I have been able to trace my Leach ancestors back to John Leach, who was born in England about 1640. Some researchers say he might have been born in Edinburgh, Midlothianshire, Scotland, although I have been unable to verify that. It is estimated that at about age 22 John came to the colonies. In those days the voyages were long, averaging about two months at sea, and indeed a dangerous trip.
According to the Skordas book, John Leitch (Leach, Sr) arrived "in Service" which means an Indentured Servant. Indentured Servitude was not an uncommon practice in the 1600s - just another way of getting to the colonies. A Land Transfer document dated "10th Feb 1662" is the first known record of John and Alicia Leach in the Maryland Colony.
The History of Calvert County Maryland, published by Charles Francis Stein in 1960, in cooperation with the Calvert County Historical Society…..pages 288 to 289, states "John Leach settled in Calvert County in 1662. The next year he received a grant of land called Leach's Freehold near the site of old Huntingtown. It was the seat of the Leach family for many generations. He received other grants of land in the same vicinity, Peahen's Nest and Leach Chance. His descendants always lived in the Hunting Creek area. They intermarried with the families of Cox, Norfolk, Ireland and others. John Leach was a man of some consequence; he was one of the original vestrymen of All Saints Church in 1692. John Leach died in 1699 and left Leach's Freehold to his wife for life and then to his son Jeremiah. He divided Peahen's Nest between his sons James and Ambrose and left the residue of his estate to his son John."
I have been able to trace descendants of the first three children, but I have not found any information about the descendants of the fourth son, James. Often it’s difficult to find people with common given names. Here is a brief look at the first three sons:
First son: John Leach, Jr. was born October 1663 and died 18 Nov 1713. He married Mary Elizabeth (last name unknown) and they had six children: John Leach II; Elizabeth Leach; Mary Leach; Alice Leach; Samuel Leach; and Margaret Leach. I found an official biography of John, Jr. which I will place on this site. This wonderful biography has much significance to us because it authenticates the parents of the subject of the biography, plus gives us the names of his brothers; his wife; and his children. It also provides us some key dates about all these individuals. Further, it describes in some detail the subject’s career in public office and suggests that he was moderately wealthy. We are very lucky to have this document.
Second son: Jeremiah, born about 1665/1666 and died about 1722. He married Elizabeth (last name unknown) and they had four children: James Leach; Jeremiah Leach, Jr.; Charles Leach; and Mary Leach. Although I found significant information about the children of Jeremiah Leach, I lost this branch of the family with his grandchildren – so any other descendants of this line are unknown to me.
Although I found significant information about the children of John Leach, Jr., I could not trace beyond his grandchildren – so the other descendants of this line are unknown to me.
Second son: Jeremiah, born about 1665/1666 and died about 1722. He married Elizabeth (last name unknown) and they had four children: James Leach; Jeremiah Leach, Jr.; Charles Leach; and Mary Leach. Although I found significant information about the children of Jeremiah Leach, I lost this branch of the family with his grandchildren – so any other descendants of this line are unknown to me.
Third son: Ambrose, born about 1668 and died about 1744. He married Mary (last name unknown) and they had four sons: Joshua; John: Ambrose, Jr.; and William. Ambrose is the son of the Patriarch who we have the most information about, at least as to his children and their descendants.
Ambrose Leach is listed on the tax list of 1733 as owner of four slaves. He died in 1744 and divided his lands between his sons Joshua and William. He left but one shilling to his son Ambrose Jr.
Source: Full Context of Maryland Calendar of Wills - Maryland Calendar of Wills Vol. 8
Leach Ambrose, planter Calvert Co., Maryland. 23 Dec, 1743 9th Apr, 1744 To son Ambrose Jr. 1 s - To sons William, ex and Joshua, entire estate real and personal including Pea Hens Nest. They to allow test, dau-in-law Mary possession of land on John Norfolk's road where she now lives as long as she remains a widow. Joshua Leach listed as next of kin on the inventory. Mary served as Executrix. Attest: Philemon Leach, John Leach, John Marquis, William Leach Sr.
The first son of Ambrose, Sr., named Joshua, migrated to Ohio, and his descendants migrated to Indiana. The second son of Ambrose, Sr., John, is thought to have stayed in Maryland. The descendants of the third son, Ambrose, Jr., migrated to Virginia and North Carolina.
The first son of Ambrose, Sr., named Joshua, migrated to Ohio, and his descendants migrated to Indiana. The second son of Ambrose, Sr., John, is thought to have stayed in Maryland. The descendants of the third son, Ambrose, Jr., migrated to Virginia and North Carolina.
