Home
Surname List
Name Index
Sources
Email Us |
Tenth Generation
4866. Walter Bradford
LEONARD was born on 4 Feb 1887 in Bristol, RI. [NEED TO DEFINE
SENTENCE: Graduated] He died on 26 Mar 1956 in Cranston, RI.
[NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Order of birth] He was buried in #5439,
section 19, north side of Acorn Avenue and 83 ft. west of the junction of Acorn
and Elmwood A. Parents were residing in Bristol in 1888. Verification
of birth fromcopy of birth certificate and also checking the VR's of Bristol.
Walter graduated from grammar school in 1901 in East Providence. He gavethe
impression his family was very poor as he was growing up. He didn'tgo to high
school, but began working as an office boy for AmericanEmery. By the time he
married, he was a salesman. He later became aVice President of American Emery,
responsible for manufacturing. He losthis job as the company downsized in the
Great Depression. He laterbecame a salesman for American Emery and later yet
had a diamond toolbusiness.
When registering for the World War I draft on June 5, 1917, Walter B.Leonard
2nd was living at 135 Reservoir Avenue, Providence, with his wifeand one child.
He was born February 4, 1887, in Bristol, RI, and wasworking as Asst. President
of American Emery Wheel Works on WatermanStreet in Providence. He was of medium
height and slender build, withlight blue eyes and dark brown hair.
The family was living with Edith's father, Ernest, at 135 ReservoirAvenue, Providence,
at the 1920 Census, along with Edith's sister Lillian(Pat). Walter is listed
as a Vice President of American Emery. In the1930 Census, family is listed as
living at 135 Reservoir Avenue,Providence, District 5, with Ernest Regester,
next to Arthur B. andLillian Dodge and near the John Regester family.
The family lived at 148 Grace Street in Cranston from sometime in the1930's until
the late 1940's and summered at Quonochontaug, RI from theearly 1900's to the
1930's. Walter was an avid salt water fisherman.
Marriage to Edith Anne Regester February 27, 1906, in East Providence,R.I. verified
AC/VR.
The origin of the name Bradford in the family warrants some attention.My grandfather,
Walter Bradford Leonard, said that the Bradford came fromthe family of Governor
Bradford. William Bradford was Deputy Governor ofRI in the late 1700's and an
earlier William Bradford was governor ofPlymouth Bay Colony in the 1600's. But
there is no direct genealogicalline to the Bradford family in the Leonard genealogy
of our branch. Sothe story becomes a bit more complicated hypothetical. It
seems thatAbigail Diman Monro, wife of Abraham Leonard, was named after her aunt,Abigail
Monro (1770-1851) who married Jeremiah Diman, thereby becomingAbigail Diman.
Her daughter, Margaret Diman (1809-1894), who was asecond cousin and contemporary
of Abigail Diman Leonard, married AllenTaylor Smith Bradford, grandson of Gov.
William Bradford. Allen TaylorSmith Bradford had a relative, Walter Bradford,
who died in 1837 at age ?(check) and an uncle, John, son of Gov. Bradford, who
married JemimaWardwell and had a son Walter Bradford, born 13 August 1809, marriedSarah
W. Macomber 19 June 1845, and died 25 June 1858. Abigail DimanLeonard's son,
John Henry Leonard (1823-1879), who was a contemporary anddistant cousin of Walter
Bradford, named one of his sons Walter BradfordLeonard in 1867 after one of these
earlier Walter Bradfords. We'rechecking for further clarification. Walter
Bradford LEONARD and Edith Ann REGESTER were married on 27 Feb 1906 in East Providence,
RI. Edith Ann REGESTER (daughter of Ernest
William REGESTER and Sarah Lillia EMPSON) was born on 14 Nov 1889 in East Providence,
RI. She died on 24 May 1954 in Cranston, RI. She was
buried in #5439, section 19, north side of Acorn Avenue and 83 ft. west of the
junction of Acorn and Elmwood A. Her nickname was Doll, apparently
all the way from childhood. Herhusband referred to her as Doll. I, her grandson,
called her Nana Doll.
She was 64 when she died, according to her obituary. She had been aresident
of Cranston for 15 years (1954). She was active in women's clubcircles and for
11 years was treasurer of the Auburn Library Club. Shewas vice chairman of the
Cranston Chapter, American Red Cross and hadcharge of the chapter's outside activities
during World War II. She wasa member of Cranston Garden Club and the Elmwood
Women's Club. Twosisters are mentioned in the obituary: Mrs. Lillian Dodge
of Cranstonand Mrs. Marion Kersch of California, and a brother, Lawrence Regester,of
Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She died of cancer. She was buried in NorthBurial Ground,
Providence, with her husband in her father's plot. Attime of death, she was
residing at 24 Beacon Circle, Cranston, R.I. Walter Bradford LEONARD and Edith
Ann REGESTER had the following children:
|