Leonard Lispenard
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Col. Leonard Lispenard (December 14, 1714 – February 20, 1790) was a New York City merchant, politician and landowner.[1]
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Early life
Lispenard was born on December 14, 1714, in the City of New York.[2] He was the eldest son of six children born to Anthony Lispenard (1683–1758) and Elizabeth Huygens De Kleyn (b. 1688).[3][2] He was the grandson of Antoine L'Espinard (1643–1696) and Abeltje.[4] His sister, Abigail Lispenard (1718–1807) was married to Jacobus Rutger Bleecker (b. 1716), and was the mother of Anthony Lispenard Bleecker (1741–1816) the prominent banker and merchant.[5]
Career
From 1750 to 1755, he was assistant alderman of the North Ward of New York, followed by alderman of the same ward from 1756 until 1762.[6] From 1759 until 1768, he served in the provincial New York General Assembly,[7] He served as one of the first governors of the Society of the New York Hospital from 1770 to 1777.[8]
In 1765, he was a delegate to the Stamp Act Congress.[9][10] He was a member of New York City's revolutionary committees that seized control of the city after the American Revolutionary War broke out, and he led a small contingent of militia that seized a British supply ship in the harbor.[11]
He entertained George Washington when he was en route toward Boston to take command of the Continental Army in June 1775.[12]
Personal life
Lispenard was married to Elsie Rutgers (b. 1720), the daughter of Anthony Rutgers (1672–1746). Together, they were the parents of three children:[6]
- Cornelia Lispenard (1740–1775), who married Thomas Marston (1739–1814) on February 5, 1759.[6][13]
- Anthony Lispenard (1742–1806),[6] who married Sarah Barclay,[3] daughter of Andrew Barclay and Helena (née Roosevelt) Barclay (1719–1772) (granddaughter of Nicholas Roosevelt),[12] on December 10, 1764.[13] They had three sons and three daughters,[14] including:
- Sarah Lispenard, who married in 1804 Ulster-born New York merchant and broker Alexander L. Stewart (1775–1838), nephew of Continental Congressman Lt.-Col. Charles Stewart[15] (grandparents of Sen. Lispenard Stewart Jr. and great-grandparents of Princess Anita de Braganza).[14]
- Leonard Lispenard Jr. (1743–1790),[16] a graduate of Kings's College who was a merchant, member of chamber of commerce and owned property at Davenport's Neck where he had a summer house,[12] who died unmarried.[16]
After the death of his father-in-law, Anthony Rutgers, he was the owner of his estate, thereafter known as "Lispenard Meadow."[6] Lispenard died on February 20, 1790.[6]