LEACH

1. LAWRENCE-

b.c.1577 Hurst, Berkshire
m. 2 Feb. 1606 Hurst, Berkshire ELIZABETH MILEHAM (?bpt. 24 Sept. 1583 Thatcham, Berkshire, d.c.1674 Salem, MA)
d. 24 June 1662 Salem, MA

The Leach family supposedly descended from John De Leche surgeon to King Edward III of England. The coat of arms has three crowns upon it the significance of which is based upon an occasion when the kings of France and Scotland were the prisoners of King Edward. The three kings dined at the house of the surgeon and as a token of the incident Edward gave Leche three crowns. Afterwards when the king granted John a large estate, three crowns were placed on his arms.

St. Nicholas Chruch- Hurst, Berkshire

It is interesting to note that the famous Archbishop William Laud was born in neighboring Reading and preached at St. Nicholas church when visiting friends at Haines Hill House in 1625. Perhaps Lawrence and Elizabeth came back home from Sonning to hear him preach that Sunday?

St. Andrews church- Sonning, Berkshire

Sonning Bridge with St. Andrews Church- c.1799

Shortly before Lawrence left Old England Gov. Craddock wrote a letter from Gravesend dated 17 Apr. 1629 concerning the affairs of the new colony to Gov. John Endicott of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the letter is the following:

"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."

Lawrence came from England to Salem in the "fleet" with the Rev. Francis Higginson, the first minister sent out by the Company. The "Talbot" dropped anchor in Manchester Harbor 27 June 1629 and the Rev. Higginson wrote the following 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 harbour 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 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."

Old Post Card Depicting the First Church in Salem

Plaque at the Site of the First Church in Salem

Lawrence was one of the founders of the church at Salem, of which he was a prominent member. He was involved in farming and milling at Rial side. He had a grant of 100 acres in Salem and six acres of marsh on 17 Feb. 1636 along with 3/4 acre of marsh on 25 Dec. 1637, ten acres of meadow on 9 Dec. 1639 and fifteen more acres of meadow on 7 May 1638.(1) 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 also built roads to the mill. He also had an iron foundry which was the first in the colonies. Lawrence's brother John worked at the iron works as well.

On 18 March 1657[/8] Lawrence Leach entered a caution for Richard Leach "who hath given him by his father Larrance Leach his farm on Riall side that joineth to Jacob Barney, both upland and salt marsh, only reserving for his particular use so much as is needful during his & his wife's lifetime".(2)

On about 7 September 1665, but not brought for acknowledgment until 28 March 1680, Samuel Friend of Manchester sold a mill and mill house at Bass River, with two acres of land and twenty acres a little distance off on Royal's Neck side "there being no bill of sale made till now," the original purchaser being Laurance Leach of Salem "now deceased," and the sale was confirmed to "John Leach, son unto Lawrance Leach aforesaid".(3)

Lawrence was made a freeman at Salem 18 May 1630. (4) "John Leech, the brother of Lawrence Leech" was received as an inhabitant of Salem on 23 Jan. 1636/7.(5) He was one of the twelve jurymen which in 1630 in Boston served on the trial of the first capital case that was heard in Massachusetts, the trial of Walter Palmer in the death of Austin Bratcher.(6)

His life in America seems to have justified the confidence placed in him by Gov. Craddock as he was chosen on 31 Dec. 1638 one of the seven men to manage the public affairs of Salem, an office which he held for years and he had among his colleagues Gov. John Endicott, William Hawthorne, Roger Conant, John Woodbury and John Balch.(7)

Edwin M. Stone's history of Beverly states: "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 will probated 25 Apr. 1662 gave all to his wife Elizabeth and included "a Bible with another book" valued at 5/.

The "nuncupative will of Lawrence Leach of Salem" was proved 25 June 1662: "Larance Leach aged 85 years or thereabouts being perfect in memory near a year before his death expressed himself unto us whose names are hereunder written in the disposing of that which he had, we being urgent with him to make his will his expressions to us was this: First he said that he did owe thirty pounds for the mill and his will was that his wife should pay his debts and when his debts were paid then she should take all he had. John Porter, John Bacheller".

The inventory of "Lawrence Leach of Salem" [undated] totalled £138 14s. 8d., including real estate valued at £100: "the house, with two acres of land with the orchard, being part of the said two acres," £30; "a mill," £40; "20 acres of land not improved on Ryall side," £10"; and "fifteen acres of meadow bought of Mr. Downing," £20.(8)

On 12 April 1671 Elizabeth Leach Sr. of Salem, widow, deeded the mill or mills with the housing, land & orchard "sold by my son John Leach" to John Dodge of Beverly.(9)

On 22 January 1670[/1] Elizabeth Leach of Salem, widow, executrix to the estate of Laurence Leach, deceased, sold for "£14 to be paid unto my daughter Rachel Golthwright" a share of fifteen acres of meadow in the great fresh meadow, five acres excepted, to Richard Leach of Salem. (10)

Issue- F. Phelps Leech in his Genealogy placed many folks of the surname Leech from all parts of New England as children of Lawrence who could not have been his children. He also confused the records for Robert Leech of Charlestown and Robert Leech of Manchester.

