Sixth Generation

1073. Jonathan LEONARD was born on 2 Nov 1763 in Stoughton, MA. He died on 25 Oct 1839 in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was the son of Eliphalet Leonard and learned the iron foundry businessfrom him. From ECL: Jonathan wrote in a letter February 23, 1826 (seeNEHGS Register 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 istold 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.

From the history of Canton on their web site: "Around 1760 the dam nearwhat is today the center of town had a blacksmith shop and forge set upby Mr. Leonard Kinsley and by 1787 Mr. Adam Kinsley and Jonathan Leonardwere producing farm implements, saw blades, and tools for general use.As the business prospered and grew, a slitting mill, designed for cuttingand rolling iron was built in 1793. By 1797 they had produced onethousand tons of rolled iron and were producing steel for the firsttime. Leonard and Kinsley secured government contracts to produce gunsduring the War of 1812, and the company continued to grow and prosper.Around 1821 Mr. Leonard established his own forge on the easterly side ofthe privilege. It is not clear why the partnership broke up, but itseems that Mr. Leonard had been convinced that Easton, MA, was the siteof large deposits of iron ore and lost most of his money looking for it.His forge remained in operation at this location until 1833 or 1835 whenhe moved from the area and died in New Orleans sometime later."

There may be confusion about whether Jonathan was the son of Eliphalet,son of James (William Reed Deane, NEHGS Register 1851, p. 414) or son ofEliphalet, Jr. (above). It is also said that Jonathan died at anadvanced age in New Orleans and that he had a son who lived in Meriden,CT.

Jonathan LEONARD and Elizabeth BLACKMAN were married on 4 Mar 1782 in Easton, MA.⁷⁷⁰ Jonathan LEONARD and Elizabeth BLACKMAN had the following children:

+2088	i.	Rodolphus LEONARD.
+2089	ii.	Catherine Dean LEONARD.
2090	iii.	Charles Sargeant LEONARD was born on 10 Jan 1786. He died in 1848 in New Orleans, LA. In 1823 he opened a forge in Canton, MA. The forge burned down onNovember 29, 1825. The site was purchased by Mr. George Downes in 1828at a sheriff's sale. He died unmarried in New Orleans.
+2091	iv.	Sally LEONARD.
2092	v.	James LEONARD was born on 24 Aug 1792. He died in Saulsbury, CT. He died unmarried in Saulsbury, CT.
2093	vi.	Elizabeth LEONARD was born on 3 Aug 1794. She died in 1851. She died unmarried.
+2094	vii.	Jonathan LEONARD.
+2095	viii.	Russell J. LEONARD.