Fourth Generation

186. Rev. Silas LEONARD²⁹² was born in 1708 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA. He died in May 1764 at the age of 56 in Goshen or Newburgh, Ulster now Orange Co., NY. He graduated from Yale in 1736 and was ordained in 1738. He was a minister in Goshen, NY, which is near Newburgh. He had five sons and six or seven daughters, according to his Yale Biography (per ECL). He was admonished by the Presbytery for his negligence to the Presbytery as he sympathized with the Rivalists. In his will he calls himself "of Newburgh." All of the children are mentioned in his will except George (died?). NY Wills, probated May 21, 1764, Silas of Newburgh, wife Elizabeth...(040 (L26) 1764, Mar 20, May 21). Will mentions wife Elizabeth, sons Silas, James, John, William, and George; daughters Jane Carpenter, Elezebath Smith, Cateran Smith, Temper and Abigail. (No Leonard Leonard, no Lucy)

Harriet Leonard Standish mentions him in the Leonard Dictionary, p. 149, with a reference to Fanny Leonard Koster's charts. Fanny Leonard Koster says he had five sons and six daughters and leaves it at that. William A. Leonard's book, Stephen Banks Leonard, quotes the same number.

Silas Leonard wrote his will at Newburgh Precinct, Ulster (now Orange) Co., NY 27 March 1764. It was proved 3 May 1764. It names his six sons and five daughters. His wife, son Silas, and Benjamin Carpenter were named executors of the will. Gilbert Denton, James Denton, and Leonard Smith were witnesses. His farm in Newburgh was offered for sale in May 1781.

Silas was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Goshen, NY, from 1734-58. A family history says that "When the Leonards moved from New York to Goshen they are said to have brought the finest setting out of furniture and silverware that ever had come into Orange County. Mrs. Leonard used to say that she had never had to put her hands into hot water, probably meaning dish water. She had a gold snuff box and thirteen damask silk dresses" (from galileo15@aol.com).

Can't find further information about children. There were lots of descendants.

The 1790 Census has a Jeremiah Leonard and family in Middletown and a Ruth Leonard household of 2 women in New Windsor, but neither of these connect to the family of Silas. There is a Rev. War pension file for Henry Leonard who was born in the 1740's and was from New Windsor in Ulster County. There is nothing in the file to link Henry with this family, except that they were both in Ulster/Orange Co.

Rev. Silas LEONARD and Elizabeth HARRIS were married on 22 September 1739. Elizabeth HARRIS, daughter of , was born (date unknown). She had a sister, Mary, for whose estate Silas was the executor. She also had a sister, Jane, married to Lynsen.

Rev. Silas LEONARD and Elizabeth HARRIS had the following children: