Third Generation

41. Jacob LEONARD was born in 1789 in Rowan Co., NC. He died in 1845 at the age of 56 in Davidson Co., NC. He was a farmer like his father. He had a large farm one and one-half miles east of Lexington. He had many slaves.

on familysearch.org; NC Probate Records; Wills, 1823-1846, Image 264-265
In the name of God Amen I Jacob Leonard Senr of the State of North Carolina & County of Davidson being weak in body but of perfect mind & memory, thanks be given to God, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do on the twentieth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred & forty four make and ordain this my last will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I give my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors and as touching Such worldly estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form,
First, I give will and bequeath to my beloved wife Susannah one Negro boy by the name of Anthony and also one Negro Girl by the name of Anna, and also one small Waggon or Carry all with all the Harness in anywise belonging to the Same, and one Bay Horse by the name of Charley, also one Corner Cupboard and Kitchen Dresser, One large dining Table, one chest and Bureau her choice, one Time Clock, all the beds and furniture with Bedsteads as they now stand and fifty dollars in money, four head of Horned Cattle her choice, five head of Sheep, one half my stock of Hogs her choice, all my Kitchen furniture of every description with every other article in the house or Kitchen in anywise belonging to (?), one hundred Bushels of Wheat, all the oats & Hay in the Barn, all the growing Crop of corn, also one Gray mare called Nell, to be enjoyed by her as long as she remains my widow, Excepting such articles as shall hereafter named,
Secondly I give will and bequeath to my two sons Valentine and Jesse my house and land where on I now live containing three hundred and sixty nine acres which I value at fourteen hundred dollars and the said Valentine & Jesse is to pay my son William when he comes to age of Twenty one years each two hundred dollars, but if either of the two boys Valentine or Jesse die having no bodily heirs, the said William is to take his share of the land and the four hundred dollars that they were to pay William to go Equally among all my children. My son Valentine is to have our Gray Colt at twenty dollars and also one Rifle Gun at eight dollars, and one time watch at six dollars, and Jesse is to have the Gun that he claims at four dollars and the time Watch at twelve dollars, also he is to have the now Sucking colt Ten dollars,
Thirdly I give my daughter Elizabeth the sum of four hundred dollars including what she had already of my estate.
Fourthly I give my daughter Christina the Sum of four hundred dollars including what she has already had of my estate. I also give my daughter Susanna the Sum of four hundred dollars. I also give my son Absalam the sum of five hundred dollars out of my estate And I also give my son William one hudnred dollars in money and also one Negro boy by the name of Alleck. It is my will that after all my sons are made equal with my son John which he has already had of my Estate then if anything Remains my daughters to have an equal Share and Further I have kept a Book containing the articles with th(?) amount and must be Brought forward at a General Settlelment against each as a part of their Share. And I do also constitue and appoint my friend Andrew and my Son in law Smith Curry the Sole Executors of this my last will and Testatment Revoking and disannuling all former wills in anywise by me made ratifying and confirmaing this and no other, to be my last will and Testament given under my hand and seal the day and year above written
Jacob Leonard [SEAL]
Signed sealed & acknowledged by the said J Leonard to be his last will & testament in presense of}
George Thomason Senr, Joseph Fritts, Henry Darr

NOTE: Named in the will were Jacob Leonard's wife, Susanna (Byerly) and children, John, Elizabeth, Absalom, Valentine, Jesse, Christina, William and Susanna. Most trees also included sons David (or Davidson), George and Jacob. One article states, "after all my sons are made equal with my son John..." This passage could refer to the sons named in the will or be meant to include others who were not. Jacob had died in 1842, apparently without issue. More investigation is needed.

Jacob LEONARD and Susanna H. BYERLY were married in 1807 in Rowan Co., NC. Susanna H. BYERLY, daughter of John Jacob BYERLY and Christina Elizabeth GRIMES, was born on 5 July 1789 in Rowan Co., NC. She died on 5 July 1870 at the age of 81 in Lexington, Davidson Co., North Carolina.

Jacob LEONARD and Susanna H. BYERLY had the following children: