Patrick Joseph Leonard
- Born
- 18 Mar 1818
- Gender
- Male
- Place of migration
- Migrated to /Born in Canada
I am looking for any info on the parents and siblings of my ancestor Patrick Leonard. Grateful for any leads!!
He was born in Ireland on march 18, 1821 to Mark Leonard (a farmer born in 1776) and Agnes Durkin. One of 8 children. Patrick and one other child came to "America".
It is thought that they were from Dublin but I have no documentation to support this.
He studied practical and theoretical engineering in Ireland.
Landed in NB, Canada on Jul 12, 1841, staying there 8 years, a teacher for 6 of them.
Married Ann Van Tassell on 04 Feb 1845, New Brunswick, Canada. She was born in Queen's County, NB in 1820. They had 10 children all born in Canada from 1845-1864.
Left New Brunswick in May 1849, and after traveling to Maine, Massachusetts, NY, and Pennsylvania, settled in Middlesex, Ontario.
Not sure why he traveled to these places, but he likely did so alone. The US 1850 Census in Lynnfield, Essex, Massachusetts, United States shows a Patrick Leonard with a John Leonard at what appears to be a boarding house along with many other young Irish immigrants. Maybe they were working on the railroad?
1851 Canada census: Biddulph Township, Huron, Canada West - Patrick and his growing family listed as farmers
1861: Patrick (farmer) and family in London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada
1871: Again, living in Biddulph, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada
According to his obituary from 1851 to 1871 he taught school in Canada and farmed, walking 7 miles one way to his schoolhouse and back every day.
April 1872: Immigrated to Neola Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States
Died 11 Mar 1896 in Neola, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States
His will leaves money to the church in Davenport, IA to pray for the souls of his parents Mark and Atty Leonard, and the souls of his sisters Winnefred McIntire, Mary Davy, Catherine Stinson, and Cecelia Kilnmartin.
