My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: Capt JOSIAH LEAKE of Goochland County, Virginia

 

JOSIAH LEAKE was born 19 March 1730 on Rocky Springs Plantation, Goochland County Virginia. He was the son of WALTER LEAKE and JUDITH MASK, and the grandson of WILLIAM LEAKE and MARY BOSTICK, who emigrated from Nottinghamshire, England in about 1685 and established Rocky Springs Plantation in what was then Henrico County, Virginia.

JOSIAH was married three times, and had children with all three wives. On 1 January 1759 he married ANN FENTON, the daughter of THOMAS FENTON of Henrico County.  ANN died before 1767,  when THOMAS FENTON wrote his will and made JOSIAH LEAKE his executor, naming JOSIAH's two daughter JUDITH (wife of Capt CHARLES WOODSON, see previous post) and LUCY LEAKE in the will.

The second marriage was to ANNE MINTER, sometime shortly after 1767. They had two sons, WALTER & JOSIAH Jr.   ANNE died in 1777.

He married a third time, to ANN FOSTER, who was a widow, sometime before 1780. They had three children, CHRISTIAN, JOHN M and SAMUEL D LEAKE.

JOSIAH LEAKE was Captain of the Virginia Militia, Goochland district, from July 1777 until May 1780. I  am uncertain whether  this unit of the Virginia Militia ever saw battle;  I have not found any records or documentation or regimental history.  JOSIAH was 47 years old and likely a widower when he enlisted.

After the Revolutionary War, JOSIAH was sued by his daughter JUDITH and her husband Capt CHARLES WOODSON. The court record from around 1785  listed slaves PHYLLIS, LUCY, SUCKEY, JUDY, JAMES, AMY, JACK & ISAAC, which CHARLES & JUDITH claimed as JUDITH's property from the estate of THOMAS FENTON, JUDITH's maternal grandfather. The lawsuit indicated  that the slaves were being withheld from JUDITH by her father JOSIAH LEAKE.

Capt JOSIAH LEAKE wrote his will 10 July 1794, which names all his children from the three marriages. His third wife is not mentioned in the will.  I have only a transcription of the will which does not include the names of his slaves.  

Capt JOSIAH LEAKE died at Rocky Springs Plantation sometime before 21 September 1795, when his will was brought to court. 

Capt JOSIAH LEAKE is in the lineage of my maternal grandfather, R B MARTINE

SOURCES:

--DAR Patriot Index

--Historical Genealogy of the Woodsons and their Connections by Henry Morton Woodson

--The Leake Family and Connecting Lines by George Warren Chappalear

--Genealogies of Virginia Families Volume II from  William & Mary College

--The Douglas Register 

Have a great day!

Betty

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