The fourth son of Ambrose, Sr., was William Leach, born about 1718 and died about Dec 1780 in Montgomery County, Maryland. He married Martha (last name unknown) and they had five children: John; William, Jr.; Nancy; Thomas; and Martha.
Before we go any further let's look at a little history about Ohio County. A Methodist minister, Rev. Ignatius Pigman, first visited Western Kentucky about 1788 and purchased large tracts of land, and then, upon returning to Maryland, persuaded scores of his friends and fellow citizens to return to Kentucky with him. To most of these pioneers Pigman sold farms in Ohio County, Kentucky, as evidenced by deeds that were later recorded.
Ignatius Pigman, the preacher who led many Marylander's to Ohio County around 1800, was a Methodist Episcopalian, a denomination organized in Maryland in 1784 (commonly referred to as the “M. E.” church), a cousin of the current Methodist Church. Therefore, several early Ohio County churches leaned heavily towards the Methodist beliefs. It is said that the first Methodist Church to be organized in Ohio County was at Goshen, just outside of Beaver Dam, in 1804. Shortly afterwards, the No Creek M. E. and Bethel M. E. Churches were established. In addition, the Baptist religion was strongly followed in early Ohio County, and there remain today several Baptist churches within the county. It is noted that William Leach (1718 – 1780), grandfather of William Brooks Leach, was baptized in the Seneca Primitive Baptist church in Maryland as an adult on April, 1777, shortly before he died, as were several of his sons. The Beaver Dam Baptist Church was established in 1798 and still stands on the same hill where it was originally established. Church membership of early Kentuckians included Baptist, Church of Christ, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic. In 1799 a great religious revival swept through Kentucky based on several evangelist preachers. The revival lasted until about 1805 and resulted in many churches being formed throughout Kentucky.
Now we can continue our look at William Leach, the last son of Ambrose Leach, Sr., who had five children: John, William, Jr.; Nancy; Thomas; and Martha.
These five children of William Leach are all mentioned in William’s Last Will and Testament, written in 1779 and probated in Maryland in 1781. The Will states as follows:
In the name of God Amen, I William Leatch (sic) Sen'r of Montgomery County & State of Maryland Planter, being in perfect mind and memory do call to mind the certainty of death, Therefore do make and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say: First and principally I recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God that gave it trusting through the mediation of our Saviour (sic) Jesus Christ to receive pardon & remission of all my sins my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix and as touching my worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God to bless me with I give & dispose in the following manner & form Imprimis I give and bequeath unto Mary Leach widow of my son John Leach deceased Forty four Acres of land lying in the County aforesaid being part of a tract of land called the William & John the said land to be laid of (sic) in the following manner beginning at the end of Eighty five perches on the twelfth line of the Original tract and running across said land to include the above mentioned number of Acres on the South side of the last mentioned line the aforesaid parcel of land I give to her, her heirs & assigns forever. ~
Item ~ I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved son Thomas Leach all the remainder parts or parcels of land lying in the County aforesaid being part of a tract of land called the William & John containing sixty Acres of land more or less it being the place where my dwellings now is and likewise part of a tract of land called the Resurvey on Orphus containing sixteen Acres of land more or less. The aforesaid tracts or parcels of lands, I give to him his heirs and assigns forever, ~
Item ~ I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved son William Leach Jun'r five shillings Currancy (sic) of the State aforesaid to him his heirs and assigns forever,
Item ~ I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved daughter Martha Fields five shillings currency of the State aforesaid to him (sic) his (sic) heirs and assigns forever,
Item ~ I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved daughter Nancy Leach all my personal Estate to her, her heirs and assigns forever,
Lastly, I do constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife Martha Leach whole and sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament revoking and making void all other will or wills by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this my last will & Testament ~
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Nine.
William served in the Revolutionary War. He is listed in the DAR Patriot Index, Page 405, as “Wm Sr. b. 1718 d. p 8-27 1779, and married Martha, PS MD.” The PS means that he was a provider of services such as horses, hay, food for soldiers, lodging, etc. This is the William that was baptized at the Seneca Primitive Baptist church (Maryland) as an adult on April, 1777. Also, at least two of his sons, Thomas, and John were baptized there.
In 1776 Kentucky was designated Kentucky County, Virginia and in 1780 it was divided into the counties of Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln. By 1790 these three counties were further subdivided into the counties of Mason, Bourbon, Woodford, Fayette, Madison, Jefferson, Mercer, Nelson and Lincoln. In 1792 Kentucky became the 15th state and Hardin County was formed out of part of Nelson County. On December 17, 1798 Ohio County was formed out of a part of Hardin County.
