The Land Patent Books of Virginia, Book 1, page 23, shows Robert Bennett granted 700 acres...for transportation of 14 persons, including James Leonard, June 26, 1635. One theory is that James came first to Virginia,then to Maryland, then to Providence, then to Lynn. Source: The Leonard Dictionary, Volume III (manuscript). Duplicate record August 18, 1637.Another source is Charles Edward Banks' "Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England 1620-1650," Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1963, 3rd edition, p. 148, citing Various References:NEGR 5/104. Apparently, employees and recruits of John Winthrop were sometimes not listed as passengers, since they were not paying passengers on those particular vessels crossing the Atlantic.

He arrived before 1650 from Pontypool, Wales, although some sources say he first came to Providence, RI, in 1645. He was paid for bringing his goods from Providence by the Lynn/Saugus Ironworks in 1651. On January10, 1645/6 in Providence, 25 acres of land were granted to a number of inhabitants, including James Leonard, but his name had been crossed out.He was the Iron master of Taunton, having first participated development of the iron works at Braintree and Saugus.James Leonard was but a short time at the Saugus Ironworks and at Braintree for a longer time. At sale of the Braintree works, he became a partner. With the invitation from Taunton, he moved there, erected aforge and furnace, and continued as master workman, a position he held for the rest of his life. ECL believes Oliver Purchase was the one who induced Henry and James along with Ralph Russell to come to Taunton. He conveyed the two hearths at Taunton to his sons, Thomas and James, and they in turn conveyed them to their sons. He purchased a lot on Mill River and erected a one-hearth forge, which he called Whittinton Forge.His son Joseph was the master workman at Whittinton Forge. His two other sons, Benjamin and Uriah, were also trained as "bloomers." About 1682James Leonard built a house for himself a short distance from the Taunton(Raynham) Ironworks on the north side of the road. It was a gambled roof house two stories in front and running back to one story in the rear.When he died in 1691, he left an estate valued at 500 pounds, a very respectable sum in those days (from Elisha Clark Leonard and George Marston Leonard's unpublished manuscript).

James Leonard frequently entertained Massasoit and King Philip, who journeyed from Mt. Hope to the hunting grounds at Fowling Pond. Fowling Pond is in Raynham, was one mile north of the Ancient Iron Works on present-day King Philip's Street near the end of Mill Street. Fowling Pond was said to be two miles long and three-quarters of a mile wide in King Philip's time, but today has disappeared. James repaired their guns and conferred favors that led to a lasting friendship. King Philip conveyed to James Leonard about two hundred and fifty acres at Mattapoisett Neck in Swansea in October 1665, but the deed was lost by the Plymouth Court. Tradition says that at the outbreak of King Philip's War in 1675, Philip gave strict orders that his men were never to harm a Leonard (although young Uriah Leonard was almost shot by King Philip's men early in the war, a bullet having passed through his hat as he rode his horse to escape an attack). It is conjectured that because of the Leonards Taunton was not attacked during the war. (Philip'soldiers were actually not to disturb certain families including those of James Leonard, John Brown, and Capt. Thomas Willett, all of Taunton --Hurd, p. 346).

James LEONARD and Mary Jane MARTIN were married in 1640 in England.2 Mary Jane MARTIN2 (daughter of Isaac MARTIN) was born before 1625. She died on 25 Feb 1663/64 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. She was also referred to as Margaret and Jennie Martin. A family of Martyns lived in Newport, not far from Pontypool. Henry Martyn, yeoman,1573, John, William, Thomas, Morgan, Mary, Edmund, Catherine, 1583.William was keeper of the keys in Newport. Further research at Newport and the Monmouth shire County Records Office might turn up a relationship,although church records in that area do not go back to this era.

According to ECL, Susanna Leonard (Nathaniel6, Elkanah5, Elkanah4,Elkanah3, Thomas2, James1) states that 1st wife of James was Jennie Martin, no source given. ECL also notes, "see VA land records of a Martyn family." James LEONARD and Mary Jane MARTIN had the following children:

i.

Deacon, Major Thomas LEONARD.

ii.

Capt. James LEONARD.

iii.

Abigail LEONARD.

iv.

Joseph LEONARD.

v.

Benjamin LEONARD.

vi.

John LEONARD was born in 1652 in Taunton, MA. He died in 1682 in Taunton, MA. Died unmarried.

vii.

Rebecca LEONARD.

viii.

Hannah LEONARD.

ix.

Uriah LEONARD.

James LEONARD and Margaret FORD were married before 1662 in Taunton, Bristol, MA.3 Margaret FORD (daughter of William FORD and ANNA) was born about 1632. She died before 9 Apr 1701 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. Was her last name Ford? Will of Margaret Leonard of Taunton, widow,about the 68th year of her age, dtd. November 12, 1700, prob. April 9,1701. Mentions son-in-law Uriah Leonard's wife Elizabeth and his daughter Margaret. Daughter-in-law Hannah Deane and her daughter Abigail Terry,son-in-law James Leonard's daughters Abigail and Prudence Lewis.Son-in-law Thomas Leonard's daughters Elizabeth and Johanah. Cousin Eleazer Carver to be exec. (She was probably step-mother, notmother-in-law). (2:30). Problem: Thomas Leonard didn't have a daughter named Johanah.