GRAND-DAUGHTERS OF 656 HORACE BRAYTON AND CAROLINE A.10 (PHELPS) LEACH GREAT-GRAND-DAUGHTERS OF 4192 NASH DAVID AND ELIZABETH6 (HUNGERFORD) PHELPS LAWRENCE LEACH OF SALEM, MASS., and SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS By F. PHELPS LEACH of East Highgate, Vt. The immigrant ancestor in New England of the family which forms the subject of this article was sent over to Salem by the Mass. Bay Co., in 1629 (Suff., De., I). In Edwin M. Stone's early history of Beverly, on page 29 I find the following paragraph: "June 24, 1662, Lawrence Leach died, aged 82. He held various offices in Salem. The usefullness of his life gained respect for his memory." His nunc will probated 25 (4) 1662; bequeathed all to his wife Elizabeth, and administration was granted to her. She died about 1674. When Lawrence Leach was about leaving Old England for New England, Gov. Craddock wrote from Gravesend, England under date of 17 Apr. 1629, a long letter concerning the affairs of the new colony, to Gov. John Endicott of the Mass. Bay Colony, in which letter I find the following paragraph: "We desire you to take notice of one Lawrence Leach, whom we have found a careful and painful man, and we doubt not, he will continue his diligence. Let him have deserving respect." His life in America would seem to have fully justified the confidence reposed in him by Gov. Craddock, as he was chosen 31 Dec. 1638, one of the seven men to manage the public affairs of Salem; an office which he held for years, and had among his colleagues Gov. John Endicott, William Hawthorne, Roger Conant, John Woodbury and John Balch. He was proposed for a freeman at Salem, in 1630, and was sworn 18 May, 1630; was one of the twelve jurymen which in Boston, in 1630, served on the trial of the first capital case that was heard in Massachusetts. Lawrence Leach came from England to Salem, Mass., in the "fleet" with Rev. Francis Higginson, the first minister sent out by the Company, to superintend the spiritual affairs of the settlement. "The Talbot", which was probably the first vessel that ever entered Manchester Harbor, dropped anchor there 27 June, 1629, and the Rev. Francis Higginson, wrote in his journal: “June 27, 1629-Saturday evening we had a westerly wind, which brought us, between five and six o'clock to a fyne and sweet harbor, seven miles from the head of Cape Ann (in this harbor twentie ships may lie and easily ride therein), where there was an island near, whither 4 of our men went with a boat, and brought back ripe strawberries, gooseberries, and sweet 2. single roses. Monday, 29th as we passed along to Naim Keake, it was wonderful to behold so many islands replenished with thicke woods, and high trees, and many fayere green pastures." Lawrence Leach was one of the founders of the church at Salem, of which he was a prominent member. He engaged in farming and milling, at Rial-side. His mills were so important that a way was laid out to them, in 1657, from the meeting house at Cape Ann side and other adjacent towns caused roads to be opened to them. (Freeman). He also had an iron foundry, which was the first in the colonies. Pope's "Pioneers of Massachusetts says: "Mr. John Leach, brother of Lawrence, was occupied at the iron works." This family is said to have descended from John DeLeche, surgeon to King Edward III of England. The coat of arms has upon it three crowns, the significance of which is, that one occasion while the kings of France and Scotland were prisupon oners of King Edward, the three kings dined at the house of the surgeon, and as a token of the incident, Edward handed Leche three crowns. Afterwards, when the king granted him a large estate, three crowns were placed on his arms. The spelling of the surname has varied at different times and in different branches of the family. Lawrence Leach, the immigrant ancestor in New England, and his descendants at Salem used the form Leach. Record's (the original entries, in the State House at Boston, of the various wars spells the name Leah, Leatch, Leceh, Lech, Leech, Leetch, Lirtch, Lish and Leach, although they are all descendants of the same Salem line. 2. i. ii. 3. iii. iv. V. (See records of Salem, Beverly and Manchester) 2ND GENERATION Lawrence1 and Elizabeth, probably had the following children: Clement, b. in England; was m. and lived in England when his John. Margaret, b. 1613; came on the "Susan & Ellen", 1635. Ambrose, Boston, 1648, is spoken of in Hutch. Coll., 298, and in 1663 was concerned in Narragansett, or the king's province." Wyman's "Charlestown, Mass., Gen.", says: "Ambrose, carpenter age 37, 1653; money was paid him." (constable's account.) Richard, b. 1618. Edmund, was in New Haven, Ct., 1647-9. 4. vi. vii. viii. Rachel, 5. ix. James, b. 6. x. Giles, b. 1632, at Salem, Mass. ROBERT LEACH (Lawrence 1), died 22 May, 1688, age 83. will was proved 14 June, 1688. He married twice (I think): first Mary or Miriam.. His who was admitted to the church 9 Sept. 1639, and died 11 Feb. 1648; and secondly Alice.. who married second Robert Elwell, of Gloucester, by whom she had several daughters; her will is dated 27 Mar. 1691. Felt gives him grant of land at Salem 1637; and the freeman of 1644; he was one of the founders of Manchester, settled there in 1636; and was Town Clerk until 1648; Selectman from 1658 to 1661, and again in 1680. Rev. D. F. Lamson's History of Manchester contains a good map of the estate's of his son's Robert & Samuel. He also owned estate's in Salem, and Charlestown at the time of his death. V. 7. vi. 8. vii. Bethiah. Abigail,. Children: ; m. John Fosket. ; m. 10 Dec. 1682, at Manchester, John Day, b. 28 April. 1657; and was living in 1715. He was a soldier in King Philip's War, and received grant of land at Kettle Cove for his services; son of Anthony and Susanna Day who was at Gloucester 1645. Robert, b. at Manchester, 1650. 3. JOHN LEACH (Lawrence 1), came from England to Salem, Mass., in 1629, (d. 1659) in the "fleet" with Rev. Francis Higgin son. He married first, before 1648, Sarah, daughter of Roger Conant, and secondly Sarah, daughter of John Waldron; she married second Timothy Goodwin. He had a grant of land at Salem in 1637, near that of his brother Richard; he also appears on a list of grantees and claimants of Narraganset, No. 5 New Bedford etc., Boston, "soldier grantee John Leach; claimant, John's son John". (Bodges King Philip's War, page 431). Roger Conant emigrated to Plymouth in 1623, where he remained until 1625, when in company with Rev. Mr. Lyford, he removed to Nantasket. He remained there but a short time, and proceeded to Cape Ann, where he was invested with the superintendence of the Dorchester Co., engaged in the fishery's and agricultural pursuits, being in fact the first Governor in the Colony of Mass. Bay, though not the Chief Magistrate of a Province. Children, all born at Salem, and baptized at first church; John, bapt. 19 Nov. 1648. i. 9. ii. Elizabeth, bapt. 27 Nov. 1653. vii. Mary, bapt. 3 Sept. 1654; m. 2 Mar. 1681, Thomas Field. viii. Richard, bapt. 15 June, 1656; Probably d. in King Philip's War. See "Richard Salem, Essex Regt., Major Daniel Dennison, Lieut. Samuel Appleton". (Bodge.) |