The following map is from 1818. Note that Owensboro is called Yellow Bank and Green River is spelled Grenne River.
The following map is from 1818. Note that Owensboro is called Yellow Bank and Green River is spelled Grenne River.
The following map of Ohio County is from 1839. Note that the Green River borders Ohio County to the south and southwest.
The Green River intersects the Ohio River about 30 or 40 river miles west of what is now Owensboro, Daviess County. What is now the city of Hartford is 28 meandering river miles from the mouth of the Green River.
There were two Leach families that migrated to Ohio County at about the same time. The following has been difficult, if not impossible, to fully substantiate, and I freely acknowledge that I may be incorrect, but I believe that this is the way it happened.
The first two sons of William Leach (1718-1780), referred to above, were John and William, Jr. Son John was born about 1740 and died before 1779 in Maryland. He married Mary Johnson and they had a son named William Brooks Leach, born 31 Oct 1764 in Montgomery County, Maryland. This man, William Brooks Leach, is one of the original settlers of Ohio County, Kentucky. A recorded deed can be found in the Ohio County courthouse, recorded in 1801, to verify he and his families arrival.
Ohio County Records VI, Page 180 Page 85: 6 Oct 1801, William Leach and Sarah Leach, his wife, to Ignatious Pigman, for a swap of land and 5 shillings, exchange to Pigman 200A(cres), part of John Adair’s 12,360 patented on Muddy Creek, a water of Lewis Creek. Recorded Oct 6 1801.
The Last Will and Testament of William Brooks Leach is as follows:
The second son of William Leach (1718-1780), referred to above, was William, Jr., who was born about 1744 and died 5 August 1808 in Ohio County. This man, William Leach, Jr., is also one of the original settlers of Ohio County, Kentucky. His Last Will and Testament can be found in the Ohio County courthouse, as follows:
Will of WILLIAM B. LEACH, gives to sons JOSEPH LEACH and JOHN LEACH their full proportions except $1.00 which he bequeaths to his sons TALBOTT LEACH's heirs and WILLIAM LEACH's heirs, each. The tract of land on which he now lives, containing 349 acres, is to be divided, and the east side he gives to son Talbott Leach, the east side of the dividing line as runs by STEPHEN STATELER’s, and the west portion to son William Leach, to whom he also gives a bay yearling colt called Lafayette, one cow and calf, sow and pigs, and featherbed and furniture, and schooling sufficient to do common farming. To son Talbott Leach, also a cow and calf, sow and pigs, and bed and furniture, he having heretofore received a horse beast. To daughter ELLEN LEACH, one mare called Leach, a cow and a calf, sow and pigs, ewe and lamb, and bed and furniture. To step-daughter SUSAN HOWARD, one second-rate cow and calf, one yearling colt, one bed and furniture, and ewe and lamb. All the balance of the worldly estate to daughters POLLY PEAK, NANCY LEACH, SALLY ILER, ELLEN LEACH, and MARINDA COX, to be equally divided. Appoints sons Joseph Leach and John Leach as Executors. October 9, 1834. OLIVER C. PATE, NATHANIEL HOWARD and JAMES WISE, witnesses. Codicil: "for certain reasons have changed my mind," as to the tract of land he now lives on, he gives Talbott Leach the east end of the line, and the west end of the 347 acres to son William Leach's heirs. January 26,1844. STEPHEN STATELER and GEORGE W. AUSTIN, witnesses. Probated March 7, 1853. John W. Leach qualified, and entered into bond of $200 with ALFRED TAYLOR and MARTIN COLEMAN as his sureties.
The second son of William Leach (1718-1780), referred to above, was William, Jr., who was born about 1744 and died 5 August 1808 in Ohio County. This man, William Leach, Jr., is also one of the original settlers of Ohio County, Kentucky. His Last Will and Testament can be found in the Ohio County courthouse, as follows:
Will of WILLIAM LEACH gives to beloved wife ALEY LEACH the place wheron he now lives, during her lifetime, and the sorrel horse. To son LEONARD LEACH, daughter SUSANNA LEACH, daughter PATSY MILLER, daughter LISBAH COX, and son WILLIAM LEACH, JR., each an equal share of the land that the testator got of IGNATIUS PIGMAN. The stock, except what wife wants to keep, to be divided among the children. After wife's death, all the household furniture to be divided among all the children. Leaves wearing apparel to three sons. Son Leonard Leach named as sole executor. August 5, 1808. WILLIAM COOPER and BENJAMIN COX, witnesses. Probated November Term 1808, being proved by William Cooper and HENRY ADDINGTON. p.81, Inventory and appraisal of the estate of WILLIAM LEACH, dec'd, returned by LEONARD LEACH, Executor, and made by RICHARD TAYLOR and JOHN G. STEVENS, $284.00. List of sales of the estate at public sale on November 25, 1808, $271.34. Recorded January Court 1809. Examination and settlement of the accounts of the Executor made March 6, 1813 by JOHN G. STEVENS and WILLIAM COOPER, Commissioners appointed for that purpose, and recorded February Court 1813.
