Capt. James Leonard, Jr.

James 2 son of James 1 Leonard was born about 1643 in England (part of Great Britain since 1707), and died at Taunton, Massachusetts Bay Colony on 1 November 1726. He was interested in iron works and resided early in life at Braintree later at Taunton where the iron works have continued down to the present time and were in his day the greatest industry in New England in which many people held shares. There was a saying current in those times, "Wherever you can find an iron works you will find a Leonard.

His first wife Hannah died 25 February 1674 and he married second Lydia daughter of Anthony Gulliver of Milton Massachusetts born 1652/53 died July 24 1705. His third wife Rebecca born about 1662 died April 3 1738 in her seventy sixth year. (Cutter, New England Families, page 389)

Children w/first wife Hannah —— (NOT Hannah Stone, wife of his son James):
1. Eunice born November 25 1668 in Braintree
2. Prudence January 24 1670
3. Hannah October 2 1671

Children w/second wife, Lydia Guliver:
4. James February 1 1673 died 1674
5. David May 11 1677
6. Lydia May 10 1679
7. Stephen mentioned below
8. Abigail January 30 1683
9. Nathaniel October 18 1675
10. Seth April 3 1686
11. Sarah September 6 1688
12. Mehitable October 24 1691
13. Elizabeth April 19 1694

His widow, Rebecca, survived him. He was also married to Lydia Guliver, daughter of Anthony Guliver, who died before him. Rebecca was the widow of Benjamin Williams of Taunton.

He was buried in Neck 'o Land Cemetery, Taunton, MA. According to ECL, "the second son of James Leonard was probably born in England; there is not much about him in the public records. What is found is in the records of his brother Thomas. He learned the ironmasters trade but for the fact that his first four children were born in Braintree, we assume that he was at the Braintree works until about1671.

One source, CD157 Early New York Families, p. 435, has him as the son of Richard Leonard, born in 1643 and dying 1 Nov 1736.

He was given the west hearth of Raynham Forge by his father about 1675.We are led to believe that James worked at the Raynham Forge as long as he worked in iron. He was Surveyor of Highways in 1669 and 1678, on the Grand Jury in 1680 and 1685, a constable in 1686, a Selectman in 1689,1690, 1691 to 1696, 1697, 1703, 1705, and 1706. He is styled Lt. in1706, 1708, and 1710." See ECL, pp. 35ff.

He was thrifty. He owned a sawmill with his brother Thomas, which he gave to his son Seth in 1712. He aided his son James in the purchase of his uncle Uriah's interest in the Whittinton Forge in 1699. He placed his son Stephen as master workman at the West Hearth in Raynham Ironworks.

He built the house of 7 gables in Raynham which remained in the family until 1840.

He died in his 84th year. Will of James Leonard of Taunton, "being aged and under bodily weakness," dtd. March 4, 1725/6, prob. 13 April 1726/7.Wife Rebecca. Sons: James (eldest), Stephen and Seth Leonard. 3 daughters by my first wife: Unis, Prudence, and Hannah Crane who married John Crane of Dighton, dcd. Other daughters: Lydia Brettin, Sarah Hodges, Elizabeth Hall, Abigail Dean dcd. and Darkis Leonard. "My late father-in-law Anthoney Culiver" and my late wife Lydia dcd. Grandson Zephaniah Leonard. Granddaughter Abigail Dean and other children (not named) of my daughter Abigail Dean dcd. My brothers Thomas Leonard and Uriah Leonard. My indentured servant Patriarch Robinson and Abigail Robinson. Sons James and Seth Leonard as execs. Witnesses: Seth Williams, Timothy Jones, and Samuel Leonard, Jr. (5:399/400/1/2/3). Who was Darkis (Dorcas?) Leonard? A Dorcas White married his son, Seth.

