| Notes |
- Borrowed from http://www.gendex.com/users/jast/D0005/G0000061.html#I2926
The Allen Co. Public Library in Ft. Wayne, IN has a photocopy of a book
entitled "Memorial : Genealogical, Historical, & Biographical, of Solomon
LEONARD" (1896) by Manning LEONARD [cat. # GC 929.2 L553L]. It has a
lengthy biography of Solomon LEONARD. Following is a very brief
summary of some of the highlights :
The name "LEONARD" is a very ancient one and is a surname which was
derived fron the Christian given name, "Leo" and carries the basic idea of
lion-hearted. It is strange that those of the family who attained the
honor of knighthood chose the head of a tiger, rather than of a lion, for
use on their crest.
Solomon's father, Samuel,a dissenter, migrated to Leyden, Holland (The
temporary home of the Pilgrims who came to Plymouth Colony on the
MAYFLOWER in 1620) from the environs of the town of Bristol in
Monmouthshire, England. It is possible that Samuel came to America
with Solomon, but if he did, he died shortly afterwards. The exact date
is not known, but was most likely around 1629-1630. At first, Solomon
was engaged in the service of Plymouth Colony Company, then he became
a settler in Duxbury. He held land there at "Blue Fish", which is in the
northern part of the village by the bay, when the town was incorporated
in 1637. Surviving deeds from the early days of the settlement reveal
that Solomon was a neighbor of others of our ancestors - John Alden,
Constant Southworth, and George Soule.
Solomon married sometime before 1640 . All we know of his wife is
that she was named Mary. They had many children, most probably born in
Duxbury, and several dying young. Unfortunately, Duxbury lost all of its
town records prior to 1654 due to fire. The Colony records of births and
deaths prior to 1647 have also been lost.
Associated with Miles Standish, John Alden, Constant Southworth,
William Bradford, and others - 54 in all - Solomon became one of the
original proprietors of the town of Bridgewater (Mass.) and was one of
the earliest settlers there. This would have been sometime between
1645 and 1656, when the town was officially incorporated. It is also
mentioned in this work that another of our ancestors, Guido Bailey, was
prominent in the early history of Bridgewater.
Solomon's primary occupation would have been farmer, but, especially
later in life, he also did some weaving. He is referred to as a weaver in
the settlement of his estate, but this is the only time he is known to
have been referred to as such.
Solomon is last mentioned in Colony records in March 1658-9. He was
most likely buried in the ancient graveyard at West Bridgewater, but the
site of his grave is not known.
Childern : Samuel - born about 1643 /
m. (1) Abigail Wood
(2) Deborah______
John - born about 1645 / m. Sarah (Chandler ?)
JACOB [our ancestor]
Isaac - born about 1650 / m. Deliverance _______
Solomon - born after 1650 / m. Mary _______
Mary - born after 1650 / m. 24 Dec 1653 John Pollard
____________________________________________________
Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Vol.2, pp.10-11 deduces
that Solomon prob. arrived in Plymouth about 1631. This source gives
only one wife for him, SARAH CHANDLER, the mother of his children.
However, Jim Angel emailed me on 5 Feb
1996 :
Jim, Thanks for the info. First of all, the confusion over Solomon
LEONARD was clarified for me by one of the "silver books", The
Descendents of the Mayflower vol.2 (I think, it's at home), which
discussed Manning LEONARD's work. from which I have already made some
copies, thanks. Anyway they refute Manning's claim Mary and put
Solomon's wife as Sarah Chandler, daughter of Roger and Isabella
(Chilton) Chandler of Leyden, they make a pretty strong case of it but I
can't remember the details off the top of my head. What adds to the
confusion is that John LEONARD b.1645 Duxbury, son of Solomon and
Sarah, married abt 1670 another Sarah Chandler b. abt 1648 Duxbury.
It seems to me that back then not much distinction was made between
the 3 Chandler girls. Roger's will isn't very clear nor are the records of
which one was Solomon's wife. It probably wasn't too important for
most people.
I find it very probable that Edmund and Roger were probably brothers,
and that the name came down through Edmund and not Roger. That
community was pretty tight back then and it seems most of those that
came in the 1630's were not Coming over for the weather. Most of
them new somebody. Roger and Isabella, for example, were part of the
original Leyden, Holland contingent of the Pilgrims, and, were following
after Isabella's family. Her parents James and Susanna (Furner) Chilton
came on the Mayflower with her younger sister Mary. Unfortunately her
parents died that first winter, but Mary was there.
Unfortunately, I'm at work and don't have much info with me. So, most
of this rambling is coming off the top of my head. I think at this point
any easy leads are going to come through Edmund going back and then if
my speculation is right back down to Roger. But, then again...
