Notes:

. Among the oldest families of the county are the Leonards, after whom the village of Leonardville is named, and at the present time there are about 200 people of that name residing in that vicinity. they are a kindly, god-fearing race, and have almost without exception secured wealth, and fame as wide as the State, as successful farmers.

Lying about a mile back from the coast is the farm of Richard A. Leonard. Here he lives with his wife and family. One of the member of his family was a daughter named Delia F., a young lady of twenty-three years, brown-haired, with dark-gray eyes, and of medium height. She was a modest, unassuming girl, a devoted member of the Baptist church, and one who found her chiefest pleasures in the home circle and the society of the village and church circles.

In the fall of the year it has been the custom from time immemorial for the good people of Middletown to make up parties to go to Sandy Hook beach fro the purpose of having an outing and gathering the red and purplish beach plums for winter preserves. On Saturday one of these parties was organized to the number of twenty, and of the party were Mrs. R. A. Leonard and her daughter Delia. With happy hearts and well-filled lunch baskets the party took the 10:45 a.m. boat for the railroad pier at the Hook.

Miss Leonard had been in ill health for a number of years and was under the professional care of Dr. Hammond, of New York. A few days previous she had received a bottle of medicine from her physician with instructions to take ten drops of the liquid in two teaspoonfuls of water. Before starting on the trip Miss Leonard took an empty medicine bottle and put in it a teaspoonful of the medicine, and then filled it with water. When the time for starting arrived she took with her what she supposed was the medicine with water, but through an inadvertence she picked up the bottle of undiluted medicine.

When the party arrived at the pier they started across the beach to the ocean side, about a mile away, for the purpose of having dinner, when they would afterward fill their baskets with plums and return home by the five o'clock boat. After the party had eaten their dinner, Miss Leonard took a dose of medicine. She immediately commenced to feel bad, and told her mother that the medicine seemed to affect her differently from that which she had been in the habit of taking. Mrs. Leonard asked to see the bottle, and to her horror discovered that the bottle contained the undiluted medicine.

One or two of the party immediately ran to the ocean edge and brought back sea water, which the young lady drank, in hopes that it would make her vomit and thus get the poison out of her system. This remedy failed, and Miss Leonard was seized with spasms. In the third spasm she died, within two hours after taking the fatal dose.

In the meantime messengers had been dispatched to the telegraph station at the Hook to telegraph for the attendance of physicians from Seabright and Atlantic Highlands. The Seabright physicians were all away from home, but at Atlantic Highlands Dr. Geo. D. Fay was found, and he immediately proceeded to the beach, but before he arrived Miss Leonard had passed away.

It was a sad cortege that retraced their steps across the sands in order to take the boat for home, bearing with them the lifeless body of their friend and companion. The body was taken to the home at Leonardville - the home which had been departed from in the morning with smiles, and good-byes, and well wishes for a pleasant day on the beach--the home upon which had so suddenly fallen the shadow of the Angel of Death.

The funeral was held at the house on Tuesday afternoon, the Rev. J. J. Baker, of Marlboro, formerly pastor of the Navesink Baptist church, conducting the services. The interment was made in Fairview Cemetery.
Ref: Red Bank Register, published Wed., Sept. 23, 1885.

Birth:
[Middletown].

Notes:

Richard married1 Elizabeth Roberts &
married2 Sarah Roberts.
Both Elizabeth & Sarah were daughters of Rev. Thomas Roberts.

. Captain Wm Leonard's grandson, Thomas resided on the homestead of his grandfather, Thomas, whose property is now in possession of the widow of Richard A. Leonard, spent his youth on the farm owned by his father, to the cultivation of which his time was devoted, with the exception of the period spent at school. At the age of 21 years, being ambitious fora more independent life than was possible on the homestead, Mr.Leonard removed to his grandfather's farm, purchased for him by his father, William Leonard, where he resided daring the remainder of his life. - - -

Birth:
[Middletown, NJ]

Buried:
Leonardo, NJ.

