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John ROOT (1676 - 1744) and Mary LEONARD (1688 - 1766)
John ROOT (1676 - 1744) and Mary LEONARD (1688 - 1766)
my 7g-grandparents
John ROOT, son of Thomas ROOT and Mary SPENCER, was born 25 Dec 1676, at Westfield, MA. He lived all his life in Westfield, and died 1 Oct 1744, at age 67.
John married Mary LEONARD, daughter of Josiah LEONARD, on April 14, 1703. Mary LEONARD was born about 1688, and died on 3 May 1766, at age 78, outliving her husband by more than 21 years.
Map of the Westfield area in 1861
John and Mary were my 7g-grandparents. Their eldest child was Elisha ROOT, my 6g-grandfather. See the Elisha ROOT page.
The data shown below, and the numbering system, are from [JPR], except where otherwise indicated.
1 John 2819 ROOT b: 25 Dec 1676 in Westfield, MA, d: 01 Oct 1744
+ Mary LEONARD b: 1688, m: 14 Apr 1703, d: 03 May 1766
....2 Elisha 2861 ROOT b: 28 Feb 1703 in Westfield, MA, d: 04 Feb 1775 in Southwick, MA
.... + Mary SCOTT b: 1710, m: 22 Apr 1730, d: 15 Sep 1784
....2 John 2862 ROOT b: 15 Nov 1705 in Westfield, MA, d: 1781
.... + Anna LOOMIS m: 13 Dec 1733
....2 Elizabeth 2863 ROOT b: 26 Jul 1707, in Westfield, MA, d: 19 Jun 1736
....2 Daniel 2864 ROOT b: 23 Apr 1710 in Westfield, MA, d: 1756
....2 David 2865 ROOT b: 15 Feb 1711 in Westfield, MA
.... + Elizabeth POMEROY m: 29 May 1744
....2 Deacon Samuel 2866 ROOT b: 02 Nov 1713 in Westfield, MA
....2 Lydia 2867 ROOT b: 14 Mar 1715
.... + Ebenezer HUTCHINSON m: 17 Aug 1748
....2 Solomon 2868 ROOT b: 17 Nov 1716 in Westfield, MA, d: 05 Sep 1786
.... + Mary CHURCH b: 1722, m: 16 Jun 1743, d: 08 May 1806
....2 Naomi 2869 ROOT b: 19 Jun 1718
.... + Daniel HIBBARD m: 1748
....2 Stephen 2870 ROOT b: 02 Jun 1720 in Westfield, MA, d: 1744 ; unmarried
....2 James 2871 ROOT b: 01 Dec 1721 in Westfield, MA
.... + Hannah NOBLE m: 26 Mar 1751 in Great Barrington, MA
....2 Hewit 2872 ROOT b: 06 Jul 1724 in Westfield, MA, d: 1788
.... + Experience POMEROY b: 1720, m: 12 May 1744, d: 18 Jun 1777
.... + Bethesda SACKETT m: 12 Oct 1777
....2 Mary 2873 ROOT b: 26 Jan 1727 in Westfield, MA
.... + Nicholas BROWN m: Dec 1755
The sections below will cover each of the children of John 2819 ROOT and Mary LEONARD.
1. Elisha 2861 ROOT was born 28 Feb 1703 in Westfield, MA, and died 04 Feb 1775 in Southwick, MA. He married Mary SCOTT on 22 Apr 1730. Mary SCOTT was born about 1710, and died 15 Sep 1784. Elisha and Mary were my 6g-grandparents. See the Elisha ROOT page.
2. John 2862 ROOT was born on 15 Nov 1705 in Westfield, MA, and died about 1781, probably in Southwick, MA. He married Anna LOOMIS on 13 Dec 1733, and at some point, they moved to Southwick, the southern neighbor of Westfield. Their children 8 were probably all born in Westfield or Southwick.