------------------------------------------------
From: ABRIDGED COMPENDIUM, Frederick Virkus
ABRIDGED COMPENDIUM, Frederick Virkus
THE ABRIDGED COMPENDIUM
OF AMERICAN GENEALOGY
FIRST FAMILIES OF AMERICA
THE ABRIDGED COMPENDIUM
OF AMERICAN GENEALOGY
The Standard Genealogical Encyclopedia of
THE FIRST FAMILIES OF AMERICA
EDITED BY
FREDERICK A. VIRKUS
VOLUME I
1925
F. A. VIRKUS & COMPANY Genealogical Publishers
440-442 S. Dearborn Street Chicago, Ill.
A compendium of family genealogies that includes practically every name distinguished in the early history of the country, Vol. I
8-Solomon LEONARD (d 1686), from Eng. to Duxbury, original propr. at Bridgewater, m Mary -----;
4-Nancy (1784-1863), m Caleb Francis LEONARD
(desc. Solomon LEONARD);
------------------------------------------------
From: Stacey's book search list: http://Mc Duffie/~Mcclean/genea.html
MEMORIAL : GENEALOGICAL, HISTORICAL, AND BIOGRAPHICAL, SOLOMON LEONARD, 1637, OF DUXBURY AND BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS by Manning LEONARD. Press of Kanpp, Peck & Thomson; Auburn, New York. 1896 452 p. HB; near vg; black cloth. 3/4" closed crack at top of spine cover; engraved portraits; No. 141 of 300 copies; front end paper repaired. LEONARD family genealogy primarily in New England, also other locations. $ 145.00
---------------------------------------------------
From The Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, p. 11.
Solomon LEONARD was first recorded in Duxbury in 1637, and in May 1638 was "promised lands on Duxburrow side, (in part of those due to him for his service)." This was probably the usual recompense to a servant; since normal service was seven years, we surmise that Solomon prob. arrived in Plymouth ca. 1631. In Feb. 1638/9 he received a grant of 25 acres. In 1645 he received a share of land in what later became Bridgewater, to which he removed soon after 1649. He was living there in 1658/9.
On 1 May 1671 Samuel LEONARD of Bridgewater confirmed that his deceased father, Solomon LEONARD, had given land to "my brother John LEONARD." Strangely, Samuel did not post bond as administrator of his father, Solomon deceased, until 27 Oct. 1675, at which time the failure to mention the widow of Solomon implies that Sarah had already died. In the disposition of this estate, "Samuel LEONARDson" is called the eldest son, John second son, with equal division among "the rest of the children." In a deed 10 May 1677 to his brother "Isack LEONARDson," Samuel LEONARDson mentions brothers John, Jacob, and Solomon.
---------------------------------------------------
From "Some Ancestors and Descendants of Avery LEONARD," by Harry S. Balaine, Gordon A. Blaine Press, Toledo, Ohio, 1933.
The earliets LEONARD in America of which we have any definitive record is SOLOMON LEONARD, who is on record as a landowner in Duxbury (now Bridgewater), Massachusetts as early as 1629 and was evidently of that illustrious Plymouth Colont. Tradition says he came over with the Earl of Warwick. This statement, hoever, is unverified except that it is known that the Earl of Warwick did come to Plymouth Colony in 1627. Solomon LEONARD was born about 1610 and married Mary (sic)____about 1640.
---------------------------------------------------
From "
----------------------------------------------------
From "The History of North Bridgewater" King, Bradford. This book contains the history of North Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from it's earliest settlement to the present time, that focuses on the family resgistries.
Bibliographic Information: Kingsman, Bradford. Boston, Massachusetts, 1866.
CHAPTER II.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
Grant of Plantation.--Bridgewater purchased of the Indians.--Division of the
Town.--Petition of the North Precinct to be set off a separate Town.--Charter
for a Precinct.--First Meeting of the same
TO give a clear account of the early settlement of the town of North Bridgewater, it will be necessary to give some account of the origin of the town, its connection with and its identity with the parent town of Bridgewater, and a brief account of its having been set off from Duxbury, and the purchase of the Indians. The ancient town of Bridgewater--then comprising what is now North, East, West, and South Bridgewater, or Bridgewater proper--was formerly a plantation granted to Duxbury, in 1645, as a compensation for the loss of territory they had sustained in the setting apart of Marshfield from them in the year 1640. The grant was in the following language:--
"The inhabitants of the town of Duxbury are granted a competent proportion of lands about Saughtuchquett (Satucket), towards the west, for a plantation for them, and to have it four miles every way from the place where they shall set up their centre; provided it intrench not upon Winnytuckquett, formerly granted to Plymouth. And we have nominated Capt. Miles Standish, Mr. John Alden, George Soule, Constant Southworth, John Rogers, and William Brett, to be feofees in trust for the equal dividing and laying forth the said lands to the inhabitants."
