James Leonard III (1677 - 1764)

Born 11 May 1677 in Taunton, Plymouth Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Walley) Leonard — married 28 Feb 1698 (to 2 Aug 1725) in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay

Husband of Lydia (Gulliver) Leonard — married 14 Dec 1726 (to about 1734) in Milton, Norfork, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 16 Jan 1764 at age 86 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Biography

This profile is part of the Leonard Name Study.

James Leonard was born on 11 May 1677 in Taunton, Plymouth Colony, son of James Leonard (1643–1726) and Lydia Gulliver (~1658–1705).^[1]

His siblings were:

1. Hannah Leonard (1671–1760)
2. Ann Leonard (~1672–1747)
3. Lydia Leonard (1678–1735)
4. Stephen Leonard (1680–1732)
5. Abigail Leonard (1682–1726)
6. Seth Leonard (1686–~1762)
7. Sarah Leonard (1688–1771)
8. Elizabeth Leonard (1694–1750)

James III worked at the Whittington Iron Works; in 1699 he purchased his uncle Uriah's interest and enlarged the operation. The iron works founded by his grandfather continued to operate for over 100 years.^[2]

James (20) married Hannah Walley (31) (born in 1666 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony; daughter of Thomas Walley Jr. and Hannah (Bacon) Shove) on 28 February 1698 in Taunton, Massachusetts Bay. Their children were:

1. James Leonard (1699–1771)
2. Eliphalet Leonard (1702–1786)
3. Mehitable Leonard (~1705–1797)
4. Sarah Leonard (~1709–~1742)
5. Lydia Leonard (1710–1762)

James (49) married Lydia Gulliver (28) (born on 14 June 1698 in Milton, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; daughter of Jonathan Gulliver) on 14 December 1726 in Milton, Norfork, Massachusetts. Their daughter was Mary Leonard (~1729–~1814).^[3]

Military Service

He is first listed in a deed as Lieutenant James Leonard. His rank was probably in the Taunton Militia. 1722 Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts.

Property

• He purchased from his first cousins Isaac and Ralph Chapman of yarmouth, MA their right in divisions 61 and 64 in Taunton in 1733.
• He purchased his uncle Uriah's share in the Whittendon Forge and mine and 70 acres of land with 2 houses plus a 14 acrelot west of Mr. Farwell's lot and 20 acres at Rumford near John Hodges Jr. Total cost 500 pounds in 1698 in Bristol County, Massachusetts.
• He purchased 50 acres of land from Samuel Smith in 1722 in Norton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
• James purchased 26 acres with house and orchard from Joseph Grey in 1712 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
• He purchased forge and land in East Precinct of Easton, Massachusetts between 1720 & 1721, and placed his son Eliphalet in charge of this forge.

James died on 16 January 1764 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay Colony, aged 86.^[4][5]

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCVH-56T : 5 January 2021), James Leonard, 1677.
2. ↑ Page 45 Koster, Fannie Leonard. "Annals of the Leonard Family," Brooklyn, NY: Self-Published, 1911.
3. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPHB-28TK : 11 May 2022), James Lenard and Lydia Gulliver, 14 Dec 1726; citing Marriage, Milton, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007009779.
4. ↑ MA Vital Records: Taunton Deaths
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #37552622 James Leonard

See also:

• Ancestry.com

• "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7JQ-9V9 : 16 September 2020), Jeams Leonard 2nd in entry for Sarah Danforth, 1742.