LEONARD, Samuel b. 1643 Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States d. 30 Nov 1720 Preston, New London, Connecticut, United States

1643 - 1720 (77 years)

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Name	LEONARD, Samuel
Birth	1643	Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
Gender	Male
Death	30 Nov 1720	Preston, New London, Connecticut, United States
Burial	Dec 1720
WAC	9 May 1923	LOGAN
_TAG	Reviewed on FS
Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
Person ID	I20614	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

Father	LEONARD, John Soloman , b. 1610, Monmouthshire, England Monmouthshire, Englandd. 1 May 1671, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States (Age 61 years)
Mother	Sarah , b. 15 Oct 1622, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United Statesd. 27 Oct 1675, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States (Age 53 years)
Marriage	1640	Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Family ID	F11040	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family 1	ATWOOD, Abigale , b. Aug 1645, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United Statesd. 10 Oct 1719, Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States (Age 74 years)
Marriage	1668	Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Family ID	F11079	Group Sheet \| Family Chart
Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

Family 2	Deborah , b. 1647, Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United Statesd. 1718, Preston, New London, Connecticut, United States (Age 71 years)
Marriage	Est 1668	Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Family ID	F11080	Group Sheet \| Family Chart
Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

Notes

Second Generation

2. Samuel LEONARD Jr.4 was born about 1643 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA. He died after 30 November 1720 at the age of 77 in Griswold or Preston, CT. Also known as Samuel Leonardson. Manning Leonard: "He was intimate with the family of John Leonard of Springfield who were relatives."

When he sold his house in Worcester to John Beman, one of the witnesses to the deed was Rachel Leonard, believed to be a daughter of John Leonard or of Rice Leonard of Rehoboth who was probably visiting or living with his family at this time.

He settled in Preston, now Griswold, CT. He was one of the founders of the North Church of Preston, now the First Congregational Church of Griswold 30 Nov 1720. He was a church member from 16 Nov 1698.

Samuel LEONARD Jr. and Abigail WOOD were married before 1676. Abigail WOOD, daughter of John WOOD and SARAH, was born about 1645 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA. She died in Worcester, Worcester Co., MA. Also referred to as Atwood.

Samuel LEONARD Jr. and Abigail WOOD had the following children:

+8

i.

Mary LEONARD.
+9

ii.

Mercy LEONARD.
+10

iii.

Elizabeth LEONARD.
+11

iv.

Samuel LEONARD.
DEBORAH died before 1720 in Griswold or Preston, CT. Manning Leonard speculates on p. 35 of the Solomon Leonard Genealogy that she was possibly the youngest daughter of John Leonard of Springfield. "He was intimate with the family of John Leonard of Springfield who were relatives; the youngest duaghter, Deborah, has never been traced, perhaps this was she. It is believed that they had a daughter Abigail, though no record or birth or baptism has been found. The church records give the baptism of a daughter Phebe 17 October 1703." Current info is that Deborah married Gabriel Luff of Long Island.

Samuel LEONARD Jr. and DEBORAH had the following children:

+12

i.

Abigail LEONARD.
+13

ii.

Phebe LEONARD.
http://bradsport.com/aSolomonLeonard1615/

Solomon Leonard MP
Birth: circa 1610
Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales
Death: May 1, 1671 (57-65)
Bridgewater, (Present Plymouth County), Plymouth Colony (Present Massachusetts)
Immediate Family:
Son of Samuel Leonard and mother of Solomon Leonard
Husband of Sarah Leonard
Father of Samuel Leonard; John Leonard; Jacob Leonard; Isaac Leonard; Mary Pollard and 1 other
Brother of Jacob Leonard
Added by:Richard Barnes on March 11, 2007
Managed by:Dale R Wilson and 25 others
Curated by:Erica Isabel Howton
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From Solomon Leonard: decoded

If you surf enough family trees on Ancestry.com, RootsWeb, or even the IGI, sooner or later you’ll find Solomon Leonard called “John Solomon” Leonard, married to “Mary” rather than Sarah Chandler. “Blasphemy!” I say, as the Bible of all things Mayflower, The Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol 15, p8, clearly states that:

SARAH CHANDLER3 (Isabella2 Chilton, James1)… m. Duxbury ca. 1640 SOLOMON LEONARD (LENNER or LEONARDSON), b. prob. Monmouthshire, England ca. 1610; d. Bridgewater bef. 1 May 1671.
In the settlement of Solomon Sr.’s estate in 1675, son Samuel confirmed that son John, coincidentally married to a woman named “Sarah,” got the 50 acres of land originally left to Sarah, his mother. Around and around we go.

