Fifth Generation

551. James LEONARD⁶⁹¹ was born on 30 August 1747 in Hanover twp., Morris Co., NJ. He died in 1807 at the age of 60 in Cannonsville, Delaware Co, NY. ECL: "There were probably other children." ECL has her name as Rachel Dalton. James was a Revolutionary War soldier.

He was baptized on 30 Aug 1747 in Hanover Presbyterian Church.

Could another son have been Rodney Leonard, b. abt. 1775, wife Miriam b. 1785, children Rachel b. 1823, Rodney Jr, b. 1828, living next door to Ezra H. Leonard b. 1806 and family?

James Leonard was a native of NJ. Five years before the Revolutionary War, he removed to the vicinity of Lake Champlain, where Udney was born. At the outbreak of the War, his situation was too exposed to Indian incursions. So he returned to his native state, where he remained until 1786. Then, induced by descriptions ofthe beauty and fertility of the land on the Delaware River, he homesteaded on the east side of the River, a little below Cannonsville. He was engaged in farming, clearing his land and raising cattle. The wolves killed nearly all his sheep, and the bears his hogs, so that for many years had to give up raising them.

James LEONARD and Rachel DAYTON were married on 31 March 1768 in Hanover, Morris Co., NJ.⁶⁹² Rachel DAYTON was born on 11 March 1750. She died on 19 December 1853 at the age of 103 in Walton, Delaware Co., NY. Rachel witnessed the will of Moses Kitchel's father, Joseph, in 1788, as Rachel Leonard. Dayton sometimes spelled Daton.

James LEONARD and Rachel DAYTON had the following children: