Zephaniah LEONARD

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Hon. Major Zephaniah Leonard and Hannah King

Notes:

Name:
He graduated from Yale and from Harvard in 1758 (Harvard Grads, 14:296). He was Sheriff of Bristol County (Alden Mem, 31).

In his will of 14 May 1763 (proved 24 August 1763) David Alden gave his daughter Abigail two cows, six sheep, and other items and she was to share with her siblings in the lot at Ashford (Plybouth Co PR, #77, 16:503-0). On 14 May 1768 Zephaniah Leonard, Esq., of Raynham and his wife Abigail participated in a deed with her siblings to sell the land in Ashford that had been their father's (Ashford LR, 11:11).

Zephaniah Leonard was a lieutenant colonel in the American Revolution. His name appears on an official record of a ballot by the House of Representatives, dated 2 February 1776 when he was chosen Lieutenant Colonel of Col. George Williams' (3d Bristol company) regiment of Massachusetts militia. The Appointment concurred in by Council on 7 February 1776 and on a commission dated 7 February 1776. He was discharged on 22 December 1776 with service of 15 days; the regiment marched to Warren, Rhode Island, via Rehoboth, 8 December 1776, on an alarm. There is also a resignation dated at Raynham, 19 February 1779, signed by Leonard, resigning his commission as Lieutenant Colonel inCol. George Williams' (3d Bristol company) regiment, on account of the state of his health; the resignation was accepted in Council on 24 February 1779 (MSSR, 9:708).

In 1790, the household of Zephaniah Leonard of Raynham consisted of four males over 16, three males under 16, four females, and two "others" (M637-4, p.511). In 1800 there was one male 16-26, one male over 45, one female 10-16, one female over 45, and four "others" (M32-19, 372A). Zephaniah is not indexed as the head of a household in the 1810 census.

Zephaniah Leonard, Esq. of Raynham, made his will 4 October 1813 naming his wife Abigail, to have one third of real estate for life and other items including horse and chaise in lieu of dower; sons Zephaniah, William, Augustus, and Horatio; and daughters Abby Cunningham wife of Andrew Cunningham, Esq. of Boston, Clarissa Wright wife of Rev. Henry Wright of Bristol, Rhode Island, and Fanny Leonard. Bond was made 6 May 1814 by Horatio Leonard, Esq. of Raynham, Samuel Crocker, Edq., and Francis Baylies, Esq., both of Taunton. Inventory was ordered 18 October 1828 to be taken by James Baylies, James Woodward, and Horatio L. Danford, Esquires. The account of 2 March 1830 included seven or eight letters from North Carolina, expenses for going there for 27 days and attorney fees there, and cash received from North Carolina; also a case in the Supreme Court in Washington; account was examined the same day (Bristol Co pR, alphabetical file on LDS film 573,231).

On 19 October 1828 Horatio Leonard gave a bond for guardianship of Zephaniah Leonard, a minor over 14 years of age, son of Zephaniah Leonard, late of Raynham. Some papers of the estate of Zephaniah, the son, whose probate was in 1824, and in which were mentioned his son Zephaniah, the daughter of his sister Clarissa, and his brother Horatio, may have been mixed with those of the father. The account of 1830 may belong in the second probate file (Bristol Co pR, alphabetical file on LDS film 573,231).

Zephaniah married Abigail ALDEN on 29/30 October 1765 in Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachustts. Abigail (daughter of David ALDEN and Judith PADELFORD) was born on 19 May 1744 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; died on 25 Jan 1845 in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]