In summary, we have an uncle, William Leach, Jr. and his nephew, William Brooks Leach (son of John, deceased, who was the brother of William Leach, Jr.) who both migrated to Ohio County, Kentucky from Maryland about 1800. Both of these William’s had children who accompanied them to Ohio County.
It is my opinion that all of the members of the Leach family from Ohio County, Kentucky, are descendants of one of these two men, i.e. William Leach, Jr. and William Brooks Leach. In tracing their respective descendants our best evidence has been Wills and probate records; deeds; tax records; Bible records; and personal records provided by living descendants. I am a seventh generation descendant of William Leach, Jr.
It is my opinion that all of the members of the Leach family from Ohio County, Kentucky, are descendants of one of these two men, i.e. William Leach, Jr. and William Brooks Leach. In tracing their respective descendants our best evidence has been Wills and probate records; deeds; tax records; Bible records; and personal records provided by living descendants. I am a seventh generation descendant of William Leach, Jr.
There are thousands of descendants from these two men, far too many to attempt to list on this blog. If you try to imagine two pyramids, standing side by side, then these two men would be on top, and all of their descendants would be beneath them - and they would all be cousins.
(A) William, Jr. was about 56 years old when he migrated to Ohio County about 1800. He and his wife, Mary, had six children, all born in Montgomery County, Maryland. Following the death of his first wife, Mary, he married Althea (last name unknown), whose nickname was “Aley” – this marriage probably occurred about 1790 – 1797 and produced no children. William, Jr. died in Ohio County 5 August 1808. William, Jr. was the first person buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Ohio County, Kentucky; his marker was a pointed stone, pointing to heaven. It is possible that the cemetery was then part of the family farm. Mt. Zion is very close to Muddy Creek where the farm was located.
The first fifty years (1800-1850) of existence in Ohio County, Kentucky was a difficult time for the pioneer families, although Indian attacks practically ceased after 1797. The pioneers waged war against the forests, adding acre by acre of tillable land each year. Corn became the principal crop of the county. In the fall these farmers became hunters, pursuing meat to get their families through the winter months. The social life of these pioneers was centered around the church. The first county court was organized in July 1799, at which time the first sheriff was appointed. The first courthouse was built at Hartford in 1800. The currency used at that time was still pounds, shillings and pence. Ohio County began the century with a population of 1,223 in 1800 and had grown to a population of 9,749 in 1850. In 1810 parts of Ohio County were used for the formation of Butler County to the south and Grayson County to the east. To get a sense of what life was like in this era in Ohio County, I urge you to read the tale about Ralph Ringwood by clicking on the link below.
In 1811 and early 1812 a series of historic earthquakes occurred near New Madrid, Missouri, which is only 160 miles from Hartford, the county seat of Ohio County. The area of strong shaking associated with these shocks is two to three times as large as that of the 1964 Alaska earthquake and 10 times as large as that of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The first principal earthquake occurred at 2:15 a. m. on 16 December 1811, followed by quakes on 23 Jan 1812 and 7 February 1812. Including major aftershocks, there was a total of seven earthquakes from 16 Dec to 7 February, all exceeding 6.0 on today’s scale. Chimneys were toppled and log cabins were thrown down as far distant as Cincinnati, Ohio, St. Louis, Missouri, and in many places in Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. It is hard to imagine what the early settlers in Ohio County thought when these earthquakes occurred.
During the War of 1812 three companies of men from Ohio County fought in the following battles: The Wabash River; the Battle of the Thames, and at the battle of New Orleans (1812 – 1815). William C. Leach, from Ohio County, Kentucky, served in the War of 1812.
By 1815 the land speculator, Ignatius Pigman, had run into serious problems concerning proof of title to some of the property he previously sold, and Pigman became insolvent and moved to New Orleans, leaving the land problems for the Kentucky courts to resolve.
Thus, these brave pioneers migrated from Maryland to Ohio County, with its’ lush land and beautiful and gentle Green River, and started raising their families. Among these pioneers were the first two William Leach’s who migrated from Maryland to Ohio County. Both families lived in the area that is now known as Cromwell and Prentiss, or nearby those areas (generally, south and east of Beaver Dam):
Here is a brief description of William, Jr.’s six children:
1. Susanna Leach, born about 1763 in Montgomery County, Maryland, married John Greeves and also moved to Ohio County.
2. Leonard S. Leach, born about 1768 in Montgomery County, Maryland, married M. C. Skinner about 1797. They had nine children, the first four born in Maryland and the remaining five born in Ohio County. The entire family migrated to Ohio County.
3. John S. Leach was born about 1770 in Maryland. John married Rachel Jane Bowman 25 December 1796 and they had seven children, the first two born in Maryland and the remaining five born in Ohio County. John and his family migrated to Floyd County, Indiana about 1814 and lived there for the remainder of their lives.
4. Martha Leach was born about 1775 in Maryland. She married John D. Miller 21 May 1795 and they lived in Ohio County.
5. Elizabeth Leach was born about 1776 in Maryland. She married James Cox 12 May 1806 and they lived in Ohio County. Their son, Thomas Jefferson Cox, married a daughter of William Brooks Leach, Susannah Miranda Leach. Substantial information about this family can be found in a paper written by Janice Cox Brown titled “Thomas Jefferson Cox (1811 – 1892) and Susannah Miranda Leach (1807 – 1859).” See the links below to Dr. Leonard Thomas Cox and Thomas Jefferson Cox.
6. William W. Leach was born in Maryland 21 June 1783. He married Mary Ida Iler 14 November 1811 and they lived in Ohio County until about 1821 when they moved to Warrick County, Indiana, where they lived for the rest of their lives. Note that this man was one of the several William Leaches who lived in Ohio County during the first half of the 19th century.
(b) William Brooks Leach was about 36 years old when he migrated to Ohio County. He and his first wife, Sarah Elizabeth Barnes, had nine children. The first four children were born in Montgomery County, Maryland:
1. William C. Leach, born about 1791.
2. Mary Leach, born about 1794.
3. Joseph M. Leach, born 12 October 1795.
4. James S. Leach, born 12 October 1795 (twin to Joseph).
All four of the children born in Maryland accompanied the family to Ohio County, Kentucky.
After migrating to Ohio County, another five children were born:
5. Sarah Leach, born about 1800.
6. John W. Leach, born 21 Feb 1802.
7. Ellen Leach, born about 1805.
8. Susannah Miranda Leach, born 15 May 1807.
9. Talbott Leach, born 27 Sept 1811.
We have substantial information about these nine children. In the Last Will and Testament of William Brooks Leach he mentions the following nine children: Joseph, John, Talbott, William, Ellen, Polly (Peak), Nancy, Sally (Iler), and Miranda (Cox). You will note a discrepancy in that the Will mentions a Nancy Leach and does not mention James Leach. The Will also mentions his step-daughter, Susan Howard.
After the death of Sarah Elizabeth in 1812, William Brooks Leach married Diana Atherton Howard on 16 February 1815. Diana had a daughter, Susan Howard, from a previous marriage. [Note: Diana's first husband was Robert Howard; her second husband was William B. Leach] William Brooks and Diana had two children: a daughter named Sarah Diannah (conveniently named after his two wife's) who was born 15 May 1816 and married Richard Wooley (Note: this daughter is a revision to this blog dated 9 Jan 2020); and a son named William Howard Leach, born about 1817 in Ohio County. Neither Sarah Diannah or William H. Leach is mentioned in his Will but both are included as an heir in the Deed described below, which proves their relationship. Note that the middle name of this son, William Howard Leach, is the same as the last name of Diana Atherton Howard, the second wife of William Brooks Leach.
We have other evidence that substantiates the above facts:
In the year of 1815 Diana Atherton Howard was married to William Leach. The Ohio County record--Marriage Entry 170: I certify that on the 16th day of Feb. 1815 the within named people William Leach and Diana Howard came before me and were lawfully married. Signed Lodowick Davis.
The 1850 census shows William B. Leach living with his daughter Miranda and her family.
1853 newspaper article, Ohio County, states: "William Leach age 88, born in Maryland, died, January 12, of old age, parents John and Nancy Leach.”
Following the death of William Brooks Leach in 1853 his estate was probated and his land was sold. A Deed was prepared by order of the Ohio County Circuit Court, dated Apr 1856 and refers to: Joseph Leach; Talbert Leach; John Leach; Wm H. Leach; Mary Peak (whose husband, Hezekiah, had predeceased Wm Brooks); John Hocker & wife, Ellen Leach Hocker, Thomas J. Cox and wife, Marinda Leach Cox; John Iler and wife, Sarah Leach Iler; Wm C. Leach; Diana (Sarah Diannah ) Wooley & husband Richard Wooley; John Leach; Wm Leach; Leonard Leach; and Joseph Leach, heirs of Wm Leach deceased. I have a copy of this lawsuit.
