Descendants of Deacon John LEAVITT

    This webpage is dedicated to the descendants of Deacon John Leavitt and his wives - Mary Lovett and Sarah Gilman. John was born in 1608 in Beverly, Yorkshire, England and died 20 Nov 1691 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes. He was the son of Percival Leavitt and Margaret Linkley. He married Mary Lovett in 1637. Mary was born in 1617 in Plymouth, Devonshire, England and died in July 1646. In December 1646 John married Sarah Gilman who was born 19 Jan 1622 in Caston, Hingham, England and died 26 May 1700 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes. Sarah was the daughter of Edward Gilman and Mary Clarke.

As I continue updating this website, I hope you were able to find something to help you in your research. Since there is still a great deal we don't know about these families, I hope you will let me know about any additions or corrections you may have, or find in the future.. You may use the Family Group Sheet Form. Thanks for your assistance in completing this long process.

According to the National Association of Leavitt Families Website:

    John Leavitt of Hingham, Massachusetts was certainly the first by this name to settle in America and to bequeath American soil to his progeny. Authors disagree as to the year of his arrival and the name of the ship he sailed on. Names of four different ships are given by as many authors. The most likely account is provided by "The History of Ancient Woodbury, Conn." which states: "John Leavitt came to New England and settled in Dorchester in 1628." This information was very likely given to the author by immediate descendants of John who were early settlers in this part of the State. The Dudley genealogy states: "John ran away from an apprenticeship at the age of 19." All early authors and family tradition agree on this fact. If still an apprentice he would have to be under the age of 21 as apprentices were freed of their commitment at age 21. So being born in 1608, he would have reached the age of 19 in 1629. This makes it very likely 1628 was the year he arrived in America.

    As an apprentice John learned the trade of tailoring and went into business in Dorchester. After he became possessed of some property in Dorchester his Master learned of his whereabouts, came overseas and took from him his possessions, as by law he was entitled to do. "History of Rockingham County, N.H." states: "His master came from England and took away his little property in Dorchester so Deacon John went to Hampton and Exeter N.H. for a time". This statement has possibilities. It may be the reason of five of his sons settling in and near Exeter. It may be where he found his first wife, supposed to be a Mary "Lovet", whom he married in 1637. Perhaps Mary was not a Lovet until after her marriage to John and an error was simply repeated time after time. It is also possible she was the sister of Thomas who lived in Exeter before moving to Hampton. The Thomas branch early on spelled their last name in various ways, mostly Lovet, but also Lovatt, Levett and Leuit. In early days the letters "o" and "e" were similar and often confused.

    Mary died in July 1646 and John married second, Sarah Gilman, daughter of Edward and Mary Gilman, in December 1646. She was born in Caston, England in 1622 and lived with her parents in Hingham. In 1636 and 1637 and again in 1647, 1648 and 1665 a number of lots were granted to John Leavitt at Hingham, Mass.

    John was declared a freeman on Dec. 15, 1636, meaning a church member. Only freemen could hold office or vote for rulers. He was a representative to the General Court in 1656 and again in 1664, He was a Selectman for several years and frequently engaged in town business. He was a Magistrate, which meant a member of the Governor’s Council.

    John had 13 children; three sons and two daughters with Mary and four sons and four daughters with Sarah. Five of his seven sons married and had children. These were Israel and Josiah, who remained in Hingham and brought up their families there, and Samuel, Moses and Nehemiah, who all moved to and settled in the Exeter, New Hampshire area. The six girls all married, four of them twice. Only one had no offspring. The other five all had children and the Leavitt bloodline quickly passed into other families.

= My Direct Line

Generation No. 1

Deacon John LEAVITT and Mary LOVETT had the following children:

  1.   John LEAVITT (John) born 19 Jul 1637 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 1668/1674. On 27 Jun 1664, in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes he married Bathsheba HOBART. Bathsheba was born 28 Sept 1640 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes. She was the daughter of Peter HOBART and _?_.

  2.   Hannah LEAVITT (John) christened 1 Apr 1639 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 23 Apr 1662 in Hull, Plymouth County, Massachusettes. On 20 Jul 1659 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes she married John LOBDELL. John was born 1639 in Hull, Yorkshire, England.