Source: http://www.bradsport.com/jamesleonarddescendants1107/b6254.htm#P2743

Books

• Reed, William. 1851. Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family. Boston, MA: Self-Published for the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1851. Archive.org, p 16:—
  • “I. JAMES (5) was dead in 1691; wife Margaret, who survived him, was mother-in-law to all his children. She d. abt. 1701. He was at Lynn, 1651...
    • FN: "The following: are entries on an account book of the Iron Company at Lynn, under date 1651: 'James Leonnarde 15 days worke about finnerey Chimneye and other worke in ye forge, 1:13:0. — To ditto Leonard for dressing his bellows 3 times, 1:10:0.'...
  • To ditto soe much allowed him for bringing his goods from Prouideuce, 2:0: 0”)—of Braintree, 1652, and settled the same year, at Taunton, where he and his brother Henry erected the first forge in Plymouth Colony. This forge probably became soon after its erection the principal one in America.”
• Koster, Fanny Louise Leonard. 1911. Annals of the Leonard Family. Brooklyn, NY: Self-Published, 1911. FamilySearch, p. 43.
  • He likely learned the trade of Ironworker from his father in Braintree, and when in Taunton in 1671 he was given the west hearth of Raynham Forge. In 1695, James and his brother Thomas built the Chartley Iron Works at the corner of South Worcester and West Main streets. Bog iron was dug along the banks of Stony Brook which flowed through the area where Chartley Pond is today.
  • He continued this trade all of his life.

James was a representative to the general court of Massachusetts, first lieutenant in the first Military Company of Taunton, 1705 and captain in 1713. Capt. James Leonard Jr. married three times, and had fourteen children. He married first wife Hannah (birth surname unknown) by 1668. — New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org.New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.

Hannah died in 1674, likely due to complications of childbirth.
They had four known children per Reed's' Genealogical Memoir... at Archive.org, p. 18—
1. Eunice (1668 -); m Richard Burt
2. Prudence (1669- ); m Samuel Lewis
3. Hannah (1671-1760); m John Crane
4. James (1672/73-1674) James and his second wife, Lydia Gulliver were married on October 29, 1675. — Vital Records of Taunton Massachusetts to the Year 1850 Volume II-Marriages. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1928. Page 292. https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Bristol/Taunton/Images/Taunton_M292....

Lydia died July 24, 1705 — Vital Records,1928. p. 127. MA-VitalRecords.org — a year before her father at the age of 47.
They had at least nine children including:
5. James (1677-1764); m (1) Hannah (2) Lydia Gulliver (3) Mercy___
6. Lydia b 10 Mar 1679; m ___Britton
7. Stephen b 14 Dec 1680
8. Abigail b 30 Jan 1682; m Dr. Ezra Deane
9. Nathaniel b 18 Mar 1685; d Jun 1685
10. Seth b 3 Apr 1686
11. Sarah b 6 Apr 1688; m Henry Hodges
12. Mehitable b 24 Oct 1691; d 1695
13. Elizabeth b 19 Apr 1694; m Capt. Joseph Hall James third wife, Rebecca Macey was born in 1661 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts. James and widow Rebecca Williams married August 29, 1706<ref>Vital Records from The NEHGS Register. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.)https://www.americanancestors.org/DB522/i/21077/254/426686779</ref> One child may have been the product of this marriage.<ref name=Deane/> Rebecca died in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusett on 3 Apr 1738 at the age of 77.

Ebenezer b 28 Aug 1708; died young and unmarried James died Nov 1, 1726 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts — Vital Records, 1928, Page 126. https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Bristol/Taunton/Images/Taunton_D126.... — and is buried at Neck O Land Cemetery,Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts — U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to current for James Leonard born 1643 England and died 1 Nov 1726. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15685169

James left a lengthy will, signed with his mark, dated March 4 1725/172 and probated 13 April 1726-1726. He made provisions for wife Rebecca, grandson Zephaniah, sons Stephen and Seth, daughters Sarah Hodges, Elizabeth Hall , Eunice, Prudence, Hannah Crane, Lydia Britton, and Abigail Dean (deceased). The bulk of his estate went to "eldest son James Leonard" including extensive land holdings, property, and "also my negro woman and the child born of her body..." Sons James and Seth were executors (signed by their marks.)<r

Bristol County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1686-1880. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org)https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2724/i/48301/15753-co1/68300265

References

1. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) Volume Name 14 Page 83-84 < AmericanAncestors >
2. James and Lydia were the ancestors of Clarence Ettienne Leonard (1854-1934) who was born in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Clarence was Proprietor of the Union Furnace Co. Foundry of Taunton. He moved from Taunton to New York City in October 1883, where he became a stockbroker, buying a seat on the Consolidated Stock Exchange. He was a Mayflower descendant through both his father and his mother and was Secretary-General of the Mayflower Society. He resided at Irvington-on-Hudson, then Caryl, Yonkers, NY. He was secretary of the Leonard Family Association in 1901. He was also a member of the Old Colony Historical Society, New England Historical Genealogical Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and Long Island Historical Society. He died on 23 May 1934 at the age of 80 in Yonkers, NY. He was buried in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.

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GEDCOM Note

[Category: Original 77 Owners of the South Purchase]