Biographical Information:

Joseph was the fifth child of Elisabeth Preston (born in New Haven to Edward Preston and wife on September 29th 1655) and John Leavens. Elisabeth was the second wife of John Leavens whose first wife, Hannah Woods, had died on October 25th 1666, following the birth of their first and only child, Hannah (born October 17th), who later married Jonathan Peake of Woodstock, Connecticut.

Elisabeth and John married on November 23rd 1674. Their children born at Stratford were James, Peter and James; at Roxbury John, Joseph and Rachel; and at Woodstock, Connecticut, Benjamin and Mehitable.

Following the death of his father, John Leavens, on October 16th 1696, Joseph's mother, Elisabeth, remarried Peter Aspinwall with whom she had one more child.

At the age of 17, Joseph was cutting down trees to collect turpentine when he was bitten by a rattlesnake. Because he was alone and in danger he decided to rid himself of his infested thumb with his axe, believing this to be the only way to survive. He was later called 'Old One Thumb' by local Native Americans.

Joseph and two of his brothers were among 30 families taking up land in northeast Connecticut in 1709, the area which later became Killingly. Further details of the life of Joseph and his family and descendants can be found in
'THE LEAVENS NAME INCLUDING LEVINGS
AN ACCOUNT OF THE POSTERITY DESCENDING FROM EMIGRANT JOHN LEVINS: 1632-1903'
BY PHILO FRENCH LEAVENS, 1903, PASSAIC DAILY NEWS PRINT, PASSAIC, N.J.

Joseph Leavens married Judith Sabin in 1707. She was born at Rehoboth on August 28th 1690, the daughter of John and Sarah (Peck) Sabin. Their children born at Killingly were:
1. Joseph, born 1708 and baptised July 22 1716;
2. Sarah*, baptised July 22, 1716 (died young);
3. Judith*, baptised July 22, 1716, married (1) Thomas Trusdell, married (2) Wyman Hutchins;
4. Rachel, baptised July 22 1716, married Samuel Knight;
5. Zeruiah, baptised July 22, 1716, married Joseph Hutchins;
6. Abigail*, baptised 1718, married Ezra Hutchins;
7. Noah, baptised 1720;
8. Sybil*, baptised 1722, married Nathiaael Daniel;
9. Sarah, baptised 1725, married Silas Hutchins;
10. Hannah*, baptised 1727, married Grindall Rawson, died 1750;
11. Keziah, baptised March 8 1729, married Ebenezer Larned;
12. Alice, born August 13 1732, married Hezekiah Green;
13. John, born September 23 1734.
*to date no graves or memorials found

Joseph married (2) Hannah, daughter of Simon Bryant, and widow of William Larned on December 17th 1755, she died April 12th 1781.