  3.   Samuel LEAVITT (John) christened 7 Apr 1641 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 6 Aug 1707 in Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. About 1664 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes he married Mary ROBINSON. Mary was born about 1643 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusettes.

  4.   Elizabeth LEAVITT (John) born 28 Apr 1644 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 4 Feb 1688 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes. On 25 Mar 1667 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusettes she married Samuel JUDKINS. Samuel was born 27 Nov 1638 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusettes. He was the son of Job JUDKINS and Sarah _?_.

  5.   Jeremiah LEAVITT (John) christened 1 Mar 1645/1646 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died before 1689.

Deacon John LEAVITT and Sarah GILMAN had the following children:

  1.  Isreal LEAVITT (John) christened 23 Apr 1648 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 26 Dec 1696 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes. On 10 Jan 1676 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusettes, he married Lydia JACKSON. Lydia was born 19 Nov 1658 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died after 1708. She was the daughter of Abraham JACKSON and Remember MORTON.

  2.   Moses LEAVITT (John) born 12 Aug 1650 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 17 Jun 1730 in Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. On 26 Oct 1681 in Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, he married Dorothy DUDLEY. Dorothy was born 1664 in Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire and died before 1730. She was the daughter of Reverend Samuel DUDLEY and Elizabeth _?_. Moses is buried in the Leavitt Burying Groound, Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

  3.   Josiah LEAVITT (John) born 4 May 1653 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 14 Sept 1708 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes. About 1674 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusettes he married (1) Mary ABBOTT. Mary was born about 1656 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusettes. On 20 Oct 1676 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes he married (2) Margaret JOHNSON. Margaret was born 22 Dec 1659 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 5 Jun 1739 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes. She was the daughter of Humphrey JOHNSON and Eleanor CHENEY.

  4.    Nehemiah LEAVITT (John) born 22 Jan 1656 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 25 May 1715. On 17 Apr 1676 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusettes he married (1) Alice GILMAN. (Widow of Daniel GILMAN). Alice was born in 1658 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes. About 1698 in Rockingham County, New Hampshire he married (2) Alice CARTEE. She was born about 1660 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusettes

  5.    Sarah LEAVITT (John) born 25 Feb 1659 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 29 May 1726 in Framington, Middlesex County, Massachusettes. On 17 Apr 1678 in Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusettes she married (1) Nehemiah CLAPP. Nehemiah was born 1646 in Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusettes and died 2 Apr 1684. On 18 Sept 1685 she married (2) Samuel HOWE of Middlesex County, Massachusettes. Samuel was born 20 Oct 1642 in Caston, England and died 13 Apr 1713.

  6.   Mary LEAVITT (John) born 12 Jun 1661 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died after 1706. On 10 Oct 1682 in New London, New London County, Connecticut she married (1) Benjamin BATES. Benjamin was born 15 Jul 1655 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died before 26 Oct 1722. He was the son of James BATES and Ruth LYFORD. In Feb 1706 she married (2) Jonathan SIKES. Jonathan was born about 1657.

  7.    Hannah LEAVITT (John) born 20 Mar 1664 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 5 Oct 1728 in Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusettes. On 25 Oct 1683 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes she married (1) Joseph LORING Sr. Joseph was born 10 Mar 1660 in Hull, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 3 Feb 1692 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes. He was the son of John LORING and Mary BAKER. On 25 Aug 1693 she married (2) Joseph ESTABROOK II. Joseph was born 6 May 1669 in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusettes and died 23 Sept 1733 in Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusettes. He was the son of Joseph ESTABROOK and _?_.

  8.   Abigail LEAVITT (John) born 9 Dec 1667 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 4 Jan 1748 in West Bridgewater Plymouth County, Massachusettes. On 20 Jan 1685 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes she married (1) Isaac LASSELL. Isaac was born 10 Jul 1660 in Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusettes and died 20 Oct 1690 in Massachusettes. He was the son of John LASSELL and Elizabeth GATES. On 20 Jan 1686 she married (2) Isaac JOHNSON. Isaac was born 18 Feb 1668 and died 27 May 1738.

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