Click on image to enlarge.
Other researchers suggest that I am incorrect but the newspaper article seems to me to be compelling evidence. But, even if I am incorrect as to the parentage of William Brooks Leach, we do know that he and his family moved to Ohio County about 1800 from Maryland.
The children of William Brooks Leach are:
1. William C. Leach, born about 1791, Montgomery County, Maryland, died January 1863, Ohio County. He first married Polly Ann Iler in 1811 and they had one daughter, Sarah Belle Leach, and Polly died soon after this child was born in 1813. William C. next married Nancy Leach on 21 December 1813 and they had eight children.
The children of William C. Leach and Nancy Leach are as follows: John Henry Leach; Lucinda Leach; Leonard Washington Leach; Richard M. Leach; Jacob H. Leach; William Francis Leach; Joseph Leach; and Mary Caroline Leach. All were born in Ohio County between 1817 and 1837.
Following the death of Nancy Leach in 1847, William C. Leach married Mary Ann Crow – the date of this marriage was 27 November 1849. They had six children: Dillis Dyer Leach; Ignatius B. Leach; John L. Leach; John Denham Leach; Warren Crown Leach; and Sarah Elizabeth Leach, all born in Ohio County between 1851 and 1860.
A biography of his son, William Francis Leach, includes the following:
His father was William C. Leach, who was born in Maryland, and when quite young came to Kentucky and settled in Ohio County, and died there in 1863. His mother's maiden name was Nancy Leach, but she was not related to his father's people.
In the late summer of 1812 William responded to the call and signed up in the town of Hartford, Ky. In September, 1812 he was mustered in at Henderson, Ky. as Private William C. Leach; Colonel Philip Barbour's company, Captain Robert Barnett's 6th Regiment, Ky; Detached infantry Militia. He was paid $6.66 per month. William Leach Company: 6 REG'T (BARBOUR'S) KENTUCKY MILITIA. Rank - Induction: PRIVATE Rank - Discharge: PRIVATE Roll Box: 123 Roll Exct: 602
William C. Leach is buried in the old Hatler Cemetery. The cemetery is located just off highway 505 in Ohio County between Rosine and Horse Branch. The gravesite is on property owned by the Morris family.
Sadly, William C. Leach died without a Last Will and Testament and there is no record of his estate being probated. However, we have a copy of a family Bible page that proves the names of the children of William C. Leach.
Click on image to enlarge.
2. Mary Leach, born about 1794, Montgomery County, Maryland, died after 1870, Ohio County. Mary married Hezekiah Peak 13 August 1816.
3. Joseph M. Leach, born 12 October 1795, Montgomery County, Maryland, died after 1856, Ohio County. Joseph married Antha (last name unknown).
4. James S. Leach (twin to Joseph), born 12 October 1795, Montgomery County, Maryland, died 13 October 1868, Ohio County. James married Rebecca Raley 23 December 1823 and they had ten children: Jesse Green Leach; Elizabeth Ann Leach; John Wesley Leach; John H. Leach; Nancy Ann Leach; Altha Jane Leach; Sarah Leach; James Henry Leach; William Crown Leach; and Amanda J. Leach.
5. Sarah Leach, born about 1800, Ohio County, Kentucky, died after 1870, Ohio County. Sarah married John Tolbert Iler 24 September 1818 and they had six children. She was identified in her father’s Will as Sally.
6. John W. Leach, born about 1802, Ohio County, Kentucky, died 5 January 1859, Ohio County.
7. Ellen Leach, born about 1805, Ohio County, died after 1870. Ellen married John B. Hocker 26 November 1834 and had five children.
8. Susannah Miranda Leach, born 15 May 1807, Ohio County, died 7 June 1859. Susannah was called Mandy and she married Thomas Jefferson Cox 24 December 1829 and they had four children: Elizabeth Mary; James William; Leonard Thomas; and John T. B. Cox.
9. Talbott Leach, born 27 September 1811, Ohio County, died 5 February 1887. He married Margarette E. Austin 25 March 1839 and they had nine children: Rachel G.; William Brooks; Sarah Emily; Mary Ellen; Josephine; Jenetta; Dianah Elizabeth; and Nancy Jane.
10. Sarah Diane/Diannah Leach, born 15 May 1816, Ohio County, and died 15 May 1858, McLean County. She married Richard Wooley 8 Nov 1832 in Ohio County. They had at least ten children, one of which was named after her father, William B. Her grave marker can be found on Findagrave.
