Kendall, There is likely a connection between the Leeds of Northampton and the Leeds of Dorchester. Aaron Cook, along with John Strong, Sr. and David Wilson, arrived in Nothampton circa 1660/1661 from Dorchester. According to Trumbull's History of Northampton, p. 79, " the deeds of Wilton and Strong were recorded in the fall of 1660 and that of Cooke in April of 1661. The first minister of Northampton, Eleazar Mather, was from Dorchester, and Trumbull theorizes his presence influenced others from Dorchester to remove there also. The church at Northampton was 'gathered' 18 June 1661, and the covenant was signed by about 80 individuals, the last name on the list, as transcribed in the History of Northampton, p. 107, was that of a Joseph Leeds. There is no Miriam Leeds or Cooke on this list, however, that does not mean she wasn't there -- may not have been 'of age' at the time the first covenant was signed. Trumbull, p. 145, lists the settlers from 1661-1662 (i.e. arriving during that time period), and lists a Joseph Leeds who became a freeman in 1663 and owned a four acre homelot. A Joseph Leeds was a resident of Northampton in 1672/3 when the residents made the following contributions to Harvard College, p. 572, Joseph Leeds contributed one bushel of wheat and 7 pounds of flax at a combined value of ten shillings. I would recommend reading the microfilm of the Northampton Town Records, Births, Marriages and Deaths, which can be rented from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and is microfilm #186161. Although difficult to read, this film would be the place to search for records of any children born at Northampton to this Joseph Leeds, and would also likely mention the first name of his wife. The Judd Manuscript which is also available on microfilm from the same place might provide additional information, i.e. relationships. And a word of caution about Thomas Bridgman's "Inscriptions on the Grave Stones in the Grave Yards of Northamption and Other Towns in the Valley of the Connecticut..." The book was published in 1850, two hundred years after the settlement (1654) of Northampton, and Bridgeman records those inscriptions he located, and presumeably, he could read. Many of the old grave markers had probably disappeared or were unreadable. As helpful as it is for those he recorded, there were many individuals who lived, died and were buried in Northampton who are NOT listed in this book. As for where the Leeds may have removed to -- many Northampton residents moved to neighboring towns, up river to Northfield, and down to Connecticut and various towns in-between --- or back to Dorchester. In other words, they could have gone any number of places. Have you thought about the probate records for Joseph Leeds. Often a wonderful source of information. Good luck with your search. Joan Hunter Joan A. Hunter, MLS, Certified Genealogist Massachusetts Genealogy, specializing in Franklin, Hampden & Hampshire. Member Association of Professional Genealogists http://www.apgen.org CG is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license after periodic evaluations by the Board. http://www.bcgcertification.org

Joan, I thank you profusely for all this wonderfully helpful information. It fits beautifully with what I know of Joseph Leeds from the Dorchester VRs and the Town Records. I will indeed obtain the microfilm of the Northampton VRs and Town Records and search them for the children. Another correspondent, Dave Clark, has already sent a brief outline of children born there to a Joseph Leeds. I will also search the probate records for further support of the line. They have frequently in the past provided the missing link for me. It does seem highly likely that the Joseph Leeds of Northampton is the Joseph Leeds b. 1637 in Dorchester, that he left Dorchester about the time of his marriage in 1661, and that he returned to Dorchester before 1779. In theory, at least, it all fits perfectly. I thank you again! Kendall JoanAHunt@aol.com wrote: > Kendall, > > There is likely a connection between the Leeds of Northampton and the > Leeds of Dorchester. <snip>