In memory of Bracket, son of Thomas & Hannah Leavitt ,the first who died of the spotted fever in Pittsfield Feb'y 8th 1813, in his 11th year.

His full name was Levi Brackett Leavitt, born on 18 Feb 1802, perhaps in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, where his birth date was recorded. The circumstances aren't clear as to why he was in Pittsfield, NH during that dreadful winter of 1813 - was he just visiting his uncle Brackett? Had his father Thomas also moved to Pittsfield, albeit only for a brief time?

The Concord Gazette, on 6 March 1813, wrote that there had been about 120 cases within 20 days, and 13 deaths in Pittsfield. When the disease first broke out, the town quickly organized a committee to help with the sick, bringing in doctors from out of town, and raising $200 for procuring medicine, wine, etc to aid the sick. The elder Brackett Leavitt (uncle of the above youngster) was among the townsmen in the committee who praised the work of the doctors, in a card dated Feb. 27th, 1813. The fever, though, wasn't yet through with the town, and many still perished, including Mr. Leavitt himself, in May of 1813.  

For more Pittsfield, New Hampshire grave photos, see their own page HERE.

REUBEN TOWLE LEAVITT Jr, the son of Reuben T and Nancy M (Brown) Leavitt, was born in Pittsfield, NH on 11 Nov 1839 [NH vr]. He died on 30 Aug 1919 and was buried in Floral Park Cemetery, Pittsfield, NH [NH Death Rec].

He was married, on 4 Sept 1871 in South Berwick, Maine [ME Marr Rec], to EMMA A WATSON, the daughter of John and Betsey (Kenniston) Watson. She was born 26 Aug 1845 in Pittsfield, NH, and died there on 13 June 1932 [NH Death Rec].

During the Civil War, he enlisted on 16 Aug 1862 and was mustered in on 5 Sept, serving in Co. F of the 12th NH Infantry. He was wounded in the Battle of Chancellorsville on 3 May 1863, being shot through the left knee, and was taken prisoner. He was released 12 days later, having had no care given his wounds and, as a result, would be disabled for life. Sent to an army hospital, he would not consent to his leg being amputated, and was discharged on 21 Nov 1863. See the "History of Pittsfield, N.H. in the Great Rebellion" [pg 104-105, on archive.org]

He and his family removed to Concord, NH prior to the 1850 census, and had lived in Kittery for seven years (while father Reuben Sr was a lighthouse keeper), but was soon back in Pittsfield. 

​Reuben and Emma had three children:
i. Lila Maude Leavitt b. 26 Sept 1872, d. 2 July 1882
ii. Harry Edgar Leavitt b. 5 Apr 1879; d. 12 Oct 1969
iii. Inez Maude Leavitt b. 22 July 1883; d. 13 May 1902

According to the book LEAVITT Descendants of Thomas Leavitt, the Immigrant 1616-1696, and Isabella Bland (pg 143), his ancestry was: Reuben T Jr (Reuben T, Reuben T, Benjamin, Thomas, Aretas, Thomas)