Thomas Leavitt (settler)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Leavitt was an English
Puritan
who was one of the earliest permanent settlers of the Province of New Hampshire
. A farmer, Leavitt apparently followed Rev. John Wheelwright
to his settlement of Exeter
, New Hampshire
. Later Leavitt moved on to Hampton
. He was seldom involved in town business, and was described by one writer as "a quiet, useful citizen." He was not remarkable, except insofar as those who crossed the Atlantic to settle an unknown continent, peopled by tribes
with which they were unfamiliar and swept by storms startling to Englishmen, were unremarkable.
, Massachusetts
, in 1635, and an early Boston record of 1636 shows him assessed a fine. Perhaps chafing at the discipline of early Puritan Boston, Leavitt departed in 1639 for Exeter, New Hampshire, where the Rev. John Wheelwright, a Puritan clergyman forced to flee England because of fears of persecution – and later forced to leave Massachusetts
because of run-ins with ecclesiastical authorities – had settled and assembled a congregation. Leavitt remained in Exeter only a few years before eventually settling at nearby Hampton, one of the four original New Hampshire
townships chartered by the General Court of Massachusetts.
Thomas Leavitt was a farmer and perhaps a tanner, although one ancient deed called him 'planter.' In 1639, Leavitt was a signer of the Exeter Combination, but soon left Exeter for Hampton, where by 1644 he had married Isabella (Bland) Asten, daughter of John Bland (alias Smith) and Isabella Drake of Colchester
, Essex
, England
– and later of Watertown, Massachusetts
, and Martha's Vineyard
– and widow of Francis Asten, who had died in the New World
a couple of years prior. Leavitt and his new wife lived on the land granted to Asten in Hampton.
Nothing is known of Leavitt's parentage or even place of birth in England, although some historians speculate that Leavitt came from heavily Puritan Lincolnshire
. His name appears in various permutations in early records, mostly as Levet, but also as Levit, Levitt and Levett – sometimes all in the same document. The manner of spelling was complicated by the fact that Leavitt apparently was not literate, and simply made his mark in early documents. When his name was written for him by someone else, as it was in his will and that of his wife, the orthography almost always appeared as Levet. But a copy of the Hampton Petition of 1643, filed in the Massachusetts Archives with the early settler's name appended to the list of signatories, records his name as "Livet".
Leavitt served as selectman for Hampton in 1657 and again a decade later, in 1667. In 1664 he served a year's term as constable
. His name appeared on the list of several juries, and in 1678 he took the oath of allegiance to Massachusetts. By 1683 he, along with 18 other citizens, signed a petition asking that their poll taxes be cut as the signers were aged, "many about seventy, some above eighty, others near ninety, being past labour and work." By 1691 Leavitt and his wife had delegated their power of attorney
to son John to deal with his mother Isabel's share of the Bland family lands on Martha's Vineyard.
Thomas Leavitt died at Hampton, New Hampshire, on November 28, 1696, while still residing on the land granted to his wife's first husband. His widow died three years later, in 1699. The couple had four sons, all of whom lived nearby and who left descendants who still reside in the area today. In his will Leavitt had made provisions for his wife, leaving her land and "two cows, two swine, three sheep, my brass and puter [pewter], the thirds of all my corne." Leavitt also carefully disposed of his tools, leaving his son Aretas "half the cross cut saw," with son John receiving "the other half the tools mentioned with all carpenter tools and his house and ground." The will makes note of 219 acre (0.88626234 km²) of land, including 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of swampland, owned by Leavitt which he left to his wife and children.
Thomas Leavitt was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery in Hampton in 1696.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
who was one of the earliest permanent settlers of the Province of New Hampshire
Province of New Hampshire
The Province of New Hampshire is a name first given in 1629 to the territory between the Merrimack and Piscataqua rivers on the eastern coast of North America. It was formally organized as an English royal colony on October 7, 1691, during the period of English colonization...
. A farmer, Leavitt apparently followed Rev. John Wheelwright
John Wheelwright
John Wheelwright was a clergyman in England and America.-Early life:...
to his settlement of Exeter
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. Later Leavitt moved on to Hampton
Hampton, New Hampshire
Hampton is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 14,976 at the 2010 census. Located beside the Atlantic Ocean, Hampton is home to Hampton Beach, a summer tourist destination....
. He was seldom involved in town business, and was described by one writer as "a quiet, useful citizen." He was not remarkable, except insofar as those who crossed the Atlantic to settle an unknown continent, peopled by tribes
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
with which they were unfamiliar and swept by storms startling to Englishmen, were unremarkable.
Life in the new world
Thomas Leavitt arrived in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, in 1635, and an early Boston record of 1636 shows him assessed a fine. Perhaps chafing at the discipline of early Puritan Boston, Leavitt departed in 1639 for Exeter, New Hampshire, where the Rev. John Wheelwright, a Puritan clergyman forced to flee England because of fears of persecution – and later forced to leave Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
because of run-ins with ecclesiastical authorities – had settled and assembled a congregation. Leavitt remained in Exeter only a few years before eventually settling at nearby Hampton, one of the four original New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
townships chartered by the General Court of Massachusetts.
Thomas Leavitt was a farmer and perhaps a tanner, although one ancient deed called him 'planter.' In 1639, Leavitt was a signer of the Exeter Combination, but soon left Exeter for Hampton, where by 1644 he had married Isabella (Bland) Asten, daughter of John Bland (alias Smith) and Isabella Drake of Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
– and later of Watertown, Massachusetts
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
, and Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
– and widow of Francis Asten, who had died in the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
a couple of years prior. Leavitt and his new wife lived on the land granted to Asten in Hampton.
Nothing is known of Leavitt's parentage or even place of birth in England, although some historians speculate that Leavitt came from heavily Puritan Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. His name appears in various permutations in early records, mostly as Levet, but also as Levit, Levitt and Levett – sometimes all in the same document. The manner of spelling was complicated by the fact that Leavitt apparently was not literate, and simply made his mark in early documents. When his name was written for him by someone else, as it was in his will and that of his wife, the orthography almost always appeared as Levet. But a copy of the Hampton Petition of 1643, filed in the Massachusetts Archives with the early settler's name appended to the list of signatories, records his name as "Livet".
Leavitt served as selectman for Hampton in 1657 and again a decade later, in 1667. In 1664 he served a year's term as constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
. His name appeared on the list of several juries, and in 1678 he took the oath of allegiance to Massachusetts. By 1683 he, along with 18 other citizens, signed a petition asking that their poll taxes be cut as the signers were aged, "many about seventy, some above eighty, others near ninety, being past labour and work." By 1691 Leavitt and his wife had delegated their power of attorney
Power of attorney
A power of attorney or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter...
to son John to deal with his mother Isabel's share of the Bland family lands on Martha's Vineyard.
Thomas Leavitt died at Hampton, New Hampshire, on November 28, 1696, while still residing on the land granted to his wife's first husband. His widow died three years later, in 1699. The couple had four sons, all of whom lived nearby and who left descendants who still reside in the area today. In his will Leavitt had made provisions for his wife, leaving her land and "two cows, two swine, three sheep, my brass and puter [pewter], the thirds of all my corne." Leavitt also carefully disposed of his tools, leaving his son Aretas "half the cross cut saw," with son John receiving "the other half the tools mentioned with all carpenter tools and his house and ground." The will makes note of 219 acre (0.88626234 km²) of land, including 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of swampland, owned by Leavitt which he left to his wife and children.
Thomas Leavitt was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery in Hampton in 1696.
Further reading
- Thomas Levet of Exeter and Hampton, Victor Channing Sanborn, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. LXVII, The New England Historic Genealogical Society, Published by the Society, Boston, 1913
- Rev. Stephen Bachiler, Lane Memorial Library, Hampton, New Hampshire