1 John 2862 ROOT b: 15 Nov 1705 in Westfield, MA, d: 1781
... + Anna LOOMIS m: 13 Dec 1733
......2 Gideon 2988 ROOT b: 26 Apr 1735, d: 01 Aug 1804; res. in that part of Westfield included after 1770, in Southwick
...... + Huldah NELSON m: Feb 1758, d: 28 Mar 1813
......2 Capt. Ezekiel 2989 ROOT b: 05 Mar 1736 in Westfield, MA, d: 14 Oct 1808, res. Pittsfield, MA
...... + Ruth NOBLE b: 12 May 1744 in Westfield, MA, m: 15 Nov 1761, d: Mar 1812 [LMB, p. 581]
......2 Roger 2990 ROOT b: 26 Feb 1739 in Southwick, MA, d: 01 Nov 1820
...... + Temperance TILLOTSON of Granby, MA, b: 1744, d: 03 Jul 1833
......2 Anna 2991 ROOT b: 16 Oct 1743 in Southwick, MA
...... + Oliver BARBER of East Windsor, CT, m: 30 Jan 1766, had 7 children in East Windsor, CT
......2 Rhoda 2992 ROOT b: 28 Oct 1745
...... + BARBER of Windsor, CT. (no children)
......2 Lydia 2993 ROOT
...... + Moses 2982 ROOT b: 01 Sep 1740 in Southwick, MA, m: 17 Jan 1765, d: 01 Dec 1784 in Southwick, MA
......2 Mercy 2994 ROOT b: 11 May 1749 in Westfield, MA
...... + Phineas STEVENS of Suffield, CT
......2 Grace 2995 ROOT b: 31 Jul 1751
...... + John KENT of Southwick, MA. They lived in Ransom, Oneida, NY. [I can't find this place.]
Lydia 2993 ROOT married her 1st cousin, Moses 2982 ROOT, son of Elisha 2861 ROOT and Mary SCOTT.
Ezekiel 2989 ROOT was a Captain in the American Revolution, and lived in Pittsfield, MA.
Ezekiel ROOT - Tory or Whig?
From the History of Pittsfield, by J. E. A. Smith, Esq., we extract the following: "The case of Ezekiel Root is a singular one. He was a very pronounced tory in his conversation and even went so far as to name his children for the British commanders ; but all his recorded acts are on the whig side, as in signing petitions, serving on the Committee of Safety, and in volunteering for Bennington and other fields. He was often elected to important town offices, and once at least by the extreme radicals to represent them in the county congress. Though sometimes disciplined for a too loud expression of toryism — to the offense of sensitively patriotic ears — it seems to have been regarded by the community as the eccentricity of a worthy man, which would never stand seriously in the way of duty. He never lost the good will of the people who were not famed for charity toward political opponents. [JPR, p. 357]
3. Elizabeth 2863 ROOT was born 26 Jul 1707, in Westfield, MA, and died 19 Jun 1736, at age 28.
4. Daniel 2864 ROOT was born 23 Apr 1710 in Westfield, MA, and died about 1756, at age 45 or 46. He seems to have lived all his life in Westfield, and had 2 sons, although nothing is known about his wife.
Daniel ROOT
His will was dated Sept. 23, 1756, in which his two sons are mentioned. The younger, Moses, being a minor more than fourteen, on the 9th of Jan., 1759, chose Enoch Holcomb to be his guardian. [JPR, p. 333]
1 Daniel 2864 ROOT b: 23 Apr 1710 in Westfield, MA, d: 1756
......2 Reuben 2996 ROOT b: Abt. 1740, d: Aug 1802
...... + Sarah CURTISS m: 1768 in Wallingford, CT
......2 Moses 2997 ROOT b: Abt. 1744
...... + FULLER
Reuben 2996 ROOT
He was in Great Barrington, Mass., in 1764, and went to Lenox about 1765, where he was one of the first settlers. He was m. 1768, in Wallingford, Ct., to Sarah Curtiss. His homestead was in the western part of Lenox, on what was originally called Mount Ephraim. [JPR, p. 359]
Moses 2997 ROOT
He was a saddle and harness maker by trade, and lived in West Stockbridge, Mass. [JPR, p. 359]
Daniel 3421 ROOT son of Moses 2997 ROOT
Daniel, a colonel in the war of 1812, was taken prisoner at the battle of Queenstown. He was a member of the N. Y. state legislature, from Chenango Co. [JPR, p. 359]
5. David 2865 ROOT was born 15 Feb 1711 in Westfield, MA. He married Elizabeth POMEROY, of Northampton, MA, on 29 May 1744. There has been some question about where they lived, but there was a David ROOT in Lenox, MA in 1767, and also a David Root "of the Greenwoods adjacent to Tyringham, Mass."
