Ninth Generation

256. Deacon, Major Thomas LEONARD^{8,239,240,241} was born on 3 August 1641 in Kinver, Staffordshire, England.²⁴² He was baptized on 8 August 1641 in Kinver, Staffordshire, England. He died on 24 November 1713 at the age of 72 in Raynham, Bristol Co., MA.⁸ Thomas was buried in Neck of Land Burying Ground, Taunton, MA. Thomas was baptised August 8, 1641, in Kinver, Staffordshire, son of James and Jane Leonard. Kinver is located on the Stour River in South Staffordshire, 7 miles SW of Dudley. Immediately across the river is located Whittington. Is this why James Leonard in 1666 named his "forge or blomerie with one hearth" on the Mill River in Taunton, MA, "Whittington Iron Works?" See "Pre-American Ancestry of our Leonard Ironworkers (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bart/Leonard2.htm).

One of the shareholders in John Winthrop's "Company of Undertakers of the Iron Works in New England" was Thomas Foley (1617 - 1677). He and his brothers were probably the foremost ironmasters in the Black Country (iron ore country in Staffordshire) at that time, owning iron and mine works as far afield as Monmouthshire. Their father, Richard Foley, started the family fortune with an iron works near Stourbridge, 3 miles east of Kinver. Could he have been involved in recruiting the Leonards when Winthrop was having a difficult time conscripting experienced ironworkers?

Thomas is buried in same lot with son Joseph and grandson Joseph. D. Hamilton Hurd in "History of Bristol County, MA," gives his date of death as December 21, 1713. Samuel Emery in the "History of Taunton" gives his date of death as November 13, 1713.

He was foreman and manager of the Taunton ironworks from 1683 to 1713, according to Fanny Leonard Koster. He was treasurer, according to Samuel Emery in "History of Taunton," which gives many excerpts from his record books. The record books are now in the archives of the Old Colony Historical Society.

About Thomas Leonard, from Elisha Clark Leonard/George Marston Leonard manuscript:

"It is evident from the habits displayed in the various offices he held and the conditions under which he had to perform the duties connected with the same that he was a man of rare judgment, of great ability, and of untiring industry. He was careful and conscientious in all his actions whenever he was called upon to perform some duty. He was quick, versatile, and popular, and he seems to have become the leading man in the community and acquired the confidence of the leading men in the Massachusetts Colony. The amount of work that he accomplished was remarkable and the skill and correctness displayed in the various papers that he drew up and are still extant would lead one to believe that he had received a careful legal training. Yet we know that it was the result of his own special efforts at self education, since he was unable to write his name when he first arrived. His family was moving about from England to various parts of America. His mother, burdened with the cares of a growing family under pioneer conditions, died when Thomas was 21. We must believe that it was his mother, through her oversight and encouragement, laid the foundation of the character displayed by her eldest son.

"Under the instruction of his father, he learned the iron manufacture trade and became an expert "bloomer" and refiner. It is almost certain that as early as 1666 he had become skilled sufficiently that his father left the oversight and management of the manufacture of iron at the Taunton works to him, leaving James free to devote his time to the Whittington works. In 1696 he and his brother James obtained a grant of 200 acres of land in the North Purchase for encouragement to build a forge on the Cowesitt River. He and James continued to own and operate this forge until 1707, when James sold his share to his nephew George, son of Thomas. In 1700 Thomas, together with Philip King, commenced to build a forge at Trout Brook in Middleboro. An agreement between Thomas Leonard and Henry Andrews was signed in 1701 allowing Thomas Leonard to mine ore on Andrews' lands. The next year, Thomas purchased King's portion, finished the forge, and placed his youngest son Elkanah to manage it and the sawmill that he erected at the same time. Thomas gave this forge and lands to (his son) Elkanah in his will."

"He was appointed by the Court at Plymouth an ensign of the militia company at Taunton in 1665. No doubt that he immediately set himself to work to become efficient as a military officer. In 1884, a book entitled "The discipline of the young artilleryman" was found with Thomas Leonard's autograph and given in his will to his son, Samuel. In 1690, he became Captain of the East Taunton militia.

