Leonard Genealogy - James 1620

Austin Leonard

M, #24026, b. 4 March 1749, d. 1823

Parents

Father	Abel Leonard (b. 27 July 1700, d. 2 February 1779)
Mother	Esther Austin (b. 5 May 1709, d. 31 May 1756)

Family: Ann Nancy Upham (b. about 1750)

Son	Theodore Leonard+ (b. 25 May 1775, d. 8 January 1860)
Son	Austin Leonard (b. 31 October 1776)
Son	Asaph Upham Leonard+ (b. 17 December 1780)
Son	Abel Leonard+ (b. 4 March 1781, d. 1852)
Daughter	Deborah Leonard+ (b. 2 July 1784)

Biography

Austin Leonard was born on 4 March 1749 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.¹ He and Ann Nancy Upham were married in July 1774 in West Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. He died in 1823 at age ~74 in Saint Jean sur Richelieu, Quebec, Canada.

Or was he born 15 Mar 1753? Intentions to marry 10 Jul 1774.

Here is a letter that may explain in part why Austin Leonard left Springfield, MA, to go to the wilds of Pennsylvania. It is interesting commentary on the political climate of the times as well. Source of letter: manuscript left by Beulah Leonard MacCall, daughter of Maurice Leonard, Sr., at Morris Township Library in Morristown, NJ, in the 1930's.

The following letter was sent to a printer, with the following notice -- "Mr. Graves, by inserting the above you will oblige one of your customers, N.B. If this meets with your approbation, please to correct all mistakes." signed Mr. Theodore Leonard (son of Austin to whom this is written), Mr. Cooper Leonard, Mr. Roger Leonard, Mr. Timothy Leonard.

To Captain Austin Leonard of West Springfield, Mass.

Sir:

I am induced in this public manner, to call on you for an explanation of your view and conduct as it respects the part you have taken in the political concerns of Massachusetts. I shall always maintain it as a sound principle as well in politics as ethics, that a friend is not to be hated for a little fault. I hope your sentiments are congenial with mine in that respect, but to come direct to the object of this letter.

In the first place, I wish to be informed what were your reasons for advocating the federal party at the late election for Governor. Undoubtedly you have reasons, perhaps more of a more weighty nature that I apprehend. I do not wish to know the ostensible cause, but the true one. If thre is no absurdity in your system and doctrine you will experience no reluctance in publishing to the world the causes of your conversion, that we poor Democrats may come to the light also.

Paul was warmly attached to the federal part of his age and country, a zealous partisan for the nobility, the clergy, the steady habits of the Jewish Nation, but after his conversion, he made a frank and generous confession. I hope, sire, you will do the same. You have, to the best of my knowledge, been a man of an amiable character as it respects your fellow man. Your republican bretheren placed much confidence in your abilities and preserverence, as a republican, that (I?) remain unseduced, appalled and unconquered, and establish weak minds in the faith. We conceived you to be a man that truly appreciated the blessings as have so universally experienced as a Nation since the principles of our beloved Chief (Washington) have been in operation. We conceived you to be a man that admired with sincere veneration, the administration who has combined national glory with the happiness of the people, who has not "Directed the energies of the government to the destruction, but to the multiplication of the human race."

The associations of patriots and statesmen who are now in complete triumph in the affections of the people we suppose you to be in perfect harmony with. You,sir, in the wisdom,in the virtue of the people which I dare believe no person of information will deny. It is not a case that will be admitted in evidence in the present case, who is the best man, Wm. Sullivan or Wm. Strong; with a doubt they both have imperfections, like other men. Mr. Strong has done his party all the services in his power, but republicans think he might have done less for his party and more for his country. Mr. Sullivan is the man you, in years past, believed to be a person suitable for the first office in the state. He had your voice and I believe your vote. If he had not, I will acknowledge frankly you are not the man the people of West Springfield imagined. However sincere you are in your opinion, it isnot for me to say, but I will assert without hesitation that I believe you have either done to your own conscience, or have been deceived by federal lawyers, or that when you acted with republicans you were as hyprocrite. To conclude that you acted contrary to the feeling of your own heart would be ungenerous. To avow that you have been deceived is to represent your case in the most favorable manner the mystery of your case admits of. To accuse you of hypocrisy would be an unpardonable affront and indelicate in the extreme. You have in times past invited your federal neighbors to your house in order to instruct them in the doctrines of the new school; and been an instrument in bringing a great number of federalists out of the obscurity and labyrinth of federalism, into the glorious liberty and principles of '75. While Massachusetts was struggling yet progressing in a work worthy herself, with a generosity becoming the republican citizens of so respectable and so enlightened a portion of our country.

