Person:Thomas Leonard (24)

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Thomas Leonard
b.Est 1590
 
Parents and Siblings
(edit)
  • F.  Henry Leonard (add)
  1. Thomas LeonardEst 1590 -
Spouse and Children
(edit)
  1. Henry LeonardEst 1618 - Bet 1685 & 1695
  2. James LeonardEst 1620 - 1691
  3. Joan LeonardEst 1621 -
  4. John LeonardEst 1623 -
  5. Margery Leonard1625 -
  6. Mary Leonard1627 - 1627
  7. William Leonard1628 - 1628
  8. William LeonardEst 1630 -
  9. Philip LeonardEst 1632 - 1708
  10. Sarah Leonard1633/34 - Bet 1720 & 1721
  11. Thomas Leonard1636 - Bet 1682 & 1682/83
Add another spouse & children
Facts and Events
Name Thomas Leonard
Gender Male
Birth[6] Est 1590
Marriage to Elizabeth White
[edit]

Disputed Lineages

In the middle 1800's, descendants who were unaware of the information provided by his granddaughter Hannah (Leonard) Deane[1], speculated that Thomas was the son of Sampson Leonard and Margaret Fiennes, Baroness Dacre. This has been proven to be incorrect, as their son Thomas died unmarried[4]. In 1925, another suggestion was made that, if he was related to the Dacre line (which has been refuted - see TAG 10:165 quote from 1931[2]), he might be the son of Sampson's youngest brother Henry (see TAG 10:164-65)[2]. There is no evidence for this and Jacobus did not take it seriously[2].

For those who dislike genealogical dead ends, it might be worth looking at the research around the possible connection to French Huguenots.[5]

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Dates Proven Wrong

This Thomas was not christened in 1577 and buried in 1638. Those dates belong to a different Thomas Leonard, who died unmarried[4].

References
  1. ↑ The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society)
    7(1853):72.

    "February 2, 1732-3, Hannah Deane sister to Capt. James Leonard, late of Taunton deceased, gave to the subscriber the following account of her relations &c--
    Namely her Great Grandfather's name was Henry Leonard
    Her own Grandfather's name was Thomas Leonard ...
    Her Grandmother's name was _____ White"

  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jacobus, Donald Lines. Pre-American Ancestries: The Leonard Family of Taunton, Massachusetts, in The American Genealogist (TAG). (Donald Lines Jacobus, et.al.)
    10(1933):162-66.

    This article discusses and discredits the proposed descent of Thomas Leonard from Sampson Lennard and Margaret Fiennes, Baroness Dacre, for which no evidence has ever been produced.

    The article points out that there is only one piece of evidence for the parents of Thomas Leonard, and that is the statement by his granddaughter that her great-grandfather was Henry Leonard. Any other suggestion is speculation. Jacobus goes on to say (p. 164): 'Granting that Mrs. Deane's memory may have been at fault, we can see no reason for concluding that it was at fault in this particular unless definite evidence is presented for the contrary statement that Thomas was a son of Sampson Lennard; and the book [Annals of the Leonard Family by Fanny Leonard Koster, published 1911] fails to present any evidence on this point. If true, it would make Mrs. Deane a grandniece of Henry Lennard, Lord Dacre (born 1570, died 1616), and it is difficult indeed to suppose that an old lady with the remarkable memory of Mrs. Deane, and so well versed in the family history, could have failed to remember and mention such a close and distinguished connection if it existed. The impartial student can only conclude that the identification of Thomas Leonard, Mrs. Deane's grandfather, with Thomas, third son of Hon. Sampson Lennard, is a kind of "wish-fulfilment" on the part of later descendants who lack the family knowledge possessed by Mrs. Deane.'

    p. 165: 'In 1931 a spirited exchange of views appeared in the genealogical columns of The Boston Transcript. ... [a] participant in the controversy, signing himself "Boston," wrote thus, 19 Nov 1931: "May I repeat, for the last time, I hope, that irrespective of what the good bishop may have thought, I would refer you to my communication in the Transcript years ago when I stated that Sir Thomas Barrett-Lennard informed me in person at the time I was his house guest at Horsford Manor, Norfolk, England, and when he allowed me to go over the proof sheets of his book, that he knew of no relationship between the Dacre-Lennard family (his own) and that of the American Leonard." The book referred to is The Families of Barrett and Lennard, which Sir Thomas Barrett-Lennard published in 1908.'

  3.   Everett, Alice Allen. Leonards of Monmouthshire and Somersetshire, England, in The American Genealogist (TAG). (Donald Lines Jacobus, et.al.)
    53(1977):104.

    This article presents the results of research for Leonards in Great Britain and Ireland. On page 104, the author concludes:

    'In spite of all the research that has been done on the family, the origin and birthplace of James Leonard of Taunton is still uncertain [although subsequent research found more records for his siblings]. ... But of one thing we are certain: the claim that James Leonard was descended from Lord and Lady Dacre of Herstmonceus Castle, near Hastings, England, cannot be sustained. Donald Lines Jacobus doubted it; Elisha Clark Leonard "never accepted it"; and a "published book on the Dacre family confirms the falsity of the claim" '

  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Brad. Origins of the Massachusetts Leonards.

    The earliest record we have of father Thomas is 13 Mar. 1624/5 when he was listed as the father of Margery (child #3) in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire. Henry, his first child, was born ca. 1618.
    We also know that his wife’s maiden name was Elizabeth White and that Thomas was a forgeman in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, 1624-1628 and he was living in Publow Parish, Somersetshire, 1633-1636.
    That is the extent of our documented knowledge of Thomas.

    We also know that there were Leonard's in Pontypool, Wales in the early 1600's, but their relationship to this Thomas Leonard is unknown.

    'The Thomas Lennard who was the son of Sampson Lennard was christened May 23, 1577 in Sevenoaks, Kent, and was buried November 16, 1638. He never married.' (Speculation that this person was the ancestor of the Taunton Leonard's is the source for dates often given for Thomas son of Henry Leonard, but they obviously don't belong to him.)

  5. ↑ Barton, Bill. PRE-AMERICAN ANCESTRY of our LEONARD IRONWORKERS.

    Barton comments on a number of options for the origin of the ironworking Leonard's and says he "strongly favors" a descent from French Huguenots (references provided in his article).

    'The current belief is that the French ancestor of the above Leonard line is Henry Leonard, alias Quintin (baptized 1 Jan. 1561/2 at Etchingham), not his brother John (baptized 29 Jan. 1547/8 at Frant). The father of Henry & John was Martin Lenard, alias Quintin (buried 2 Mar. 1591/2 at Burwash), finer, and the grandfather was Quintin Leonard. The above Henry Leonard Quintin had a son [-?-] Lenard baptized 22 Feb. 1590/1 at Fletching. Note: I believe all of the above localities are in Sussex ...'

  6. ↑ Birth year estimated based on birth years of his children.
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