Greene-Washington County PA Archives News.....Lot Leonard Role In The Revolutionary War July 28, 1976

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Observer-Reporter Wahington PA July 28, 1976

1776-A Time to Remember-1976 Pp. 67-70

Compiled by Dorothy T. Hennen-History Committee Chairman

A Project of the Pennsylvania Bicentennial Commission and the Greene County

Bicentennial Committee

ARTICLE XXX

LOT LEONARD FACED DIFFICULTIES

There is no question that Lot Leonard had served his country gallantly, however,

technicalities prevented him from being pensioned under the regular provisions

set by the various Acts of Congress. Therefore, A Special Act of Congress, Bill

H.R. 452, passed 3-21-1836 made it possible for this man to receive his just

rewards for his Revolutionary service.

In Greene County, Pennsylvania, in open court before the Judges of the Court of

Common Pleas, on the 16th day of September 1834, Rev. Lot Leonard, aged

seventy-nine years on November next, resident of Greene County, duly sworn gave

the following declaration in order to obtain the pension provided for by the Act

of 7 June 1832.

"That about the first of June 1775 he went out to guard the coast about the

commencement of the war for two months as a volunteer militia man under Captain

Condit in Menham Township, Morris County, State of New Jersey being about twenty

years of age and was stationed for most of the time on Trimble's Point between

Elizabethtown and Amboy-after his time expired again served for two months in

same manner-

"That shortly after this he emigrated with his fathers family to the Western

part of Pennsylvania Greene County where he has resided ever since and still

resides and shortly afterwards in the summer of 1777 about the first of July he

went out as a volunteer under Captain William Herod against the Indians and

marched to the Flats of Grave Creek and along the Ohio River-they were called

Scouts or Indian spies. They had no Colonel or general officers with them but

Colonel McCleary and Col. McFarland commanded in that part of the country and

occasionally after serving about four months in this way as a private an

election was held by the company for officers and this applicant was elected

Captain and was accordingly sworn in and commissioned at Phillips Fort (where

the court martial and other military business was done and meetings held) as a

Captain of Indian Spies and Rangers-having recruited and supplied his company

they marched to a place called Jarrets Fort on Big Whiteley Creek in Greene

County where they made their headquarters where they collected their supplies

and when they fell back when presd. By superior numbers-that he continued to

command and serve at this place from the first of June to the first of October

in the year 1778. The enemy retired and hostilities were not resumed until about

the middle of May 1779. He again raised his company of spies and rangers and

established their headquarters at Ross' Fort on Ruffs Creek about six miles from

where Waynesburgh is now situate in Greene County-from this place (where the

neighboring people were forted) he marched with his men in different directions

toward the Ohio River-scouting, watching, pursuing the enemy-many people were

murdered in every direction around and when intelligence was brought of these

depradations this deponent who continued in command as Captain pursued the enemy

until danger in that quarter disappeared.. He was then employed in guarding the

settlers and contending with the enemy for five months this season until the

middle of October. The next spring, the latter part of May the enemy re-appeared

and the people again forted at Ross' Fort and he again called out his men and

took command as before-they pursued the enemy who had murdered many families on

the headwaters of Whiteley Creek and on Dunkard and thence to the head of Fish

Creek which empties into the Ohio River about twenty miles below the town of

Wheeling in Virginia. Whilst pursuing the Indians on Fish Creek this season

(1780) on a steep hill he in passing rapidly over a rocky place fell and split

the cap of his knee so that he was unable to walk and was carried to the fort on

the horse that carried their provisions and was unable to pursue any further

service until nearly a year afterward-were out about four and a half months.