James Savage, who wrote A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England in 1860, simply repeated Judge Mitchell’s error without much thought.

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 propriators 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 :

1. Samuel
born about 1643
m. (1) Abigail Wood
(2) Deborah______
2. John
born about 1645
m. Sarah (Chandler ?)
3. JACOB [our ancestor]
4. Isaac
born about 1650
m. Deliverance _______
5. Solomon
born after 1650
m. Mary _______
6. 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 clearified 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 comming over for the weather. Most of them new somebody. Roger and Isabella, for example, were part of the original Leyden, Holland contigent 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

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 "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:

1640 - Plymouth Colony, MA
Marriage of Solomon LEONARD and PILGRIM Sarah Chandler is listed in the MAYFLOWER INDEX. See MF5G, Volume 2:10. Children listed in MF5G, Volume 2:11. {proven} Solomon LEONARD was engaged in the service of Plymouth Colony Company, then he became a Planter in Duxbury. Land Records: Solomon LEONARD owned land in Duxbury 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. Plymouth Colony records in Duxbury list Solomon LEONARD as serving in the Plymouth Colony Militia under Captian Myles Standish, 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..
SOLOMON LEONARD was born about 1610 in or near Monmouthshire in the southwestern part of England. He was the earliest settler in this country by name of Leonard, and is the acknowledged ancestor of the “Bridgewater Branch of the Leonard Family”.
View Larger Map

He probably emigrated first to Leyden in Holland, probably with his father whose name was probably Samuel. They may have come to this country together; if so, the father must have died soon after. The history of Bridgewater states that 35 of the Leyden people with their families arrived at Plymouth in 1629, and 60 more came in 1630.

The family name was sometimes written Leonardson, Lennerson, or Lenner, but by the family themselves, always written Leonard. It was quite common at this period to distinguish the son from the father by adding “son” to the name. In some cases the additional syllable was permanently adopted.

FIRST OF PLYMOUTH COLONY AND DUXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS

He was engaged in the service of the Colony Company in Plymouth for a time, but became one of the early settlers of Duxbury, Massachusetts. Duxbury seems to have been settled by the people of Plymouth, since seven of the twenty subscribers to the civil compact signed in the cabin of the Mayflower in November of 1620 – and who also survived that fatal first winter – became inhabitants of Duxbury, i.e., Elder Brewster, Capt. Standish, Mr. Alden, Mr. Howland, Francis Eaton, Peter Brown and George Soule. At one time Duxbury was a vast area including within its bounds several towns, including Bridgewater.

View Larger Map

The exact date of Solomon Leonard’s settlement in Duxbury cannot be fixed. Some records indicate he was there when the town was incorporated in 1637. He had land at “Blue Fish” near the bay, in what is now the northerly part of the village of Duxbury.

SOME DUXBURY COURT RECORDS

“Solomon Lenner” is promised lands on Duxburrow side in some convenient place, in part of lands due to him for service (dated 7 May 1638).
“Solomon Lenner” is granted 25 acres of land on the east side of the lands granted to “Edmond Chaundor”, bounded at the upper end with a swamp (dated 4 Feb 1638/9).
One record states that Solomon Leonard was admitted freeman in 1643, but his name doesn’t appear in the printed list of those admitted from Duxbury that year. He was, however, listed among those “males that are able to beare armes from XVI yeares old to 60 yeares within the Towneshipp of Duxburrow 1643”.
In the Deeds Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, 16 September 1645, “Solomon Lenner” of Duxborrow and Morris Truant exchanged houses, uplands and meadows. Solomon Leonard’s land had recently been purchased from Edward Bumpas. The land he exchanged with Mr. Truant was at “Blew ffish Riuer”. No record of conveyance of these lands have been found. (In the vast number of instances at this period and for fifty more years, deeds of purchase were never recorded.)
SOLOMON LEONARD IN BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS

Along with the renowned George Soule, Miles Standish, John Alden, William Bradford and others – fifty-four in all – Solomon Leonard became one of the original proprietors of Bridgewater and one of the earliest settlers there. Thus he is known as the Ancestor of the Bridgewater Leonards.

The grant of the plantation by the Court was not made until 1645, and the Indian title to the territory was made by deed of “the good old Massasoit,” dated 23 March 1649. The town was not incorporated as a distinct township until 1656. It contained at one time about 96 square miles of territory. Within its bounds were “the Four Bridgewaters”.

The first settlement was made near what is now West Bridgewater. Each settler had at first a grant of a house lot of six acres on the town river. At that time it was called Nuckatest or Nuncketetest, an Indian name in close affinity with that of the pond from which it flows, now called Nippenicket. It went by other names formerly. And the settlement was called after the name of the river, Nuncketest, or Nunckety, sometimes Unkety. These Indian names were variously written. The plantation bore the more general appellation of Satucket.

These house lots were contiguous and the settlement was compact, with a view to mutual aid when common protection and defence against the Indians should be required, and extended on each side of the river. Solomon Leonard’s house-lot seems to have been near the center. On this he erected a humble habitation that was probably the dwelling place of himself and family to the close of his life.

THE TOWN CHURCHES

A church was formed in Duxbury as early as 1632. Rev. Ralph Partridge, “a man of pious and blameless life, gentleness of spirit, and meekness of heart,” was the minister from 1637 until his death in 1658. The records of this church were burned with those of the town, so we cannot know if the Leonards were members.

The same is true regarding the church at Bridgewater, which was organized on its first settlement. Rev. James Keith was Bridgewater’s first settled minister, ordained in 1664, serving as pastor until his death in 1719. He was from Scotland, educated at the University of Aberdeen, “a worthy man, faithful shepherd, and able divine,” on intimate terms with Increase Mather, Judge Sewell, and the leading men of that day. He wrote many of the deeds, wills, etc., of his parishioners, and, without doubt, kept a careful church record, but it cannot be found.

The first minister of Bridgewater did not preach, nor did his hearers practice, a sickly sentimentality, which showed more sympathy for the criminal than love for the observance of law, but he taught and they believed in, a willing obedience to law, and in the speedy punishment of its violators. They devoutly believed in prayer and trusted in God; but they also trusted in their own right to bear arms for their defense. When attacked by the Indians, whom they had treated with uniform kindness, they did not abandon their homes, as advised to do by the timid of other settlements, nor did they, trembling, wait for the Lord to specially interpose for their deliverance; but, seizing their weapons with determined hearts, they attacked the foe and drove him from their settlement.

The founders were governed, in all their thoughts and in all their movements, by high religious and moral principle. They were not adventurers who had left their country for a time to mend their fortunes and then return; they came to seek a permanent abiding place, to establish a home for themselves and their descendants, which would satisfy their cherished ideas of a pure, religious commonwealth. They came with little property; but the means on which they relied – next to an undoubting faith in the providence of God – were earnest minds and willing hands.

AS TO EDUCATION

The remarkable growth in advancing from poverty to competency, to wealth, and to all the refinements of an advanced civilization, are mainly attributable to two qualities – industry and frugality. Hard and persevering labor in a laudable and honest calling brought no discouragement, no want of respect, no loss of social position. This was a general and pervading feeling and extended to all classes and to both sexes. Mothers and daughters, as well as fathers and sons, were motivated alike by a common devotion to useful industry to advance the common interests of the family.

It was stated in the history of the town that the inhabitants of the town contributed twelve pounds in Indian corn, for the rebuilding of Harvard College. That statement implies that the townsmen were enough interested in education that they leapt forth to provide the Indian corn for the rebuilding of Harvard College. In point of fact, there never was any corporate action for establishing schools within the town until 1700, when “a scholar who came out from England by name of Thomas Martin” was engaged for four years to keep a school in four places in the town in each year – three months at each location.

The thing about the Indian corn for the rebuilding of Harvard was this. The Colony sent out from town to town soliciting subscriptions, hopefully cash, to accomplish the rebuilding of the brick building. The townsmen gladly, or under societal pressure – it didn’t matter which, only that it was done – made subscriptions, or pledges, to contribute. The college really wanted funds, but most of the villagers throughout the Colony were too strapped for cash to contribute in that way. Many ended up giving building materials or grains, as did the villagers of Bridgewater, “twelve pounds in Indian corn”.

