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Fifth Generation
472. Eliphalet
LEONARD512 was born
on 4 Mar 1729/30 in Easton, MA. He died on 23 Oct 1805 in Canton,
Norfolk Co., MA. He was a Bloomer and made steel for the Revolutionary
Army. He was thefirst to make steel in Easton, MA. He was a Captain in the
Militia.Jonathan Leonard, his son, erected a furnace capable of making 3 tons
ata time. In 1813, he erected another in Canton making 100 tons a year (p.369,
The New England States, William T. Davis, ed., Vol 1, D. H. Hurd &Co., Boston,
1897).
More from ECL: "Sometime before 1771 Eliphalet Leonard, Jr., had erecteda
forge on the road east of the Washington Street Methodist Church. Itwas deeded
to him in 1765, and not long after he erected a forge. It issaid that he was
the first person to attempt the making of steel in thiscountry. We are aware
that claims of this kind must be received withcaution, but it was made by the
well-known Jonathan Leonard, the son ofEliphalet. Jonathan wrote in a letter
February 23, 1826 (see NEHGSRegister Vol. XI, pp.289-90), "as to the making
of steel, the firstattempt made in this country, so far as my knowledge goes,
was made by myfather Eliphalet about the year 1775/6. He led to the attempt
by theextreme scarcity of steel and the difficulty of procuring it for themanufacture
of arms, then in great demand for the defense of thecountry. He constructed
several furnaces and so far succeeded as tosupply himself and some of his neighbors.
In 1787 I obtained furtherinsight into the business and erected at Easton a
furnace capable ofmaking 3 tons at a batch. This continued until 1808, in consequence
ofcommercial restrictions, I erected another in the same place capable ofmaking
10 tons at a batch. In 1813 I erected another furnace in Cantonwhere I now live
(1826) and where I made about 100 tons of steel peryear." As to the manner
in which he obtained insight into the business,it is told that Jonathan, hearing
that steel was being manufactured by animproved process in Pennsylvania, went
there where it was made. When hecame to the place he assumed the ways of a simpleton,
gradually arousingthe sympathies and humorous interest of the workmen. He received
menialemployment about the furnace, meanwhile keeping his eyes open andprofiting
by the knowledge he gained. This Jonathan, who became known as"Quaker Leonard,"
was eccentric and bright enough to have done all this.He paid a poll tax in Easton
from 1785 to 1792; after that his namedisappears, but he was taxed as a nonresident
as he continued thebusiness. About 1792/3, Eliphalet, 3rd, brother of Jonathan,
built thedam which is known as "The Shovel Shop Pond Dam" and erected
a forgethere and a nailors shop. Later he built a house there and it was thefirst
painted house in Easton Village. It is the home in which OakesAmes was born.
Eliphalet, 3rd, did not meet with much success, and hewas bankrupt in 1801.
The place was sold in 1803 and finally passed intothe hands of Oliver Ames.
In this section of town the iron business wascarried on exclusively by the Leonards."
Was he born in 1730 or 1731? Eliphalet LEONARD and Silence HOWARD were married
on 4 Jul 1755 in Bridgewater, MA.302
Silence HOWARD (daughter of Ebenezer HOWARD and Catherine
DEAN) was born on 10 Sep 1736. She died on 12 May 1802 in Easton,
MA. Eliphalet LEONARD and Silence HOWARD had the following children:
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