Richard married Sarah ROBERTS on 14 Mar 1833. Sarah was born on 4 Feb 1809 in Georgia; died on 6 Jul 1888 in Leonardsville, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; was buried in Fairview Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Richard A Leonard married1, ELIZABETH ROBERTS 1 Mar. 1833,
married2, SARAH ROBERTS, 6 28.1823 - 7.6.1888 
Elizabeth was born in 1809.2.4 - died 8 Feb. 1848. 
Both Elizabeth & Sarah were daughters of Rev. Thomas Roberts. - - -

Buried:
Very tall monument, husband, Eliz. & Sarah Roberts.

Notes:

. Captain Leonard, as he was familiarly called, in early life followed the water, plying between New York & Middletown, & occasionally extending his voyages to Virginia. Soon after his marriage he became both a farmer & merchant, & was for years actively engaged in business.

. . ELIZABETH APPLEGATE, daughter of Richard Applegate, 39,born Apl. 8,1792; died Apl. 12, 1836;
married William Leonard, son of Thomas & Alice Lawrence) Leonard, as his first wife.

They had six The had 6 children: Richard A, Thomas, Mary, John T William & Elizabeth.

Thomas married Mary Ann Hopping & had 4 sons:
James H;
Thos. Henry, who married Maria Runyon & they had 4 Daus: Clara, Mabel, Edith Maria & Marianna. Edward, Wm. & John Joseph.

NJ Index of Wills, William Leonard, Sr., 13021 M, Will & Codicil 1873. Inventory 1873.
f
. William Leonard, a son of Capt. Thomas & the grandfather of our subject, first married Elizabeth Applegate & to this marriage 6 children were born, as follows:
Richard A. John S., Thomas, Mary, William & Elizabeth.
His second marriage was to Elizabeth Conover, from which there was no issue.

. 1830 Census Middletown, Monmouth, New Jersey:3 Males; 4 Females, 1 Free Colored Female, Total 10.

. 1840 Census Middletown, Monmouth, New Jersey
William Leonard:
Males - 10 thru 14: 1; Males - 15 thru 19: 1; Males - 20 thru 29: 2; Males - 50 thru 59: 1;
Females - 10 thru 14: 1; Females - 30 thru 39: 1; Females - 40 thru 49: Free Colored Females - 10 thru 23: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 3; Free White Persons - Under 20-3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 4; Total All Persons - 9.

. 1874 Feb 6 - d. Australia, 26th Feb., William Henry Leonard, s/o Thomas Leonard & Mary Ann Leonard of Havelock (Kings Co.) age 44.

. 1887 Nov 10 - d. Havelock (Kings Co.) 3rd inst., Mary Ann Leonard widow of Lt. Thomas Leonard, 89th year.
Ref: The Daily Telegraph, Saint John. - - -

Buried:
Cement monuments lays on the ground, cracked at base. 2012.

William married Elizabeth APPLEGATE. Elizabeth was born on 8 Apr 1792 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; died on 12 Apr 1836 in Leonardsville, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; was buried in First Middletown Baptist Church. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabeth is the daughter of Mary Stillwell & Richard Applegate of Middletown. 

. Elizabeth Applegate wife of William Leonard, died April 12, 1836, aged 44 years, 4 days.h- - -

Birth:


Died:
[Middletown]

Buried:
Cement monuments reads '44 years wife of William.'