There were, actually, few among the early settlers who laid claim to much scholarship, but most of them had a general intelligence and practical good sense so much more useful to men in their condition. The Leonards seem to have been all during their lives deprived of schools and education, but Solomon and his family must have acquired instruction and growth in grace, refinement, and virtue, from the daily interaction with their neighbors, some of whom were likely of more culture and intelligence than they; and definitely from the ministration, instruction, and example of such pious, faithful and beloved ministers as the reverends Ralph Partridge and James Keith.

These characteristics were no small thing to be built into the foundational framework of our country, for out of such men as these came our “founding fathers”. So, yes, these people were uneducated, and were what has been termed our “rude forefathers,” but they were respectable, honest, industrious, frugal, and thrifty – all worthy traits.

WIVES AND MOTHERS

In speaking of those who gave a special character to the first generation, and whose teaching and influence trained up those after them, we must not pass over the wives and mothers who came into the wilderness to give to the spot its strongest attraction, the simple charm of home. They came here while the howl of the wolf was yet heard from the deep forest around them at midnight. Often and again did they clasp their little ones, with more than a mother’s tenderness, as they saw the shadowy form of the savage stealthily prowling around their scattered dwellings; or they waited in fearful suspense for the return of a husband from the bold forays in which they sought for the foe in his lair.

Unfortunately, no record has been found of the surname of Leonard’s wife, nor the date of their marriage, or the births of their children. We know only that her Christian name was MARY. They were undoubtedly married before 1640 and had a large family, most of the children probably born in Duxbury and several dying while young.

A SNIPPET ON HOME LIFE

As they had aided in the subduing and settlement of the two towns, their lives must have been filled with almost ceaseless care and labor, with few conveniences and no luxuries. Their house, like others of that period, was probably made from hewn logs, with the spaces filled with clay; the chimney, made of sticks or stones and plastered outside and within with clay, and was built against one end on the outside of the house.

Their clothing was of homespun woolen, flax, or hemp, supplemented perhaps with leather made from the skins of deer. Their food consisted of various preparations of Indian corn, beans, rye or wheat bread, a few vegetables, fish, clams, lobsters, wild game and, in their season, the berries and wild fruit that were common in New England. Beef and mutton were luxuries seldom indulged in and neither potatoes, tea, nor coffee had been heard of. Their dishes, doubtless, were few and mainly of wood, with perhaps a plate or two of pewter.

AT WAR WITH INDIANS

At the time of King Philip’s War, around 1675, and subsequently, the anticipated or actual raids of the Indians occasioned frequent hasty removals of the probate and other papers and records, for safety, which resulted in serious loss. For several years the whole country was agitated, and absorbed in these Indian wars and nearly everything else seems to have been left to “take care of itself.” It is quite impossible for us to have any conception of affairs at that period.

The town of Bridgewater ordered the meeting house and minister’s house to be fortified, powder and ball to be procured, and pay for soldiers provided. The fortification about the meeting house to be made with half trees, seven feet high above the ground, six rods long and four rods wide, beside the flankers.

On the 4th of October 1675, the Colony Records show that the Court proclaimed a “sollemne day of humilleation,” to be observed by fasting and prayer which was observed on the 14th of October throughout the jurisdiction, to “humble our soules, and seeke and begg the Lord’s healp in our psent troubles, by reason of the Indians,” their persisting in their hostility and barbarous cruelty and outrage against the English.

It was ordered that, during that time of public anger, every one that came to the meeting on the Lord’s day bring his armes with him, with at least six charges of powder and “shott”, untill further order was given.

The Court took into serious consideration (what they termed) “the tremendous dispensations of God” towards the people of Dartmouth, in allowing the “barborus heathen to spoile and destroy most of theire habitations, the enimie being greatly advantaged ..... by theire scattered way of living.” After this, in the rebuilding and resettleing, they designed to compact together, att least in each village, the better to defend themselves from the assault of the enemy, and the better to attend the publik worship of God, and ministry of the word of God.

