Western Pennsylvania Genealogy
Compiled by Douglas H. Lusher


Family Group Record



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James Leonard and Margaret Martin




Husband James Leonard 1

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 


         Father: Thomas Leonard (      -      ) 1
         Mother: 


       Marriage: 



Wife Margaret Martin 2

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Children
1 M James Leonard 1

           Born: 1643 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 1726 2
         Buried: 
         Spouse: Unknown (      -      )
         Spouse: Lydia Gulliver (1658-1705) 2
           Marr: 1675 2
         Spouse: Unknown (      -      )


2 M Thomas Leonard 2

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3 F Abigail Leonard 2

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         Spouse: John Kingsley (      -      ) 2


4 F Rebecca Leonard 2

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           Died: 
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         Spouse: Isaac Chapman (      -      ) 2


5 M Joseph Leonard 2

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6 M Benjamin Leonard 2

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7 F Hannah Leonard 2

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         Spouse: Isaac Dean (      -      ) 2


8 M Uriah Leonard 2

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General Notes: Husband - James Leonard


He and his brother, Henry, were the first representatives of this family in America, coming from Pontypool, Monmouthshire, England. They were skilled "Iron Masters" and were interested in the first "Bloomerie" erected in New England, situated at Saugus. In 1651-52 they superintended the erection of the first foundry at Braintree, Massachusetts, and in the same year they removed to Taunton and erected their own "bloomerie," which remained in operation in the hands of Leonards and descendants until it was demolished in 1876. James Leonard, Sr., was one of the "Associates" of the North Purchase in 1668 of Philip. The price paid for this tract of land was "the full sume of one hundred pounds."
In 1695 two hundred acres of land were given the Leonards for another forge on the "Stony Brook" in the "North Division," and also the liberty to take their next division of one share in the North-Purchase lands "in the best iron-oare that they can find." They were also allowed the privilege of digging ore in any other man's land, for the use and benefit of said works, by "paying the owner of such land one shilling a tun for every tun of iron-oare they shall dig." At one colonial period they coined money for the realm; certain pieces were on exhibition in Historical Hall, Taunton, Massachusetts.

from "Abbott's History:" "It is said that Philip had given orders that the town of Taunton should be spared until all the other towns in the Colony were destroyed."
"A family by the name of Leonard resided in Taunton, where they had erected the first forge which was established in the English colonies. Philip, though his usual residence was at Mount Hope, had a favorite summer resort at a place called 'Fowling Pond,' then within the limits of Taunton. In these excur-sions he had become acquainted with the Leonards. They had treated him and his followers with uniform kindness, repairing their guns, and supplying them with such tools as the Indians highly prized. Philip had become exceedingly attached to this family, and in gratitude, at the commencement of the war, had given the strictest orders that the Indians should never injure a Leonard. Apprehending that in a general assault upon the town his friends, the Leonards, might be exposed to danger, he spread the shield of his generous protection over the whole place." . . . . "His extraordinary kindness to the Leonards, inducing him to avert calamities from a whole settlement, lest they, by some accident, might be injured develops magnanimity which is seldom paralleled." Francis Baylies "History of Taunton."

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Sources


1 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 230.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 231.


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