• General Notes

  John Leggett in 1657 inherited the residue of his father's estate and was appointed executor of his will. He was still living in Ely in 1665 when he was made executor of the estate of his brother William. John disappears from the records after this and may well have emigrated to America with his brother Gabriel.
  
  John Leggett was called a shipbuilder, and on November 30, 1676, he executed a bill of sale reading:
  "John Leggett of Westchester, within the Province of N.Y., shipright, to Jacob Leysler of New York City, merchant, a good Puick, or ship, Susannah of New York, now lying in this harbour, and by said Leggett built in Bronck's river near Westchester, together with masts, Lay boat, and other materials."
  
  Thus the shipbuilding industry was introduced at the mouth of the Bronx as early as 1676 (probably earlier) - that is, seven years or more before the organization of the County of Westchester. This John Leggett, builder of the Susannah, died in the West Indies in 1679. It is interesting to note that he named as his executor the first Frederick Philipse, with whom he seems to have sustained a business partnership of some kind, and to whom he bequeathed the sum of thirty pounds sterling.
  
  -----------------------------------
  
  Of John Leggett, the Mariner, Theodore Leggett states:
  
  We may believe him to have been the elder brother of Gabriel [most likely true]. His home was in Westchester, Province of NewYork. He died in the West Indies. His son is afterwards registered "of Barbadoes;" one of the circumstances connecting the family with the first John Leggett of Barbadoes. The following transcript of his will furnishes about all the knowledge we at present have of him.
  
  "Will of John Leggett of Westchester, made at Port Royall, in the Island of Jamaica, dated Oct. 2nd, 1679. Letters testamentary granted to Ffredrich Phillips, as Executor by Sir Edmund Andros, Feb 2nd, 1680, reciting: Whereas John Leggett, late of Westchester, marriner, departed this life on the Island of Jamaica, and that his last will hath been proved in the court of the Mayor and Alderman of New York City, and security given by the Executor."
  
  New York Surrogate's Office, Wills, Liber. I, pp. 448.
  
  "In the name of God, Amen: I, John Leggett, now of Port Royall, in the island of Jamaica aforesd marriner, being very weake and sick in body but of sound mind and memory (Praise be therefore given unto Almighty God for the same), do make this my present last will and Testament, in the manner and form following (that is to say) my body I commit to the Earth to be decently Buryed, and as touching all such worldly estate God of his mercy hath been pleased to blesse me with all. I give, will and dispose of as ffolloweth, first, I will that all my debts and funerall charges shall be paid and discharged. Item, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son John Leggett all that my one half part of the Ketch Tryall of New York, one negro boy now on board the sd Ketch, known by the name of 'You-Boy.' one Hogshead of sugar, one Barrell and eleaven gallons of Rum, Two barrells of Lyme Juice on board the sd Ketch, and all my wearing apparel both linen and woolen, a piece and remnant of white linnen: and all the rest and residue of my personal estate whatsoever (not being before bequeathed) I give and bequeath unto my now wife Anne Leggett, and unto the child she now goes withall, if it shall live to the age of two years.
  I give and bequeath the sum of Thirty pounds Sterling to be paid out of the porcon or estate before hereby given unto my said son John to my good friend Mr. Frederick Phillips now of New York in America, merchant, whom I do hereby make full and sole executor of this my last will and Testament, in trust to and for the only uses and intents above mencioned, and desire him to take care of my sd son John Leggett, and bring him up, or cause him to be bred up to the sea for his livelyhood, and to pay all the above sd porcon of my sd son John at the age of one and twenty years together with all such profits and produce as shall or may be made thereoff and improved. And as touching the legacy hereby given to my sd wife I will that she shall have and receive the same immediately after my interment and Buryall and I do hereby revoke, disannull and make void all former wills and Testaments whatsoever heretofore by me either made or spoken and will this and no other to be my last will and Testament. In witness, I, the said John Leggett have hereunto sett my hand and seal the 2d day of October Anno Domini, 1679.
  John Leggett, (seal)."
  Witnesses:
  Antho. Suimmer, Miles Garret,
  Chas. Dawson, Tho. Cakewood, Sr.
  Codicil orders payment of "L10, 1s, 6d on demand to Mr. Olfords of N.Y. for 5 barrells of flowr."
  
  Theodore Leggett goes on to reinforce the links of the Westchester Leggetts with Barbados:
  
  "Frederick Philipse, the executor of John Leggett's will, was at this time the wealthiest citizen on the continent, and one of the most distinguished citizens of the Province of New York. When, after the Dutch had regained New York and money was needed for its defence, it was resolved to raise it by a forced loan from the most affluent inhabitants, Frederick Philips heads the list of 62 names assessed for 80, 000 guilders. He was a member of the Council under the English Governors from Andros to Bellamont. In 1680 he acquired the Manor, and was first lord of Phillipsburgh, Westchester County. He died 1702, aged seventy-six years.
  As another link in the evidence connecting the Westchester Leggetts with John Leggett of Barbadoes, Frederick Philipse, friend of John Leggett, the mariner, was a large land owner in Barbadoes, the "Springhead Estate;" there his son Philip was born in 1676, resided, and married the daughter of Gov. Sparks of Barbadoes, and his son, the Hon. Frederick Phillips, was born in that Island, 1698, and became the second lord of the Manor of Philipsburgh."
  
