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Sixth Generation
991. Ensign
Nathaniel LEONARD746,747 was born about 1766 in Middleboro,
Plymouth Co., MA.2 He died
about 1828 in Ontario, Canada. He was buried in Cataraqui United
Church Cemetery, 965 Sydenham Road, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7M 3L8.748 Referred to as Nathaniel Leonard
2nd and Nathaniel Leonard, Jr., inMiddleborough VR's. (e.g. at birth of son
Nathaniel and son Simeon).There was another Nathaniel Leonard in Middleborough
(his uncle), whichwould have made him the younger of the two and hence "jr."
or 2nd.
He was an Ensign in the Mass. Militia by the time of the birth of sonSimeon in
1803, according to Middleboro VR's. He was also referred to asEnsign Nathaniel
Leonard in the Middleboro Gazette of 2/26/1859:2 for thepurchase of the herring
privilege at Assawaset Brook in 1797.
In the 1790 Census, there is no Nathaniel Leonard listed inMiddleborough. He
would have been married by then and had a daughter.There is a Nathaniel Leonard,
household of 3, one male 16+ and 2 female,listed just over the border in nearby
Raynham near Zephaniah Leonard andothers who were involved with the ironworks
there. This leads to theconjecture that Nathaniel was working at the ironworks
there and obtainedhis knowledge of their construction and operation.
In the 1800 Census, Nathaniel Leonard 2nd is listed with a number ofother Leonards
in Middleborough. Nathaniel 2nd must have been bornbetween 1756 and 1774, as
he is listed in the "males 26-44" column. Thefamily consisted of 2
males under 10 (Nathaniel and Abraham), 1 female10-15 (Betsy), and one female
26-44 (Betsy). There is a NathanielLeonard with a family of 8 also living in
Middleborough in the 1800Census, but gone by the 1810 Census (died or moved?).
There are several Nathaniel Leonards who served in the RevolutionaryWar. Several
were definitely not this Nathaniel, viz. Nathaniel ofPlymouth who served as a
seaman, Nathaniel of Raynham who served as aprivate and a corporal, Nathaniel
of Taunton who served as a major andlt. colonel. He was possibly the Nathaniel
Leonard, private, who servedin Capt. Elisha Barney's company and Capt. Benjamin
Rider's company inalarms at Rhode Island in 1776, but he was probably too young
to serve atthe time.
Nathaniel Leonard: "He got into trouble over a horse and skipped off toCanada,"
according to genealogist Elisha Clark Leonard in his manuscript(p. 172) tracking
7 generations of Leonards. ECL has sparse informationon Nathaniel, including
birth date. Same is true for other children ofJoseph. GML's charts include
the same information as ECL's, but tracethe descendants further.
There is in the Court of Common Pleas 1796 to 1807 the following cases:"25.
Nathaniel Leonard, II, Gentleman (Middleborough) v. Josiah Leonard(Westport Forgeman).
Case, that on 13 September 1798 pltf. casually lost'a brown stallion horse to
the value of forty dollars,' which the deft.found and 'converted to his own use,'
to pltf's damage of $50. Defaultby deft. Judgment for $40 and $6.99 costs.
Fully satisfied." Nathanielwas the plaintiff and the victim of the pilfered
horse. He was not a"horse thief," and the incident does not appear,
contrary to Elisha ClarkLeonard's description, to have been the cause of his
"skipping off toCanada."
James Sproat Esq. (Taunton) and William and Zachariah Porter (BothMiddleborough
Traders) attached Nathaniel Leonard (MiddleboroughMillwright). Case, on note
dated 10 January 1794 for £10.2s.5 1/2d.payable on demand to pltfs. "by
the Name of William Porter and Co." withinterest till paid. This establishes
Nathaniel's profession -- amillwright -- which would have classified him as a
"gentleman."
Other cases: "12. Isaac Leonard (Middleborough housewright) v.Nathaniel
Leonard II, Gent. (Middleborough) and Timothy Wood(Middleborough, yeoman). Case,
on five notes dated 13 April 1801 eachpayable with interest, 4 notes for $20;
and 1 note for $3.66. Default bydefts. Judment for $88.74 and $10.59 costs."
"41. Isaac Morton(Middleborough Yeoman) v. Nathaniel Leonard II, Gen.
(Middleborough).Case, on note dated 9 January 1801 for $75 with interest. Default
bydeft. Judgment for $78.67 and $9.23 costs." "53. Hushai Thomas,
Gent.(Winthrop) v. Nathaniel Leonard II, Gent. (Middleborough). Case, on twonotes:
dated 5 August 1801 for $20 with interest, on demand; and dated17 November 1801
for $15 with interest, on demand. Pltf. said thatrefusal to pay was to his damage
of $70. Default by deft. Judment for$26.89 and $9.50 costs. Appealed by deft.*"
"Court allowed $2.25 toWilkes Wood Esq. on a complaint of Joseph Bump v.
Nathaniel Leonard IIand Leonard Sears." Leonard Sears was Nathaniel's brother-in-law,married
to Nathaniel's sister Abiah Leonard. "Thompson Baxter, Gent.(Bridgewater)
v. Nathaniel Leonard, Gent. (Middleborough). Case, as perwrit.* Default by
deft. Judment for $323.03 and $12.76 costs (CommonPleas, 1806)." He seems
to have been involved in a significant number ofcases in the early 1800's.
There are no cases after 1806. Was this when he "skipped off to Canada?"
In Canada he married Jennet (Jennette, Janet, Mary Jane) McDonell(McDonald?).
Her father was a Loyalist of Edwardsburg Township,Grenville Co. Earliest record
in Canada is an application for land fromJennet Leonard, his wife, dated 21 January
1809, requesting 200 acres ofland, apparently promised to those who were of age
(21) and would settlethere. Nathaniel and Jennette had 8 children, of which
Joseph was theoldest. Apparently, Nathaniel died at a fairly early age (winter
of1828-29), and Joseph at age 18 took over providing for the family. Adeposition
from a neighbor in 1850 says that he died intestate and thatJoseph Helmer Leonard
was his eldest son and heir at law.
An obituary appearing in the Canadian Christian Advocate, Hamilton,Ontario, dated
July 4, 1877, about Nathaniel's son, Rev. Joseph HelmerLeonard, says: "His
father was a citizen of Massachusetts and went toCanada to erect large mills,
being a very skillful builder of suchmachinery. Joseph pursued this occupation
up to the age of 18, when hisfather died and left him and his widowed mother
in charge of sevenyounger children." It is possible Nathaniel Leonard visited
Canada inthe years before he "skipped off."
During the War of 1812, Nathaniel served as a private in a troop ofprovincial
light dragoons from June to December 1812 and possiblylonger. He may have been
a part of Lt. Col. "Red George Mcdonnell'stroops who captured Ogdensburg
in 1813 (in retaliation for the Americanattack on Gananoque in 1812?). His friend,
Joseph Helmer, after whom itis postulated his son was named, died during that
attack. He died beforeclaiming his entitlement of land for military service;
and his sonJoseph, as his heir, made that claim in 1850 (Ont. Archives RG 1,
C13,vol. 133, p. 88). The War of 1812 must have cut into Nathaniel's millbusiness,
as in 1812, 1816, and 1817 he applied for and was granted alicense to keep an
inn at his home in Edwardsburgh, the 10 pounds for hislicense being his tax for
the year.
His borrowing of money and being sued for nonpayment continued inCanada. A sampling
of court cases: From Archives of Ontario,Johnstown District Court Case Files.
RG22-416-0-1296 Year of 1825Trueman Raymond sues Nathaniel Leonard for non-payment
of promissory notedated 6 April 1821 to the amount of £9-11-3. This debt
is settled bycourt order on 11 Feb 1826 in the amount of £10-0-6.