While the affections of the people were kindling in the common blaze, and giving immortal vigor to the exertions of the people, you sir, were found in the scale of the priests, of the lawyers, of the banking companies, of the privileged orders of the State. Consequently you deserted the cause of the people, the cause of virtue, and are at hostility with the republicans who are no more;as well as your contemporaries who are united by truth, virtue, reason a Democratic chain the federalists never will break until the Lord forsakes us.

As you are a military man, and were actually a soldier in the Revolutionary War, I will ask yu a military question. If you had directeda ilitary expedition and compelled the enemy, in a variety of actions, to retreat in confusion and disgrace, and they had actually entrenched themselves in hostile array in a small for, ultimately to obstruct the glory of the campaign, and the last desparate hope of the enemy: I say, what would you think of that soldier, who would desert you at that moment?

Feeding Hills (no date, no signature)

(It is believed that his letter was the cause of Austin's leaving Mass. with his son, Abel, and his distant cousin Ezekiel, and migrating to Penna.)

Here is another excerpt about their adventures in the Pennsylvania wilds:

"At the opening of this century Springfield township was a wild and uninhabited waste, with no other human marks than those made by passing Indians. In June, 1803, Austin and Ezekiel Leonard started from West Springfield, Mass., under the auspices of the Susquehanna Company, to make a home in northern Pennsylvania, and they journeyed till they came to Sugar creek, near East Troy, where they stopped with Nathaniel Allen, and began. prospecting for a thousand acres of level land but they were soon discouraged, and made up their minds to return. But just then they met a man who claimed to know all the country well, and under his guidance they went up the stream to where it emptied into Sugar creek. He deceived them, by leading them around and around, into the belief that they were on the " 1000 acres of level land" -near where are the Isaac Doane and Paul Furman farms, and these they concluded to locate and make their homes, and they returned to Esq. Allen's and arranged with him to clear some of the land and build cabins for their families. for whom they set out for, to Massachusetts, to bring them to Pennsylvania.

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP

Ezekiel Leonard, who served in the American army and was with Gen. Ethan Allen in his attack upon Fort Ticonderoga, was a native of Springfield, Mass. The advent of the Leonards into Springfield (PA) is thus described by a member of the family:

"In June, 1803, Ezekiel Leonard and Austin Leonard of Springfield, Massachusetts, having been interviewed by Michael Thorp, land agent, came to this locality to establish a new home. At Troy, they met Joseph Barber, a hunter and surveyor. Barber took them into the valley at the western slope of Mt. Pisgah and assisted them in selecting a tract of 1000 acres which they purchased. They arranged .with Nathaniel Allen, living at East Troy, to build them two log houses and have ready for occupancy by the 1st of November. The Leonards arrived with their families at that time, the houses had not been constructed and they moved into a vacant house of Mr. Allen. The two Leonards built a hut by the side of a large hemlock log, where they lived during the working days of the week until the summer of 1804.

During the winter they felled the timber on about forty acres. They burned their fallow in May, and planted corn among the logs, using handspikes for corn planters. They then built two log houses, cut a road up Leonard creek to their habitations and moved their families, arriving June 3, 1804, and being compelled to cross the creek thirteen times. They had a wonderful crop of corn, estimated at forty
bushels per acre. The news of their great harvest of corn brought additional settlers from Massachusetts."

