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Fifth Generation
376. George
LEONARD414 was born
on 28 Nov 1742 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA. He died on 1 Apr 1826
in Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada. He became a wealthy shipowner in
Boston. He was a prominent Loyalist.His ships carried many of the British to
Halifax, NS, at the evacuationof Boston in 1776. He was prominent in the Revolution,
a leader amongthe Tories. He was colonel of a regiment, laid Nantucket undercontribution,
and attacked Fall River, where he was repulsed by Col. JoeDurfee. After the war
he was granted land and money to move his family toNova Scotia, which then included
New Brunswick, where he became aprovincial councillor. He renewed his fortune,
which had beenconfiscated, and died wealthy and respected in the community.
Where his family stayed during the Revolution is not known, butpresumably at
New York. After the Revolution he went to England alongwith other Loyalists
endeavoring to receive some compensation from theBritish government for their
services in the War. He did not suffer thepecuniary loss that some other Loyalists
suffered when their property wasconfiscated, as his wealth was more confined
to movables and his shipping.
Perhaps it was because of this trip to England or more probably a laterone that
he wrote a letter to his cousin George that started the claimthat Henry and James
were descended from Sampson Leonard and MargaretFiennes Lennard, Baron and Baroness
Dacre. The claim is notsubstantiated. The Dacre family records now published
show noconnection. See also the correspondence between Sir Henry BarrettLennard
and Elisha Clark Leonard. We quote the letter from George to hiscousin George:
This letter was dated October 4, 1798. "After a visit to England andfrom
everything I can collect from old records in England at the Herald'sOffice and
among the late Lord Dacre's papers, who was very attentive tome, and where I
found free access to the Library and other parts of hishouse in Town and Country
where his papers were deposited for informationand was very anxious that some
of our family inherited some of the vacanttitles. From which I find that one
of our ancestors, Henry Leonard, cameto America about the time that the Earl
of Warwick obtained a large grantof land near Boston which was in 1626, from
which time in the year 1638 agreat number of respectable people came over from
England to avoid thedissensions there. Amongst them were Lord Leith (Leich)
who afterwardsreturned and two daughters of the Earl of Lincoln, Lady Susan and
LadyArabella with their husbands who continued in this country. Among thesewe
have reason to think was Henry Leonard who left England about thattime as there
is a letter from his friend (a young man) Sir Brian Jansenwho congratulates Henry
Leonard upon his getting away before the order ofthe King in Council was issued
February 21, 1633, to prevent any furtheremigration to America." It is
to be regretted that George Leonard wasnot more explicit as to the "ancestor"
who came early to America. (Also,there is documentation that Thomas and his
sons Henry and James were inthe west of England during this time. Henry, father
of Thomas asmentioned by Hannah Dean in her recollection of Leonard ancestors,
wouldhave been of an age unlikely to venture forth to America.)
Also extant are the letters written to Lord Germain concerning theservices George
Leonard rendered the Loyalists for which he desiredrecompense. George LEONARD
and Sarah THACHER were married on 14 Oct 1765. Sarah
THACHER (daughter of Rev. Oxenbridge T. THACHER) was born in 1745 in Boston,
Suffolk Co., MA. She died in 1826 in Sussex Vale, New Brunswick,
Canada. George LEONARD and Sarah THACHER had the following children:
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