| Notes |
- Samuel Jr. is the son of Capt. Samuel Leonard, Sr., b. 1648, Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts &
Sarah Anne Brooks, b.26 May 1650, Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts, d. 1690, Middletown, NJ.
. The Leonards owned vast tracts of land in our area, among them lands on Mine Brook. From the Shrewsbury Christ Church records we learned that Henry Leonard was buried in 1739 near his house at Colts Neck. [Nearby was Wm. Lawrence].
. Samuel Leonard Jr. was an 1718, City of Perth Amboy. 1721—22 Assembly man under Governor Bernet.
. 1741 a member of Governor Morris' Council.
NASSAU HALL, (The collage of New Jersey, now Princeton University):
Samuel Leonard & his son-in-law, John Lawrence, (Mayor of Burlington, NJ), both assisted in lying the cornerstone for Nassau College, which is the oldest college in Princeton University. It was named to honor King William III, Prince of Orange, of the House of Nassau.
- Ground was broken on July 29, 1754 & opened 28 Nov 1756. It was designed, to withstand the elements & the variable climate of New Jersey in the Georgian-Colonial style popular at the time. Locally quarried sandstone was chosen over brick as building material. The walls of Nassau Hall are 26 inches thick & the building is comprised of three floors & a basement, measuring 176 feet in length & 54 feet width, with a two-story central prayer hall in the rear of the structure, measuring 32 by 40 feet. There were five entrances to the building; three in the front, two in the rear. A cupola atop the center of the roof provided an elegant final touch to a modestly constructed building. When finished in 1756, Nassau Hall was the largest stone structure in the colonies.
Nassau Hall was originally designed, to house the entire College, with accommodations for 147 students, 3 to a room, on the 3 floors. There were recitation rooms on the first floor; the library was on the second floor; & the refectory, kitchen, storeroom, & additional student rooms were located in the basement. The interior of Nassau Hall was fairly austere for the colonial era. The hallways were paved with brick to guard against fire & to aid in the retention of heat generated from the many wood-burning (later coal-burning fireplaces) in the winter. The brick floors, coupled with the stone walls, provided a cool interior during the summer months, when classes were held during the College's early years. Student rooms were composed of hardwood floors & plaster walls & the furniture within was minimal & in-ornate.
Ref: Princeton University website, History.
X-Ref: Recorded for further research: Title: Board of Trustees Records, 1746-2012, Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton, NJ. Size: 47.46 linear feet, 180 volumes, 64 archival boxes, one 11x17,box Call number: AC120.
Will dated 2 Apr, 1654. Codicils, 7 February 1757 & April 30, 1757:
. 1754 Apr. 2. WILL of Leonard, Samuel, of Perth Amboy, Middlesex Co. His estate was very valuable both personal & real, which he bequeathed mostly to his now wife Anne, & 5 daughters, all of whom were married, viz:
Mary Berrien married John Berrien/Berien
Rachel Sargent, married Samuel Sarjant,
Ann Lawrence [married John Brown Lawrence]
Sarah Billop &
Elizabeth Goelet wife of Francis Goelet of NY. & Ann Lawrence [granddaughter].
Samuel Jr. had no male issue.
. 1757 Apr 13 Second Codicil: makes special bequest to son-in-law, John Lawrence, & that provides for all grandchildren, of which only Elizabeth' is mentioned & her share be given for all grandchildren in trust by the executors.
Executors who were sons-in-law John Berrien, Samuel Sarjant & John Lawrence. Witnesses were Thomas Bartow, William Burnet & Andrew Smyth.
Will Proved 13 Feb 1758.
. Samuel owned extensive tracts of land along the Manalapan, Matchapoint & South River waterways. His "Great Tract" encompassed the area south of these waterways in the Spotswood area, & his saw mill was known as Duck's Nest at Tennents (originally Tenants) Creek, now Jernee Mill in present-day Old Bridge Township
Ref: NJ Calendar of Wills, 1751-1760," 3:196.
. 1728 - His father, Samuel Leonard Sr. landed Spottswood, on South River, Monthmouth. - - - [1, 2, 3]
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1676 - 1758 (82 years)