Notes:

Thomas is the son of Deliverance Lippit & Nathaniel Leonard, b 1712 Monmouth Co. NJ. whose father Capt. John Leonard was murdered by Wequaia an Indian in 1727 over a land dispute.
. Thomas Leonard, Major - He was born about 1715 & lived at Greenwich Farm, 5 miles from Freehold, Monmouth county, NJ.
. For many years he was High Sheriff of Monmouth, his native county, & lived well on his considerable property. He was a prisoner on parole for 2 years early in the War, apparently while holding the rank of Major in the Ist New Jersey Volunteers.
A schedule of his property includes an estate inherited from his uncle, Thomas Leonard, Esquire, deceased. John Thompson & Cornelius Thompson, gentlemen, of Monmouth county, testified at New York in August, 1783, to their personal knowledge of the Leonard property. His estate in Monmouth county, forfeited May 13, 1779, was sold for £5,456. 14. 9., in New Jersey currency. Major Leonard's name is on the list of Seconded officers.
(Ind. 5605). He claimed £1,590 & was allowed £1,210. His place of residence in 1786 was Parrs­borough in Nova Scotia.
Ref: Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society - v. 11, no. 3, July 1926.

. 1757 Dec 8 - On the first day of August last were published a New American Magazine, to be published Monthly, by Sylvanus Americanus. The said magazine shall contain a new & complete history of the Northern Continent of American from the time of its first discovery to the present, compiled with the impartiality & regard to the Truth which becomes a faithful Historian. ...those who are willing to encourage this undertaking, are desired to give in their names to the following persons, viz. James Parker, Woodbridge who is proposed to be the printer of this magazine;
Mr. Boudinott, Postmaster, Princetown; Mr. Thomas Leonard at Freehold; Der. Newell, at Allen Town, Mr. John Lawrence at Burlington.
Note: Many are related to the Lawrence family.
Ref: Pennsylvania Gazette.

. In addition to what has been written in reference to the conduct of these Tory volunteers during the Revolutionary War, special mention must now be given of the officers who commanded this contingent during that period.
Major THOMAS LEONARD - This man was one of the first of Jersey Tories. He resided in Freehold, & in April, 1775, the Committee of Inspection proclaimed that he must be treated as a " foe to the rights of America." We find him as major of the First Battalion in 1778, & leaving the regiment the same year. After the war he lived in Nova Scotia.

. 1775 Apr 3 -Thomas Leonard, Esquire, having been duly notified to appear this day before the Committee of Inspection for the Twp. of Freehold, in the Monmouth Co., NJ & answer to a number of complaints made against him, did not think proper to attend.
The Committee therefore proceeded, with care and impartiality, to consider the evidence laid before them, & were unanimously of opinion that the said Thomas Leonard, Esquire, has in a number of instances been guilty of a breach of the Continental Association, and that, pursuant to the tenour of said Association, every friend of true freedom ought immediately to break off all connexion and dealings with him, the said Leonard, & treat him as a foe to the rights of British America.
Ordered that the Clerk tinsmith a copy of this judgment to the Press, Signed Dr. Nath Scudder, Clerk.
Ordered, That their Clerk transmit a copy of this judgment to the Press.
Ref: Minutes of Provincial Congress & Council of Safety, NJ

. It was noted that 450 acres were sold to Henry Leonard Sr., 240 acres to Samuel Leonard, 120 acres each to Nathaniel, Thomas, John & Henry Jr., all Leonard's, at Colts Neck. [Near by was Wm. Lawrence.]
An order to the sheriff to sell goods of Thomas Leonard, Monmouth Co., 1772.

. Captain Thomas Leonard, who was the paternal great-grandfather of our subject, was born in 1753 & married Alice Lawrence, the children of this union being Elizabeth, William & Joseph. In early life Capt. Thomas Leonard followed a sea-faring existence, being master of a vessel which sailed along the coast between New York & his native township, sometimes even going to ports as far south as Virginia. Soon after his marriage he abandoned the water, bought a farm of 40 acres of land & settled down to agriculture & merchandising. A stanch Republican & a consistent Baptist, he was regarded as one of the reliable & substantial citizens of his native place.

Thomas was an United Empire Loyalist. On April 3, 1775 Freehold Twp. Committee of Inspection charged him with a number of instances of dealings with the British. He narrowly escaped arrest by disguising himself as an negro. 1778 Major First N J Volunteers. He went to NYC & was after granted land at Lot 1, Parrstown (now, Saint John, New Brunswick.)
In 1779 his property in Monmouth Co. was confiscated & sold to U.S. General David Forman.

