Fifth Generation

322. Hannah LEONARD^156,224 was born on 18 July 1731 in Raynham, Bristol Co., MA.²²⁵ She died on 20 February 1763 at the age of 31 in Raynham, Bristol Co., MA.²²⁶ In Raynham death record, she was called wife of Deacon Elijah Leonard. She was buried in Town Center Cemetery, Raynham, MA.⁶⁰ Church records say "June 19, 1768 Baptized Edward ye son of Deacon Elijah Leonard and his wife Hannah..."

Hannah LEONARD and Rev., Ensign Elijah LEONARD were married on 10 July 1755 at Church of Christ in Raynham, Bristol Co., MA.²²³ Stover, Raynham VR's, gives date of intent as 8 Feb and date of marriage as 24 Feb 1755. Rev., Ensign Elijah LEONARD²²², son of Samuel LEONARD and Katherine DEAN, was born on 18 April 1719 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.¹²⁷ He died on 30 July 1808 at the age of 89 in Raynham, Bristol Co., MA. He was buried in Town Center Cemetery, Raynham, MA.⁶⁰ He resided at Raynham near the Old Forge (Raynham Forge). He eventually took over management of the forge, ran up debts, and finally sold the forge to the Deans.

Did Elijah and Hannah have a son, George, born 1749 (before they were married)? And a son, Elijah, born 1753? Was Elijah married once before marrying Hannah Leonard? To whom?

ECL says that Elijah Leonard bought of Elnathan Jones his homestead for 240 pounds on April 4, 1752, which perhaps indicates he was married before and that Hannah A. was an elder child.

Was Elijah the Elijah Leonard who kept the records of the Raynham Church of Christ from 18 April 1765 until some later date when Rev. Perez Fobes took over? He apparently was a deacon of the Church.

Was his highest militia rank Ensign or Captain? He is referred to as Capt. Elijah Leonard in his marriage to Hannah Pitts.

The 1790 Census lists an Elijah Leonard household consisting of 3 males over 16 and 3 females.

Dighton VR's, Book B1, p. 191, lists and Elijah Leonard of Taunton marrying a Hannah Peirce of Dighton Nov 1781. This Elijah? Did he marry a third time? Or was this a misspelling of Hannah Pitts?

ECL mentions a child, Henry. There was a Henry Leonard b. abt. 1790 who lived in Lee, MA, and who was the child of an Elijah Leonard and Hannah ? (probably Peirce) of Dighton. Who was the Elijah Leonard of Berkshire Co., who married Hannah Peirce?

In his mother's will, Elijah received land in Easton.

There was also an Elijah Learned, occasionally spelled Leonard, b. 14 Nov 1739 in Charlton, Worcester Co., MA, married to Rachel Kingsbury. This family goes back through a series of Isaacs to Bermondsey, Surrey, England.

Hannah LEONARD and Rev., Ensign Elijah LEONARD had the following children: