The Ancestors of My GrandchildrenJames Leonard1 
M, #3027, * s 1610, + b 1691
| Father | Thomas Leonard1 * s 1580 |
Family | ? ? * s 1615 |
| Children |
|
James Leonard was born s 1610 in England.1 He (1) married ? ? He (2) married Margaret. ("She was the mother-in-law of all James' children.")1 He died b 1691.1
Other information:
James Leonard made a will. It was probated in 1691. Son Joseph was to have a fourth of the iron works, and some land, son Uriah the rest of the Wittington Iron Works, a dwellinghouse and land. Joseph and Uriah also have to pay their "mother-in-law" (stepmother) money and an amount of iron. Son James gets some land, the old home lot, and his father's 1/2 share in the Taunton Iron Works, son Benjamin some land, the shop tools, old iron and his father's clothes. He mentioned his daughters Abigail and husband John Kingsbury, Rebecca and husband Isaac Chapman, and Hannah and husband Isaac Deane. Son Thomas to have the house near the iron works on the Two Mile River, after the death of his "mother-in-law." He is also the administrator of the estate. The widow Margaret gets 1/3 of all movables.2
James Leonard was in 1651 in Lynn, and in 1652 in Braintree, and then in Taunton.1
There is also a Leonard family that settled in Bridgewater, MA, but no relation has been found, according to Deane. The Leonards of Springfield (family of Josiah Leonard, who was the first husband of Thomas Root's second wife) are also most likely not related to the Leonards of Taunton (family of James Leonard.)1
On 9 Jul 1689 Major William Bradley, son of William Bradley, Esq. deceased, gave a quitclaim deed to the inhabitants of Taunton, Massachusetts. They paid £20.- for it. James Leonard was listed among the original purchasers.3
Other information:
James Leonard made a will. It was probated in 1691. Son Joseph was to have a fourth of the iron works, and some land, son Uriah the rest of the Wittington Iron Works, a dwellinghouse and land. Joseph and Uriah also have to pay their "mother-in-law" (stepmother) money and an amount of iron. Son James gets some land, the old home lot, and his father's 1/2 share in the Taunton Iron Works, son Benjamin some land, the shop tools, old iron and his father's clothes. He mentioned his daughters Abigail and husband John Kingsbury, Rebecca and husband Isaac Chapman, and Hannah and husband Isaac Deane. Son Thomas to have the house near the iron works on the Two Mile River, after the death of his "mother-in-law." He is also the administrator of the estate. The widow Margaret gets 1/3 of all movables.2
James Leonard was in 1651 in Lynn, and in 1652 in Braintree, and then in Taunton.1
In 1652 Henry Leonard and his brother James Leonard, who were skilled ironworkers from Wales, and had been working for the Iron Company in Lynn and Braintree, were together with Ralph Russell, induced by the inhabitants of Taunton to start an Iron Works on the Two Mile River. This was the first Iron Works not financed by English capital. There is no record of Henry Leonard actually working in Taunton, but James Leonard, John Tisdale and George Watson are listed among the shareholders in 1653-4. Thomas Leonard became clerk/manager in 1683, his son Samuel Leonard continued in 1713, after his father's death, and his son Samuel Jr. succeeded him in 1745, and Samuel's brother Elijah in 1749. In 1777 the Works passed out of the management of the Leonards, when Elijah sold it to Josiah Dean1,2
James Leonard bought in 1666 land in Whittington on the Mill River, and started an Iron Works there. His 3 sons Joseph, Uriah and Benjamin worked the forge. They also had a gristmill there. After James' death, his son Joseph took over, but he died in 1692. His brother Joseph, Uriah and Benjamin then became the manager. In 1699 he purchased Uriah's part, and the Works stayed in the family unitl 1805.2 There is also a Leonard family that settled in Bridgewater, MA, but no relation has been found, according to Deane. The Leonards of Springfield (family of Josiah Leonard, who was the first husband of Thomas Root's second wife) are also most likely not related to the Leonards of Taunton (family of James Leonard.)1
On 9 Jul 1689 Major William Bradley, son of William Bradley, Esq. deceased, gave a quitclaim deed to the inhabitants of Taunton, Massachusetts. They paid £20.- for it. James Leonard was listed among the original purchasers.3
Citations
- [S413] Warren Reed Deane, Leonard Family. Online at https://ia700405.us.archive.org/12/items/genealogicalmemo1851dean/genealogicalmemo1851dean.pdf
- [S410] Vol 38 (1884), pg. 265-275. "Ancient Iron Works in Taunton," by J. W. D. Hall, New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
- [S410] Vol. 97, pg. 327-330. The Taunton Quitclaim Deed, New England Historical and Genealogical Register.