Uriah Leonard

Added by Elwin Nickerson - Taunton (Massachusetts), Doc. Relates To battle At Quebec-. Both sides of the sheet have four columns, one side having "Souldiers debtor" at the head of each column and "Albany" along the left margin, and "Taunton Credit" on the other side. Many of the items listed are military items: hatchets, knapsacks, guns, pouches, cartouches, etc. Thomas Leonard, who is mentioned numerous times, was head of the Taunton militia. Major Benjamin Church (1675-1707) is also mentioned; one John Thresher is paid for "Riding post to Bristoll with the Governors letter to Major Church." Church was the first Englishman to learn and adopt the native American way of war, and who used mixed companies of whites and natives during King Philip's war. Numerous references are made to Indians: "Phillip Kings Indian went to Canada"; "to the Canada souldiers 12 horns of which none to…John Capaunk nor Dickins which was Phill. Kings Indian"; "Josiah Leonard's gun to his Indian servant"; "Uriah Leonards Indian Armes"; "Armes sent to Plimouth for Another Indian," etc. There are also several numerous references to soldiers going to Canada, such as "Due to the town for Ammunition to Canada souldiers & to the Eastward souliers." James Leonard frequently entertained Massasoit and King Philip, who journeyed from Mt. Hope to the hunting grounds at Fowling Pond. Fowling Pond is in Raynham, was one mile north of the Ancient Iron Works on present-day King Philip's Street near the end of Mill Street. Fowling Pond was said to be two miles long and three-quarters of a mile wide in King Philip's time, but today has disappeared. James repaired their gunsand conferred favors that led to a lasting friendship.

King Philip conveyed to James Leonard about 250 acres at Mattapoisett Neck in Swansea in October 1665, but the deed was lost by the Plymouth Court. Tradition says that out the outbreak of KIng Philip's War in 1675, Philip gave strict orders that his men were never to harm a Leonard (although young Uriah Leonard was almost shot by King Philip's men early in the war, a bullet having passed through his hat as he rode his horse to escape an attack). It is conjectured that because of the Leonards Taunton was not attacked during the war. (Philip's orders were actually not to disturb certain families including those of James Leonard, John Brown, and Capt. Thomas Willett, all of Taunton --Hurd, p. 346). A Detailed Short History of my Great grandfathers Life-with Citations-My Present Sawmill stands on the North Purchase Lands of my Great Grandfather-Next to the Original Iron Forge in the Whittenton Section Of Taunton-"Note" 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. Uriah (2) the youngest child of James was born in the old House opposite the (2nd Iron Forge owned by Leonard Family) Forge at Raynham ,Massachusetts -July 10, 16 62. His mother died son after probably in the spring of 1663/4. As he was the youngest he was probably the family Favorite and allowed to have his own way more than the others. His playmate was his sister Hannah who married Isaac Dean in her 17th year and who was Uriah's senior by two years. Their long lives, hers extending to 88 years and his to at least 80 years indicate their constitutions were good; no doubt they had plenty of outdoor life and left to amuse themselves to a great extent. Dr. Fobes in his genealogical sketch says that Uriah was riding from Taunton to the Forge during King Philip's War and was fired upon by the Indians; plucking his cap off he swung it around and startled his horse and in full gallop reached the forge without a wound, but several bullets were shot through the hat he had in his hand through the neck of the horse near the same.Uriah was but thirteen years old when this occurred but one bullet infive is calculated to hit in war there must have been quite a force of Indians in ambuscade and their remarkable fascination in firing at thehat is strange. (Repeated in NEHGS Register, 1851, p. 414-5)

("Once during King Philip's War, (John Eddy's) horse was impressed for the use of Uriah Leonard, who used it to travel to Little Compton, RI, on an expedition." The Eddy Family in America, p. 660. "6 days" paid for,p. 60. Uriah was only 14 at the time. With whom and why did he go to Little Compton? With Benjamin Church?)

Uriah was also put to work to learn the Bloomers trade and at the death of his father he had a half interest in the Whittenton Forge and the dwelling house there and the land adjoining and was to pay his step-mother 600 pounds of iron per year or about $30. There were about thirty acres attached to the dwelling house and as Uriah had been married6 years it is probable he was already living there. After working at the Forge some 8 years and putting in another Hearth with his brother Benjamin and his sister-in-law Mary he sold his interest to his nephew James Leonard for 300 pounds including the land where the new Cole House stood and the Iron Mine at Eight MIle Pond 1/3 interest in the Mine of Benjamin Leonard at the Eight Mile Pond. His homestead of 30 acres with two dwelling houses and a Barn on the same and 40 acres up by Daniel Fishers and 14 acres of the West end of Mr. Farwells and 20 acres at Rumford--reserving his Smith's shop at Whittenton and James was to pay the 400 pounds to the widow of James, Senior. What induced Uriah to make this move is difficult to understand, unless he was carrying on a Blacksmith's shop and Benjamin Leonard was working the hearth and Edward,Joseph's son the other Hearth and there was but little money made. James took the Works and in the following course of years became the sole owner of the Works together with a large landed estate immediately around it and large interests elsewhere. He became rich out of it all.

Uriah moved about three miles to the northeast of Prospect Hill and there settled as a farmer. He had four sons and four daughters and owing tothe scarcity of records our information concerning this is scant. Once or twice Uriah is mentioned in Judge Thomas accounts as doing some of the carting or mowing but there is otherwise very little about him. In his old age he divided his homestead between his sons William and James. OnJanuary 10, 1737 he sells 20 acres (as he expressed it) of his home stead to his son William for 600 pounds tenor with several other tracts onOctober 25, 1739 for 300 pound he sells 25 1/2 acres of his homestead to his son James and several other tracts. He had given his son Uriah, his eldest son, a tract of land many years before towards his portion, and there is no mention of him in the Probate Records. What became of the son Jonathan we have never learned. There are daughters whose names and history we do not know.

The following is in Bristol County Deeds Vol. 1, page 58.

'Uriah Leonard of Taunton in consideration of 300 pounds New Englandmoney deed to James Leonard Jr. who interest in the Ironworks called Whittenton Works in Taunton. One half par to the New Hearth with the proportionate part or interest in the tools, etc., together withone-halkf part of the Iron Mine bought by James Leonard, deceased at 8mile River together with the new Cole House built on land of said Uriah,together with one-third part of the Iron Mine bought by Benjamjin Leonard at the same place, also his house lots in Taunton each of 30 acres bounded by the MIll River and land of Joseph Greys, part of said landsold by Joseph Hallstone to James Leonard, Senior part sold by Thomas Brownell to me Uriah Leonard, with two dwelling Houses, etc. also 40acres bought of John Austin in Taunton by Daniel Fisher Jr. bounded by John Eddy, Joseph Willis, Thomas Harvey Sr. also 14 acres on the Westside of Mr. Farwell's land bound by Daniel Fisher Jr. also 20 acres at Rumford near John Hodges Jr.

Wife Elizabeth releases dower dated April 10, 1699.

Memoranda: One half acre sold to Benjamin Leonard is excepted. Also a Blacksmith's shop at Whittenton sold to Uriah Leonard. Said. James LeonardJr. is to pay the widow of James Leonard, Senior, deceased, 600 weight in iron per annum during her life. Witnessed by Stephen Myrick, Benjamin Leonard, and Samuel Danforth.

Vol. 1, page 60. Whereas Uriah Leonard and his sister-in-law MaryWillis, former widow of Uriah's brother Joseph, now the wife of Joseph Willis, Jr. of Taunton, did some years hire 40 pounds in silver money of James Baker of Dorchester, the said Joseph Willis and Mary Willis engage to pay said Baker, they also quitclaim to Uriah Leonard. Dated December20, 1699.

Witnessed by Thomas Leonard and Eleanor Carver (and probably EleazerCarver).'" Was Eleazer Carver married to Experience Blake, whose sister Mary was the wife of Joseph Leonard?

A Uriah Leonard (this one?) sold to his son William, husbandman, several parcels of land in 1739. William Barney of Taunton sold to William Leonard of Taunton a piece of cedar swamp May 14, 1725.

A letter of 1899 of Thomas J. Lothrop to Lucinda Leonard Lincoln says that Uriah and Elizabeth lived on what is now Propspect Hill Street ("we used to call it Cedar Swamp Road"), near place where Abner Leonard lived. Note By Elwin C. Nickerson Prospect Hill Streets Far end being cut in half by Interstate Route 495 Still is Called" Cedar Swamp Road "which also crosses Carver Street by myself and some other locals until this day.,that live and were raised in the area.

JAMES LEONARD in Rhode Island in January 1644/5 where he was granted land. JAMES made his mark but he must have left soon after as the records of Saugus Ironworks show a payment to him for bringing his goods from Providence to Lynn. All of this going to-and-from by James was for the purpose of setting up ironworks. Although t his parish at Cattistock may have been nonconformist. We know that JAMES LEONARD’s first wife was

