Leonard A Misener

Leonard Misener, b. 1744 Morris Co, NJ; d. 3 Sep 1806 Crowland, Welland Co, ON. Parents: possibly Henry Misner [c1715] & Unknown (or possibly a Peter Misner). Sp: Eva Barbara BENDER, b. 2 Oct 1741 (or 14 Oct 1742 per Canadian records) NJ; d. 23 Apr 1821, age 79y 6m 21d, Welland Co, ON, d/o Phillip BENDER. Ch: Peter [1768], Elizabeth [1770], Mary [1772], John [1774], Leonard [1777], Anna [1779], Charlotte [1779], Mathias [1781], Sarah [1783]. (NOTE: Lenard MISNER on the 1773 census at Knowlton, Sussex Co, NJ; Lenard MISES on the Sep 1773 tax list at Knowlton, Sussex Co, NJ; Leonard MISINGER on the Sep 1774 tax list at Knowlton, Sussex Co, NJ.)

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Leonard Misener BIO:Leonard and his wife Barbara Bender and their 9 children came to Canada in 1785. (Apparently Leonard's brother Peter came as well but it is believed he returned to the United States and settled in Sullivan County, New York. Peter of Sullivan County had a son Leonard,and Leonard of Ontario had a son Peter! Both families spelled their last name Muisnor for at least one generation. Leonard settled in the vicinity of Port Robinson. His petition for land reads as follows: "The Petition of Leonard Misner of Thorold. Respectfully shows, That your Petitioner came into the Province of the year 1785, with a wife & nine children & has received five hundred acres of Land only. That your petitioner is settled on the lands of the Crown in this Province & has cultivated and improved the same. That he has taken the usual oaths, and subscribed the declaration, that he professes the Christian Religion, and obedience to the laws, and has lived inoffensively in the country, Prays your Excellency, would be pleased to grant him in addition to his family lands, 200 acres upon the terms and conditions expressed in your Excellency's proclamation bearing date the 7th day of February, 1792."

Some records state that Leonard came from Pennsylvania, while others say he came from New Jersey. The certificate signed by Nathaniel Pettit shows that he came from Sussex County, New Jersey, where all the Miseners seem to have come from and that he was active in raising recruits for the Loyalist cause in the Revolutionary War.

The certificate reads as follows: "I do hereby certify that Jacob Beam, Chetham Boughner, Thos. Silverthorn, Lenard Misener had their names enroled and entered under the authority of a certain commission directed to Joseph Barton, Nathaniel Pettit, and Robert Alleson for the purpose of setting up his Majestie's standard in the County of Sussex about the year 1777. (Dated) 7th day of October 1797, (Signed) Nathaniel Pettit."

In the history of Thorold Township we find the following: "Leonard Misener took up 500 acres of land and at his death was owner of one thousand acres. When Leonard first came to this country it was one unbroken wilderness. He built the first house on the banks of the Chippewa (river), Thorold Township. It may be truly said of him that in addition to being a United Empire Loyalist, he was one of the very first pioneers of the county, having at that very early date to make the grain used for bread, fit for use, and for that purpose to hollow out the end of a stump and pound it therin. Subsequently, when the windmill was erected at Fort Niagara and later when Street's water mill was built at Niagara Falls, formerly Bridgewater, the grain was taken to and from these places on horseback following a bridle path through the forest or by taking their grist down the Chippewa by boat and thence overland on the back of the person going to the mill, a distance of three miles." Actually two dates, 1787 & 1789, are given for the building of Leonard's log house which stood about two miles east of Port Robinson on the north bank of Chippewa Creek or Welland River as it is known today. When this house was being torn down in 1922 a solid piece was obtained from one log and the late Whitson D. Misener, a descendant of Leonard, had a cane made from it. This is the cane which is given to the oldest man by the name of Misener at the Reunion each year and is his to keep for one year. It was first presented in 1923. Leonard lost his life accidentally when he was struck on the head by a heavy handspike in moving some logs. He and his wife Barbara, were buried in the Carl Cemetery, a short distance southwest of Port Robinson. Unfortunately when the Welland Canal was built, it cut across a corner of this cemetery and it was incorporated in the Canal Zone. It has now disappeared. A few years ago (written in 1964) some of the stones were still there and the inscription on Barbara's stone was as follows: "In Memory of Barbara Misener. The Widow and Relict of Leonard Misener who after having with maternal tendering raised nine children to the years of maturity, living to see them comfortably settled around her and after having without reproach lived a Widow nearly fifteen years departed this life the 23rd of April 1821 aged 79 yrs 6 mos & 21 days." Leonard's nine children were, Peter, Elizabeth, Mary, John, Leonard, Anna, Charlotte, Mathias, and Care. Source: Rootsweb Worldconnect-Dilts Family Page.

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