How these lands were divided, or what should entitle any one to a share, no record appears to show. Gov. Hinckley, in his confirmatory deed, says that the "inhabitants agreed among themselves." There were fifty-four proprietors,--each of whom held one share,--the names of whom are as follows: William Bradford, William Merrick, John Bradford, Abraham Pierce, John Rogers, George Partridge, John Starr, Mr. William Collier, Christopher Wadsworth, Edward Hall, Nicholas Robbins, Thomas Hayward, Mr. Ralph Partridge, Nathaniel Willis, John Willis, Thomas Bonney, Mr. Miles Standish, Love Brewster, John Paybody, William Paybody, Francis Sprague, William Bassett, John Washburn, John Washburn, Jr., John AMES, Thomas Gannett, William Brett, Edmund Hunt, William Clarke, William Ford, Mr. Constant Southworth, John Cary, Edmund Weston, Samuel Tompkins, Edmund Chandler, Moses Simmons, John Irish, Philip Delano, Arthur Harris, Mr. John Alden, John Forbes, Samuel Nash, Abraham Sampson, George Soule, Experience MITCHELL, Henry Howland, Henry Sampson, John Brown, John Howard, Francis West, William Tubbs, James Lendall, Samuel Eaton, Solomon LEONARD. To these shares were afterward added two more shares,--one to Rev. James Keith, of Scotland, their first minister; and the other to Deacon Samuel Edson, of Salem, who erected the first mill in the town,--making fifty-six shares.
This grant was considered as little more than an authority or right to purchase it of the natives. For this purpose, Capt. Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, were appointed a committee to make the purchase; which they did, as appears by the following instruments:--
WITNESS THESE PRESENTS, that I, Ousamequin, Sachem of the Country of Poconocket, have given, granted, enfeofed, and sold unto Miles Standish of Duxbury, Samuel Nash and Constant Southworth of Duxbury aforesaid, in behalf of all the townsmen of Duxbury aforesaid, a tract of land usually called Satucket, extending in the length and breadth thereof as followeth: that is to say, from the wear at Satucket seven miles due east, and from the said wear seven miles due west, and from the said wear seven miles due north, and from the said wear seven miles due south; the which tract the said Ousamequin hath given, granted, enfeofed, and sold unto the said Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, in the behalf of all the townsmen of Duxbury, as aforesaid, with all the immunities, privileges, and profits whatsoever belonging to the said tract of land, with all and singular all woods, underwoods, lands, meadows, rivers, brooks, rivulets, &c., to have and to hold, to the said Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, in behalf of all the townsmen of the town of Duxbury, to them and their heirs forever. In witness whereof, I, the said Ousamequin, have hereunto set my hand this 23d of March, 1649.
JOHN BRADFORD,
WILLIAM OTWAY, alias PARKER,
Witness the mark of ?? OUSAMEQUIN.
In consideration of the aforesaid bargain and sale, we, the said Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, do bind ourselves to pay unto the said Ousamequin, for and in consideration of the said tract of land, as followeth:--
7 coats, a yard and a half in a coat.
9 hatchets.
8 hoes.
20 knives.
4 moose-skins.
10 yards and a half of cotton.
MILES STANDISH,
SAMUEL NASH,
CONSTANT SOUTHWORTH.
This contract is said to have been made on what was called "Sachem's Rock," in East Bridgewater, a little south of Whitman's Mills, and near the house of the late David Kingman.
This Ousamequin, sometimes called Ossamequin, was no other than Massasoit himself, who, in the latter part of his life, had adopted that name. The deed written by Capt. Miles Standish, one of the original planters of the Colony, and signed with the mark of the Sachem, is still in existence. When the old Sachem was called upon to execute his deed, he endeavored to make it as sure as possible. For that purpose, he affixed a mark in the shape of a ??.
Thus we have seen that the original town of Bridgewater, comprising the territory now known as North, East, West, and South Bridgewater, was purchased by Capt. Miles Standish and others for the trifling sum of seven coats, nine hatchets, eight hoes, twenty knives, four moose-skins, and ten and a half yards of cotton; the whole not amounting to thirty dollars in value.
