BEGATS AND BEQUEATHALS

Thomas and Sally Leonard’s oldest child, a daughter named born in So Carolina about the year 1803. She was married to James Birdwell in Limestone Co Al, a farmer. He was a sober, steady man of good habits and of good family. Moses Birdwell, his father, acquainted with and know him to be a good citizen. James Birdwell came to Louisiana, east of the Red River in 1840 here he and Alitha died in a few years, having 3 daughters that had md. and 4 younger sons that were not grown. All was of good habits. I have not known anything of them for 40 years.

Aletha R. Leonard was born about 1803 in Pendleton District, South Carolina, and died about 1845 in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Before 8 January 1820 in Limestone County, Alabama, she married James G., son of Moses Birdwell. Since Aletha is my direct ancestor, I’ve discussed her in detail previously.

Hannah Leonard married William Fletcher of Limestone Co Al. He was a farmer and of good family. They left Alabama in the year 1834 to go to Arkansas, took cholera on the way, both died the same day leaving 4 small children who were provided for by their father’s relatives in Ark. Further is not known by me.

Hannah Leonard was born about 1805 in Pendleton District, South Carolina, and died about 1834 en route with her family to Arkansas. Before 1830 in Limestone County, Alabama, she married William Fletcher.

Milley Leonard married James Deavenport, a farmer. She lived but a few years, had 3 children. Deavenport moved to Polk Co, Tx. Further is not known.

Milbury Leonard was born about 1807 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. She married James Davenport in Limestone County, Alabama, about 1830 and died several years later.

I have not been able to find a clear record of James Davenport in Texas following Milbury’s death. If he’s the James Davenport who married Martha Jane Garrett on 21 December 1843 in Harrison County, Texas, then it appears that by a previous wife he had a son John William Davenport born 10 November 1832 in Alabama. Numerous online family trees give this James Davenport a first wife named Laurena Rogers and state that he married this wife in Alabama on 10 November 1829. I have not been able to find any record of this marriage. I’m inclined to think that the James Davenport who married Martha Jane Garrett in 1843 in Harrison County, Texas, and who had a son John William Davenport born in November 1832, is the James Davenport who married Milbury Leonard prior to 1830. I also do not find documentation of the middle name William that numerous family trees give this James Davenport. Harrison County is east of Cherokee, separated from Cherokee by the intervening county of Rusk.

Syntha married Jonas Denton of Limestone Co Al. She had 2 children, after which he died in Limestone. Syntha md. John Blanton in Mississippi, then moved to Rusk, Texas. After the birth of several children, Blanton died leaving Syntha with a good home and comfortable surroundings. She has brought her family in good credit. I have seen them frequently through later years. She has 3 sons, one of which is married. Daughters have married, one of whom is in Calif. One of the Denton children died in childhood, the other married Charles Polk of Cherokee Co; he is an excellent citizen. Her life has been spent in discharge of all of those practical duties inculcated by her mother. Syntha is now age 74. In her it can be truly said, thou has well done thy duty to parents, thy husband, children, neighbors and God; come up higher and enjoy the mansions prepared for thee.

Cynthia Leonard was born about 1810 in Lincoln County, Tennessee, and died about 1883 in Cherokee County, Texas. About 1828 in Limestone County, Alabama, she married Jonas Denton, who died before 26 August 1830 in Limestone County. Before 1842 in Mississippi, she married James Reuben Blanton, who died 21 July 1853 at Rusk in Cherokee County.

Matilda Leonard married Cordy Claiborne Clifton of Limestone Co Al. energetic farmer and of good habits. He lived but a few years, had a few children. Matilda left Limestone and went to North Mississippi to live with a younger sister. I have no further tidings of her family.

Matilda Caroline Leonard was born about 1811 in Lincoln County, Tennessee, and died in October or November 1866 in DeSoto County, Mississippi, with a will dated 5 October 1866 and probated 19 November 1866 (DeSoto County, Mississippi, Will Bk. 1, pp. 404-5). On 12 July 1831 in Limestone County, Alabama, she married Cordy Clifton, who was born in 1810 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and died 2 August 1851 in DeSoto County, Mississippi.

