Leonard Leas ¹

  General Notes:

Served in FIRST Battalion, York Co. Militia, Return of 8th Co of 11 Apr 1778 of Captain John O'Blainess shows Leonard Leese, 4th Class, #46, Private. Will dtd. 4 Feb 1810 (cy at Adams County Historical Society) names 8 living children and grandson Enos, son of Phillip, deceased. Will in Adams Co. Book "B", pg 65, probated 27 Feb 1810. Birth, death and burial locations provided by Kathryn Leas Stuart

CHILD NOTES: Leonard Leas Birth(1): This area of York County later became Adams County. Death(8,1): Burial(1): Will(9): Last Will and Testament of Leonard Leas In the name of God Amen, I Leonard Least of Reading Township, Adams County in the State of Pennsylvania being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory -- do give thanks for the same considering this transitory life do make and publish this my last will and testament.

First it is my will and I do so order that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as convenient may be after my decease then I give and bequeath unto Enos Least, my grandson the sum of twenty five pounds which is to be in full for his father Phillip Least deceased share (sic) when he arrives to the age of twenty years, but if he the said Enos should die before he arrives to the age of twenty one then his sheare shall be equally divided among my other children hereinafter named.

Second I give and bequeath onto my son John, Leonard, Moses, David, Sephen, Joseph, and George and Rebeckah all my beforesaid children one equil (sic) part of my estate in manner following.

My son John having already received from me the value of fifty pounds which are to be deducted out of his sheare and fifteen pounds out of my daughter Rebeckah sheare wich (sic) she has has already got from me.

It is my will that all my children shall be made equil with my son John before he receives any more and then all the residue of my estate be equilly (sic) divided amonst all my aforesaid children that is as the same shall become due from the sale of my lands which I do order and direct that my Executors hereinafter named as soon as convenient may be after my decease sell and dispose of my said lands for the best price that can be conveniently got and for that purpose I do hereby authorize and empower my said Executors to sign seal and execute and acknowledge all such deed or deeds of conveyance as I myself would give, do and now have and no further ____ whatsoever for the granting and assigning the same to the purchaser or purchasers thereof and the money arising from the sale to be divided amongst my children as aforesaid but if any of my children should die in their minority remmaried ? or without issue then their sheare hereby bequeathed shall be equally divided amonst my other children or their heirs.

It is also my will and I do order and direct that Valentine Hollinger be guardian for my son George and my daughter Rebeckah to keep their respective sheares in his hands until she arrive to the age of twenty one years or ___? and my son Leonard to be guardian for my son Joseph to keep his sheare in his hands (on interest?) until Joseph arrives to the age of twenty one years but if either of them George, Joseph or Rebeckah should die in their minority then their sheares to be distributed as before ___?.

And lastly I nominate and appoint my trusty friend Valentine Hollinger and Leonard Least to be my Executors_____ set my hand and seal this fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and ten.

4 February 1810

Witnesses: Moses Leas and George Brown

General: *Served in FIRST Battalion, York Co. Militia, Return of 8 th Co of 11 Apr 1778 *of Captain John O'Blainess shows Leonard Leese, 4 th Class, #46, Private.

*Will dtd. 4 Feb 1810 (cy at Adams County Historical Society) names 8 living *children and grandson Enos, son of Phillip, deceased.

*Will in Adams Co. Book "B", pg. 65, probated 27 Feb 1810. The 1779 Tax List of Reading Township includes Leonard Leas, Senior with 60 acres and a tax of 53 pounds, 13 shilling, and 4 pence. Also shown are Leonard Leas, Jr., John Leas Senior and Stephen Leas.

Appears in the 1790 Census of Reading Twp. with six males under 16 and with two females. Stephen Leas and Phillip Leas are shown separately. Also shown separately is John Leas.



ABSTRACTS OF ADAMS CO, PA WILLS 1800-1826 (http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~holinger/hollypaadams.htm):

> FEB 4, 1810,
> VALENTINE HOLLINGER, guardian of George and Rebecah LEAS
> ====
> Leonard LEAS, Reading Twp,
> Children =
> Johnn, Leonard, Moses, David, Stephen, Joseph, George, Rebecah,
> Philip(deceased)
> Grandson=
> Enos of Philip;
> Valentine Hollinger guardian of George and Rebecah
> Son LEONARD, guardian of Joseph
> Execs = son Leonard, Valentine HOLLINGER
> Wit = Moses LEAS, George BROWN
> written Feb 4, 1810
> probate Feb 27, 1810
> recordee page 65

DAR:

LEAS , Leonard
Birth: PA Circa 1757
Rank: Pvt
Service: PA
Death: PA 4 Feb 1810
Patriot Pensioned: No
Widow Pensioned: No
Children Pensioned: No
Heirs Pensioned: No
Spouse: (1) Lovice Forney

  Noted events in his life were:

• Military: American Revolutionary War. ²

Leonard married Lovice Forney, daughter of Frederick (Phillip) Forney and Elizabeth Sherz. (Lovice Forney was born on 26 Apr 1757 in Heidelberg Township, York County, Pennsylvania, USA, died before 1810 in Reading Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA ³ and was buried in Leas Cem, Reading Twp., York Co., PA.)