Fourth Generation

90. Col. Jacob LEONARD was born about 1747 in Cape May, NJ. He died on 11 September 1790 at the age of 43 at Lockwoods Folly, New Hanover, later in Brunswick Co., North Carolina. Family tradition is that when the whaling off NJ slacked off, the family moved to NC in a whale boat because of the availability of good land and conditions for farming.

The 1790 Census has the household under Jacob's wife Eleanor's name. The family had 9 members -- 3 males over 16, 1 male under 16, and 5 females, and there were 10 slaves. Henry and Samuel Leonard are listed nearby.

In Volume X of the Colonial Records of North Carolina, the Journal of the proceedings of the Council of Safety of North Carolina begun and held at Wilmington of the 5th of June 1776, in this Journal on Saturday June 8th, 1776, it notes the appointments of several of the local men to be officers in the North Carolina militia, including "Jacob Leonard, fourth Captain, Lockwoods Folly." It appears that he rose to the rank of Colonel before his death in 1790. (Source: Sally Toomey)

Jacob Leonard was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly from Brunswick County (House of Commons) from 1784 to 1788. There is mention of his death in Volume 21 of the Colonial Records of North Carolina on 2 November 1790 calling for an election in Brunswick County ... "to supply the place of Jacob Leonard, Esq. who is dead..." (Source: Sally Toomey)

Extracts from "Brunswick Co., NC, County Court Minutes, Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions...10 April 1792, Miss Rebecca Ann Leonard came into court and chose her uncle Samuel Leonard as guardian, also Thomas and Jacob, the same choice made, which was approved by the Count and entered into bond with John Robinson and Edw Sullivan as securities in the sum of 300 pounds currency. Wm. Gause, Esq., was appointed guardian to Esther Leonard and Wm. Espy Lord for Jane and Elizabeth Leonard." (Source: Sally Toomey)

Family names taken from guardianships. There were two more sons, names unknown, who did not require guardians. Their names may have been Benjamin and James.

Col. Jacob LEONARD and Elinor MILLER were married on 16 June 1765 in New Hanover Co., NC. Elinor MILLER was born about 1744. She died after 1793 at the age of 49 in Brunswick Co., NC. She must have died or been very ill, in that guardians were appointed for all her children in 1792.

Col. Jacob LEONARD and Elinor MILLER had the following children:

+158	i.	Thomas LEONARD.
+159	ii.	Rebecca Ann LEONARD.
+160	iii.	Jacob W. LEONARD Jr..
+161	iv.	Esther LEONARD.
162	v.	Jane LEONARD was born about 1788 in Brunswick Co., NC. When her father died in 1790, Wm. Espy Lord was appointed her guardian.
163	vi.	Elizabeth LEONARD was born about 1790 in Brunswick Co., NC. When her father died later that year, Wm. Espy Lord was appointed her guardian. She died after 1850 at the age of 60. Was she the Elizabeth Leonard,, 60, in the 1850 Census living in Smithville, Brunswick Co., NC?