Maj. Thomas Leonard

    Added by Elwin Nickerson II A short History about my Great Uncle Thomas with Citations Noted.                                                                                                                                                                         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 hisbrothers were probably the for most ironmasters in the Black Country (iron ore country in Staffordshire) at that time, owning iron and mine works asfar 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 Jamesand grandson Joseph. D.Hamilton Hurd in "History of Bristol County, MA," gives his date of death as December 21, 1713.

He was foreman and manager of the Taunton ironworks from 1683 to 1713,according to Fanny Leonard Koster.

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 inthe 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 there sult of his own special efforts at self education, since he was un able 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 was21. 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 Whittenton works. In 1696 he and his brother James obtained a grant of200 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. 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 1882 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 until1691. After the union of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies, he was chosen a Representative to the General Court at Boston in 1694/5 andagain in 1698/9. On May 6, 1675, his father conveyed to him the East Hearth at the Taunton Works as Master workman. 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 medicine, 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."

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 his71st 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 sonJohn, brothers Benjamin and James. Lands in Middleboro, Taunton,Rehobeth, and Taunton North Purchase. Friends Elder Henry Hodges, DeaconEzra Deane, Deacon Israel Thrasher, and Seth Williams to be overseers.(3:179-185).

Children checked against the list in NEHGS Reg. 1851, p. 414(3),"Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family

Birth: Aug. 3, 1641 - Staffordshire, England

Death: Nov. 24, 1713 - Raynham, Bristol County, Massachusetts, USA

• Son of James and Mary Martin Leonard.
• Husband of Mary Leonard.
• Aged 72 yrs

Family links:

Children:

• Mary Leonard Tisdale (1663 - 1727)*

Spouse:

• Mary Watson Leonard (1642 - 1723)

Burial: Neck O Land Cemetery, Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, USA

Created by: Cindi Caltrider Record added: Jan 17, 2007 Find A Grave Memorial# 17539346

Deacon, Major Thomas LEONARD2,4,5,6 was born on 3 Aug 1641 in Kinver, Staffordshire, England. He was baptized on 8 Aug 1641 in Kinver, Staffordshire, England. He died on 24 Nov 1713 in Raynham, Bristol Co., MA.2 He was buried in Neck of Land Burying Ground, Taunton, MA. Thomas was baptised August 8, 1641, in Kinver, Staffordshire, son ofJames and Jane Leonard. Kinver is located on the Stour River, 7 miles SWof Dudley. Immediately across the river is located Whittinton. Is thiswhy James Leonard in 1666 named his "forge or blomerie with one hearth"on the Mill River in Taunton, MA, "Whittinton 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 theIron Works in New England" was Thomas Foley (1617 - 1677). He and hisbrothers were probably the formost ironmasters in the Black Country (ironore country in Staffordshire) at that time, owning iron and mine works asfar afield as Monmouthshire. Their father, Richard Foley, started thefamily fortune with an iron works near Stourbridge, 3 miles east ofKinver. Could he have been involved in recruiting the Leonards whenWinthrop 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 deathas December 21, 1713.

He was foreman and manager of the Taunton ironworks from 1683 to 1713,according to Fanny Leonard Koster.

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

"It is evident from the habits displayed in the various offices he heldand the conditions under which he had to perform the duties connectedwith the same that he was a man of rare judgment, of great ability, andof untiring industry. He was careful and conscientious in all hisactions whenever he was called upon to perform some duty. He was quick,versatile, and popular, and he seems to have become the leading man inthe community and acquired the confidence of the leading men in theMassachusetts Colony. The amount of work that he accomplished wasremarkable and the skill and correctness displayed in the various papersthat he drew up and are still extant would lead one to believe that hehad received a careful legal training. Yet we know that it was theresult of his own special efforts at self education, since he was unableto write his name when he first arrived. His family was moving aboutfrom England to various parts of America. His mother, burdened with thecares of a growing family under pioneer conditions, died when Thomas was21. We must believe that it was his mother, through her oversight andencouragement, laid the foundation of the character displayed by hereldest son.

"Under the instruction of his father, he leared the iron manufacturetrade and became an expert "bloomer" and refiner. It is almost certainthat as early as 1666 he had become skilled sufficiently that his fatherleft the oversight and management of the manufacture of iron at theTaunton works to him, leaving James free to devote his time to theWhittinton works. In 1696 he and his brother James obtained a grant of200 acres of land in the North Purchase for encouragement to build aforge on the Cowesitt River. He and James continued to own and operatethis forge until 1707, when James sold his share to his nephew George,son of Thomas. In 1700 Thomas, together with Philip King, commenced tobuild a forge at Trout Brook in Middleboro. The next year, Thomaspurchased King's portion, finished the forge, and placed his youngest sonElkanah 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 militiacompany at Taunton in 1665. No doubt that he immediately set himself towork to become efficient as a military officer. In 1884, a book entitled"The discipline of the young artilleryman" was found with ThomasLeonard'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 tomake a list of the free inhabitants of the town. In 1882 he was electedone of the Selectmen of Taunton and a Deputy to the Court at Plymouth.These offices he continued to hold with but a single exception until1691. After the union of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies, he waschosen a Representative to the General Court at Boston in 1694/5 andagain in 1698/9. On May 6, 1675, his father conveyed to him the EastHearth at the Taunton Works as Masterworkman. In 1683 he was appointedClerk 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 ThomasLeonard became Clerk and manager until his death, the Taunton Ironworkspaid 15% per year on its shares.