Ezekiel Leonard died, 1843, aged eighty-three years. By his wife Rhoda he had children: Abi (Mrs. Abel Leonard), Laura (Mrs. Joel Calkins), Ezekiel, Nathaniel, Lyman, Eber, Frederick, Albert and Alfred. Austin Leonard, a relative of Ezekiel, was also a soldier of the Revolution. He died, 1826, aged seventy-three years. His children were Austin, Abel, Asaph U., Deborah (Mrs. Joseph Grace, Jr.) and Theodore. The valley where the Leonards settled was long known as "Leonard Hollow" and in recent years as Leona. The Leonards and Harknesses had no knowledge of each other until the spring of 1805. Mr. Harkness's cattle having strayed away, he followed them by their tracks through the woods, coming to the opening made by the Leonards. The cabins of these families were about four miles apart.

Austin Leonard, born March 15, 1753 at Springfield, Mass., also said to have been a faithful soldier of the Revolution and a relative of Ezekiel, accompanied the latter to Springfield in 1803. He had married Nancy ____ and spent his remaining days in Springfield, where he died, 1826. They had four sons and a daughter: Austin, who was a physician, never came to the county. He located in Canada and died there. Abel settled in Springfield, where in 1812, he married Abigail Leonard, being the first wedding in the township.

Asaph U. married and settled in Springfield. He was a noted hunter and successful bear trapper. He was father of the late Sylvester Leonard who died April 16, 1905, aged 92 years. Deborah married Joseph Grace, Jr., and was the mother of Ambrose, James U., Maria (Mrs. David Brooks) and Betsy (Mrs. Chauncy Brooks). Theodore learned the printer's trade, married and for a time edited a paper in Boston. He came to Springfield a few years after his father and in 1814 was engaged upon the Bradford Gazette. He was a man of fine intelligence and splendid information. In 1827 he was chosen county commissioner. He was father of the late Lafayette Leonard."

Here is a letter from Austin Leonard to his son, Theodore, at West Springfield, MA.

Springfield, Penna., August 1, 1808

Theodore, I have nothing worth notice as news. We are in health. Our grain is exceeding good, we have as much as 500 bushels of English grain and our Indian corn is very promising. Mr. Cooper Leonard will give you more information than I can write at present.

The longer I live in this country, the more I am attached to it. I want to have you see the country before you move your family into it, if ever you do. I believe that you will make a better living in this country than you can ever in that where you now live. This country is growing very fast, the people grow with the growth of the country. It is my wish, if God permits, to see every child of mine in a situation to live, before I die. Study your own interests and your own feelings. Betsy, I am informed is not willing to go to the woods, but it is my belief that she would feel herself more on a level with her fellow creatures here than there. Jonathan Melvin's observation was that he had rather be the head of a mouse than the tail of a rat. I feel myself on a level with my fellow man, no better, no worse. Eleven o'clock at night, I take a little whiskey and begin again.

As to the sale of the land in West Springfield, I am not concerned about it, for land in that part of the world, and this, is going higher before it will go lower. Land in this part will not be bought for a song a few years hence. You have not the least idea of the rapid settlement of this country. This town, in two years, will raise a larger company of soldiers than Feeding Hills can, and I believe they can at the present time.

I was to wright to Mr. Sevil Leonard a letter by his request - you inform him that I will take care of his land, that he will suffer no inconvenience if he doth not return until next Spring, give my respects to him. You said something about a letter in July, I have not received it. We expect this week to finish cutting the wheat if the weather is good. Mr. Norman is in this town and expects to take his departure tomorrow. I have not had any time to travel round with Mr. Norman to show him our country which I would wish to have done. I do not boast of our country as being the handsomest county that ever I saw, but the best land that ever I saw, but the best land that ever I travelled on, there is no crop of any kind but what it will produce.

Apple trees grow most rapidly here, the seeds that we brought here and planted are grown to the length of 10 or 12 feet and fit to set in an orchard. This is the second time that I have ended my letter.

T.L. I begin a third time if my candle hold out. If you and Betsey cannot be pleased in coming into this country I never would wish to have you come if it doth not agree with your feelings. For my part I would be glad if my children were within a few miles of each other that they might help each other if need be. I have nothing more to say concerning this matter.