RG22-416-01686 Year of 1826: Rice Honeywell sues Nathaniel Leonard fornon-payment
of promissory note dated 1 March 1820 to the amount of£13-5-0. This debt
is settled by court order on 6 Feb 1826 in the amountof £13-10-8. This debt
wasincurred in the Township of Augusta, perhapsexplaining why he was not found
in Edwardsburgh in 1820.RG22-416-0-994-container 7 filed under the 1824 date.
In the DistrictCourt – As of May term 1823 – District of Johnstown
Paul McMillan puts inhis place, Jonas Jones his attorney against Nathaniel Leonard
in a pleaof contract. The said Nathaniel Leonard in person at the suit of thesaid
Paul McMillan in the plea aforesaid. Nathaniel Leonard was summonedto answer
to Paul McMillan in a plea of Contract: and thereupon the saidPlaintiff by Jonas
Jones his Attorney
complains: For that whereas the said defendant on the sixth day of Junein the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two atBrockville was indebted
to the said Plaintiff in the sum of threepoundsfifteen shillings of lawful money
of the Province of Upper Canadafor goods wares and merchandize sold and delivered
by the said Plaintiffto said Defendant at his request: and: for labour and services
done andperformed by said Plaintiff at his request. Money had and received bysaid
Defendant to the use of said Plaintiff: and money paid laid out andexpended by
said Plaintiff for said Defendant at his request: and beingso indebted the said
Defendant in consideration Thereof, then and therepromised the said Plaintiff
to pay the same, but which he now refuses: tothe damage of the said Plaintiff
of forty pounds and therefore he bringsthis suit. And the said defendant in person
comes and defends thewrongand injury and says that he cannot deny the action
of the said Plaintiffnor but the said Plaintiff hath sustained damages to three
pounds sixteenshillings and one penny halfpenny of lawful money of Upper Canada:
andhereupon the said Plaintiff prays judgment and his damages soacknowledged,
together with his costs and charges by him about his suitin this behalf expended
be adjudged to him. Therefore it is consideredthat the said Plaintiff do recover
against the said Defendant his damagesaforesaid to three pounds sixteen shillings
and one penny halfpenny inform aforesaid acknowledged and also three pounds four
shillings and fivepence halfpenny for his said costs and charges by the said
court now hereadjudged to the said Plaintiff and with ------ (here there are
twoillegible words): which said damages costs and
charges in the whole amount to seven pounds and five pence halfpenny. Andthe
said Defendant in (balance of sentence, only a few words, is lost ina crease
of the document.) In the Johnstown District Court Paul McMillanPlaintiff and
Nathaniel Leonard Defendant.
I confess this action and that the Plaintiff hath sustained damages tothe amount
of three pounds sixteen shillings and one penny halfpennybesides his costs to
be taxed. In default of payment on the first day ofnext term, the Plaintiff
shall be at liberty to enter Judgment and sueout execution and levy the said
sum of money, together with costs taxed,Sheriff’s poundage and all other
incidental expenses. As witness my handthis 2^nd day of April 1823 (signed) Nathaniel
Leonard." An additionaldocument was included in the docket that showed
the expenses incurred bythe person who served the writ on Nathaniel Leonard.
I did not considerit of enough interest to copy it. It did have, however on its
reverseside a notation “”Leonard lives near Spencers Mill, Edwardsbg.”
The first iron smelting in this part of Canada occurred at an ironworksat Lyndhurst
in 1801. It is unclear whether Nathaniel had any part inits operation. It started
under Wallis Sunderlin of VT and lateroperated by James Schofield, who apparently
left to return to New York.It operated until 1811, when it was destroyed by fire.
Nathaniel islisted as a gentleman and millwright in a court suit in MA; his
fatherwas a refiner of iron.
Nathaniel was a Presbyterian, his wife Jennet was raised a RomanCatholic, and
their children were left free to pick their own religiousaffiliation. They were
buried in a United Church cemetery.
Information on this branch of the family courtesy of Lisa Leonard andEric Bowler
via the Internet April 4 to 8, 2002. Eric says theinformation about the Leonards
came to him from Molly Leonard, who wasliving on Taiwan in 1999. Eric also supplied
documentation concerningNathaniel. In particular, the annual local census and
tax assessmentrolls for Edwardsburgh provide detail as to the family from 1810
to 1832,when the family disappears from the Edwardsburgh rolls. It would appearthat
Nathaniel was travelling a large part of the time, one would guessdue to his
work, and that the family rented a house near town whileretaining most of the
acreage granted to Janet/Jane.