Photocopies of a family bible belonging to Matilda and Cordy’s son Thomas Leonard Clifton and wife Rebecca Thomas Worthen preserved in DAR files show that Matilda’s full name as written in the bible was Matilda Caroline Leonard and Cordy’s was Cordy Claiborne Clifton.[1] A DAR deposition given on 12 June 1957 by Maude Clifton Johnson in Shelby County, Tennessee, also cites this bible record and state these full names for Matilda and Cordy. Maude Clifton Johnson’s DAR deposition states that this family bible was lost in a fire at the house of her sister Rebecca Thomas Clifton Weatherby in Mobile. Despite these records, Cordy Clifton’s full name is given in one published or online account of this family after another as Cordy Benjamin Clifton (see, e.g., here and here). For more information about Matilda and her husband Cordy Clifton, as well as her sister Minerva and husband Samuel Johnston, see this posting.

Mariah Leonard married a Marmaduke Johnston of Cherokee Co, Tx. She lived but a few years. I know nothing of her children, if she had any.

Maria W. Leonard was born 31 March 1814 in Lincoln County, Tennessee, and died 20 September 1848 in Cherokee County, Texas. On 6 August 1833 in Limestone County, Alabama, she married William Marmaduke Johnston. For more information about Maria and husband William Marmaduke Johnston, who married Martha Vinning in Cherokee County on 13 February 1851, see this previous posting.

Minerva Leonard married Samuel Johnston of Limestone Co. He was of wealthy parents, who was of good standing. All their family were good old fashioned people. Samuel Johnston moved to No western Miss many years. Further, I know not.

Minerva D. Leonard was born 4 March 1816 in Lincoln County, Tennessee, and died 8 January 1899 in DeSoto County, Mississippi. On 27 August 1835 in Limestone County, Alabama, she married Samuel Johnston, son of Joseph Johnston and Mary Darden. Samuel was born 8 December 1813 in Warren County, Georgia, and died 4 March 1887 in DeSoto County, Mississippi. Samuel and Minerva are buried in the Johnston family cemetery at Nesbit in DeSoto County.

Alfred married Harriet McGawhaw of Cherokee Co. She lived but a years and died childless. Alfred lived in No Eastern, Texas.

Alfred Murray Leonard was born 30 June 1821 in Limestone County, Alabama, and died 17 March 1890 in Somervell County, Texas. On 16 December 1847 in Cherokee County, Texas, he married Mary M. McGaughey. Following Mary’s death after 1860, Alfred married Sarah Ann Dodson on 8 October 1867 in Cherokee County. Alfred and Sarah are buried in Ward Branch cemetery at Glen Rose in Somervell County. Additional information about Alfred is found here.

Thomas married in Alto, Cherokee Co, both died in a few years.

Thomas Edwin Leonard was born about 1829 in Limestone County, Alabama. Thomas Dunlap Leonard states that Thomas E. Leonard married in Alto in Cherokee County, Texas, but does not name his wife. According to Thomas D. Leonard, both Thomas E. Leonard and his wife died in a few years after they married. The last certain record I’ve found for Thomas E. Leonard is a sale of property he made in Cherokee County on 28 January 1868.[2] I don’t find Thomas on the 1870 federal census, so it’s possible he died in Cherokee County between the January 1868 date and 1870.

Martha, Sally, and Mahala died in early womanhood.

Martha, Sarah, and Mahala Leonard all died in early womanhood, according to Thomas Dunlap Leonard. I have no further information about these three daughters of Thomas Lewis Leonard and Sarah M. Lauderdale. See this previous posting for a short discussion of Martha, Sarah, and Mahala.

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[1] See the genealogical forms for Maude Clifton and Thomas Leonard Clifton in Daughters of the American Revolution National Genealogical Records Committee, Genealogical Forms, Series 11, Volume 15 (1966).

[2] Cherokee County, Texas, Deed Bk. T, p. 398.