First Generation

1. Jonas LEONARD was born in 1774 in Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., NY. He died before 1860 at the age of 86. Jonas' origins are unknown. He is thought to have been born in Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., NY. His father was thought to be Samuel Leonard. The 1800 Census for NY lists neither Samuel nor Jonas. Samuel and Jonas are listed next to each other in the 1810 Census for Amsterdam. Jonas is listed in the 1820 Census in German, Chenango Co., NY. By the 1850 Census, he was living with son Charles in Bradford Co., PA.

It is believed he was married at the Caughnawaga Reformed Church in Fonda, NY. This may have given rise to the rumor that his branch of the Leonards came from Alsace-Lorraine, but it is also thought they came from Springfield, MA, or CT.

A number of descendants of John Leonard of Springfield moved from Springfield, MA, to Springfield, PA, about 1804, led by Austin and Ezekiel Leonard. That raises the question as to whether Jonas was also a descendant of the Springfield, MA, Leonards. The most likely is Samuel b. Feb. 9, 1753, m. Jemima Robinson, who d. Nov 6, 1782 at age 25, about whose children and location nothing is known. She was born in Granville 4 March 1758 of Timothy Robinson and Catherine Roes. Her brothers and sisters were named Elizabeth, David, Huldah, Olive Orphir, Phebe, and Sophia. Samuel's parents were Samuel Leonard and Elizabeth Stebbins; his brothers/sisters included Aribert, Marcy, Percia, and Fanny. He could have remarried, with Jonas the son by the second marriage, but there is no evidence to support this hypothesis. There seems to be no circumstantial evidence from the names that Samuel or Jonas are linked to the Springfield, MA, Leonards.

Julia GOULD, daughter of John GOULD and Ann COBB, was born in 1773 in Patterson, Bergen Co., NY.

Jonas LEONARD and Julia GOULD had the following children: