Third Generation

32. Joseph LEONARD^18,27,32 was born in 1689 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA. There were five Joseph Leonards in Bridgewater at this time, according to Manning Leonard, and "it's impossible to keep their identities straight." According to the Mayflower Society, Manning has the wrong Joseph moving to Pomfret, CT. (Mayflower Families, Vol. XVII, James Chilton, p. 66). Manning Leonard had Joseph the son of John, and here it is corrected to the Mayflower Society's Isaac. Joseph is 5th generation descendant of James Chilton. All of his children are mentioned in The James Chilton Family, Fifth Generation.

According to Manning Leonard, the births of all of his children were in Bridgewater, MA, except for the youngest, who was born in Pomfret, CT. "The family did not remain long (in Pomfret), and I have found it impossible to trace them." Indeed, no documented trace is to be found in the Ricker Collection of CT VR's.

In 1725 Mary Bailey sold rights to Joseph Leonard of Bridgewater "son of Isaac Leonard decd." Joseph Leonard Jr. of Bridgewater sold 20 martch 1728 "my homestead where I dwell" in Bridgewater, and wife Hannah released right of dower. On 8 April 1728 Joseph Leonard of Bridgewater, cooper, bought land in Pomfret, bounded on the south by land of Isaac Leonard. Joseph Leonard of Pomfret husbandman on 9 Jan. 1732/3 sold to Isaac Leonard of Pomfret "the farm whereon I now live" bounded by land of "my brother Isaac Leonard," witnessed by an Isaac Leonard. On 5 April 1736 Joseph Leonard of Pomfret sold land in Pomfret, acknowledged the next day; he and his family then disappear from the records of Connecticut. (Mayflower Families Through Five Generations by Robert M. Sherman)

Joseph had five sons who may have survived to adulthood and probably had children. The sons are Joseph, Moses, Seth, Timothy, and Ebenezer. In addition, Joseph's brother Isaac had three sons, Isaac, Thomas, and David, who disappear from the records. Correspondence from Tom Pleuss indicates that these Leonards settled in Dutchess Co. (Beekman Patent). Tax records indicate that David Leonard was taxed 1739/40-47/48, Isaac 1738/39-48, Isaac Jr. 1738/39-1740/41, Jonathan 1738/39-1748, Joseph 1738/39-48, Moses 1739/40-Feb 1762, Seth 1739/40-June 1761, and Thomas 1739/40-1746/47 (Source: Clilifford M. Buck, Dutchess County Tax Lists 1718-1787, Rhinebeck, NY: Kinship, 1990). So it appears the bulk of the two families went to Dutchess Co. from Pomfret, CT. Joseph's 67 acre farm was settled as early as 1744 in Beekman Patent (Dougherty, The Settlers of Beekman Patent).

Timothy, parents unknown, appears in Granville, NY, in the 1790's. Ebenezer or his son could be the Ebenezer who appears in Burlington, Otsego Co., NY. Justus, b. in 1758, d. 12 Apr 1840, lived 52 years in Stephentown, NY, married Catherine Aylesworth 28 Nov 1782. He had a son James who spent much time in Greene Co., NY, also Jerusha b. 1784 and Sophronia. James had a son Justus.

Joseph LEONARD and Hannah JENNINGS were married on 19 November 1712 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA. Hannah JENNINGS¹⁹, daughter of Richard JENNINGS and Mary BASSETT, was born in 1683 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA. James Chilton "Silver Book" verifies from her father's will and land records that Hannah Jennings was the wife of this Joseph Leonard.

Joseph LEONARD and Hannah JENNINGS had the following children:

90	i.	Hannah LEONARD was born on 17 March 1713 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA.¹⁹
91	ii.	Joseph LEONARD was born on 17 March 1713 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA.¹⁹
92	iii.	Moses LEONARD¹⁹ was born on 22 March 1714 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA.¹² He died after 1790 at the age of 76 in Pawling, Dutchess Co., NY. He moved to Beekman Patent, Dutchess Co., NY, before 1739. He was on the tax rolls there until 1762. He may have been in the Quaker Hill or Pawling area until sometime after 1790. A Moses Leonard, Jr., transferred lands in the New Rutland District, Barre Co., VT in July 1769. His son?
93	iv.	Seth LEONARD¹⁹ was born on 6 October 1715 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA.¹² There's no further information about him in the Solomon Leonard volume. The family moved to Pomfret, CT, in 1730 and left a couple of years later. He apparently moved with his family to Beekman Patent, Dutchess Co., NY before 1739 and were there until at least 1747 (Poughquag, NY?). He was on the tax rolls of Beekman Patent until 1761. There was a Seth Leonard of Glastonbury who married Esther Nichols of Mansfield, CT, 30 November 1786 and had a son Seth b. 16 Sep 1787 in Mansfield (Ricker Collection, Mansfield VR's). Another Seth Leonard died in Windham 9 FEb 1750/51. (Ricker Collection)
+94	v.	Timothy LEONARD.
+95	vi.	Rebecca LEONARD.
96	vii.	Mehitable LEONARD³³ was born on 5 September 1724 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA.¹²
97	viii.	Thankful LEONARD¹⁹ was born in May 1726 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA.¹²
+98	ix.	Ebenezer LEONARD.
99	x.	Betsey LEONARD was born on 15 September 1730 in Pomfret, Windham Co., CT. Also referred to as Bette Leonard.
+100	xi.	Nancy LEONARD.