"In 1668 Thomas Leonard was one of the purchasers of the North Purchase, later set aside as the town of Norton. In 1669 he was on a committee to make a list of the free inhabitants of the town. In 1682 he was elected one of the Selectmen of Taunton and a Deputy to the Court at Plymouth. These offices he continued to hold with but a single exception until 1691. After the union of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies, he was chosen a Representative to the General Court at Boston in 1694/5 and again in 1698/9. On May 6, 1675, his father conveyed to him the East Hearth at the Taunton Works as Masterworkman. In 1683 he was appointed Clerk of the Ironworks, which position he held until his death in 1713. Taunton purchased and possesses the account books that he maintained, giving a clear indication of his methodical habits. From the time Thomas Leonard became Clerk and manager until his death, the Taunton Ironworks paid 15% per year on its shares.

"In 1684 he was appointed to solemnize marriages in Taunton. In 1685 he was appointed an Associate Justice for the County of Bristol, which office he continued to hold until his death in 1713. He also apparently studied medecine, due to the remoteness of help to Taunton. He also had a large farm. Will dtd. January 29, 1711/12 probated February 5, 1713/4."

He was appointed ensign of the First Military Company in 1665. He served as captain and major of the First Regiment of County of Bristol. He was connected with the military history of Taunton for forty-eight years. He left extensive records of his actions during various military campaigns. For example, during King William's War, he led an expedition to Little Compton in 1691, noting how long each member was out, whose horse they used, and what money they spent. On that particular expedition, John Leonard using Mr. Arnold's horse, George Leonard and his own horse, and Uriah Leonard using John Eddy's horse, were out for two to six days each (see Samuel Emery's History of Taunton).

Another source: Squaw Betty, niece of King Philip treated both families of the Leonards when they were stricken with typhoid fever. She gathered herbs, prepared and administered the medicine, and nursed them back to health. In return, they offered her wampum but she declined the same. However, she did accept as a present a pretty red cloak and in it she said she hoped to be buried.

The Eddy Family in America, 1930: John Eddy was in Capt. Thos. Leonard's First Military Company of Taunton. There may be more in Emery, History of Taunton, p. 354.

Will of Thomas Leonard "the eldest of ye name in Taunton" being in his 71st year of age, dtd. 29 Jan. 1711/2, prob. 5 February 1713/4. Mentions wife, wife's father, five sons, two daughters, grandson Thomas of son John, brothers Benjamin and James. Lands in Middleboro, Taunton, Rehoboth, and Taunton North Purchase. Friends Elder Henry Hodges, Deacon Ezra Deane, Deacon Israel Thrasher, and Seth Wiliams to be overseers. (3:179-185).

Children checked against the list in NEHGS Reg. 1851, p. 414(3), "Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family." Mary WATSON and Deacon, Major Thomas LEONARD were married about 1661 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.

257. Mary WATSON²⁴³ was born on 2 August 1642 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA.⁸ She died on 1 December 1723 at the age of 81 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.⁸ She was buried in Neck of Land Burying Ground, Taunton, MA. She died in her 81st year, per gravestone. (History of Bristol County, MA, by D. Hamilton Hurd, Philadelphia, 1883.)(Also Savage, p. 80.)

Children were:

	i.	Mary LEONARD²⁴⁴ was born on 2 August 1663 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. She died on 1 November 1727 at the age of 64 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA. She was Elkanah's cousin.
	ii.	Thomas LEONARD²⁴⁵ was born on 22 January 1665 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. He died in 1740 at the age of 75 in Raynham, Bristol Co., MA. He lived after his marriage about a mile north of the Raynham Forge on the road to Whittinton. He was paid for work done for the forge, but there is little else about him. According to ECL, he seems to have died without male issue. Fanny Leonard Koster ascribes male children Thomas, John, Philip, and Josiah to him in her charts. These are apparently in error, in that no other evidence has been found to support them and his will indicates he had only two daughters. The Mayflower Society in the Thomas Rogers silver book notes that their earlier entry #281 Thomas Leonard was not the son of Thomas and Johanah Pitcher Leonard, whose only heirs were daughters Alice Leonard and Joanna Crossman (Bristol Co. PR 13:323). GML makes note of a Boston Transcript article 10 Feb 1932: "John Barney, son of John and Mary (Throop) Barney, born 27 Sept 1698 at Bristol, RI, settled in Norton and married Mary Leonard, daughter of Thomas Leonard and Joanna Pitcher Leonard. No dates are found. His widow granted administration 7 Jan 1757. This is apparently an error: the above Mary Leonard was the daughter of John and Mary (King) Leonard.
	iii.	John LEONARD²⁴⁶ was born on 18 May 1668 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. He died about 6 February 1748 at the age of 79 in Raynham, Bristol Co., MA.²⁴⁷ He was buried in Burying Ground by Domlet Brook, Raynham, MA. He was an ironmonger. The family lived over to the east of the Raynham Forge on Domlet Brook. Will of John Leonard of Raynham, Yeoman, dtd. June 4, 1732, prob. March 7, 1748. No wife mentioned. Sons: John ("at present deprived of his natural reason"), Thomas, Phillip, and Josiah Leonard. Daughters: Mary "who married with John Barney," Judith, Elizabeth "who married with Meseck Wilbur," and Mehitable. Witnessed by Elkanah Leonard and Simeon Leonard. ECL, p. 49: John Leonard lived over to the east of the Raynham Forge near what is called Domlet Brook. His father built him a house there and gave him two lots he bought of his brother Benjamin comprsing about 35 acres. John in 1696 bought of Hannah, the widow of John Hall, 20 acres and through his father-in-law Philip King bought 36 more acres of Benjamin Leonard. In 1696 he also bought of Eleazer Cowen 20 acres more. These purchases made a farm of about 100 acres and in addition from his father's estate additional land, so that he was quite a repectable land owner. From his will it appears that his oldest son John was unable to take care of himself. The old man seems to have built him a house so that it seems that he must have married although there is no record of it. Thomas, the second son, seems to have been bound out to his grandfather, Judge Thomas, until he was 21 years old and was to have 100 acres of land at Stoney ----? on the east side of Raynham. John lived to a good old age, being about 81 years when he died. We supposed that he was buiried in a little burying ground beside Domlet Brook, but the stones were dug up. New England Families, Historical and Genealogical, Vol 3, p. 1342: "In a deed dated February 19, 1738-9, when both sons must have been of age, John Leonard conveyed to his sons, Thomas and Philip, land at Taunton. The original deed is in the possession of Rev. L. A. Butterfield, of 24 Washington Street, Brattleboro, VT. The deed was recorded February 17, 1748, in Bristol Co., MA. He died about 1740." The above citation goes on to list his ancestors back to Thomas of Pontypool and descendants in a line down to Claude Greene Leonard. There's a John Leonard, Constable, of about 1700, mentioned in the account books of Raynham Forge kept by Thomas Leonard. Was it this John? ECL lists marriage to Mrs. Phebe Deane as "probable." This son did not marry the daughter of King Philip as stated in a New York History (Hubbard). That is an error. Mary King was the daughter of Philip King, not King Philip.