Austin Leonard.

Last Edited

28 July 2018

Citations

[S595] John Adams Vinton, "The Giles Memorial," Boston: Dutton, 1864., p. 284

Father	Rev. Edward Upham (b. 26 March 1716, d. 5 October 1787)
Mother	Sarah Leonard (b. 27 March 1720)

Father	Deacon Joseph Merrick (b. 27 March 1704, d. 1779)
Mother	Mary Leonard (b. 20 January 1706, d. 3 January 1779)

Son	Gad Merrick (b. 28 June 1763, d. 24 November 1803)
Son	Perez Merrick (b. 28 January 1766, d. 8 April 1832)
Son	Joseph Merrick+ (b. 12 May 1769, d. 1810)
Son	Quartus Merrick+ (b. March 1771, d. 1860)

Father	Lt. Benjamin Leonard (b. 17 August 1702, d. 25 February 1785)
Mother	Thankful Merrick (b. 8 October 1701, d. 31 December 1779)

Daughter	Thankful Leonard (b. 19 December 1755)
Son	Jared Leonard (b. 20 November 1756, d. 3 June 1757)
Daughter	Catharine Leonard (b. 30 April 1758)
Daughter	Mary Leonard+ (b. 26 March 1760)
Son	Benjamin Leonard, Jr. (b. about 1762, d. 10 September 1780)
Son	George Leonard (b. before 2 September 1764)
Son	Jared Leonard (b. 6 September 1766)
Son	Frederick Leonard (b. before 28 May 1769)
Daughter	Rachel Leonard+ (b. 5 June 1771, d. 1822)
Son	Aaron Leonard (b. 2 October 1773, d. 11 November 1773)
Son	Harry Leonard (b. 15 April 1775)
Son	Araunah Leonard (b. before 24 September 1775, d. 16 September 1777)
Son	Araunah Leonard (b. 16 April 1778, d. 17 July 1818)

Father	Joseph Miller (b. 12 March 1700, d. 24 April 1760)
Mother	Mary Coombs (b. 25 November 1695, d. 24 November 1759)

Daughter	Clarissa Leonard (b. 9 May 1761, d. 1822)
Son	David Leonard+ (b. 2 August 1762, d. 1844)
Daughter	Dolly Leonard (b. 24 November 1764, d. 12 July 1828)
Son	Seth Leonard+ (b. 19 July 1766, d. 23 September 1828)
Daughter	Mala Leonard (b. 15 October 1768)

Daughter	Temperance Leonard+ (b. 2 July 1771, d. 9 April 1850)
Daughter	Lucy Leonard (b. 24 December 1773, d. 26 February 1833)
Son	Pliny Leonard+ (b. 4 March 1776, d. 19 December 1863)
Daughter	Constance Leonard (b. 12 August 1785, d. 11 February 1855)
Daughter	Tamar Leonard (b. 12 September 1789, d. 1 October 1840)

Father	Moses Leonard (b. 5 November 1711, d. 5 February 1788)
Mother	Constance ("Constant") Dewey (b. 20 March 1715, d. 16 December 1799)

Father	Israel Dewey (b. 7 September 1686, d. 26 January 1728)
Mother	Sarah Root (b. 29 May 1683)

Daughter	Constance Leonard+ (b. 22 July 1745, d. 23 March 1836)
Son	Moses Leonard (b. 2 July 1749, d. 10 October 1757)
Son	Phineas Leonard+ (b. 19 August 1751, d. 16 November 1847)
Daughter	Mary ("Molly") Leonard (b. 13 July 1754)
Daughter	Huldah Leonard (b. 8 May 1756, d. 30 May 1837)
Son	Moses Leonard+ (b. 27 August 1758, d. 16 October 1845)

Daughter	Artemisia Leonard (b. 1772, d. 9 June 1828)
Daughter	Cynthia Leonard (b. 1775, d. 26 September 1776)
Daughter	Tamar Leonard (b. 1776, d. 17 September 1776)
Daughter	Mary Leonard (b. October 1776, d. 2 August 1777)
Daughter	Mary Leonard (b. 1779)
Son	Sewall Leonard+ (b. 1781, d. 25 March 1852)
Daughter	Mary ("Polly") Leonard+ (b. 9 April 1783, d. 1864)
Son	Harvey Leonard (b. 1788, d. 7 January 1795)
Son	Son Leonard (b. 1788, d. 7 January 1795)

Daughter	Amy Leonard (b. 27 June 1774)
Son	Juba Leonard, Jr.+ (b. 11 February 1776, d. 29 March 1818)
Son	Numa Leonard+ (b. 25 March 1778, d. 31 January 1855)
Daughter	Thankful Leonard (b. 5 September 1780, d. 10 September 1810)
Son	Arah Leonard (b. 10 May 1783, d. September 1846)
Son	Benjamin Leonard+ (b. 11 August 1785, d. before 5 July 1853)
Son	Alfred Leonard (b. 24 December 1788, d. 8 July 1812)
Son	Calvin Leonard (b. 29 March 1792, d. 30 March 1840)

Father	Samuel Leonard (b. 19 April 1708, d. 11 March 1744)
Mother	Mercy Merrick (b. 21 October 1706, d. 30 January 1745)

Son	Jonathan Smith (b. 3 March 1756)
Son	Samuel Smith (b. 3 March 1756)
Son	Jared Smith (b. 29 June 1758)
Daughter	Mercy Smith (b. 15 May 1761, d. 4 October 1764)
Son	Noadiah Smith (b. 1 January 1764)
Son	Alexander Smith (b. 27 September 1766)
Daughter	Tilley Smith (b. 16 April 1769)
Daughter	Mary Smith (b. 20 August 1771)
Daughter	Mercy Smith (b. before 5 April 1772)
Son	Leonard Smith (b. 1 July 1774)

Daughter	Salome Leonard (b. 15 February 1758, d. 17 April 1758)
Son	Leonard (b. 28 February 1759, d. 28 February 1759)
Son	Zenas Leonard (b. 13 November 1760, d. 22 May 1761)
Daughter	Electa Leonard+ (b. 4 November 1762, d. 16 March 1833)
Daughter	Rebeckah Leonard+ (b. 2 January 1765, d. 13 August 1847)
Daughter	Thirza Leonard (b. 3 March 1767, d. 31 December 1770)
Daughter	Jerusha Leonard+ (b. 3 March 1767)
Daughter	Tabitha Leonard+ (b. 3 March 1771, d. 11 May 1821)
Daughter	Leonard (b. 7 December 1772, d. 28 December 1772)
Son	Noadiah Leonard+ (b. 20 January 1775, d. 2 February 1854)
Son	Zebina Leonard (b. January 1777, d. 12 November 1777)
Daughter	Mary Leonard (b. 19 June 1779)
Son	Moses Leonard+ (b. 19 June 1779, d. 31 January 1837)

Father	Joseph Leonard (b. July 1705)
Mother	Thankful Bagg (b. 15 June 1704, d. 8 July 1747)

Son	Alexander Leonard (b. 11 November 1763)
Son	Israel Leonard+ (b. 4 March 1765, d. after 19 January 1839)
Daughter	Mercy Leonard (b. 14 February 1767, d. 14 April 1795)
Daughter	Orpha Gertrude Leonard+ (b. 20 March 1774, d. 25 September 1837)

Father	David Ashley (b. 26 December 1692, d. 25 January 1757)
Mother	Mary Dewey (b. 18 September 1701, d. 1774)

Son	Joel Ely (b. 9 May 1751, d. 30 May 1828)
Son	Richard Ely (b. 16 July 1753, d. 3 November 1771)
Son	Fellows Ely (b. 6 September 1756, d. 26 September 1756)
Son	Joel Ely (b. 17 July 1757, d. 27 August 1845)
Daughter	Thankful Ely (b. 17 July 1757, d. 27 August 1845)
Daughter	Sybil Ely (b. 8 June 1759, d. 13 July 1825)
Daughter	Abigail Ely (b. 14 December 1762, d. 21 January 1849)