1 David 2865 ROOT b: 15 Feb 1711 in Westfield, MA
+ Elizabeth POMEROY m: 29 May 1744
....2 Eleanor 3000 ROOT b: 25 Jul 1747, d: 26 Jul 1748
....2 Eleanor 3001 ROOT b: 30 Oct 1748
....2 Anna 3002 ROOT b: 14 Aug 1750
....2 John 3003 ROOT b: 10 Jul 1754
....2 Phoebe 3004 ROOT b: 10 Jul 1754
6. Deacon Samuel 2866 ROOT was born 02 Nov 1713 in Westfield, MA. He married Patience GLEASON, widow of __ BARBER.
Deacon Samuel ROOT
He emigrated from Westfield to Northfield, Mass., Deacon R. and wife were driven by the Indians from Northfield to Fort Dummer, in Brattleboro, Vt., where their son Timothy was born. In about a year they returned to Northfield. He followed the business of a hatter, and was a deacon in the Congregational church.
*It was first a matter of doubt whether Deacon Samuel Root belonged to the family of John who m. Mary Leonard, but the will of his brother Stephen, who d. unmarried, dated March 2, 1744, settles the relationship, as he mentions, his brother Samuel of Northfield, among his other brothers.
[JPR, pp. 333-4]
1 Deacon Samuel 2866 ROOT b: 02 Nov 1713 in Westfield, MA
....2 Deacon Timothy 3005 ROOT b: 1743 in Brattleboro, VT, d: 12 Dec 1843
.... + Patience GLEASON
....2 Elihu 3006 ROOT
....2 Samuel 3007 ROOT
....2 Moses 3008 ROOT
....2 Elizabeth 3009 ROOT
.... + Judge BURT of Westminster, VT
....2 Sarah 3010 ROOT
.... + Elijah BONNY of Westminster, VT
....2 Naomi 3011 ROOT
.... + Capt. EATON of Westminster, VT
Timothy 3005 ROOT
The deed of his farm was signed by the king of England. He was a deacon of the Congregational church at Guilford. He d. Dec. 12, 1843, at the age of 100, never having had any sickness till he was 70 years old. [JPR, p. 360]
7. Lydia 2867 ROOT was born 14 Mar 1715 in Westfield, MA. She married Ebenezer HUTCHINSON on 17 Aug 1748.
8. Solomon 2868 ROOT was born 17 Nov 1716 in Westfield, MA, and died 05 Sep 1786, at age 69. He married Mary CHURCH on 16 Jun 1743. Mary CHURCH was born 1722 and died 08 May 1806, at age 83 or 84. They lived in Westfield.
1 Solomon 2868 ROOT b: 17 Nov 1716 in Westfield, MA, d: 05 Sep 1786
+ Mary CHURCH b: 1722, m: 16 Jun 1743, d: 08 May 1806
......2 Zeruiah 3012 ROOT b: 03 Jun 1744
...... + MIZER
......2 Stephen 3013 ROOT b: 14 Aug 1747 in Westfield, MA, d: 07 Jun 1818
...... + Prudence AVERY b: 1753 in Southampton, MA, m: 25 Nov 1773, d: 03 Apr 1840
......2 Solomon 3014 ROOT b: 20 Nov 1749 in Westfield, MA, d: Abt. 1809 in Hebron, Washington, NY
...... + Lucretia WHEATON m: 08 Aug 1770
......2 Anne 3015 ROOT b: 09 Oct 1751 in Westfield, MA
...... + SHEPARD
......2 Capt. Gad 3016 ROOT b: 18 May 1756 in Westfield, MA, d: 13 Nov 1824
...... + Theodosia 2948 ROOT b: 1759, m: 19 Jan 1779, d: 23 Aug 1812
...... + Sally B. CLARK b: 1769, m: 23 Apr 1819, d: 23 May 1857
......2 Theodosia 3017 ROOT b: 28 Oct 1757 in Westfield, MA
......2 Aaron 3018 ROOT b: 02 Mar 1763 in Westfield, MA
...... + Merlod FRANCIS of Montgomery, MA. They lived in Black River, NY.
Capt. Gad 3016 ROOT and Theodosia 2948 ROOT were 3rd cousins. Theodosia was daughter of Martin 2850 ROOT, son of Samuel 2812 ROOT, son of John 2801 ROOT, son of John 2800 ROOT. So Gad and Theodosia were both 2g-grandchildren of John 2800 ROOT and Mary KILBOURN.
