-http://www.thepeerage.com/p2379.htm#i23787

There has been - no definte proof that Thomas is the father of Joseph leigh who married Thankful Smith

it has just been passed down from researcher to research with tibbits of information gathered on the Leigh name!

Also BEWARE - some have tried to change the surname to Lee to tie into the Robert E. Lee lineage [project - http ://www.geni.com/projects/Lees-of-Virginia] and to the family of Henry Lee III, nicknamed "Light Horse Harry"

Some Leigh History facts passed down but never proven

Five generations ago the first of the family settled in Amwell Twp., Hunterdon co., NJ. He bore the christain name of "Joseph".

He was a descendant of Thomas first lord of Stanley county of Warwick, England. found in: Chapman, Portrait and Biographical Record Hunterdon and Warren Counties New Jersey (New York and Chicago, 1898) pg. 366.

This with the perrage has been a recurrant tradition, mentioned by various writers. In the Book: There were two and They Were brothers (1976) pg. 76

Irene Robinson Anthony qoutes from another New Jersey book (Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey by Francis Bazley Lee). >He (Joseph) was the son of Baron Leigh of England, and upon the death of the latter, owing to the fact that all trace of Joseph had been lost, the estates were confiscated and endless litigation and bitter contention has been the result the direct heirs of Joseph Leigh having appealed their case in many courts.

From another No documentation,but have been told on good authority that >Joseph Leigh(born in Dublin,1682) was the son of Baron Leigh, and grandson of Lord Thomas Leigh of Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, England. There is a website for the Abbey. [ project - http://www.geni.com/projects/Legh-Leigh-Families]

Joseph Leigh was the Leigh to bring us to the States. He was the son of Baron Leigh, and heir to the Leigh family estate of Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, England. Joseph was born in Dublin, Ireland, his father was the son of Lord Thomas Leigh of the above named.

Another writes - I have no doubt that he was the son of Baron Thomas Leigh, because of the very early references and stories to this, and the fact that he did name a son Thomas, too.

If you look at a time line for Baron Thomas Leigh, he was in Dublin, Ireland at the time that Joseph was born, too.

'''However, it would be nice to prove Joseph's birth with any kind of record'''. The Church of Ireland in Dublin may have a copy of his birth....maybe the records were not thoroughly looked through...maybe.

If he was the youngest of 16 children, as has been written, since Baron Thomas' children that are named online do not number 16, there could be a few who died young....and of course a few who simply were not recognized in Thomas' will because of where they were in the "line-up", and the English inheritance laws.
I have letters of indenture, land deeds etc. on partchment handwritten originals in the family since 1895 when written in Ireland. A direct Link to Rosegarland, Wexford whose current owner's name is same as mine as was my uncles. Family immigrated from Dublin ]- Francis J. Leigh [Frank]

Of what is stated above is found - that would fit - but does not list a son Joseph http://thepeerage.com/p2379.htm#i23787:

Thomas Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh of Stoneleigh was baptised on 17 June 1652.1 He was the son of Thomas Leigh and Jane FitzMaurice He married, firstly, Elizabeth Brown, daughter of Richard Brown, in April 1669.1 He married, secondly, Eleanor Watson, daughter of Edward Watson, 2nd Baron Rockingham, on 25 October 1679.1 He died on 12 November 1710 at age 58.

Thomas Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh of Stoneleigh succeeded to the title of 3rd Baronet Leigh, of Stoneleigh, co. Warwick [E., 1611] on 22 February 16711 He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baron Leigh of Stoneleigh, co. Warwick [E., 1643] on 22 February 1671. He was educated at Christ Church College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England.

Child of Thomas Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh of Stoneleigh

Eleanor Leigh

Child of Thomas Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh of Stoneleigh and Eleanor Watson

Edward Leigh, 3rd Baron Leigh of Stoneleigh b. 13 Jan 1683/84, d. 9 Mar 1737/38

Citations

[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 2, page 2292. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.

[S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition

=========================================

Genealogical and Personal Memorial of MERCER COUNTY NEW JERSEY vol. Ii FRANCIS BAZLEY LEE The lewis PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO 1907 pg. 482-484

ELIJAH LEIGH, a well known resident of Princeton, Mercer county. New Jersey, and president of the Princeton Savings Bank, is a descendant of an old English family. Leigh arms — Sable. Quartered by a cross raguly, gules. In first quarter a lozenge of the second. Supporters, two unicorns proper. Crest, a unicorn's head erased, proper. Motto : Tout vient de Dieu (All comes from God.) Supporters are very rarely found, and when given denote a family of the highest rank.

Joseph Leigh, the pioneer ancestor of the Leigh family, emigrated to America early in the seventeenth century and settled in Amboy, New Jersey. He was the son of Baron Leigh, of England, and upon the death of the latter, owing to the fact that all trace of Joseph had been lost, the estates were confiscated and endless litigation and bitter contention has been the result, the direct heirs of oseph Leigh having appealed their case in many courts.

Ichcabod Leigh, son of Joseph Leigh. ....

DOCUMENTATION IS LACKING TO FULLY LINK HIM to the Barron Leigh line of England.

=========================================================================

Joseph Leigh

• MyHeritage Family Trees
• Mary Tolle Radmacher Williams Weening in Kathy's Family Web Site, managed by Kathy Unknown (Contact)
• Stewart Web Site, managed by Alicia Stewart (Contact)

Parents: 

• Thomas Francis Leigh Birth: Circa 1667 USA Death: Circa 1700 USA
• Eleanor Hannah Leigh (born Rodkingham)

Siblings:

• Andrew Leigh,
• Robert Leigh,
• John Leigh,
• Judith Leigh,
• Cecelia Leigh

Parents: 

• Francis Leigh Jr. Leigh Birth: Circa 1681 of, Rathangan,Kildare,Ireland Death: 1727 Ireland
• Allice Leigh Jr. Leigh (born Leigh) Birth: Circa 1678 Kildare, Kildare, Ireland Death: 1702 Burial: Dec 31 1700

Siblings:

• John Leigh,
• Cecilia Cecelia Leigh Leach,
• Judith Leigh,
• Andrew Leigh,
• <Private> Leigh,
• Robert Leigh