lands, although nothing was set off for Capt. James Leonard, Nathaniel Leonard, Abiathar Leonard, and Rufus Leonard, since they had already received more than their share.

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 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.

Perhaps ECL was wrong about this James not marrying. Neither his grandfather James nor his father could have been the one accomplishing the above: wrong wives, both died before 1771.

Capt. James LEONARD and Mehitable PHILLIPS were married in 1722 in Dighton, Bristol Co., MA. Mehitable PHILLIPS, daughter of William PHILLIPS and Hannah GILBERT, was born in 1695 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. She died on 9 December 1788 at the age of 93 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. Was she also known as Mercy?

Capt. James LEONARD and Mehitable PHILLIPS had the following children:

474	i.	Capt. James LEONARD²⁵⁴ was born in 1723 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. He died on 14 July 1793 at the age of 70 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. 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." 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 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. Perhaps ECL was wrong about this James not marrying. Neither his grandfather James nor his father could have been the one accomplishing the above: wrong wives, both died before 1771. 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. ECL was right!
475	ii.	Abijah LEONARD²⁵⁵ was born in 1726 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. He died on 12 February 1801 at the age of 75 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. 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.
+476	iii.	Col. Nathaniel LEONARD.
+477	iv.	Capt. Abiathar LEONARD.
+478	v.	Rufus LEONARD.
+479	vi.	Phebe LEONARD.
+480	vii.	Mehitable LEONARD.
+481	viii.	Lydia LEONARD.
482	ix.	Hannah LEONARD was born (date unknown). Appears to be the wife of Lemuel Pratt, but old document is partly broken up and hard to read. Document appears to be part of a will.