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- 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.- - - [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
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1753 - 1791 (38 years)