11. William Howard Leach, born about 1817, Ohio County, died about 1900 in Indiana. He married Mary Ann Thomas in 1840 and they had six children: Nathaniel; Margaret; John Tolbert; Florence Ellen; David J.; and James R. He is found in the 1850 and 1860 census living in Ohio County, and is shown in the 1843 and 1845 tax records. Based on the names of two of his children, I think he might have moved to Arkansas and is shown there in the 1870 census.
11. William Howard Leach, born about 1817, Ohio County, died about 1900 in Indiana. He married Mary Ann Thomas in 1840 and they had six children: Nathaniel; Margaret; John Tolbert; Florence Ellen; David J.; and James R. He is found in the 1850 and 1860 census living in Ohio County, and is shown in the 1843 and 1845 tax records. Based on the names of two of his children, I think he might have moved to Arkansas and is shown there in the 1870 census.
These two anchors of the Leach family in Ohio County, i.e., these two Williams, William Leach, Jr. and William Brooks Leach, had a combined seventeen children, nine of which were male and eight were female. Two of the nine males moved to Indiana (John S. and his brother, William W., both sons of William Leach, Jr.), leaving seven male children in Ohio County.
1. Male children of William C. Leach (1791 – 1863):
a. John Henry Leach
b. Leonard Washington Leach
c. Richard M. Leach
d. Jacob H. Leach
e. William Francis Leach
f. Joseph Leach
g. Dillis Dyer Leach
h. Ignatius Leach
i. John L. Leach
j. John Denham Leach
k. Warren Crown Leach
2. Male children of James S. Leach (1795 – 1868):
a. Jesse Green Leach
b. John Wesley Leach
c. James Henry Leach
d. William Crown Leach
3. Male children of John W. Leach (1802 – 1859):
a. Alfred Kelly Leach
b. George William Lea
c. Adolphus Leach
4. Male children of Talbott Leach (1811 – 1887):
a. William Brooks Leach
5. Male children of William Howard Leach (1817 – after 1860):
a. Nathaniel Leach
b. John Tolbert Leach
c. David J. Leach
d. James R. Leach
6. Male children of Leonard S. Leach (1768 – 1842):
a. Joseph B. Leach
b. Leonard S. Leach, Jr.
c. John Nelson Leach
1. Female children of William C. Leach:
1. Sarah Belle Leach was born 22 June 1813 in Ohio County, Kentucky and died about 1850 in Ohio County. She married James Gentry 10 February 1835. The 1850 census shows James Gentry living with his parents, apparently a widower, with four minor children: Elizabeth 15; Lucinda 13; Nancy 11; and Joseph 5. Note that Sarah Belle had a younger sister named Lucinda, so we have that similarity.
2. Lucinda Linsey Leach was born 6 December 1818 in Ohio County and died 11 November 1894 in Ohio County. She married Ewen Morris 25 March 1843. They had twelve children, six male and six female. Ewen Morris was the brother of Rosanna Morris, wife of Leonard Washington Leach.
3. Mary Caroline Leach was born 20 February 1837 in Ohio County and died 19 July 1920 in Ohio County. She married Eliazer L. Crowe on 13 August 1853. They had ten children, four female and six male.
4. Sarah Elizabeth Leach
2. Female children of James S. Leach:
1. Elizabeth Ann Leach was born about 1826 in Ohio County and died 3 January 1861 in Ohio County. She married William Miller 7 April 1846 and they had six children, one of whom became the county judge.
2. Nancy Ann Leach was born January 1830 in Ohio County and died 18 May 1912 in Ohio County. She is buried in the Brick House Cemetery. She married William Henry Taylor in 1852 and they had six children. Her second daughter, Susan, married Septimous T. Leach.
3. Altha Jane Leach was born about 1836 in Ohio County and died about 1864 in Ohio County. She married William Ashley Sandefur 20 January 1858 and they had two sons.
4. Sarah Leach was born 5 March 1838 in Ohio County and died 14 December 1921 in neighboring Daviess County. She married George William Bennett about 1870 and they had two sons. Note that the oldest son was born in Texas about 1866, so perhaps they lived in Texas during the Civil War.
5. Amanda J. Leach (daughter of James S. Leach) was born about 1846 in Ohio County. Her date of death is unknown, but she is found living with her sister, Sarah, and her family in the 1880 census.
3. Female children of John W. Leach:
1. Sarah Ellen Leach was born 17 November 1835 and died before 1900 in Ohio County. She married James Gentry 26 January 1861 and they had nine children.
