John Leavitt Sr. (abt. 1608 - 1691)

Born about 1608 in England

Husband of Sarah (Gilman) Leavitt — married 16 Sep 1646 in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America

Descendants

Died 20 Nov 1691 at about age 83 in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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John Leavitt Sr. migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 4, p. 270) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

John Leavitt (Levet, Levett), a tailor by trade, was born in 1608 (based on his headstone). His Great Migration bio says by 1612, based on his first marriage. John's English ancestry is unknown. Neither his place of birth, nor his parents have been identified.

A previous version of this profile, citing only an unsourced online family tree, claimed parents Percival Levett and Margaret Linkley. They have been detached. Please use G2G to discuss evidence for his origins. Thank you.

John was first known to be in Massachusetts in September 1634 when he was granted land in Dorchester. He was given more land in 1635. By 1636 relocated to Hingham, selling some if not all of his Dorchester property to "Mr. Makepeace." He was admitted as a freeman at Hingham, Massachusetts on March 3, 1636.^[1]

In Hingham John Leavitt was deputy to the general court, 1656-64; selectman, 1661-63-65-68-72-74-75; and deacon of the church.^[1]

In Hingham John received multiple land grants, including his house lot of six acres. John spent the rest of his life buying and selling property.

The name of John's first wife is unknown. They married in Hingham by 1637 and had six children. She died and was buried in July of 1646. Anderson of the Great Migration biography does not see any evidence that she was the Mary Lovett who was admitted to the Dorchester church in 1638 as John had been in Hingham for two years.

Six months after his first wife's death, John remarried, December 16, 1646.^[1] He had five small children who needed a mother. His second wife was Sarah, whose maiden name is unknown. She is believed to have been Sarah Gilman, daughter of Edward Gilman, but there is no proof. [The probate records of Edward Gilman clearly indicate that Sarah Gilman was his second wife and Torrey does not question her identity.]^[2][3][4][5] John and Sarah would have a further eight children.

On 30 November 1689, John Leavitt wrote his extensive will of nine pages. ^[6] He died before 27 Jan 1691/2 when it was proved. His will is complicated, but he divided his estate between his nine surviving children, two grandchildren, and one daughter-in law: Samuel, Israel, Moses, Josiah, Nehemiah, Sarah How (formerly Clap and now wife of Samuel How), Mary Bate (wife of Benjamin), Hannah Loring (wife of Joseph), Abiel Lazel (wife of Isaac), Samuel Judkin (grandson), John Leavitt (son of his son Israel), and Bathsheba Turner (wife of Joseph Turner and former wife of his son John, deceased) . His wife Sarah was to have all his property until her death. His children John, first Hannah, Elizabeth, and Jeremiah died before him.

Sarah Leavitt died 26 May 1700.

Children^[7][8][9][1]

Children by his first wife were:

1. John Leavitt
2. Hannah Leavitt baptized April 7, 1639
3. Samue Leavittl baptized April 1641, removed to Exeter, New Hampshire
4. Elizabeth Leavitt baptized April 28, 1644
5. Jeremiah Leavitt baptized March 1, 1645-46

Children by his second wife were:

1. Israel Leavitt baptized April 9, 1648
2. Moses Leavitt born August 12, 1650
3. Josiah Leavitt born May 4, 1653
4. Nehemiah Leavitt born January 22, 1655-56
5. Sarah Leavitt born February 22, 1658-59
6. Mary Leavitt born June 12, 1661
7. Hannah Leavitt born March 20, 1663-64
8. Abigail Leavitt born December 9, 1667.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} William Richard Cutter, "New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: a Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation." published by Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 1915. Series 3, Volume 1, page 162
2. ↑ Leavitt-Gilman 16 (or 6) Dec 1646 marriage, Hingham in New England Marriages Prior to 1700, multiple vols. (2015), 2:934 (Leavitt); database and digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors, references works consulted as "Winthrop-Babcock 310; Reg. 88:259; Blake-Glidden 104; Dorchester Hist. 62; Leavitt (1924); Paul Anc. 15, 218; Dudley Supp. 2:76; Tracy (1936) 177, 183; Hobart Diary."
3. ↑ Leavitt 15 December 1646 marriage, "Hingham, MA: Vital Records, 1637-1845"; database and digital images, AmericanAncestors, cites Reuben Hersey, Mss 901. R. Stanton Avery Special Collections Department, New England Historic Genealogical Society. NB: Entered under the heading, "Married in Rev. Peter Hobart Ministry," this record does not report a bride's name.
4. ↑ Essex County (Massachusetts) Probate, case 10958 (Edward Gilman/Gillman) in Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881; database and digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors. especially filmed pages 2 (son John Levites) and 5 (... John Leavitt ... sonnes of Edward Gillman ...). NB. filmed pages 2 and 5 are accessible as FHL Digital Collection, DGS 4481686, image 97 and image 202 of 224.
5. ↑ Batcheller, Albert Stillman (ed.). 1902. Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire. Vol. 1, 1635-1717. State Papers Series Vol. 31, Part 1, page 29. http://archive.org
6. ↑ Suffolk County Massachusetts Probate Records, Vol. 8, Film No. 7703368, Images 360-365, https://familysearch.org
7. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L (2005), 270-77 (John Leavitt); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
8. ↑ Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts Births or Christenings, 1635-1825, FHL Digital Collection DGS 007765071, image 1881 of 2085, FamilySearch.
9. ↑ Jeanie Roberts, "John Leavitt of Hingham, Ma.," blog entry of 6 July 2013; web content, The Family Connection.

• William Richard Cutter, "New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: a Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation." published by Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 1915. Series 3, Volume 1, page 162.see at archive.org
• Noyes, Emiily L. Leavitt (Descendants of John leavitt, the Immigrant Through his son, Josiah, and Margaret J. Concord, NH: Evans Printing Co., 1949.
• Genealogy of Captain John Johnson of Roxbury, Massachusetts GENERATIONS I TO XIV By PAUL FRANKLIN JOHNSON, Editor 1945 INCLUDING THE GENERATIONS I TO IX From the 1932 and 1935 Manuscripts of FRANK LEONARD JOHNSON GENERATIONS IX TO XIV Compiled by PAUL FRANKLIN JOHNSON Completed with Additions and Corrections by ADA JOHNSON MODERN 1948. pg 11.
• Alonzo Leroy Johnson, Johnson Family Thirteen Generations of Descendants of Captain John Johnson and Margery Scudder of Roxbury, Mass. 1630-1971.
• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHDL-NJ4 : 13 July 2016), John Leavitt in entry for Abiel Leavitt, 09 Dec 1667; citing Birth, Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 423,520; mother's name is Sarah.
• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FH5T-GRW : 13 July 2016), John Leavitt in entry for Isaac Lazell and Alice Leavitt, 20 Jan 1685; citing Marriage, Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 423,520.
• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QVVY-HSVV : 13 December 2015), John Leavitt, 1691; Burial, Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States of America, Hingham Center Cemetery; citing record ID 28298973, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
• Charles H. Bell, History of the Town of Exeter New Hampshire (1888), 134n; digital images, InternetArchive.