Prudence Lewis

BIRTH

• Name: Prudence Leonard – Father's Name: James Leonard
• Birth Date: 24 Jan 1669/70 – Birth Recorded in Taunton Records (Plymouth Colony until 1685).
• ISSUE: Source 1 below includes the following: "[Prudence Leanard, P.C.R. Prudence Leonard, d. James of T., “prob, at Braintree,” P.R.16.]" However, the following quote differs with the bracketed insertion:
  • “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 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.” — Deane, William Reed.1851. A Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family: Containing a Full Account of the First Three Generations of the Family of James Leonard... Boston: NEHGS Register. Archive.org, p. 16.
• Source 1. Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1850 "TAUNTON". Ancestry.com. Posted page in Sources.
• Source 2. The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011 Ancestry.com.
• Source 3. Torrey's U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700: b. 1670; m. 10 Dec 1690.

Marriage: "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", FamilySearch (Sat Mar 09 09:50:47 UTC 2024); Entry for Samuel Lewes and Prudence Leonard, 10 Dec 1690.

Child of Samuel and Prudence: "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch, (16 Mar 2022), Samuel Lewes, baptized 22 Jun 1700.

Book

• Otis, Amos. 1890. “Lewes.” In Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families, Being a Reprint of the Amos Otis Papers, Originally Published in “The Barnstable Patriot,” edited by Charles Francis Swift, 2:115–47. Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA: F. B. & F. P. Goss (The “Patriot” Press). Archive.org:—
  • (26.) Samuel Lewes, son of Lieut. James, (5) born 10th April 1659, married Dec. 1690, Prudence Leonard. Widow Prudence Lewes died March 31, 1736, aged 60.

Samuel Lewes resided in the East Parish, owned the estate which his uncle John bought of Joshua Lombard, next east of Elder Henry Cobb’s great lot. He died Dec. 1726, aged 67, intestate. Letters of administration on his estate were granted to his widow Prudence Lewes Jan. 25, 1725-6. The Inventory of the estate by Shubael Dimmock, James Cobb and Samuel Bacon, amounted to £1,551,04,0 in the depreciated Bills of Credit then current. The homestead which contained about ten acres, and the dwelling-house thereon, was apprised at £644. Mr. Samuel Lewes’ house, it appears, was the second built on the lot, for in the division the cellar of an old house is named. He also owned a house and land at South Sea. In the division, the widow had the improvement of one-third of the estate. The other two-thirds were one-half to Samuel, the eldest son, who took the South Sea property; one quarter to Joseph, who had the easterly part of the homestead; and one quarter to Ebenezer, who had the western part, adjoining the Cobb land. ‘The rest of the estate was divided in the same proportions to the sons. The two daughters, Thankful and Hannah had each £146,12,8 ‘‘in good bills of credit.”

• * Child born in Barnstable
  • * 99. I. SAMUEL, 22d June 1700. He resided at South Sea, married Reliance, and had born in Barnstable:
    • [NOTE: Curiously, the marriage is recorded on 13 Apr 1726 FamilySearch, which is four years before the birth of Samuel. Probably, the record is a misread transcription of an original, difficult-to-read record and they married 13 Apr 1720.—Ken Shelley, 6 May 2024.]
      • 1. Susanna, Jan. 19, 1722
      • 2. Nehemiah, July 4, 1724
      • 3. Samuel, April 13, 1726
      • 4. Leonard, Oct. 25, 1728
      • 5. Solomon, May 31, 1730
      • 6. Barnabas, April 12, 1734