1. Rachel G. Leach was born 17 May 1840 and died 8 November 1865 in Ohio County. There is no evidence that she married.
2. Sarah Emily Leach was born 22 November 1843 and died 1885 in Ohio County. There is no evidence that she married.
3. Mary Ellen Leach was born about 1846 in Ohio County and died 27 Sep 1895 in Ohio County, where she is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery. She married William Ashley Sandefur 13 January 1866, who had previously been married to her cousin, Altha Jane Leach (see above). They had nine children.
4. Josephine Leach was born 5 June 1848 in Ohio County and died 1 May 1904 in Ohio County, where she is buried in the Brickhouse Cemetery. She married Joseph N. Oldham 25 Sep 1879. They had three children.
5. Jenetta Leach was born about 1851 in Ohio County and died 26 Jan 1888 in Ohio County. She married Obed Bennett Chapman 25 Jan 1883 and they had two sons.
6. Dianah Elizabeth Leach was born 23 Jan 1853 in Ohio County and died 7 January 1926 in Ohio County. She is buried in the Martin Cemetery. She married Kinchen Anderson Martin 8 Mar 1877 and they had eight children.
7. Nancy Jane Leach was born 5 Feb 1855 in Ohio County and died 8 Aug 1903 in Ohio County, where she is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery. She married Estil Downard Oldham 11 May 1879 and they had four sons.
5. Female children of William Howard Leach:
1. Margaret Leach was born 1849 in Ohio County and died after 1860. We have no further information about Margaret.
2. Florence Ellen Leach was born 27 July 1854 in Ohio County and is not shown in the 1860 census. I found a Florence Leach that married Albert James in Indiana, but I have not been able to prove a connection.
6. Female children of Leonard S. Leach:
1. Elizabeth Leach was born 23 Nov 1788 in Montgomery County, Maryland and died 10 Aug 1842 in Ohio County, where she is buried in Arnold Cemetery. She married Jacob Henry Iler 30 Sep 1813 and they had two children.
2. Sarah Leach was born about 1794 in Montgomery County, Maryland and died about 1845 in Effingham, Illinois. She married Adam Galloway and they had one daughter and two sons.
3. Altha S. Leach was born 13 Mar 1799 in Montgomery County, Maryland and died 21 Feb 1884 in Ohio County, where she is buried in the Brickhouse Cemetery. She married Septimous Taylor and they had eight children.
4. Susannah Leach was born 22 Jan 1803 in Ohio County and died 29 Aug 1883 in Ohio County, where she is buried in the Brickhouse Cemetery. She married Richard C. Taylor 8 Apr 1824 and they had ten children.
5. Nancy Leach was born 31 Jan 1805 in Ohio County and died 12 Jan 1863 in Ohio County, where she is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery. She married Ignatius Pigman Taylor 13 Oct 1825 and they had eleven children.
6. Martha Ann Leach was born about 1809 in Ohio County and died 19 Dec 1857 in Ohio County. She married John R. Combs 2 Apr 1846 and they had one child.
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Note: There is a marriage record from Ohio County that has puzzled all Leach researchers, including me. The official county records show a marriage between William Leach and Jane Taylor on 31 Jan 1804.
"Ohio Co, KY Records" by Michael L. Cook,
C.G. & Bettie A. Cummings Cook, C.G., Cook Publications, Evansville ,
IN
Note "Jane" used in license and "Jean" used in book.
I have not been able to reconcile this William Leach to my satisfaction. Perhaps William was his middle name but that is unknown. My research, which is on-going, says her full name was Jane Coronet Taylor and that she was born 8 Feb 1786 in Virginia and her parents were Richard L. Taylor and Sarah Ann Coronet. I show that this couple had one child, a son named Richard T. Leach, born about 1809 in Ohio County and died 7 Jan 1854 in Butler County (the Butler County Death Records show his parents as Wm & Jane Leach). Richard married Electia (or Electa) Hull 7 May 1833 in Indiana and they had three children: Frances 1834, John William 22 May 1846, and Susan Ann 7 Dec 1847 (taken from census records). That all sounds nice and tidy but the father, William, husband of Jane Taylor, eludes me.
Possibilities: (a) I found a Kentucky death record for a William Leach, living in Ohio County, with a death date of 12 Jan 1852, age 89, widower, birth in Maryland but his parents are not shown. [It gave me a headache to note that William Brooks Leach (described above in detail) died exactly one year later, 12 Jan 1853 - weird.]
(b) I also found a marker in the Leach-Hatler Cemetery for a William Leach with a birth date unknown but a death date of 1849; Mexican War veteran.
If you have any information on this, please let me know.
Revised 23 Feb 2020