. In the Revolutionary War some members of the Leonard family friendly to the Church of England, joined the Loyalist, among who were John R., Joseph, Thomas & Samuel Leonard, whose property was advertised to be confiscated.
At the sale, March 27, 1779. John Schenck bought property of Thomas Leonard. The latter was a merchant of Freehold. He became a major in the Royalist service & was taken prisoner by the Americans in 1777 & confined at Easton, PA. At the close of the war he went to St. John, New Brunswick.

. Major Thomas Leonard first served with Lieut. Col. Elisha Lawrence in the First Battalion. Nephew William Lawrence served with Thomas Leonard.

. 1776 Oct 4 - Present to His Excellency, Wm. Livingtson, Mr. Scudder. His Excellency was pleased to lay before the Board, a letter from Mr. Parker, enclosing a letter to Mr. Cortland Skinner, soliciting an exchange, which was permitted to be sent. Mr. Parker requested permission to return home for 10 days, which was unanimously denied (because of risk of his flight.)

. Second NJ Volunteers, Battalion's Major, the elderly Thomas Leonard who was made a prisoner in Trenton at the end of December. Leonard would spend the next two years as prisoner, only to find upon his exchange that he had been "seconded" or retired upon half pay.
Ref: Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies.

. 1698, Flushing, Queens Co., New York,
"An exact list of all ye inhabitants' names within ye Towne of Flushing & p'cincts & old & young freemen & servants white, black & coloured:"
Debora Lawrence, William Lawrence. LEONARD, THOMAS of Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey. In April, 1775, the Whig Committee of Inspection averred, that " every friend to true freedom ought immediately to break off all connexion & dealings with him, & treat him as a foe to the rights of America." He settled in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1783, & was a (land) grantee of the city.

Thomas enlisted in 1776 & was in the Battle of Monmouth.

. 1777 Jul 5, Accounts of Estate of Thomas Leonard, Esquire, late Monmouth Co., NJ, Confiscated for doing the Army of King of Great Britain:
. House & Farm, containing 103 Acres, £1620;
. House & Farm, 200 Acre, £3255;
. 1 Negro wench, £20;
. 2 Negro Man, 1 Negro boy, £120
. 12 cows, £79.12.3
. 2 horses, £30
. 5 hoggs, 8.10; 1 Wagon £19.5; 15 young cattle, £64.10, 9 yearlings. £14; 6 calves, £2.7.6
. 12 sheep £12.10,
. corn standing on the ground £20, wheat & rye in the stack, £18;
. Sundry household goods, £1.25. TOTAL £5,456.14.9
Extracted from the public books in my office under my hand 27 Mar, 1786, Arnon Dunham, Auditor, NJ.

. Schedule of Real & Person property of Major Thomas Leonard, Freehold, NJ, now of Parsborough, Nova Scotia. [Summary}
1. Good New dwelling house, barn, half mile from Town of Freehold, held by John Conk & John Vaneleaf, £800;
2. Farm where he lived called Greenwich farm, 300 Acres, small new dwelling house, good new barn & other out houses, formerly meadow ground, 50 A. was improved, about five miles from Town of Freehold, held by Jacob Bordon & John William., £800
3. Wood Land, 30 A. Freehold, purchased from Cornelius Barchelow?, £1200;
4. Land 70 A laying at Yellow Beach, 7 miles from Town of Freehold, deed of gift from his father, £50;
5. 100 A., South Amboy, Middlesex Co, devisee from Uncle This. Lenard, Esq. decd., £200;
6. Farm, Amswell?, Huntingdon Co., 300 A. held under the WILL of Uncle Thomas Leonard, Esq. dec. , This farm not include in estimate filed in American Office, £600. Total £3,000.