OneWorldTree does not list Nathaniel among children of Joseph Leonard andAbigail
Raymond, but research there seems incomplete on this branch ofLeonards. Both
Middleboro and Taunton VR's were destroyed by fire in the1800's and have been
partially reconstructed from grave and other records.
See notes on Betsey Bryant for info on their marriage. They wereapparently in
some sort of contact after he went to Canada, for she wasaware of when he died.
Check Russ Waller, Frontenac Co. Loyalist Families, Kingston, ON December1996,
p. 158. Ensign Nathaniel LEONARD and Betsey BRYANT were married on 20 Mar 1788
in Middleboro, Plymouth Co., MA.2,749 Betsey
BRYANT (daughter of Jesse BRYANT and Mercy SHAW) was born on 24 Mar 1770
in Middleborough, MA.750
She died on 28 Feb 1858 in Cazenovia, New York.751 There were four Elisabeth or Betsy Bryants born in
Middleborough aboutthe right time to have been Nathaniel's wife:
- Betsy Bryant, daughter of Jesse Bryant and Mercy Shaw, born March24, 1770
(Middleborough VR, CD# 203, p. 297)
- Elisabeth Bryant, daughter of Amos and Margaret Bryant, bornOctober 31,
1770. Elizabeth Bryant, "pauper 8 yrs," died October 15,1843, in Middleborough,
age 73 (born 1770), daughter of Amos.
- Elisabeth Bryant, daughter of Seth and Sarah Bryant, born July 13,1772
- Betsy Bryant, daughter of Micah Bryant and Margaret Paddock, bornJanuary
26, 1773 (Middleborough VR, CD #203, p. 271)
Various genealogists have various Betsy Bryants marrying NathanielLeonard. A
Bryant genealogy by Albert Scott Bryant lists Betsy, daughterof Micah and Margaret,
as marrying Nathaniel. A. S. Foley has Elizabeth,daughter of Amos and Margaret,
as marrying Nathaniel. Hadaway on his website has either Betsy by Jesse and Mercy
or by Micah and Margaret asmarrying Nathaniel. Two Betsy Bryants are in Middleboro
VR's, Jesse andMercy's, born 3-24-1770, and Micah and Margaret's, b. 1-26-1773.Elizabeth
Bryant, dau. of Amos and Margaret, b. 10-31-1770, is also there(She died 15 Oct
1843 in the Middleborough Alms House). In none of thecases is the husband shown,
although it is for some women in the records.
A Betsy Bryant of Freetown and William Howland of Middleborough marriedDecember
9, 1790 (bans published November 14). Elisabeth Bryant marriedNathaniel Leonard,
Jr., March 20, 1788 (bans February 29), but theMiddleboro VR's don't list her
parents. An Elisabeth Bryant marriedJosiah Manley of Middleborough August 16,
1744 in Brockton. And anElisabeth Bryant married Israel Cook October 15, 1795,
in Boston. Noneof these records list the parents of the bride.
"Hard copy" (as opposed to the CD versions) of the Middleborough VR
liststhe intentions and the marriage of Nathaniel Leonard, Jr., and ElizabethBryant
as February 29 and March 20, 1788, respectively (Middleborough VR,Vol II, Book
2, Part 2, p. 111, p. 150).
The History of the Town of Middleborough, Massachusetts, 1669-1905 byThomas Weston
(Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 1906) includes an appendix withthe membership of
the First Church of Middleborough. On page 673, recorddated August 23, 1807,
the date she became a member of the Congregation,member no. 686, Betsey Leonard,
w. Nathan'l, m. 1788, o. Bryant, fa. 637,d." Betsy Bryant Leonard, who
married Nathaniel in 1788, was member#686, and her father, Jesse, was member
#637.