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Martin—some say Mary. Why???Susannah Leonard A ggg granddaughter of Elkanah Leonard says her name was Jeannie There may be some truth to this as in the Virginia Patents there is a record of a Hugenot family named Martyn who had a daughter Jeanne(this according to careful research by E.C. Leonard) here is a tradition that in the early 1800s a mr. Richmond visited Bilston, Cheshire County, England in reply to a letter addressed to “James Leonard, Ironmaster, New England”. The leture spoke of a possible claim that the Leonards might have to some local ironworks which had been foreclosed years before emigration to America. Mr. Richmond’s English lawyer advised against the matter as it would be expensive and years in Chancery Courtanither interesting historical tid bit has Henry Leonard receiving 100 lbs. For clothing for poor persons to work in the forges—this on April 19. 1618/9 It is interesting to note that in nearby Staffordshire where Bilston is located there is a Chartly and a ""Whittenton""—these,or course, are two names of some of James Leonard and sons Taunton Ironworks. So having been at Saugus at John Winthrops behest and then Braintree for a number of years meanwhile Iron had been found in the Bogs and Swamps of Taunton and On Oct. 21. 1652 the Taunton Proprietors led by Mistress Poole voted to allow Henry and JAMES LEONARD to come and erect an ironworks on Two Mile River. They started @1652 (and according to G. Marsden Leonard) it took two years to erect a dam, hearth, outhouses,and a dwelling for JAMES LEONARD who became the Master workman along with Henry his brother and Ralph Russel (see Nancy Leonard’s Russell line in Dartmouth where works were erected att Russell’s Mills some years later) Russell soon left Taunton . Henry Leonard was more a speculator and promoter and after works failed at Topsfield he left the Puritan atmosphere of Mass. Bay and the Old Colony and moved to New Jersey. There he became the progenitor of yet another large Leonard clan.

JAMES LEONARD was a more sturdy sort and stuck strictly to his business of being Master of his Ironworks. Soon ironworks and forges were sprouting all over S.E. Massachusetts. Well are we named swamp Yankees! Soon the populace was saying “where you find and ironworks there you will find a Leonard”. James was becoming prosperous and by 1685 he paid the highest tax rate in the town. Although upon arrival in America Henry and James could only make their mark by his later years James had a flowing signature.These ironmongers had to be strong and sturdy with such heavy phyisical work. While Perez Frobes comments on their longevity in the Leonard Family John Adams in his Dairy called them “a sturdy lot!!” It is a shame we know so little of James first wife who was the mother of his children. She braved the rough sea trip, the traveling from river to river thru wilderness looking for bog iron and water power sources. They finally settled in Raynham (North Taunton) where James Built the old gambreilled roof house on Fowling Pond with the Forge nearby. James’ first wife must have been a lady of some class and education as she was responsible for the education and training of her eldest son who became A judge and an outstanding man in his community. Her death in 1664 surly affected the younger children deeply and Benjamin, Rebecca and Hannah must have remembered her. And probab;y resented the arrival of JAMES’ second wife Margaret Ford. Margareret had her work cut out for her and was,of course, the only mother Uriah ever knew. Elisha C. Leonard points out that uriah was the only one of JAMES’ children mentioned in Margarets will. James as we saw was only a short time at Saugus(National Iron works Historic Site) but he negotiated a good lease at the Braintree Forge . It was here that his second son Capt. James had the first of his three children. When he reached Taunton James was given all the woods necessary for running a forge and the water rights to Two Mill River. All of this was free of charge to James Leonard. Ironworks were badly needed for nails, weapons, cookware, harnesses, etc. a staple of colonial life. The Taunton Proprietors pledged twp hundred and seventy pounds as shares in the works. Amongst the share holders were colonists whose names still ring in the history of Taunton: Thomas Gilbert,**, Walter Dean**, Richard Williams**, James Burt** John Hathaway** and Mistress Elizabeth Poole. (The starred names are all in my family tree as illustrious grandfathers.) JAMES LEONARD was made Master Iron Monger, a title he held all of his life-then he conveyed the two hearths to his sons Thomas and Capt. James who then bequeathed them to their heirs. JAMES ran an “ordinary” in Taunton but the license was conferred to his son Thomas following the death of his first wife in 1664/5. As we noted JAMES married a second time to Margaret Ford, the daughter of William Ford of Plymouth who came over on the Fortune with his mother , widow Martha Ford (Note this Martha Ford married second Peter Browne, ships cooper on the Mayflower. This is he who got lost in the woods on the second day ashore and was tree d by a lyon –see Goergle Willison’s ‘____Saints and Strangers. On a more personal note: Peter Browne is the name of my first son—we swamp Yankees love the mayflower names!!) Soon after JAMES LEONARD was admitted as Freeman of the Town and shared in the division of lands becoming a Proprietor of the both North anf South Purchases. JAMES LEONARD and his children became great friends of Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoags and his son King Philip who journeyed from Mt. Hope to their summer hunting grounds at Fowling Pond. James also repaired their weapons. In Ocxt. 1665 King Philip conveyed 250 acres at Mattapoisett Neck in Swansea. This deed sent to Gov. Prince was lost. Tradition (and to this very day, myself having been brought up in Leonard-Indian Country)states that at the outbreak of Kings Philips war Philip gave strict instructions that no Leonard was to be harmed. This accounts for the fact that the town of Taunton was not attacked during the war. Unfortunately, James’ youngest son" Uriah", went riding thru the nearby forest caught an Indian arrow in his leg accidentally. So trusted were the Leonards by the Wampanoags that at the end of the war King Philip was killed and his head cut off. The Leonards at the House Raynham hid this in their cellar so that the colonists could not display and mock it. Although JAMES did not erect ironworks in Mattapoisett he purchased a lot on Mill River and Ereted a Forge of one hearth which he called Whittenton Forge. This Forge just north of Taunton was working for 2 centuries and is now the site of those magnificent silversmiths, Reed and Barton. With George Macy he raised the dam and it continued from 1669 to 1807 until the death of Squire William Leonard. It is plain to see that JAMES LEONARD was becoming a man of considerable property, his boys were now men; Thomas was in the Taunton Ironworks. Capt. James and sons were still at Braintree. Joseph during his lifetime was Master Ironmonger at Whittenton. Benjamin and Uriah (Grandfather ) were being educated as “bloomers” G. Marsden Leonard calls them “stout lads” In 1682 JAMES LEONARD built for himself at a short distance from the Taunton(Raynham) works a gambrieled roof house, with two stories in the front and running back to one story. His house was still standing in the early 20th century. JAMES was now keeper of the town’s ammunition with a barrel of powder and quantity o9f loead. His tax was now 5 shillings , second highest in the town of Taunton(Raynham). JAMES was rightfully proud of his family of 10 children and his valuable holdings throughout the Old Colony. JAMES died between Aug. 27 and Sept. 18. 1691, the date of the inventory of his property of 500lbs. A noble amount in colonial times. He was a man who could neither read nor write, in his youth(Research in the English Family of Lennard{Leonard}is beginning to “jell’ and we must remind ourselves that younger sons received little attention or propertyand thusly, many sought their fortune in the colonies). However in the Colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts bay he built a fortune in the iron business, a staple commodity which was invaluable. Southeastern Mass. With its rivers for power, its bogs for iron (and later cranberries—see”Cannon Balls and Cranberries” and its forests for fuel for the Bloomery was made to order forthis man of power and strength, and who had great contacts in England.His estate was a dominating influence in the areas economy.