In the month of June (about the first corn hoeing) he again was called by danger

and alarm to the field being still in command as Captain his service was again

required-his company was again collected and reorganized and were part of the

summer stationed at Bell's Fort higher of Ruffs Creek-they were also employed at

guarding the people at various other forts-Jackson's Fort-Kline's Fort on Muddy

Creek-retired later than usual in November he thinks early in the month-making

more than four months-In the spring of 1783 he was stationed with his company at

Seals' Fort about 4 miles from Jefferson-that this same spring and until some

time in October-they were in the fort and the surrounding country protecting the

settlers against hostile incursions of the enemy. His service this season as

Captain was not less than five months-making his service as Captain in the years

1777-8-9-1780-1782 and 83 twenty-two months and a half. After this he continued

to serve occasionally. If he were to enumerate all the times he served in the

forts and the fields he feels confident it would exceed three years. His

commission and documentary evidence was all destroyed shortly after the war but

he thinks he can find surviving witnesses who know of his services as Captain in

the Revolutionary War."

In answer to the interrogations he stated: 1. That he was born in Mendham

Township, Morris County, New Jersey 2. That he has no record of his age-his

father having taken it to Ohio 3. That he was living when called into service in

Mendham Township, Morris County, New Jersey and since the war he has lived where

he now resides in Jefferson Township, Greene Co., PA 4. That he went into

service as a volunteer.

On the same day Barnet Whitlatch and Thomas Hoge, both of Greene County,

certified that they were well acquainted with Rev. Lot Leonard and believe him

to be seventy-eight years of age and he is reputed and believed in the

neighborhood to have been a soldier and Captain in the Revolutionary War and

they concur in that opinion-This was signed Barnet Whitlatch Jr. and Thomas Hoge.

Thomas Hoge, the same day, stated that he was present when the said Leonard was

elected and Appointed Captain of a Company of Indian Spies and Rangers in the

year 1777 on Ruffs Creek and that he knew him to be in the service from that

time to the end of the war every summer except when he was lame-that he lived

the whole time in the near neighborhood and often forted in the same fort viz;

Bell-Ross-and Seals Forts.

On the 13th day of February 1835 Silas Crayne appeared and stated the same as

Thomas Hoge, except that due to old age he could not give dates-appeared before

Robert Boyd, Justice of the Peace.

On 25 February 1836 Andrew Stewart and A. Buchanan sustained their belief of the

foregoing statements-This was sent to the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States Congress, pleading for relief for this most deserving man.

This man was granted pension by certificate issued 20 July 1836, in the amount

of $40.00 per annum, with arrearages from 3-4-1831.

Lot Leonard died 12-7-1847 and his widow, Frances Leonard, made application for

a widow's pension. She stated that she was married to Lot Leonard 5-13-1821 by

Thomas Burson, Esquire; her name before marriage was Frances Willis. Her request

was rejected because his pension was granted by special bill and did not make

provisions for her by this granting. Witnesses appearing were John Freeman,

Associate Judge; Thomas Burson, who performed the marriage of Lot and Frances

Leonard; and David and Melinda Bowser.

Lot Leonard is buried in the family cemetery in Jefferson Township where one

large marker bears the inscriptions for Lot Leonard Jr. and his wife and son;

also it bears the following, "Beneath this monument lies the bodies of Lot and

Elizabeth Leonard. The former died November 07, 1847, aged 93 years and 23 days.

The latter died November 7, 1816, aged 59 years and 4 mos. L.L. was born near

Elizabethtown, New Jersey was raised as a member of the Presbyterian Church,

reformed in early life to the doctrine of universal salvation/ He possessed

strong poetical qualifications---Elizabeth wife of L.L. was born in Bucks

County, PA was raised in the society of friends."

Lot Leonard was the son of William Leonard, who also had sons Amos and Benjamin,

among other children. Lot was twice married; the first wife was Elizabeth Hoge

and as we have shown, the second wife was Frances Willis. The children of Lot

and Elizabeth were William, John, George, Leah Fitz Randolph, Nancy, Lot Jr. and

Isaac. Lot and Frances had one daughter who married David Bowser.

(This article was left in the exact context that it was written; Portions of

this article also appeared in the OBSERVER-REPORTER, WASHINGTON, PA on

Wednesday, July 28, 1976 page B9 under the title; Lot Leonard's Role In The

Revolutionary War)

Also listed in the; U.S. House of Representatives Private Claims, Vol. 2 on

journal page 406

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