·  I. Agnes- bpt. 11 Dec. 1608 Hurst

·  2II. ROBERT- bpt. 6 Mar. 1614 Hurst, m.1. Mary or Miriam _____ (d. 11 Feb. 1648) 2. ALICE _____ (m.2. Robert Elwell of Gloucester, will 27 Mar. 1691), Adm. 29 June 1674 Manchester

·  III. Henry- bpt. 11 June 1615 Sonning, Berkshire, probably d.s.p.

·  IV. John- bpt. 29 Sept. 1616 Sonning, m.1. before 1648 Sarah Conant 2. Sarah Waldron (m.2. Timothy Goodwin), d. 1659

·  V. Richard- bpt. 7 Feb. 1619 Sonning, m. Sarah Fuller, d. Nov. 1687

·  VI. Rachel- bpt. 15 July 1621 Sonning, m.1. John Sibley of Manchester (d. 1661), 2. Thomas Goldthwait, d. after 5 Mar. 1683

·  VII. Margaret- bpt. 15 July 1621 Sonning, Arrived on the "Susan & Ellen" in 1635.

Ref:

(1) Salem Town Records- Vol. 1, pp. 19, 27, 37, 93, 96, 103
(2) Essex Country Registry of Deeds- Vol. 1, p. 37
(3) Ibid- Vol. 5, pp. 109-10
(4) Massachusetts Bay Court Records- Vol 1, pp. 80, 366
(5) Salem Town Records- Vol. 1, p. 33
(6) Ibid- p. 81
(7) Salem Town Records- Vol. 1, pp. 24, 44, 77, 79, 80, 82-95, 105, 113
(8) Essex County Registry of Probate- Vol. 1, pp. 388-9; Essex Country Registry of Deeds- Vol. 2, p. 46
(9) Essex Country Registry of Deeds- Vol. 3, p. 111
(10) Ibid- Vol. 6, p. 44

"Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England"- Savage, Vol.III, p.67
"Lawrence Leach of Salem, MA and Some of His Descendants"- F. Phelps Leach, Vol.I, pp.3-4
Parish Registers for Hurst and Sonning, Berkshire- Berkshire Record Office- Reading

2I. ROBERT (LAWRENCE 1)

bpt. 6 Mar. 1614 Hurst, Berkshire
m.1. Mary or Miriam _____ (d. 11 Feb. 1648)
    2. ALICE ______ (m. 2. 29 May 1676 Gloucester, Robert Elwell of Gloucester, d. 10 Apr. 1691 Gloucester), will 27 Mar. 1691)
Adm. 29 June 1674

Robert was granted 20 acres of land at Salem by 1636, and ½ acre of land for fishing at Winter Island in Winter Harbor, Salem, on 16 January 1636/1637. On May 1639 "Lawrence Leechs two sons" were granted 70 acres in Salem.(1) Mary was admitted to the Salem church on 9 Sept. 1639. Robert became a freeman in 1644. He was one of the founders of Manchester and settled there in 1636 and was the town clerk until 1648. He was a selectman from 1658 until 1661 and again in 1680 and was on the grand jury 20 Sept. 1672.

Issue-

·  I. Mary- m. 1680 Thomas Field

·  II. Elizabeth-b.c.1640, m.c. 1660 John Fosket

·  III. Sarah- b.c.1640, m.1. 1663 Gloucester, John Millett, 2. 1665 Beverly, Joseph Herrick

·  IV. Bethiah- m. 7 May 1685 Gloucester, Lt. James Davis, d. 20 Aug. 1733 Gloucester

·  V. Robert- b.c. 1653 Manchester, MA, m.1. Sarah ______, 2. Hannah ______, d. 1707 Manchester

·  VI. Samuel- b. 1655 Manchester, MA, m. 1677 Arabella Norman (b. 14 Feb. 1644 Salem, m.1. Sept. 1664 Salem, John Baldwin (b. 1640 Salem, d.c.1670) d. 1681 Manchester), d. 14 Oct. 1696 Manchester

·  3VII. ABIGAIL- b.c.1663, m.12 Dec. 1681 Manchester, JOHN (2) DAY, d. 9 Feb. 1725/6 Gloucester, MA

Ref:

(1) Salem Town Records- Vol. 1, p. 88

"Lawrence Leach of Salem, MA and Some of His Descendants"- F. Phelps Leach, Vol.I, pp.4-5

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