Elkanah Leonard (1677 - 1714)

Born 15 May 1677 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Charity (Hodges) Perkins — married 25 Mar 1703 in Taunton, Bristol Co, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 29 Dec 1714 at age 37 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Paul Leonard [send private message]

This profile is part of the Leonard Name Study.

Biography

Elkannah Leonard 3 (Thomas 2, James 1)

Elkanah Leondard was born May 15, 1677 at Raynham. He died Dec. 14 or Dec 29, 1714 at Middleboro, Mass. He married March 25, 1703 Charity HODGES, the daughter of Elder Henry and Esther (Gallup) Hodges. The ceremony was conducted by his father Thomas Leonard.^[1] She was born April 5, 1682 at Taunton and died Feb.29,1739. She married 2nd Jabez Perkins of Norwich ,Conn. On his death she returned to Middleboro.
Elkanah and Charity (Hodges) Leonard's children all born in Middleborough are:

1. Elkanah Leonard b. Dec.15,1703 d. July 24,1777 m. Oct.21,1725 Elizaeth Tisdale (1704-1784 (his cousin)
2. Joseph Leonard b.April 9, 1705, died Nov.1,1783, m1.Apr.9,1729 Hannah Pratt, m2.Nov.15,1731, Fear Southworth dau. of Nathaniel an Gail (Howland) Southworth.
3. Rebecca Leonard b.Feb.24,1705/6, m.May 11,1725 Jabez Perkins Jr son of Jabez,
4. Abiah Leonard b. Apr.30,1707, died 1803 age 95, married Oct 13, 1726 John Nelson of Middleboro. Married 2nd Mark Haskell of Middleboro.
5. Simeon Leonard b. Jan.9.1709 died 1762, m.Nov.6, 1735 Abigail Morse.
6. Jemima Leonard b.May 20, 1710 married Oct.14,1730 Jacob Perkin of Norwich, CT son of Jabez.
7. Zebulon Leonard b.Jan.1,1711 died Feb.11,1711.
8. Timothy Leonard b. May 2, 1713, died June 1 1715.
9. Henry Leonard b. Apr.14, 1714 died May 29, 1714.
10. Thomas Leonard b.Apr.20,1715 died May 1, 1715

Elkannah Leonard died intestate on Dec 29, 1714 at Middleboro, Mass.

Probate

On 1 March 1714/15, his widow Charity is granted the letter of administration for this estate.^[2] His inventory was taken at Middleborough on 16 February 1714/15 and recorded at Plymouth.^[3]

His real estate inventory was taken on 8 June 1725. It is divided to his widow, Charity, now wife of Capt Jabez Perkins of Norwich, Connecticut, and seven shares for six children (the eldest son receiving a double portion), Elkanah Leonard (eldest son), Joseph Leonard, Simeon Leonard, Rebeckah Perkins, wife of Jabez Perkins, Jr. of Norwich in Connecticut, Abiah Nelson, wife of john Nelson of Middleborough, and Jemima Leonard. ^[4]

Charity marries in 1722 Jabez Perkins of Norwich, Conn.
Jabez Perkins dies 1742??? Charity returns to Massachusettts after Jabez Perkins death.
Charity (Hodges) Leonard died Feb.29,1739.

Elkannah Leonard was the youngest son of Judge Thomas Leonard. He learned ironworking and bloomery (melting ore to make cast iron). His father in 1700 purchased two or three tracts of land in Middleboro and in connection with Philip King built the Dam at Trout Brook, a Saw Mill, and commenced on a Forge when he bought out Philip King and finished the Forge. Young Elkanah was put there to Manage when he was 24 years old. In 1703 he married Charity Hodges and buyilt a house on the west side of the Brook below the Dam. He was a smart capable young man and soon had a lively busines going on. His Mills, Forge, workman , forgeman, lumberman, coalers, etc. and the traders at his store made things lively.

In 1706 he was chosen Constable of the Town but refused to serve and the town agent was instructed to prosecute him for the Five Pounds penality for so refusing. In 1706 he was appointed on a committee to make a valuation of the town and he was a juryman of Plymouth county. The next year he was commissioned an Ensign and appointed on a committee with Rev. Mr. Palmer between whom, and the Church there was a dissension. He had been dismissed and claimed salary and wages which was objected to.
The next year March 1, 1709/10 he was elected with Capt. James Vaughn and Rodolphus King as selectmen. He continued in this office the remainder of his like being annually chosen. In 1711 he was chosen as Agent of the town to answer to a presentation of the Town for not keeping the bridges in repair.

Dying at the early age of 37 he left a large property for so young a man. His purchases of real estate, both in Plymouth and Bristol counties indicate a thrift and enterprise in his transactions. His father gave him the estate in Middleboro and also all of his estate on the East side of the Taunton River in Taunton. reserving the profits and benefits of the Mill and Forge to his wife during her life and if she died before ten years one-half of said profits world go to Elkannah's brothers: Thomas, John and Samuel for the unexpired term of ten years. His mother released to Elkannah her rights in the profits and as she lived for ten years after her husband's death Elkannah and his family were exempted from paying anything to their brothers.

Charity the widow was one of twenty persons who were allowed the privilege of buiding a pew in the Meeting House. They were placed on the sides of the House and the center was occupied by the Inhabitants at large. She married secondly to Jabez Perkins of Norwich in 1722 and after his death came back to Middleboro to reside where she died and is buried by her husband in the precinct Cemetery in Middleboro. Her daughters Rebecca and Jemima married her step sons Jabez Jr. and Jason Perkins and left descendants in Connecticut

Plymouth probate record 1726 shows Ephraim Hodges (1693-1772) Charity's younger brother, appointed guardian of Abiah, Simeon, and Jemime Leonard.

Buried in Thompson Hill Cemetery, Lakeville, Plymouth Co, MA per Find a Grave Memorial # 20997889.

Sources

1. ↑ Koster, Fannie Leonard. Annals of the Leonard Family. Brooklyn, NY: Self-Published, 1911.Page 70
2. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897D-ZFSZ : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1708-1717 and 1817-1861 vol 3-3P > image 177 of 710; State Archives, Boston.
3. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-ZXY5 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1708-1717 and 1817-1861 vol 3-3P > image 190 of 710; State Archives, Boston.
4. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897D-FHHP : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1724-1731 and 1838-1842 vol 5-5T > image 139-143 of 596; State Archives, Boston.

• Leonard Family Genealogy Manuscript at the Old Colony History Museum, Taunton, Mass. Page 3-1 show his birth, parents, and siblings and a 1762 death date that differs from the other more elaborate manuscript shown next.
• James Leonard of Taunton, Massachusetts Ironmaster. From the Research and Manuscripts of Elisha Clark Leonard and G.Marston Leonard. 5 Generation Typescript presented to the Old Colony Historical Society in 1960. Page 68,105 person 16,94 list Simeon Leonard (Elkanah, Thomas, James) his marriage and 7 children as listed above. It also shows in death in 1754 Nov. or Jan old date style. This lists the marriages of all his children including Lucy to Joel Eaton.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Leonard-633 created through the import of Ancestors of PBHowe.ged on Jun 6, 2011 by Buck Howe.
• This person was created through the import of Savage.ged on 21 February 2011.