Until I find evidence otherwise, I believe Betsy Bryant, the daughter ofJesse
Bryant and Mercy Shaw, was the wife of Nathaniel Leonard.
This Betsy had a brother, Abraham Bryant, son of Jesse and Mercy, who wasborn
July 22, 1786 (Middleborough VR, CD 203, p. 298), and died September30, 1796
(Records from the Nemasket Cemetery, Middleborough, CD 203, p.2; Middleborough
VR, CD 203, p. 271). It may be just a coincidence thatBetsy and Nathaniel named
a son Abraham Bryant Leonard in December 1796.
A Betsey Leonard is listed in the 1820 Census in Middleborough as head ofhousehold
of two, both women.
There was a Betsy Leonard, 80, living in the household of Rev. LewisLeonard,
husband of the late Betsey Leonard, in Cazenovia, NY, in the1850 Census. Could
it be that Betsy Bryant Leonard didn't die in 1807before/after Nathaniel skipped
off to Canada? The Rev. Lewis Leonardmaintained ties with the Middleboro area,
with his arrival noted in theMiddleboro Gazette 10/21/52:3 and his death 12/05/1856:2.
The death of aBetsey Leonard, former Middleboro woman at age 88, is noted in
theGazette 3/13/58:3. This appears to have been our Betsy, who was born in1770.
"In Cazenovia, N.Y., on the 28th of February 1858, Mrs. BetseyLeonard, aged
88 years. Her native place was Middleboro. In 1827 shecame to this place with
her son-in-law, the late Rev. Dr. Lewis Leonard,in whose family she found a home
soon after the early death of herhusband. Having outlived all her children,
she spent the last nine yearsof her life in the family or Mr. H. J. Weed, with
her grand-daughter, andwas kindly cared for to the last. Mrs. Leonard was distinguised
forquietness, industry, and good will. She was a blessing to those withwhom
she lived, and a blessing to the Baptist Church, of which she was amember. A
firm believer in Christ, the fruits of righteousness wereapparent to the last.
Pleasant are the memories of this aged disciple."(Cazenovia Republican).
Ensign Nathaniel LEONARD and Betsey BRYANT had the following children:
+1977 | i. | Betsey
LEONARD. | +1978 | ii. | Abraham Bryant LEONARD. | 1979 | iii. | Simeon LEONARD747,752
was born on 23 Jan 1803 in Middleboro, Plymouth Co., MA.66 He was born on 23 Jan 1803. He died on
16 Aug 1803 in Middleboro, Plymouth Co., MA.66
He died of "languishment," according to Middleboro records (MiddleboroDeaths,
Gen. Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1947). | +1980 | iv. | Nathaniel
LEONARD. |
Ensign Nathaniel LEONARD and Jane Jennett
MCDONELL were married about 1808 in Edwardsburgh, Ontario, Canada.
Jane Jennett MCDONELL (daughter of John MCDONELL)
was born in 1787 in Edwardsburgh, Ontario, Canada. She died on 6
Jul 1858 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.753
She was buried in Cataraqui United Church Cemetery, 965 Sydenham Road, Kingston,
Ontario, Canada K7M 3L8.748
Variations on the name: Jennet McDonell, Jane McDonald. Jennett is indocuments
related to land grants; Jane is name on her tombstone.
From Upper Canada Land Grants RG1, C14, Volume 3, page 37: Lot 17,concession
3, Township of Osgood, was granted to Jennet Leonard as thedaughter of a United
Empire Loyalist. Acording to Ontaio Archives landrecrods GS3714, reel 576 (Osgood
Township), she sold it on 15 March1832. This was just weeks before son Joseph's
marriage, so it may havefinanced her move to Kingston and perhaps helped Joseph
and his bride.
The Osgood land records show the following grants to children of JohnMcDonell
of Edwardsburg: Lot 17, Jennet Leonard, lot 21 Ann McDonell,lot 25, Catherine
McDonell, Lot 30-32 Allan McDonell. Ensign Nathaniel LEONARD and Jane Jennett
MCDONELL had the following children:
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