. Moveable Estates: Valuable young negro fellow, £70
Indented negro for 5 years, £30;
a Negro wench, £30;
a Negro boy named Dick, £30;
Large Bay horses, £40; 2 Yoke of oxen, £25; 15 Milch cows, @ V5 each, £75; 30 young cattle, @ £2 each, £60;
20 sheep & Lambs £20;, Household furniture, £150; 200 Bushels of gran @2 schillings. £40;
20 Acres of grain in the ground, £20,
a pleasure sled, £6, 2 wagons & sleighs? £20, Farming utensils, £10. TOTAL £2,034.

. 1779 Feb 17- Monmouth County, whereas inquisitions have been found & final judgement entered there, in favour the the state of NJ, against the persons hereon mentioned:
NOTICE is hereby given that the real & personal estates belonging to Samuel Osburn, Thomas Leonard, Hendrick Vanmater all of the township of Freehold will be sold at Freehold courthouse, beginning on Wednesday the 17th day of March next & continue from day to day until all are sold. ...Elisha Lawrence & John Lawrence, sons of John, late of Upper Freehold will be sold at public venue, beginning on Monday 5 Apr, at Walls's mills until are are sold. No credit will be give. Nine o'clock each day. Also deeds made to the purchasers agreeable to act of Assembly, by Samuel Forman, Joseph Lawrence, Kenneth Hankinson, Jacob Wikoff, Commissioners. Ref: New Jersey Gazette, 1779 Feb 24. 1779

. 1780 Feb 21. & March 10th. Monmouth - WHEREAS inquisition has been found & final judgement entered against the follow persons, whole real & personal estates will be exposed to sale at public venue, at the house of Daniel Randolph, in Freehold, on the 28th March next, at nine' o'clock, Freehold, Christopher, Clayton, Oliver Tallman, John, Ebenezer Wardel, Ezekiel, John Tilton, Thomas Leonard, Daniel & Hendrick Vanmarter, Joseph Grover, (any many many more names). Judges of the said county Court will attend at Monmouth Courthouse on first Monday in April & May to receive & adjusts the said accounts.
Conditions of sale is ready money. Samuel Forman, Joseph Lawrence, Kenneth Hankinson, Jacob Wikoff, Commissioners.
Ref: New Jersey Gazette, 1780 Mar 14. & more names add on 1780 Apr 5.

. Thomas Leonard, a prominent citizen of Freehold, was denounced by the patriot committee for his Tory principles & every friend of freedom advised to break off all connection with him on that account. He went to New York & after the war went to St. Johns, New Brunswick.

. Leonard, Thomas, of Freehold, NJ, In April 1775 the Whig committee of Inspection averred that every friend to true freedom ought immediately to break off all connection & dealings with him & treat him as a foe to the rights of America. At the peace, accompanied by this family, he went from NY to Shelburne, Nova Scotia, where the Crown granted him one town lot. He settled in St. John, NB where the Crown granted him one town lot. He settled in St. John, NB & was a grantee of the city.

. 1791 Sep 30 - Notice is hereby give, to all persons having demands against the estate of Major Thomas Leonard, late of Horton in King's County & Prince of Nova Scotia, deceased, to send in their accounts properly attested to either of the Subscribers, within 18 calendar months from the date hero, or they will otherwise be excluded all further change of payment.
Signed, Samuel Leonard, Elisha Dewolf, Executors, Horton, 10 June 1791.

. 1791 Sept 30 - Estate of Major Thomas Leonard, late of Horton, Nova Scotia Exec. Samuel Leonard, Elisha Dewolf 10th June.
. 1801 Nov 28 - Estate. John Leonard, Queens Co.; Admin. Thomas Leonard, 3rd Nov.
Ref: Saint John Gazette, New Brunswick, Canada.