I mention other towns because what affected them, during this time, also affected Bridgewater, and Bridgewater was looking to them for an example of how to rebuild. The town of Dartmouth, 25 miles distant from Bridgewater, was attacked by the Indians several months before this date (October of 1675). Many of the houses were burned and the inhabitants slain. The people of Middleborough only about 10 miles distant, all fled to Plymouth for protection and all their houses were burned. At a later period, Bridgewater was savagely attacked, but the people courageously and successfully defended themselves. Though very many of the men of this town were engaged in the war from the very beginning to its close, not one was slain.

SOLOMON LEONARD ONCE MORE IN THE COLONY RECORDS

Once more before his death, Solomon Leonard’s name appears on the Colony Records of 4 March 1658/9. An Inquest was held regarding the body of “an English Man” which some Indians took up out of the River of Tetacutt, a little below Nemaskett. “Wee found noe blemish about the man that should in any way cause his death, but as we conceive was drowned accidentally.” Solomon Leonard was associated on the inquest with others of Bridgewater, nearly all of whom are found prominently connected with the early history of the town.

Soon after this period he acquired the respectful title of “Goodman Lennerson,” which he bore till he died.

The date of Solomon Leonard’s death remains unknown. He was probably buried in the ancient graveyard at West Bridgewater. The History of Bridgewater, by Judge Mitchell states that he died in 1686. That error has been repeated by the eminent New England biographer Mr. Savage and many others. This seems very strange for the Court Records of Plymouth, the records of deeds there, and the Proprietor’s Records of Bridgewater, were quite well known, and any of these records would have shown that he must have died many years before 1686. Mitchell also stated in his history that Solomon Leonard’s estate was settled by his son Samuel and was the first settlement recorded in Plymouth Probate Court. Mr. Savage noted and took exception to it, but made no explanation. At any rate, no death date is recorded for Solomon Leonard, nor has any record of the settlement of his estate ever been found. But few papers relating to transactions during that period can be found. There are, however, some records regarding his estate.

THE SETTLEMENT OF SOLOMON LEONARD’S ESTATE

Plymouth Colony Records of Deeds (Book 3, pg. 199) includes a confirmatory deed from Solomon Leonard’s son Samuel, to his brother, John:

First of the third month May 1671 “Forasmuch as my father Sollomon Leonard of Bridgewater while he was living did with my mother fully and firmly bestow on my brother John Leonard fifty acres of land being and buting on the south or southwesterly syde of Punkatest river next adjoining unto Ehler Brett his fifty acre Lott that he bought or exchanged with Robert Latham on the one syde and unto my land on the other syde with all the meddow and not having made Deed of Gift unto my brother John Leonard, being prevented by death, I Samuell Leonard confirm my hand and seal this first of the third month May 1671. Acknowledged before mee Constant Southworth, Assistant.”
27 October 1675 In reference to the dispose of “Sollomon Leonardson”, of Bridgewater, deceased, the Court ordered, that such particulars as belong to Samuel Leonardson, the eldest son of the said Leonardson, being first set apart, i.e., 50 acres of upland, on the SE side of Nunekatateesett River, and 20 more acres adjoining to it on the N side, and 12 acres at Bridgewater on which the house standes, and three lots of “meddow”, containing 2-1/2 acres or thereabouts and 50 acres of land pertaining to John Leonardson, the second son of the said Sollomon Leonardson, and all debts owing to any from the estate be first paid,
the Court ordered, settled and distributed the remainder as follows: –
Samuell Leonardson, the eldest son of the said Solomon Leonardson, should have a double portion, with what he had already received from his father of his estate, both real and personal, and the remainder was to be equally divided among the rest of the children in equal portions. The Court granted the administration of the estate to the eldest son, Samuel.
The original bond dated October 27, 1675 given by Samuel Leonard to settle his father’s estate was found in the Probate Office in Plymouth upon a search by the author of my primary reference (see below). In this document, Samuel Leonardson was of Bridgewater in the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth, and listed himself as “Carpenter”. His bond was for £100. He listed his father Solomon Lenardson, also of Bridgewater, as a Weaver. This bond was his guarantee that he had obtained letters of administration, and that he would administer the estate of his father. He signed it with his Seal.