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

Another source: Squaw Betty, niece of King Philip treated both familiesof the Leonards when they were stricken with typhoid fever. She gatheredherbs, prepared and administered the medecine, and nursed them back tohealth. 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 shesaid she hoped to be buried.

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

Will of Thomas Leonard "the eldest of ye name in Taunton" being in his71st year of age, dtd. 29 Jan. 1711/2, prob. 5 February 1713/4. Mentionswife, wife's father, five sons, two daughters, grandson Thomas of sonJohn, brothers Benjamin and James. Lands in Middleboro, Taunton,Rehobeth, and Taunton North Purchase. Friends Elder Henry Hodges, DeaconEzra 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."

[NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Private-Begin]7 Mary WATSON8 (daughter of Capt. George WATSON and Phebe HICKS) was born on 2 Aug 1642 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA.2 She died on 1 Dec 1723 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.2 She was buried in Neck of Land Burying Ground, Taunton, MA. She died in her 81st year. (History of Bristol County, MA, by D.Hamilton Hurd, Philadelphia, 1883.)(Also Savage, p. 80.) Deacon, Major Thomas LEONARD and Mary WATSON had the following children:

+11

i.

Mary LEONARD. +12

ii.

Thomas LEONARD. +13

iii.

John LEONARD. +14

iv.

Judge, Major George LEONARD. +15

v.

Rev., Capt. Samuel LEONARD. +16

vi.

Ensign Elkanah LEONARD. 17

vii.

James LEONARD9 was born on 17 Dec 1679 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.10 He died on 8 May 1682 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.10 18

viii.

Daughter LEONARD11 was born on 6 Apr 1681 in Taunton, MA. She died on 6 Apr 1681 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. Taunton VR's says a daughter of Thomas stillborn April 10, 1681. GeorgeMarston Leonard's charts indicate the same. 19

ix.

Seth LEONARD12 was born on 28 Apr 1682 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.10 He died on 2 Nov 1682 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA.10 20

x.

Abiah Phebe LEONARD13 was born on 3 Mar 1683/84 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. She died on 15 Jul 1685 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. +21

xi.

Elizabeth LEONARD.

GEDCOM Source

@R-993469111@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=90074845&pid...

GEDCOM Source

@R-2147453843@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=7937571&pid=657

GEDCOM Note

Category: Original 77 Owners of the South Purchase Category:Taunton, Massachusetts

Biography == Thomas, son of James and Jane Leonard, was baptised at Kinver, Staffordshire, England on August 7, 1641.<ref>"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J94T-XFC : 19 March 2020), Thomas Leonard, 1641.</ref>

Thomas came to New England with his father, mother, and uncle Henry "when a small boy."<ref name=Deane>Deane, William Reed. Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family. Boston, MA: Self-Published for the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1851. Page 7.</ref> He married Mary Watson of Plymouth in August of 1662.<ref>Vital Records of Taunton Massachusetts to the Year 1850 Volume II-Marriages. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1928. Page 299.</ref><ref>The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New EnglandHistoric Genealogical Society, 2010), (Originally Published as: New England Historic Genealogical Society. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., 1995). By Subscription. Page 1946.</ref> They had eleven known children who were born in Taunton.<ref name=Deane/> Thomas worked for his father at the forge and was manager of the Taunton Iron Works for thirty years. He held commissions, including Major in the Bristol Company Regiment, was a probate Judge, town clerk, deacon of the Church.<ref>Koster, Fannie Leonard. Annals of the Leonard Family. Brooklyn, NY: Self-Published, 1911. Page 39 </ref> Thomas' military career was especially storied, spanning 48 years. He was elected Ensign of the first Military Company in 1665. He also served as Captain and Major of the First Regiment of the County of Bristol.<ref>Emery, Samuel Hopkins. History of Taunton, Massachusetts From its Settlement to the Present Time. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1893. Page 372.</ref> Thomas died at Taunton on November 24, 1713.<ref>Vital Records of Taunton Massachusetts to the Year 1850 Volume III-Deaths. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1929. Page 129.</ref> He is buried in the Neck O Land Cemetery, Taunton, Bristol County , MA

Children ===# Mary b 3 Aug 1663<ref>Vital Records of Taunton Massachusetts to the Year 1850 Volume I Births. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1928. Page 256.</ref># Thomas b 22 Jan 1665;<ref>Taunton, 1928. Page 259.</ref> m Joanna Pitchard# John b 18 May 1668;<ref>Taunton, 1928. Page 254.</ref>m Mary King# George b 18 Apr 1671;<ref>Taunton, 1928. Page 252.</ref> m AnnaTisdale# Samuel b 1 Feb 1673;<ref name=Vital>Taunton, 1928. Page 258.</ref> m Katherine Deane# Elkanah Leonard b 15 May 1677<ref name=Taunton>Taunton, 1928. Page 251.</ref># James b 17 Dec 1679;<ref>Taunton, 1928. Page 253.</ref> d 1682# Daughter; stillborn 10 Apr 1681<ref>Taunton, 1928. Page 259.</ref>

1. Seth b 28 Apr 1682;<ref name=Vital/> d Nov 1682# Phebe b 3 Mar 1684;<ref>Taunton, 1928. Page 252.</ref> d 1685
2. Elizabeth b 15 Jul 1686;<ref name=Taunton/> m Jonathan Williams

Sources

<references />