LEACH, Lawrence, colonist, born in England in 1589; died in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1662. He was one of the "planters" that came over with Reverend Praneis Higginson in 1629, was a man of repute in England, and is said to have descended from John Le Lethe, surgeon to King Edward III. At Salem he engaged extensively in the farming and milling business, his large plantation and mills being located in what is now Beverly. The mills were of such importance that the adjacent towns caused public roads to be opened to them. He was active in public affairs, was one of the twelve jury men who at Boston (1630) served on the trial of the first capital case that was heard in Massachusetts, and for many years represented Salem in the legislature, he assisted in the formation of the first church that was organized at Salem.--His son, Robert, became one of the founders of Manchester, Massachusetts, and one of its largest landed proprietors. --Giles, believed to have been his youngest child, and the only one born in this country, was a founder of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, owning one of the "fifty-six proprietary interests" of the town.