Leonard P. BOSWORTH, b. 1856 Barrington, RI
Note: I am not researching this family - this is part of a transcription project for the RIGenWeb mail list.Beth Hurd, Johnston, RI
from
History of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Biographical
NY: The American Historical Society, Inc.
1920
pp. 157 - 158:
"LEONARD PEARCE BOSWORTH, one of the most progressive and prosperous business men of of Barrington, R. I., where he is the owner of a large general store and mercantile business, is a member of an old and distinguished New England family, which was founded in this country as early as 1634 when Edward Bosworth, the immigrant ancestor, and his wife Mary, embarked for New England in the ship 'Elizabeth and Dorcas'.Edward Bosworth himself died when the ship was nearing the port of Boston, but his son, Nathaniel Bosworth, who accompanied his parents, settled at Rehoboth, then in Massachusetts, and the Mr. Bosworth of this sketch is of the ninth generation in direct descent from him.The line is as follows:Edward Bosworth, died at sea;Nathaniel, son of Edward Bosworth;Joseph, son of Nathaniel Bosworth;Joseph (2), son of Joseph (1) Bosworth, born Sept. 12, 1683;Joseph (3), son of Joseph (2) Bosworth, born Dec. 8, 1721;Captain Samuel Bosworth, son of Joseph (3) Bosworth, born May 19, 1744;he was active during the Revolution and was a lieutenant of a Barrington company in 1775, and was appointed a captain by the town, Feby. 12, 1776, commanding two guns; he saw active service at Warren and Bristol; he died March 4, 1824; Pearce, son of Captain Samuel Bosworth, born Oct. 12, 1787; Leonard Smith, son of Pearce Bosworth; Leonard Pearce of this review.
Leonard Pearce Bosworth is a son of Leonard Smith Bosworth, who was born June 20, 1821, and resided at Barrington, R. I.Leonard Smith Bosworth was the founder of the great business now operated by his son at this place, and was a well known and prosperous citizen here.He married, August 10, 1848, Laura Dunn, daughter of Henry and Rachel (Goldthwait) Dunn, of Northbridge, Mass., and they were the parents of the following children:Caroline S., born May 21, 1852, and became the wife of Charles K. Reed, of Worcester, Mass.; and Leonard Pearce, with whose career we are here especially concerned.
Born November 7, 1856, at Barrington, R. I., Leonard Pearce Bosworth, only son of Leonard Smith and Laura (Dunn) Bosworth, passed his childhood in his native town, where he attended the private school of Professor Cady.At the age of sixteen years, however, he completed his studies and commenced work in his father's establishment.The property owned by the Bosworth family has many historical associations, and the grounds now occupied by Harvard College were originally the Bosworth farm.They were also the owner of the old coal yard, which has remained in their possession for more than one hundred and fifty years and where one of the first trading posts in Rhode Island was established by his ancestors, and it was here that the young man first began his mercantile career.The original business at this place was in bunker coal, and in 1881 Mr. Bosworth, Sr., purchased a lot at Barrington Center, where he built a small store and added a business in grain to his original occupation.He also began dealing in groceries and in 1883 added a full line of mason's material.For four years the present Mr. Bosworth operated this place, the combined business being conducted under the name of L. S. Bosworth & Son.In the year 1885 the firm completed the present store and here dealt in a full line of coal, lumber, mason's materials, wood, grain, hay, straw, flour, feed, paints, oil and groceries.In the year 1888 the elder Mr. Bosworth died, but the business continued under the same name until 1902, when it became known as it is at present, L. P. Bosworth.Mr. Bosworth has greatly increased his establishment, having nearly doubled it in the past twenty years, and has increased his trade in other portions of the State.In politics Mr. Bosworth has always been a Republican and he has been active in public affairs, having served in several capacities here.For a year he was a member of the City Council and during that time proved himself an able and efficient public servant.He is a Congregationalist in religious belief and attends the church of that denomination at Barrington.
Leonard Pearce Bosworth married, May 11, 1881, Evelyn Maxwell Peck, a daughter of Albert and Susan R. (Smith) Peck, and they are the parents of two children, as follows:Miriam Louise, born September 3, 1889, and Albert Leonard, born April 23, 1892, and now associated with his father in the management of the business."
illustration on facing page:
Photo, L. P. Bosworth