Background
Judge Leavitt was born in Walpole, New Hampshire (U.S.), but was raised in Greenfield, where his father Review Jonathan Leavitt served as a Congregational minister.
Judge Leavitt was born in Walpole, New Hampshire (U.S.), but was raised in Greenfield, where his father Review Jonathan Leavitt served as a Congregational minister.
Yale University.
He subsequently served as Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in 1812, and Judge of Probate from 1814 to 1821. Judge Leavitt used the west wing of the Leavitt-Hovey house for his business activities. Judge Leavitt was also known for his legal writings, especially in probate law, as well as his "Summary of the Laws of Massachusetts, Relative to the Settlement, Support, Employment and Removal of Paupers", published in Greenfield in 1810.
He also published two small volumes on religion.
Judge Leavitt married Emelia Stiles, daughter of President Ezra Stiles of Yale College, for whom today"s Ezra Stiles College at Yale is named. Review Jonathan Leavitt, Judge Leavitt"s father, was also a graduate of Yale and a native of Suffield, Connecticut.
Review Leavitt"s wife was Sarah Hooker, great-great-granddaughter of the Review
Thomas Hooker, New England divine and chief founder of the Colony of Connecticut. Judge Leavitt died in Greenfield in 1830.
Members of the Leavitt family became prominent in nearby Charlemont and Heath, and were noted for their abolitionist activities.