The Leonards were proud to say that the wooden planks on “Old Ironsides” were fashioned from Leonard Forests. / ECN/

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• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Dec 14 2016, 21:35:39 UTC

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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...

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GEDCOM Note

Biography

Uriah was born in 1662 at Taunton, Massachusetts. He is the son of James Leonard and Mary Martin.<ref>"Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCVZ-7HQ : 15 January 2020), Uriah Leonard, 1662.</ref> Elizabeth Caswell and Uriah Leonard were married in Taunton on June 1,1685<ref>Vital Records of Taunton Massachusetts to the Year 1850 Volume II-Marriages. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1928. Page 92. https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Bristol/Taunton/Images/Taunton_M092....</ref> They had six children.<ref>Deane, William Reed. Genealogical Memoir of the Leonard Family. Boston, MA: Self-Published for the New England Historic-Genealogical Register, 1857. Page 19.https://archive.org/details/genealogicalmemo00dean/page/19/mode/2up</ref> Uriah and his brothers Joseph and Benjamin worked at James Leonard Iron Works, founded by their father on the Mill River in 1678. By agreement between James' heirs, Uriah inherited two-thirds and the dwelling house in 1691.<ref>Koster, Fannie Leonard. Annals of the Leonard Family. Brooklyn, NY: Self-Published, 1911. Page 44</ref> Uriah died in Taunton in 1742.. We know that he died after 12 March 1721/22, the date on which he and his wife Elizabeth, among others, quitclaimed an interest in property to "our Brother Samuel Caswell ... as Executor to the Estate "of our Honored father Thos. Caswell...."<ref>"Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986", Deeds of Bristol County, images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-36088-11896-14?cc=210... : accessed 15 Oct 2014), Bristol > Deeds 1721-1725 vol 14, Page 316 > image 165 of 647.</ref>

Children

1. Uriah b 10 Apr 1686
2. William
3. James
4. Seth
5. Jonathan
6. Margaret

Sources

<references />

• Bowen, Clarence Winthrop, 1852-1935, and American Antiquarian Society. The History of Woodstock, Connecticut, vol.7. p. 209/229 online. Norwood, Mass.: Priv. print. by the Plimpton Press, 19261943.<!-- Please edit, add, or delete anything in this text, including thisnote. Be bold and experiment! If you make a mistake you can always see the previous version of the text on the Changes page. -->