8. | Maj Thomas LEONARD was born on 3 Aug 1641 in Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales; died on 24 Nov 1713 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts; was buried in Buryng Ground at the Neck of Land, Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts. Other Events:
- Military Event: Militia
- Military Flag: Y
Notes:
He came to New England with his father and mother, he was known as the Tubal-Cain of America, because he worked for his father at the forge and started so many other forges. He became a probate Judge, a field officer, town clerk, deacon of the church.
Memories of the Leonard,Thopson and Haskill Families, by Caroline Leonard Goodenough, 1928.
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Thomas Leonard came to America with his father as a young boy. He worked at his father's iron forge in Taunton/Raynham where he was clerk and manager for 30 years beginning in 1683, but was also a physician, major of the Bristol, Regiment, justice of the peace, town clerk, deacon, presiding justice of the county court 1685-1693, and judge of the Common Pleas Court, 1702-13.
Thomas was a well-respected man in the community and a lengthy elegy to him was written and published at his death in the "Boston News Letter, "in late November, 1713, by Rev. Samuel Danforth, his pastor. A copy can be found in the NEHGS "Register," Vol 22, pg. 141.
Thomas married Mary WATSON on 21 Aug 1662 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of George WATSON and Phebe HICKS) was born in 1642 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts; died on 1 Dec 1723 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts; was buried in Buryng Ground at the Neck of Land, Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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