Fifth Generation

373. Rev. Abiel LEONARD^164,406 was born on 5 Nov 1740 in Plymouth, MA. He died on 14 Aug 1777 in Danbury, CT.⁴⁰⁷ Graduated from Harvard, 1759, Yale 1766, and DD from Princeton 1767.Pastor, First Congregational Church, Woodstock, CT. Chaplain to theContinental Army under General Washington at Boston in 1776. Note inrecord "cut his throat." died June 1778 -- must be wrong -- he diedAugust 14, 1777 at Danbury, CT.

His brother George was a loyalist and removed with his son, George, toNew Brunswick in 1783. (Sabine's Loyalists)

According to ECL's notes, he was a chaplain to the Continental Forcesunder General Washington at Boston in 1776. He preached the sermon onevacuation day in the present edifice of Christ Church in Cambridge inthe presence of Washington. The text of his sermon was Exodus xiv-25."And he took off their chariot wheels and they drove them heavily; sothat the Egyptians said, 'let us flee from the face of Israel, forJehovah fighteth for them against the Egyptians.'" He was with thetroops through the New York campaign. He was called home because of theillness of his child in 1777. He overstayed his furlough a few days andupon his return was met at Danbury that he had been superceded andcensured. This affected him so much that he shot himself. He wasevidently a distinguished preacher and clergyman. Letters from GeorgeWashington to Abiel Leonard and one to the Church at Woodstock askingthem to extend Abiel's leave from the church are in the possession of hisdescendants (Mr. Horace Everett and Mrs. Leonard Everett of CouncilBluffs, IA).

Copy of the letter from Washington to the church:

To the Church and Congregation at Woodstock, Connecticut:

Mr. Leonard is a man whose exemplary life and conversation make himhighly esteemed by every person who has the pleasure of hisacquaintance. It therefore can be no surprise to us that they are notwilling to part with him.

His influence in the Army is great. He is employed in the glorious workof attending to the morals of a brave people who are fighting for theirliberties -- the liberties of the people of Woodstock -- the liberties ofall America. We therefore hope that knowing how nobly he is employed,the Congregation at Woodstock will cheerfully give up to the Public agentleman so useful and when by the blessing of this kind Providence thisglorious and unnarrated struggle for our liberties is at an end we havenot the least doubt that Mr. Leonard with redoubled joy be received inthe arms of a Congregation so endeared to him as the good people ofWoodstock. This is what is hoped for; this is what is expected by theCongregation of Woodstock's well-wishers and very humble servant.

George Washington
Israel Putnam

Rev. Abiel LEONARD and Dorothy HUNTINGTON were married on 26 Apr 1764 in Norwich, CT.⁴⁰⁷ Dorothy HUNTINGTON was born on 6 Jul 1745 in Norwich, CT. She died on 6 Jul 1765. Rev. Abiel LEONARD and Dorothy HUNTINGTON had the following children:

869

i.

Dorothy Huntington LEONARD was born in Jan 1765.

Rev. Abiel LEONARD and Mary GREENE were married on 8 May 1766 in Bristol, RI. Mary GREENE (daughter of Thomas GREENE and Elizabeth CHURCH) was born in Feb 1740/41 in Newport, RI. Mary was the sister of Gov. Greene of RI and daughter of Col. ThomasGreene of Bristol, RI. Rev. Abiel LEONARD and Mary GREENE had the following children:

870	i.	Mary Greene LEONARD was born on 7 Mar 1767.
+871	ii.	Nathaniel LEONARD.
+872	iii.	Margaret Liscomb LEONARD.
873	iv.	Thomas LEONARD was born before 12 Jul 1772 in Woodstock, CT.408 He died in LIverpool, England. He died unmarried.
874	v.	Philip Doddridge LEONARD was born in Mar 1774 in Woodstock, CT.409 He died in Lost at sea.
875	vi.	Abiel LEONARD was born on 14 Apr 1776 in Woodstock, CT.407 He died in LIverpool, England.