Norton in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Stony Brook
Chartley Pond Area
Photographed By Bryan Simmons, June 2012
1. Stony Brook / Chartley Pond Area Marker
In 1695, the Taunton North Purchase granted to Thomas and James Leonard land along the Stony Brook on which to establish a bloomery and to manufacture iron. They excavated bog iron along Stony Brook. Later, Chartley Pond was formed when the excavated land along Stony Brook was flooded. Major George Leonard, son of Thomas, is credited with making this iron business a success.
On the southeastern corner is the site of the old forge. Major George Leonard's mansion was located on the northeastern corner. The Devil's Footprint Rock is still located there. In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, ice was harvested from the pond.
The nearby Wading River was used for fishing and hunting by Native Americans Long before the arrival of the Leonard family.
Erected 2007 by Norton Historical Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1700.
Location. 41° 57.038′ N, 71° 13.638′ W. Marker is in Norton, Massachusetts
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Norton Common Burial Ground (approx. 1.1 miles away); Site of First Church in Norton (approx. 2.3 miles away); Angell Park (approx. 2.3 miles away); LaSalette Seminary (approx. 2.4 miles away); Solomon Family Burial Ground (approx. 2.4 miles away); Major Thomas J. Deegan Memorial Bridge (approx. 2˝ miles away); Everett Southworth Horton (approx. 2˝ miles away); Veterans Memorial Common (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norton.
Regarding Stony Brook. Pertaining to the Devils foot print here is the story written by Daniel V. Boudillion
The Devil was sticking his foot into things more successfully in Norton, Massachusetts, in 1716, long before mixing it up with Whitefield in Ipswich.
It all starts with a Man of God, as is usual in these cases. (The Devil doesn’t seem to care about the rabble; they get by all right on their own.) This particular Man of God was the Deacon Major Thomas Leonard, who emigrated from Wales to Plymouth, Massachusetts, prior to 1662. Deacon Leonard was a vain man and claimed descent
Photographed By Bryan Simmons, June 2012
2. Stony Brook / Chartley Pond Area Marker
Young George lusted for the wealth and estates rightly due his alleged noble English heritage. So much so that as a young man, it is said, that one night when he met a man all in black in the primeval forests of New England, he was ready to hear his pitch. It was a simple proposition. George would be wealthy beyond imagining all the days of his life, for only the price of his soul, which the Man in Black said he would collect himself bodily upon George’s demise.
Now George didn’t advertise this little business deal, but what did get around was the sudden and wondrous upsurge of his fortunes. Not only did he marry the beautiful Anna Tisdale in 1695 at the age of 25, but he became "very wealthy and owner of the largest landed estate in New England," according to historian Ellery Bicknell Crane. Ellery does not tell us how this was accomplished, but you and I both know it had something to do with a little piece of parchment signed in blood in the depths of the forest one dark night in George’s youth.
Young and wealthy, George Leonard built the first frame house in Norton, the country seat of his new estates and settled there with his young bride. The house became known as the Leonard Mansion as many additions
Photographed By Bryan Simmons, June 2012
3. Devil's Footprint
This is the "Devil's Foot print"
Now the Devil (for that is who the Man in Black was) had granted George wealth and estates for all the days of his life. But the actual length of those days was unspecified, which is an important point any of you at home need to bear in mind if ever you find yourself in a similar situation. What happened was that George died in 1716, at only 46 years old, with a scant 21 years of living it up under his belt.
Did he choke on a chicken bone? History is silent on the cause of his demise. All we know from the stories that have swirled across the years is that poor George was forthwith laid out in an upstairs room of the Leonard Mansion. His wife Anna and their nine children (they’d been a busy couple) gathered downstairs in the parlor with friends and relations to mourn his untimely passing.
Amid the sobs and condolences during that long night, a horrible racket was suddenly heard from the upstairs room. The family ran upstairs and Anna burst open the door on a truly horrible sight. There in the room was the Devil himself, come to collect George. His eyes blazed red, and with a horrible laugh he tucked George’s body under his arm and jumped out the open window. The black-clad figure landed on a large boulder below, and bounded off into the night shrieking with triumph and trailing the smell of brimstone
Norton Historical Society
4. Chartley Pond ice Works
The next day it was noted that the boulder was marked with a deep impression of the Devil’s infernal foot and remains so marked to this day. George’s family put an oak log in his coffin to make up for the weight and hurriedly conducted a burial. Anna was badly shaken and did not remarry for 14 years, preferring to live as a wealthy woman of her own account. But George’s namesake son and grandson went on to considerable fame, building on the fortune they inherited from Old George’s secret deal.
George Leonard Jr. rose to the rank of Colonel in the militia and was appointed a Judgeship in 1725. In a touch of the old taint he was dismissed from the bench in connection with the notorious Land Bank scheme, but was reinstated six years later as Chief Justice. He lived to be 83 years old.
George Jr.’s son, George Leonard III, graduated from Harvard, practiced law, and became a Chief Justice like his father. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly during the Revolutionary War, and served in both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate, and was also elected to Congress. Like his father he also lived to a ripe old age, being 90 years old when he died.
This suggests that when it comes to lawyers and politicians, the Devil watches over his own. But
Norton Historical Society
5. George Leonard's Mansion
The mansion fell is disrepair and was donated to the Norton fire department to burn down for practice.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2012, by Bryan Simmons of Attleboro, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 1,106 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 4, 2012, by Bryan Simmons of Attleboro, Massachusetts. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
