Benjamin Leonard I (1654 - 1724)

Born 5 Sep 1654 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts

Husband of Sarah (Scott) Leonard — married 19 Feb 1680 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 21 Dec 1724 at age 70 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts

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Biography

Leonard, Benjamin, 5 JUL 1654 of Springfield, freeman at 1690, was there 1678. He married 9 Feb. 1680, Sarah Scott, had

• John, b. 12 July 1681;
• Benjamin 3 Oct. 1683, d. young;
• Nathaniel, 6 Oct. 1685;
• Ebenezer, 26 Jan. 1687;
• Margaret, 1689;
• Sarah 23 Mar. 1691;
• Martha, 23 Oct. 1695;
• Kezia, 25 Nov. 1697;
• Abel, 27 Aug. 1700;
• Benjamin, again, 17 Aug. 1702;
• Rachel, Jan. 1705/6.

He d. 21 Dec. 1724; and his wid. d. 2 Dec. 1751. Savage's First Settlers of New England, ^[1]

Springfield VR gives Benjamin 5 July 1654, son of John Leonard. ^[2]

Will

His will dated 19 December 1724, proved 6 April 1725. He owned quite a bit of land in Agawam Meadows and Feeding Hills, which he gave to his wife and sons John, Nathaniel, Ebenezer, Abel, and Benjamin. Abel and Benjamin each received half of the iron mill. He gave daughters Rachel and Keziah 45 pounds, as well as the same to his married daughters Sarah Ball, Margaret Ely, and Martha Ferre Jordan. His son John was his executor. Item - I give to my two daughters Keziah Leonard and Rachel Leonard each of them forty five pounds and my other three daughters Sarah Ball, Margaret Ely and Martha Ferre Jordan each of them forty five pounds to which they have had. Item - I give my land up on the plaine to be divided equally among my five sons John Leonard, Nathaniel Leonard, Ebenezer Leonard, Abel Leonard and Benjamin Leonard also the private highway which lies by the river shall be held in common among my sons who live at Agawam and my outward Commons and all other of my estate that is undisposed of after my daughters have had their legacies to be equally divided among my five sons John Leonard, Nathaniel Leonard, Ebenezer Leonard, Abel Leonard and Benjamin Leonard. As explanation of my above will that my wife shall have use of one third of my house where I live or at John Leonard's where she shall have cause to live and at my wife's dower my son John Leonard shall have which land I have ordered her, he paying the value of it and if he refuses it the next of age shall have it that incline to have it he paying for it. Item - I ordain constitute and appoint my beloved wife and my son John Leonard to be my executor to this my last will and testament and is annulling and making void all former and other will or wills by me made ordering my said executors firstly to make payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses then to divide and dispose of my estate as above. In witness of all which I have subscribed and sealed this instrument this the 19th day of December Anno Domini 1724. Signed and Sealed Benjamin Leonard In presence of Josiah Leonard, Moses Ingersole. Nathaniel Downing ^[3]

Burial: "Here lyes the Body of Mr Benjamin Leonard who Died Decembr the 21st 1724 in the 71 Year of His Age." ^[4] Photo at https://www.ancestry.com/media/viewer/viewer/ad52978c-be42-4446-b647-2cd6e982c1e1/8459480/6035555777?_phsrc=uXI8204&_phstart=successSource

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/newengland/savage/bk3/leland-lewiston.htm
2. ↑ The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011
3. ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~villandra/momf/f1905.htm
4. ↑ Springfield VR

• This source gives listing of the parents and children only: http://www.familycentral.net/index/family.cfm?ref1=6177:501&ref2=6177:502
• This source for the child Martha: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/w/i/t/Sara-Witchey-/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0517.html
• Descendants of John Scott: gives listing of the parents and children only: http://www.geocities.ws/ckhansgw/scott.htm
• This source provides only parents and children's names and vital dates:

Ancestors of Kathleen Lowe Benjamin Leonard and Sarah Scott http://records.ancestry.com/benjamin_leonard_records.ashx?pid=19772019

• The First Century of Springfield, MA the official records from 1636 to 1736, with an historical review and biographical mention of the founders by Springfield (Mass.); Burt, Henry M. (Henry Martyn), 1831-1899, ed; Pynchon, William, 1590-1626. Meritorious price. 1650 (Reprint https://archive.org/details/firstcenturyofhi01spri