Greene-Washington County PA Archives News.....Lot Leonard Role In The Revolutionary War July 28, 1976 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Anna harless harlessanna November 26, 2007, 12:00 pm 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 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 9.6 Kb