  Theodore Leggett also lays out a pedigree for the descendants of John Leggett, the Mariner:
  
  "The son of John Leggett, the mariner, is identified by the following extracts from the records of the Dutch Church of New York:
  
  "Married Sept. 14, 1688, Jan Leggett y. m. van de Barbadoes, en Catalina Ten Broeck y. D. N. Albanien, de este wonende alhier en teude tot N. Albanien."
  Translation: John Leggett, a young man of the Barbadoes, and Catalina Ten Broeck, young maiden of New Albany; the first living here, and the second at New Albany.
  
  Their children, baptised in New York, as found in the Dutch Church records, were:
  1689, July 29. Rachel. Sponsors: Hendrick H. ten Broeck and Gertrude ten Broeck.
  1692, Feb 28. Christina. Sponsors: Capt. Brandt Schuyler and Lysbeth ten Broeck. (Christina died in infancy.)
  1693, April 2. Jan and Christina (twins). Sponsors: Dirck Wesselszen, Cornelia Schuyler, Jannetje ten Broeck.
  
  Marriage records. Province of New York:
  1764, April 19. John Leggett and Rachel Lametter.
  1763, June 30. Gertrude Leggett and Jacob Vosburgh."
  
  Source:
  
  Early Settlers of West Farms Westchester County, N.Y.
  Copied from the manuscript record of the late Theodore A. Leggett
  With additions by A. Hatfield, Jr.
  Edition of one hundred copies, New York, 1913, p. 21-24.
  
  
  John, Gabriel's Elder Brother, Known as John Leggett the Mariner
  
  The English records prove that Gabriel did indeed have an elder brother named John, as Theodore Leggett speculated, and I believe he is correct in his supposition that this was the man known to us as John Leggett the Mariner. Actually, Gabriel was the youngest of the seven children of Gabriel Leggett and his wife Susan Kilbourne, and had five brothers, Thomas (1626-1636), John (1628-1679/80?), Richard (1630-1630), William (1632-1665), Edward (1633-1636) and a sister Katherine (1635-1638)). Most of these siblings died in infancy; only Gabriel and John (apparently) lived to a decent age. John was in England as late as July, 1665, when he served as executor for his brother William's estate, who died at the age of 33. John disappears from the English records after this, and most likely did go to America. His father had died in 1657, brother Gabriel left in 1661, but his mother lived until 1670. If the religious and political situation permitted it, perhaps he did not emigrate until after her death, when he would have been the only one living of his immediate family left in England. We really have no proof that this John, born in Ely in 1628, is the same man from Westchester, New York who died in Jamaica in 1679; no more so, really than that the Gabriel Leggett born in Ely in 1637 is the one who was buried on Hunt's Point, New York in 1700. Of course, it is true that "John" is a very common name, while "Gabriel" is very rare, so we may be much more certain of the latter than the former. I think it most probable, however (more likely than not) that John Leggett, the elder brother of Gabriel, born in England in 1628, and John Leggett the Mariner are one and the same man.
  
  Source:
  
  Early and Late Arrivals to America of the Gabriel Leggett Family
  c David John Leggett, 2000, p. 5.
  
  ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
  
  LotLL, 1-5:
  
  * 1-g1Le1 John1 "the Mariner" Leggett
  born ca 1630 probably in Essex County, England
  died ca 1679, West Indies
  married ca 1660s to Anne ?
  Children (Leggett), 1: 1 boy
  1-g2Le2 John2
  John1 lived in Westchester, New York.
  Will of John1 Leggett of Westchester, made at Port Royall, in the Island of Jamaica, dated Oct. 2nd, 1679, proved February 2, 1680.
  
  "In the name of God, Amen: I, John1 Leggett, now of Port Royall, in the Island of Jamaica aforesd marriner, being very weake and sick in body but sound mind and memory (Praise be therefore given unto Almighty God for the same), do make this my present last will and Testament, in manner and form following (that is to say) my body I committ to the Earth to be decently Buryed, and as touching all such worldly estate God of his mercy hath been pleased to blesse me with all. I give, will and dispose of as ffolloweth, ffirst, I will that all my debts and funerall charges shall be paid and discharged.
  
  Item, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son John Leggett all that my one half part of the Ketch Tryall of New York, one negro boy now on board the sd Ketch, known by the name of "You-Boy"' one hogdhead of sugar, one Barrell and eleaven gallons of Rum, Two barrells of Lyme Juice on board the sd Ketch, and all my wearing apparel both linen and woolen, a piece and a remnant of white linnen: and all the rest and residue of my personal estate whatsoever (not being before bequeathed) I give and bequeath unto my now wife Anne Leggett, unto the child she now goes withall, if it shall live to the age of two years.
  
