Samuel Leavitt

Who was Samuel Leavitt?

Lieut. Samuel Leavitt was an early colonial settler of Exeter, New Hampshire, one of the four original towns in the colony of New Hampshire, where Leavitt later served as a delegate to the General Court as well as Lieutenant in the New Hampshire Militia, and subsequently as member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. The recipient of large grants of land in Rockingham County, Leavitt held positions of authority within the colonial province.

Leavitt first appeared in Exeter in 1664, where he was granted 15 acres of land by the town. Three years later, in 1667, he bought a home and barn and 7 acres of land from his father-in-law John Robinson. In 1668, Leavitt was granted another 20 acres of land by the town, and in 1670 was granted an additional 50 acres. In 1675 the records reflect that Leavitt was granted 300 acres more, and a year later was granted 6 acres more. In 1697 Leavitt received a grant for 20 acres, and 100 acres more the following year, by which time his children were receiving their own grants of land in the town.