Solomon 3014 ROOT
[Solomon] removed first to Chester, and then to Hebron, Washington Co., N. Y., about 1795 ... He weighed 360 pounds, and it is said did not have the privilege of seeing his feet for some years. [JPR, p. 361]
9. Naomi 2869 ROOT was born 19 Jun 1718. She married Daniel HIBBARD or HUBBARD in 1748.
10. Stephen 2870 ROOT was born 02 Jun 1720 in Westfield, MA, and died about 1744. He was unmarried.
11. James 2871 ROOT was born 01 Dec 1721 in Westfield, MA. On 26 Mar 1751 he married Hannah NOBLE, of Canaan, CT, in Great Barrington, MA, where they lived.
James ROOT
He purchased land and buildings in Great Barrington in 1750, and probably located in that year. He united with the Congregational church there Jan. 19, 1753. He lived for many years at the upper end of the town, at the crossing of the river. Probably most of his children d. young, but the youngest has left numerous descendants. [JPR, p. 334]
1 James 2871 ROOT b: 01 Dec 1721 in Westfield, MA
.. + Hannah NOBLE m: 26 Mar 1751 in Great Barrington, MA
....2 Lydia 3019 ROOT bap. 15 Jul 1753 in Great Barrington, MA
....2 Moses 3020 ROOT bap. 04 Aug 1754 in Great Barrington, MA
....2 Elizabeth 3021 ROOT bap. 30 Nov 1755 in Great Barrington, MA
....2 John 3022 ROOT bap. 25 May 1758 in Great Barrington, MA
....2 William 3023 ROOT bap. 25 Mar 1759 in Great Barrington, MA
.... + Rhoda FITCH m: at close of Rev. War
.........3 James 3505 ROOT
.........3 Lydia 3506 ROOT
.........3 John 3507 ROOT
.... + Anna MESSENGER
.........3 Bernice 3508 ROOT died in infancy
.........3 Chloe 3509 ROOT
.........3 Ambrose 3510 ROOT b: Abt. 1797
.........3 Daniel M. 3511 ROOT b: 16 Sep 1799
.........3 Catherine Emily 3512 ROOT b: Abt. 1801
.........3 William Riley 3513 ROOT b: Abt. 1803
.........3 George Washington 3514 ROOT
.........3 Orson 3515 ROOT
William 3023 ROOT
When sixteen years old, the war of the Revolution had commenced, and he enlisted, and was mustered into the Massachusetts line for the war. He fought in many battles, and some of the most bloody ones of the war. At Monmouth, and at the storming and taking of Stony Point under Gen. Wayne, being only nineteen years of age, he led a platoon of eighteen picked men into the fort in the midst of the greatest carnage. In a very few minutes after this daring deed the fort was taken. [JPR, p. 361]
12. Capt. Hewit 2872 ROOT was born 06 Jul 1724 in Westfield, MA, and died about 1788, at age 63 or 64. He married (1) on 12 May 1744, to Experience POMEROY, of Suffield, CT, born about 1720, and died 18 Jun 1777, at age 56 or 57, and (2) on 12 Oct 1777 to Bethesda SACKETT of Westfield, born about 1717, and died 19 Apr 1791, at age 74.
They moved from Westfield, MA to Great Barrington, MA, and each of the children were probably born at one of those places.
Capt. Hewit ROOT
He removed from Westfield to Great Barrington, and in 1754 purchased of James Root (his brother) a tract of seven acres (to which more was afterwards added), with a house, &c., in the northern part of the village, at the east end of the Great Bridge, over the Housatonic river. Capt. R. was a jovial man, fond of fun, and kept the most noted tavern in that section of the country. [JPR, p. 335]
Hewett ROOT and Samuel LEE in court, 1762
The first indictment found by the Grand Jury was against Samuel Lee of Great Barrington for presuming to be an innholder, and selling strong drink without a license. The first indictment returned by the Grand Jury, which came to a hearing, illustrates the spirit of the times. Hewett Root of Great Barrington was indicted at the March term, 1762, for that "he did wittingly and willingly suffer and permit Singing, Fiddling and Dancing in his Dwelling house, there being then a Tavern or Public Licensed House." He pleaded guilty and was fined ten shillings and costs. [BB, p. 96]
1 Hewit 2872 ROOT b: 06 Jul 1724 in Westfield, MA, d: 1788
+ Experience POMEROY b: 1720, m: 12 May 1744, d: 18 Jun 1777
......2 (baby) 3024 ROOT b: 29 Dec 1744, d: Abt. 19 Jan 1745
......2 Thankful 3025 ROOT b: 20 Jan 1746
...... + Cornelius HULL
......2 James 3026 ROOT b: 25 Aug 1747, d: 1802
...... + Lydia d: Bef. 1802
.........3 William 3520 ROOT b: Great Barrington, MA, d: Vernon, NY
............4 Elijah 4481 ROOT
............4 Sally 4482 ROOT
............4 William 4483 ROOT
............4 Lucy 4484 ROOT
............4 Benjamin Miller 4485 ROOT
............4 Wadsworth 4486 ROOT
............4 James 4487 ROOT
............4 Ward 4488 ROOT
............4 Nelson 4489 ROOT
.........3 Stephen 3521 ROOT b: Great Barrington, MA
............4 Norman 4490 ROOT
............4 Van Rensselaer 4491 ROOT
.........3 Elihu 3522 ROOT b: 1772 in Great Barrington, MA, d: Jul 1843 in Utica, NY
......... + Achsa POMEROY b: 1778, m: May 1800, d: 28 Dec 1857 in Utica, NY
............4 Edward 4495 ROOT b: 1810, d: 1834
............4 Oren 4496 ROOT b: 01 Nov 1803
............ + Nancy Whitney BUTTRICK
...............5 Oren 5600 ROOT b: May 1838
............... + Anna J. HIGGINS of Waterford, NY?