  I give and bequeath the sum of Thirty pounds Sterling to be paid out to the porcon or estate before hereby given unto my said son John1-g2Le2 to my good friend Mr. Frederick Phillips now of New York in America, merchant, whom I do hereby make full and sole executor of this my last will and Testament, in trust to and for the only uses and intents above menconed, and desire him to take care of my sd son John1-g2Le2 Leggett, and bring him up, or cause him to be bred up to the sea for his livelyhood, and to pay all the above sd porcon to my sd son John1-g2Le2 at the age of one and twenty years together with all such profits and produce as shall or may be made thereoff and improved. And as touching the legacy hereby given to my sd wife I will that she shall have and receive the same immediately after my interment and Buryall and I do hereby revoke, disannull and make void all former wills and Testaments whatsoever heretofore by me either made or spotken and will this and no other to be my last will and Testament. In witness, I, the said John1 Leggett have hereunto sett my hand and seal the 2d day of October Anno Domini, 1679.
  John1 Leggett (seal)."
  Witnesses:
  Antho. Suimmer, Miles Garret,
  Chas. Dawson, Tho. Cakewood, Sr.
  
  Letters testamentary granted to Fredrick Phillips, as Executor by Sir Edmund Andros, Feb. 2d, 1680, reciting:
  
  Whereas John Leggett, late of Westchester, marriner, departed this life on the island of Jamaica, and that his last will hath been proved in the court of the Mayor and Aldermen of New York City, and security given by the Executor." New York Surrogate's Office, Wills, Liber. I, pp. 448.
  
  Frederick Philips, the executor of John1 Leggett's will, was at the time the wealthiest citizen on the continent, and one of the most distinguished citizens in the Province of New York. When, after the Dutch had regained New York and money was needed for its defence, it was resolved to raise it by a forced loan from the most affluent inhabitants, Frederick Philips heads the list of 62 names assessed for 80, 000 guilders. He was a member of Council under the English Governors from Edmund Andros to Bellamount. In 1680 he acquired the Manor, and was first lord of Phillipsburgh, Westchester County. He died 1702, aged seventy-six years.
  
  His son afterward is registered "of Barbadoes;" one of the circumstances connecting the family with the first John1 Legatt of Barbadoes. Frederick Philips1, friend of John1 Leggett, the mariner, was a large land owner in Barbadoes, the "Springhead Estate;" there his son Philip2 was born in 1676, resided and married the daughter of Gov. Sparks of Barbadoes, and his son, the Hon. Frederick Phillips(3), was born in that Island, 1698, and became the second lord of the Manor of Philipsburgh.
  
  In another history of Westchester:
  
  John Leggett was called a shipbuilder, and on November 30, 1676, he executed a bill of sale reading: John Leggett of Westchester, within the Province of N.Y., shipright, to Jacob Leysler of New York City, merchant, a good Puick, or ship, Susannah of New York, now lying in this harbour, and by said Leggett built in Bronck's river near Westchester, together with masts, Lay boat, and other materials." Thus the shipbuilding industry was introduced at the mouth of the Bronx as early as 1676 (probably earlier) - that is, seven years or more before the organization of the County of Westchester. This John Leggett, builder of the Susannah, died in the West Indies in 1679. It is interesting to note that he named as his executor the first Frederick1 Philips, with whom he seems to have sustained a business partnership of some kind, and to whom he bequeathed the sum of thirty pounds sterling.
  
  
  Authorities
  ï The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy, Vol III 1928, ed by Frederick A. Virkus, pg 67
  ï Ancestry of John Gustin, The; LDS Film 1035737 item 4
  ï D.A.R. Patriot Index
  ï Early Settlers of West Farms, Westchester County, N.Y.: Copied from the manuscript record of the late Rev. Theodore60-g7Le14 A Leggett, with additions by A. Hatfield, Jr., New York 1913.
  ï Genealogical Record of Thomas A. Leggett (1805-1890)
  ï The Generals of Saratoga, John Burgoyne and Horatio Gates, Max M. Mintz, 1990
  ï History in Asphalt, The Origin of Bronx Street and Place Names, John McNamara, 1978
  ï History of the County of Westchester, Town of West Farms
  ï History of New York During the Revolutionary War
  ï History of Westchester County, N.Y.; Frederic Shonnard and W.W. Spooner, pub 1900, reprinted 1974
  ï History of Westchester; ed by Bolton
  ï Hudson River Landings; P. Wilstach, New Edition July 1937, pg 96
  ï Leggett; a family line of John1 Leggett, ca 1920s, from Marion17-g9Le11 Helen Leggett
  ï Leggett Genealogy, a family line of John Leggett, ca 1950s, from Richard6-g11Le10 J. Leggett
  ï Leggett Family, The, compiled by Larry and Kathy McCurdy
  ï National Genealogy Society Quarterly; Vol 63 #1
  ï Narrative of Major Abraham Leggett of the Army of the Revolution: contained in Crumbs for Antiquarians by Charles I. Bushnell, Vol II printed 1866
  ï New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. LXX, 1939, page 41
  ï New York Times, as listed
  ï The Story of The Bronx, by Stephen Jenkins, 1912
  ï Westchester Patriarchs, A Genealogical Dictionary Of Westchester County, New York, Families Prior To 1755, by Norman Davis, undated

Details of John's family with Anne