Eighth Generation

128. Ensign Elkanah LEONARD¹⁸⁰ was born on 15 May 1677 in Raynham, Bristol Co., MA.⁸ He died on 29 December 1714 at the age of 37 in Lakeville, Middleboro, Plymouth Co., MA.¹⁸¹ He was buried in Lakeville Cemetery (Thompson's Hill), Lakeville, MA.⁸⁵ Elkanah practiced law in Middleborough. He was the only lawyer at the time. He was appointed Major in militia early in career, First Regiment, Plymouth County Militia. He's covered in Fanny Leonard Koster, Genealogy of the Leonard Family, p. 80. Children are listed in the Genealogical Register of Pilgrim Families, p. 171.

ECL: He also learned the bloomers art. His father purchased two of three tracts of land in Middleborough in 1700 and with Philip King built the dam at Trout Brook, a saw mill, and commenced on a forge when he bought out King and finished the forge . Young Elkanah was put there to manage the forge when he was 24 years old. In 1703 he married Charity Hodges and built a house on the west side of the brook below the dam. He was a smart, capable young man and soon had a lively business -- mills, forge, lumberman, store owner. In 1706 he was chosen constable of the town, but refused to serve and was fined 5 pounds penalty. On 7 Oct 1708, he sold to Elkanah Leonard several pieces of land, including his iron mine swamp. On March 1, 1709/10 he was elected with Capt. James Vaughn and Rodolphus King as Selectmen. He continued in this office the rest of his life. He was addenda member #22, First Church of Middleborough, and had child Timothy baptized there in 1713. He died at the young age of 37, leaving a large property in Plymouth and Bristol Counties.

His son, Elkanah, was appointed guardian of Rebecca and Jemima Leonard, daughters of Elkanah Sr., late of Middleberry. April 15, 1724/5 (5:63). Benjamin Hodges of Middleborough was appointed guardian of Elkanah's children Joseph, Simeon, and Abiah. April 20, 1724/5 (5:64). Plymouth Court records also show that Ephraim Hodges, Elkanah's wife's brother, was appointed guardian of Abiah, Simeon, and Jemima Leonard (Elkanah's children). This should be checked further, but it is evidence that later-born children had died. Charity HODGES and Ensign Elkanah LEONARD were married on 25 March 1703 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.⁸

129. Charity HODGES¹⁸² was born on 5 April 1682 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.⁸ She died about 28 February 1739 at the age of 56 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA. She was buried in Taunton/Lakeville Congregational Cemetary, Taunton, MA. The George Marston Leonard charts lists her death date as 3/29, 1759, but no source given. When Jabez Perkins died, she returned to Middleborough.

She was the Charity Leonard who was member no. 66 in the First Church of North Middleborough.

ECL: "Charity, the widow, was one of twenty persons who were allowed the privilege of building a pew in the Meeting House. They were placed on the sides of the Hosue, and the center was occupied by the inhabitants at large. She married the second time to Jabez Perkins of Norwich in 1722 and after his death came back to Middleboro to reside, where she died and is buried by her husband in the precinct cemetery in Middleboro. Her daughters Rebecca and Jemima married her stepsons Jabez Jr. and Jacob Perkins and left descendants in Connecticut." Jabez and Charity had a daughter, Charity, born 6-12-1724 at Norwich.

Did Charity, the mother, marry (3) 29 Jan 1743 Ezra Lothrop of Norwich? If so, she died later than thought.

Children were:

	i.	Major Elkanah LEONARD¹⁸³ was born on 15 December 1703 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA.¹⁸⁴ He died on 24 July 1781 at the age of 77 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA.¹⁸⁵ He was buried in Lakeville Cemetery (Thompson's Hill), Lakeville, MA.⁸⁵ He was a lawyer at MIddleborough. He was "one of the most distinguished geniuses of his name and day." (NEHGS Register, 1851, p. 412). He practiced law at Middleborough, where he was the first attorney and the only one until 1738. "His assistance in the defence in criminal prosecutions was much sought after, and his abilities were never more conspicuous than in those defenses." He was many times elected a selectman, moderator, and representative to the General Court. During the latter part of his life, his mind was obscured. ECL says he lost his mind at about the age of 43. On 8 January 1749, Judge of Probate appointed his wife Elizabeth and his son Elkanah his guardians, as he was declared "non compos mentis." (Per copy of original court document with the Old Colony Historical Society)
64	ii.	Capt. Joseph LEONARD.
	iii.	Rebecca LEONARD^186,187 was born on 24 February 1706 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA.¹⁶ She died on 2 September 1788 at the age of 82 in Norwich, New London, CT. Jabez Perkins was the son of her stepfather.
	iv.	Abiah LEONARD^186,188 was born on 30 April 1707 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA.¹⁶ She was born on 30 April 1707. She died in 1803 at the age of 96 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA.
	v.	Capt. Simeon LEONARD¹⁸⁹ was born on 9 January 1708 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA.¹⁸⁴ He died on 30 January 1754 at the age of 46 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA. ECL notes that Middleboro VR's give a death date of 30 Jan 1754 and Dr. Backus' diary gives the date as 30 Nov 1754.
	vi.	Jemima LEONARD¹⁹⁰ was born on 20 May 1710 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA.¹⁹¹ She married a son of her stepfather, Jacob Perkins.
	vii.	Zebulon LEONARD was born on 15 January 1711 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA.¹⁹² He died on 8 February 1711 at the age of 0 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA. He was buried in Lakeville Cemetery (Thompson's Hill), Lakeville, MA.⁸⁵
	viii.	Timothy LEONARD¹⁹³ was born on 2 May 1713 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA.¹⁶ He died on 1 June 1715 at the age of 2 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA. He was baptized in the First Church of North Middleborough in 1713, son of Lt. Elkanah Leonard, according the addenda of The First Church of North Middleborough by Samuel Hopkins Emery, 1876. Fanny Leonard Koster has him as the father of Samuel Leonard who married Sarah Williams. See Plate 2.
	ix.	Henry LEONARD¹⁹⁴ was born on 14 April 1714 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA. He died on 29 May 1714 at the age of 0 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA. He was buried in Lakeville Cemetery (Thompson's Hill), Lakeville, MA.⁸⁵
	x.	Thomas LEONARD¹⁹⁵ was born on 20 April 1715 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA. He died on 1 May 1715 at the age of 0 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co, MA.
	xi.	Unknown son LEONARD was born Unknown. ECL-GML Genealogy mentions #230 a "son who died after three weeks."