JOHN LEONARD 1754-1841

John Leonard applied for a Revolutionary War Service Pension while living in Hawkins County. Tenn., Nov. 27, 1823. He was born April 7, 1754 in Germany. He was raised in Germany and sold into British service to fight against the Americans. At the first opportunity he deserted the British and enlisted in the American Army in Shenandoah County, Va. in September or October, 1781 and served two years as a private in Capt. Kirkpatrick's company, Col. Hawes' regiment. He died in Hawkins County, Oct. 7, 1841. His widow Edy Leonard, applied for pension, March 27, 1850, while residing in Hawkins County. She states that their marriage took place in Greenbriar County, Va. in the latter part of June, 1796. She was born Feb. 22, 1771. Their children were: David, born 1797; Elizabeth, born 1799; John Leonard, Jr. born 1801, William, born 1803; Agnes, born 1805; Jacob, born 1807; and Edy. born 1811.

The document shown is from either a bible or hymn book and the handwriting is John's. Edy  signed documents with an X. I believe the records state the bible is German and the hymn book is Dutch.

Name:

Johannes Leonhard

Year:

1781

Place:

North America

Source Publication Code:

3067.32

Primary Immigrant:

Leonhard, Johannes

Annotation:

Hessian Troops in the American War for Independence: An Index According to Surname. Date and place of entry in unit books. Year of birth, place of origin, rank, unit, category of presentation, and archive code of the source are also provided.

Source Bibliography:

HESSISCHE TRUPPEN IM AMERIKANISCHEN UNABHAENGIGKEITSKRIEG (HETRINA): Index nach Familiennamen. (Marburg: Archivschule) (Veroeffentlichungen der Archivschule Marburg, Institut fuer Archivwissenschaft, Nr. 10). Band III. Marburg, 1976.

Page:

227

At the first opportunity he deserted the British and enlisted in the American Army in Shenandoah County, Va. in September or October, 1781 and served two years as a private in Capt. Kirkpatrick's company, Col. Hawes' regiment. He was sent by General Peter Muhlenburg to the Cumberland Old Courthouse to enlist after joining the Americans. 

Muhlenburg's headquarters during that time was at Willow Grove Plantation, Orange, VA.  An Inn of the same name was later added onto the original home.  The picture is of that Inn.  several months ago in 2009 artifacts from the Inn were offerred at auction when the Inn was shut down.  Included were early prints and paintings of the property.

Edy declared she and John Leonard were married at her father's (Robert Scarboro) home in late June 1796 by clergy in Grennbriar. The wedding was attested to by William Arnott.

This bible record gives David's birthdate and was written by John Leonard. See footnote.com/image/25071856. The rest of the children are shown on other bible pages located on the strip at the bottom of the footnote page given.

John was born January 6, 1828 and married Ellen Johnson sometimes shown as Ellender Johnson.

John states he "is old and infirm" when giving list of owned property to the Pension Board. List follows:

Six acres of land at $2.00 an acre; two cows at $10.00 each; nine head of sheep at $1.00 each; fifteen head of hogs and goats at $1.00 each; one plow and two hoes for a total of $4.00; one chopping ax at $2.00; one drawing knife at $0.50 and two chisels worth $1.00.  One item I cannot read he values at $30.00, perhaps his home. 

 He died the 7th of October 1841.

William Arnott, testified that he is a resident of Hawkins, County, TN  aged seventy-eight years old and well acquainted with Edy Leonard as well as having known her husband John Leonard, now deceased. He was in the same Greenbriar, VA neighborhood when John and Edy were married but was not present at the wedding.  He moved to Hawkins County thirty-three years ago.

Francis is listed only once on the US Census as Francis and used the name, Frank Leonard.  He married Hattie Wright.

David Leonard Married Maregaret Stuart or Stewart.  He and his family moved to DeKalb County, MO and He died there December 20, 1874.

Frank passed away July 13 1956.  He and Hattie had been residents of Big Valley for many years.  Their son was Francis Earl Leonard.