Why legal steps were not taken to settle the estate sooner is difficult to understand. Perhaps efforts to do this by agreement were made and failed. Possibly it may have been arranged to defer it until the death of the widow, which had doubtless now occurred, as no mention is made of her and no provision granted in the order of the Court.

Due, evidently, to the application of our John Leonard (in the 2nd generation), a grant of land to the family was made posthumously by the Plymouth Colony because of Solomon Leonard being “one of the old servants” of the Colony. More on this, the next page.

CHILDREN OF MARY & SOLOMON LEONARD SR.

Samuel Leonard, born about 1643; married first, Abigail Wood; married secondly, Deborah. Samuel styled himself “Planter” on a land document in the 1681.
JOHN LEONARD, born about 1645. He married Sarah Chandler, the daughter of Roger Chandler.
Jacob Leonard was born in Duxbury about 1647. He married first, Phebe Chandler, dtr. of Roger Chandler, one of the “three sisters” probably about the time he came of age. The tradition is that he was with the earliest settlers of Quinsigamond (Worcester). If so, he was driven off as were the others, by the Indians in 1675. The family may have tarried for awhile in Marlborough, but probably during most of King Philip’s war were in Bridgewater as that was considered more secure from the attacks of the Indians than the newer towns. He was in Weymouth in 1679 and married (2), Susanna King of that town. She was born in Weymouth on 6 May 1659 and died in Bridgewater before 1730. They lived a few years in Weymouth where their oldest two daughters were born.
Possibly they may have lived a short time in Mendon, but on the second attempt to settle Quinsigamond, now named Worcester, in 1684-85 he and his family located in the vicinity of what is now called Quinsigamond Lake. They were, however, so troubled by the raids of the Indians that they became discouraged and removed to Bridgewater about May 1, 1693, for the town records show that at this date they were “warned out”.*
To learn what being “warned out of town” meant in those days, and for an example of the document, click here. The biography continues on pgs. 38-40 of Manning Leonard’s book on the Leonard family (see below).
Isaac Leonard, born about 1650; married Deliverance.
Solomon Leonard, born after 1650; married Mary.
Mary Leonard, born after 1650; married 21 December 1673, John Pollard.
From Solomon Leonard: decoded

If you surf enough family trees on Ancestry.com, RootsWeb, or even the IGI, sooner or later you’ll find Solomon Leonard called “John Solomon” Leonard, married to “Mary” rather than Sarah Chandler. “Blasphemy!” I say, as the Bible of all things Mayflower, The Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol 15, p8, clearly states that:

SARAH CHANDLER3 (Isabella2 Chilton, James1)… m. Duxbury ca. 1640 SOLOMON LEONARD (LENNER or LEONARDSON), b. prob. Monmouthshire, England ca. 1610; d. Bridgewater bef. 1 May 1671.
In the settlement of Solomon Sr.’s estate in 1675, son Samuel confirmed that son John, coincidentally married to a woman named “Sarah,” got the 50 acres of land originally left to Sarah, his mother. Around and around we go.

James Savage, who wrote A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England in 1860, simply repeated Judge Mitchell’s error without much thought.

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 propriators 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 :

1. Samuel born about 1643 m. (1) Abigail Wood (2) Deborah______ 2. John born about 1645 m. Sarah (Chandler ?) 3. JACOB [our ancestor] 4. Isaac born about 1650 m. Deliverance _______ 5. Solomon born after 1650 m. Mary _______ 6. 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 clearified 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 comming over for the weather. Most of them new somebody. Roger and Isabella, for example, were part of the original Leyden, Holland contigent 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...

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From: 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);

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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

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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.

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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.

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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,--

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From SallyAnn Joiner GED:

1640 - Plymouth Colony, MA
Marriage of Solomon LEONARD and PILGRIM Sarah Chandler is listed in the MAYFLOWER INDEX. See MF5G, Volume 2:10. Children listed in MF5G, Volume 2:11. {proven} Solomon LEONARD was engaged in the service of Plymouth Colony Company, then he became a Planter in Duxbury. Land Records: Solomon LEONARD owned land in Duxbury 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. Plymouth Colony records in Duxbury list Solomon LEONARD as serving in the Plymouth Colony Militia under Captian