"THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, That Leonard Laidman Son of John Laidman Gentleman decsd doth put himself Apprentice to George Sallier Citizen and JOINER of London, to learn his Art; and with him (after the manner of an Apprentice) to serve from the Day of the Date hereof unto the full end and term of seven Years...." Indenture dated 1748

7 Feb 1749 a Leonard Laidman was registered apprentice to George Sallier [?], joiner of the City of London:
Masters & Apprentices 1749, page 182:
1749 Thursday May ye 11th
No: 2
Masters Names Place of Abode & Trade: Geo: Sallis Cit & Joyner
Apps. Names & Fathers &c: Leonard Son of John Laidman

All Leonard’s childrens’ parish baptism entries mention Leonard as “Carver”. This strengthens our case that this is the Leonard who was apprenticed joiner in 1748, since there is a common link in woodworking.

As to his father being John Laidman, in Leonard's apprentice indenture of 7 Feb 1748, his father is named as John Laidman, and described as "Gentleman, decsd." If Leonard was applying for an apprenticeship in 1748, he was probably born around 1734. As his father was deceased in 1748, this would suggest that he died young. So we are looking for a John Laidman who either entered into a late marriage or was born ca 1700 or slightly later.

Contenders for this John Laidman are:
(1) Revd. John Laidman (K1007). Unlikely; although he died in 1745 his youngest known child was born in 1722, and there is no mention in ordination papers of a son Leonard or any more children other than those we have. Leonard is also a traditional given name of Bowes/2 group, and Revd, John belongs to Bowes/1 group.
(2) K1576 - died at birth
(3) K1902 had a son Leonard who was a watchmaker, an unlikely progression from joiner...
(4) K2008. Assuming this John was baptised within a year or so of his birth, he was only about 21 when he died, so probably not married by then - or if so, only just, and any children would have had to have been born before 1703.
(5) K2018. He is a possibility, although nothing is known about him. But he is Bowes/5 group, in which the name Leonard does not appear.
(6) K1975 is the best choice. Nothing is known about him, so he could easily have moved to London. He had a father Leonard and a brother Leonard, making it a strong family name. We only have baptisms for his brothers Richard and Christopher in 1680 and 1691 respectively, and as the parents married in 1679, we would expect John (and Christopher) to have been born from the middle to late 1680’s or 1690’s, and therefore marrying any time from 1710 to 1720m or later, and this would fit in really well with the birth of a son in about 1734.

Of course there is always the possibility that there is another John that has not been turned up in our research...

May have had a daughter Mary.