The Leach family in Portsmouth was headed by James Leach, in town in 1656, a “weaver” who owned a Leach’s Island near Little Harbor and was a Tythingman in 1678.  He married Jane, daughter of Thomas and Agnes Turpin.  In 1691 he gave the island to John, his son.  In 1697 his estate was inventoried.  In 1699 John and James sell lands granted their father by the town of Portsmouth.  In the same year John Leach, son of James Leach had a wife Sarah and a brother James  In 1724 John Leach had wife Mary for they, without marks, deed certain property, their residence being Newcastle, adjoining Portsmouth.  In 1733 and 1734 John Leach, weaver, deeds to son, Junior, his right in the town of Epsom and to Leach’s Island in Portsmouth.  In these and other deeds of the period no wife joins and probably John, “weaver” was a widower and if it was he who had Sarah in 1699, who married Mary Moor (Elliott) after 1718, then Mary herself was probably dead, for by that time would have been long past middle age.