This town was the first interior settlement in the old Colony. The grant of the plantation, as we have seen, was in 1645, and the settlement made in 1650. The first settlers had a house-lot of six acres each on the town river, and the place was called Nuckatest, or Nuncketetest. The first lots were taken up at West Bridgewater; first houses built and the first improvements made there. The settlement was compact,--the house-lots being contiguous,--with a view for mutual protection and aid against the Indians; and, as a further protection from the natives, they erected a stockade or garrison on the south side of the river, and fortified many of their dwellings. It is said that not more than one-third of the original fifty-six proprietors ever removed and became inhabitants of their new settlement. From this original home, the settlers scattered into other portions of the town, extending their dwellings first into the south part of the town, toward Nippenicket Pond, on the road to Taunton, whither they were in the habit of going either to mill or to trade; and we are told they frequently went to that place on foot, with the grists on their backs, a distance of several miles.
The last settled part of the town was the north, which was not till after 1700; no permanent settlement being made in what was called the North Parish till after that time, and the settlers were mostly from the West Parish, now called West Bridgewater.
The plantation remained to Duxbury until June, 1656, when it was incorporated into a distinct and separate town in the following concise language:--
"ORDERED, That henceforth Duxborrow New Plantation bee allowed to bee a tounshipe of ytselfe, destinct from Duxborrow, and to bee called by the name of Bridgewater. Provided that all publicke rates bee borne by them with Duxborrow upon equally proportions." The court settled the rates to be paid by the proprietors as follows:--
"The town of Bridgewater is to bear one part of three with Duxbury, of their proportion of the country rates for the officers' wages and other public charges."
Previous to the incorporation of the town, the plantation had been called Bridgewater; but, of the origin of the name, we have nothing authentic, except a matter of fancy for a town in England of that name; and, from the time of its settlement, the town has maintained a strong position in the history of the country.
The town continued a united and harmonious whole until 1715, when a petition was sent to General Court to be set off into a separate parish or precinct; the petitioners representing themselves as inhabitants of the easterly part of Bridgewater. A committee of two in the Council, and three of the House, was appointed to examine into the matter; who attended to their duties, and reported in favor of granting their request; which was accepted, and an act of incorporation passed June 1, 1716, with this condition:--
"That the whole town stand obliged to an honorable maintenance of the Rev. James Keith, their present aged minister, if he should outlive his powers and capacities of discharging the office and duty of their minister."
The new parish was called the South, and the old one the North, Precinct, which then included the West and what is now North Bridgewater. In 1723, that part of the old North Precinct now known as East Bridgewater, then known as the West Parish, was set off, and constituted a precinct called the East Parish, in Dec. 14, 1723; and May 31, 1738, fifty-five individuals, belonging in the old North Parish, sent a petition to the General Court, asking to be set off into a separate township; which petition was so far granted as to allow them the powers and privileges usually allowed to parishes. The following is a copy of petition and the act of incorporation:--
To His Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esqr., Captin General and Governour
in Chief in and over his Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in
New England, and to the Honourable his Majesties Council and House of
Representatives in Generil Court Assembled at Boston, on the 31st of
May, 1738, the Petition of us, the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the Town
of Bridgewater, Consisting Chiefly of the North part of the west precinct,
and two Familys of the East precinct, in sd Town,--
-------------------------------------------------
From SallyAnn Joiner GED:
2 DATE 1640
2 PLAC Plymouth Colony, MA
2 NOTE Marriage of Solomon LEONARD and PILGRIM Sarah Chandler is listed in
3 CONC the MAYFLOWER INDEX. See MF5G, Volume 2:10. Children listed in
3 CONC MF5G, Volume 2:11. {proven} Solomon LEONARD was engaged in the
3 CONC service of Plymouth Colony Company, then he became a Planter in
3 CONC Duxbury. Land Records: Solomon LEONARD owned land in Duxbury at
3 CONC "Blue Fish" which is in the northern part of the village by the Bay
3 CONC when the town was incorporated in 1637. Surviving deeds from the
3 CONC early days of the settlement reveal that Solomon was a neighbor of
3 CONC others of our ancestors: John Alden, Constant Southworth, and George
3 CONC Soule. Plymouth Colony records in Duxbury list Solomon LEONARD as
3 CONC serving in the Plymouth Colony Militia under Captian Myles Standish,
3 CONC betw 1730-1740. [DAR Patriots, p 249, vol 29]
Sources
[S00237] Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol. 15, Family of James Chilton originally by Robert Moody Sherman and Verle Delano Cincent, Revised by Robert S. Wakefield, (Name: Published by General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997;), F63 M39, 9929' .2'0973, 75-30145; ISBN 0-930270-16., pp 8-9.
[S00241] Memorial, Genealogical, Historical, and Biographical, of Solomon LEONARD, 1637, of Duxbury and Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Manning LEONARD, (Name: 454 pp; 1896; Published on demand by Higginson Book Co., 148 Washington Street, Salem, MA. 01970;), GC 929.2 L553L..
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1610 - 1671 (61 years)
Set As Default Person 