	iv.	Judge, Major George LEONARD^248,249 was born on 18 April 1671 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. He died on 5 September 1716 at the age of 45 in Norton, Bristol Co., MA.¹⁸¹ He was buried in Norton, Bristol Co., MA. ECL: The Hon. George Leonard, the third son of Judge Thomas, inherited from his father and from the Watson family untiring industry, ability, and sound common sense, which carried him successfully through his undertakings. He learned the bloomers art under his father at the Raynham Forge. Having married in 1694,he cast about for an opening for his enterprise. His father and Uncle James having obtained the grant in 1696 of the North Purchase for building there a bloomery, George moved there to supervise the building of the dam and ironworks. These works cost about 300 pounds besides other expenses for bridges, roads, etc. George Leonard was master workman and manager. He received some property by his wife Anna Tisdale; and we find him in the course of five or six years buying lands and rights in the North Purchase ( later Norton). On 28 Oct 1707 he bought of his uncle James his share in the ironworks at Chartley, the third lot in the division of the North Purchase, 100 acres with 3/4 of the land between the 3rd and 4th lot of the second division, already agreed upon to be laid out... ECL goes on with more land purchases, the accounts of the Chartley Forge in some detail, his offices in government, and his death and rumored pact with the devil (!!). See manuscript, pp. 53-55. The Forge burned down 3 December 1741. George was the first settler of what later became the town of Norton in 1696. He was a slave owner, a major in the militia, and judge of the Court of Common Pleas. For a lot more information about him, see Fanny Leonard Koster, pp. 71-73. Also, Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family by William Read Deane in NEHGS, 1851, pp. 403 ff. Also in Chilton-More-Rogers Silver Book by the Mayflower Society. His will, dtd. August 30, 1716, mentions wife Anna, 5 daughters: Phebe, Anna, Abigail, Marcy, and Mary; 3 sons: George, Nathaniel, and Ephraim (all under age), his grandfather Watson, his uncle James Leonard, his man Caleminco, his boy Dick, his sisters Elizabeth Williams and Mary Tisdale. Witnessed by John Leonard, Benjamin Ware, and Ephraim Lane.
	v.	Rev., Capt. Samuel LEONARD²⁵⁰ was born on 1 February 1673 in Raynham, Bristol Co., MA. He died on 13 April 1745 at the age of 72 in Raynham, Bristol Co., MA.²⁵¹ He was buried in Town Center Cemetery, Raynham, MA.⁸⁵ Samuel was deacon, captain, justice of the peace. For more information see Fanny Leonard Koster, pp. 63-64. She lists all of the children. See also NEHGS Register, 1851, p. 411, which mentions nine children. His birth was published in Taunton VR births, page 257. He was born in Taunton before 1731, when Raynham became a separate town. ECL: Upon his father's death, he became clerk and manager of the Raynham Ironworks. He was master workman on the East Hearth of the Bloomery. "A man of distinction in piety, a Deacon, as were all his sons," according to ECL. Samuel Emery: He was a bloomer of iron, a justice of the peace and deacon of the church at Raynham. His dispute with Zephaniah Leonard (Stephen3, 2, James1) kept the courts busy for some years. Sam succeeded in getting Zephaniah out of Raynham Forge, but Zephaniah went over to Whittenton and created another forge that was very successful. Will of Samuell Leonard, esq., "The Eldest of That Name in Raynham...being in the Seventy-first Year of my age, " dtd 6 July 1744, prob. 8 July 1745. Wife Katherine. Sons: Samuell (eldest), Abiell, Elijah, & George (last 3 called "three youngest sons"). Daughters: Bethiah Howard, Hesadiah Wales, Phebe King, Sophia Dean, and Abiah King. The Rev. John Wales, Pastor of the Church of Christ in Raynham. "My young kinsman Simeon Read (under 21) who doth dwell with me." My Negro man Gambo. Mentions lands in Raynham, Taunton, Taunton North Purchase, and Norton. Wife and son Samuell to be Executors. Friends and kinsmen Col. George Leonard and Colonel Ephraim Leonard, Esqs., both of Norton, to be oversears.
128	vi.	Ensign Elkanah LEONARD.
	vii.	James LEONARD²⁵² was born on 17 December 1679 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.²⁵³ He died on 8 May 1682 at the age of 2 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.²⁵³
	viii.	daughter LEONARD²⁵⁴ was born on 6 April 1681 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. She died on 6 April 1681 at the age of 0 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. Taunton VR's says a daughter of Thomas stillborn April 10, 1681. George Marston Leonard's charts indicate the same.
	ix.	Seth LEONARD²⁵⁵ was born on 28 April 1682 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.²⁵³ He died on 2 November 1682 at the age of 0 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.²⁵³
	x.	Abiah Phebe LEONARD²⁵⁶ was born on 3 March 1684 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. She died on 15 July 1685 at the age of 1 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.
	xi.	Elizabeth LEONARD²⁵⁷ was born on 15 July 1686 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. She died in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. Handwritten note in ECL's manuscript (by GML?) has Elizabeth b. 4-19-1674, d. 1750, m. Capt. Joseph Hall. That was this Elizabeth's cousin Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Leonard.