. 1884 Feb 9 - The Leonards of New England & New Jersey were of common origin. Among the Loyalists of New Jersey whose property was confiscated were Thomas Leonard, a citizen of Freehold, Monmouth Co., N.J., who is supposed to be the one numbered 1 of the grantees at Parr Town [Nova Scotia] & his sons John Leonard, Joseph Leonard of Shrewsbury & Samuel Leonard of Dover, all of the same county.
Ref: Ancestry of the First Families of Saint John, N.B. by Edwin Salter, Washington, D.C.)
Ref: The Daily Sun, Saint John, NB.
Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you.- - -

Birth:

Thomas married Alice LAWRENCE, UE on 30 Oct 1786 in First Middletown Baptist Church. Alice (daughter of William LAWRENCE, .6 Esq. The Quaker and Margaret TILTON) was born on 12 Dec 1756 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; died on 26 Nov 1827 in New Brunswick, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Alice is the daughter of William Lawrence & Margaret Tilton.
Ref: American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI), Boston Transcript, 1906-1941.

1776 -1782. Alice Lawrence, Shrewsbury Delegate, Friends' Quarterly Meeting.

. 1777 Oct 4th, Sat., 3:00 P.M, Present, His Excellency, Wm. Livingston, Mrs. Leonard, wife of Thos. Leonard, who acted as a Major in the British Services & is now a prisoner of war to the Unites states, was sent over to New York sometime ago by order of Brigd. Gen. Forman, & has lately returned to this State. She complains of indisposition & requests that she may be permitted to tarry in Monmouth Co. until she be reinstated in her health, & that she be suffered to pass to Easton, to see her husband, & from thence to return to the said County there to abide.
Agreed, that Mrs. Leonard be permitted to pass to Easton, or to any other place in which her Husband may be fixed; & to remain with him; & that she go thither without delay.

. 1795 Feb 23 - WILL of her father, William Lawrence, left Alice £30 & 3 silver spoons.

Extracted: Brigadier Gen. David Forman of Monmouth Co., Committee of Retaliation, was one of the most notorious offenders ... lack of civil means for citizens to seek redress.:

. 1777 Oct 7, WORTHY PATRIOTS ... Foreman had an arbitrary manner presumed to banish some women out of this state into the enemy's lines. This induced me to lay before the Gov. & Council of Safety, on 28 Aug., 1777 a Remonstrance on information of the arbitrary stretch of power by Davie Foreman & others. That my daughter Mary Leonard, the wife of Thomas Leonard then & yet a prisoner & by permission of our Chief Justice go leave to lay her complaint before the Governor & Council. Where I attended with her last Saturday, to my great astonishment to hear arguments that I never suspected to come from the mouths of Freeman much less from those who are chosen Guardians of our Freedom to defend Freeman under his pretense of Martial Law. Gen. G. Washington wrote a letter urging New Jersey to pass a law limiting the militia & troops from blundering & abusing civilians.

. 1786, Oct. 30. Thomas Leonard married Alice Lawrence, 1st Reformed Church, Freehold.
Note: Marriage in the Reformed Church must have met with displeasure from Alice Lawrence's Quaker Friends. PJA 2011.

FOUR LAWRENCE SIBLINGS TOGETHER AT ST. JOHN, New Brunswick, Canada; Queensbury Co., NB Land Grants: In 1787 the four Lawrence siblings originally settled adjacent to each other:

Mrs. Alice Lawrence Leonard was located at Lot One, Saint John, N.B.,
Mrs. Margaret Lawrence Nicholson at Lot 52,
Lieut. John Lawrence on one side of the Saint John River at Lot 101,
Lieut. Richard Lawrence, Lot 169, on the other side of the Saint John River.

Adjoining Lieut. John Lawrence's grant was Rev. Jonathan Odell who was a close friend of their cousin & a church member, John Brown Lawrence who was Mayor, of Burlington, New Jersey. - - -

Birth:
Upper Freehold Twp.

Died:
(location presumed)

Notes:

Married:
[Also called 1st Dutch Reformed Church of Freehold & Middletown.]