..................6 Edwin Buttrick 6450 ROOT b: 1863
............... + Ida GORDON of Columbia, MO
..................6 Alice 6451 ROOT b: 1868
...............5 Edward Walstein 5601 ROOT b: 04 Jul 1841
...............5 Elihu 5602 ROOT b: 15 Feb 1845 in Clinton, NY, d: 07 Feb 1937 in New York, NY
...............5 Oliver Pomeroy 5603 ROOT b: 15 Nov 1855, d: 1864
............4 Nancy 4497 ROOT b: May 1805
............4 Oliver Pomeroy 4498 ROOT b: May 1807
............4 Philander Sheldon 4499 ROOT b: Oct 1809
............4 Erastus Clark 4500 ROOT b: Aug 1811
............4 Abigail 4501 ROOT b: 1813
............ + William PINKNEY
............4 Elihu 4502 ROOT b: Oct 1815, d: 1826 in Vernon, NY
............4 Hewit R. 4503 ROOT b: Jul 1818, d: 1848 in Utica, NY
............4 Eliakim 4504 ROOT b: May 1819
...... + Abigail d: Aft. 1802
......2 Experience 3027 ROOT b: 14 Jan 1749, d: 1749
......2 John 3028 ROOT bap. 04 Aug 1754
......2 Mercy 3029 ROOT bap. 08 May 1755
......2 Elijah 3030 ROOT b: 06 Jun 1756
......2 Hewit 3031 ROOT bap. 06 Nov 1763
......2 Rhoda 3032 ROOT
......2 Lydia 3033 ROOT bap. 03 Apr 1768
...... + William PIXLEY m: 1789
+ Bethesda SACKETT b: abt 1717, m: 12 Oct 1777, d: 19 Apr 1791
Oren 4496 ROOT was a a Professor of Mathematics at Hamilton College, in Clinton, NY. Oren 4996 ROOT and Nancy A. BUTTRICK had 4 sons. Oliver, the youngest, died at age 8 or 9. The other 3 studied at Hamilton, and became professionals.
Oren 5600 ROOT was a Professor of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Hamilton, and Professor of English at the University of Missouri at Columbia.
Edward Walstein 5601 ROOT was a Professor of Agricultural Chemistry at Hamilton.
Elihu 5602 ROOT graduated from law school at the University of New York in 1867, and practiced law in NY. He was US Senator from New York, 1909-1915, and served on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He served as the Secretary of State under President Theodore Roosevelt and as Secretary of War under Roosevelt and President William McKinley. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1912. He appeared on the cover of Time magazine, 18 Oct 1926. He purchased the "Elihu Root House" in 1893.
Elihu 5602 ROOT's daughter Edith married Ulysses S. GRANT III, grandson of President Ulysses S. GRANT. After the death of Elihu in 1937, Edith and Ulysses moved into the Elihu Root House, which was sometimes called the "Grant House."
Elihu 5602 ROOT (1845 - 1937) [source]
The Elihu ROOT house in Clinton, NY [source]
13. Mary 2873 ROOT was born 26 Jan 1727 in Westfield, MA. She married Nicholas BROWN in Dec 1755.
Sources
[LMB] History and genealogy of the family of Thomas Noble, of Westfied, Massachusetts : with genealogical notes of other families by the name of Noble (1878) by Lucius Manlius Boltwood
Updated 10 Sep 2020 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.
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