Samuel Van Leer

Captain Samuel Van Leer was born in 1747 at Marple Township. After his mother's death, he was raised by his father Bernardhus Van Leer, who was known for traveling on horseback until the age of 102[2] and for being one of the first medical doctors in New York. Dr. Van Leer also maintained an exclusive office practice, which was unique for the time. Bernardhus would later be studied at several medical universities. [3] In 1770 Captain Samuel married his Childhood sweetheart Hannah Wayne, sister to Anthony Wayne and granddaughter of Captain Anthony Wayne, an officer for Prince William of Orange in the Battle of the Boyne. Captain Samuel Van Leer's family and history[4] is also part of historical tour for the Van Leer Cabin[5][6] and his family's home Van Leer Pleasant Hill Plantation. His family was considered one of the more well known families in Pennsylvania at the time and noted in the anti-slavery cause.  [7] Another Van Leer Cabin was used as a station for the Underground Railroad.[8]

Captain Samuel was with "Mad" Anthony Wayne during the famous Battle of Paoli which is also known as the "Paoli Massacre". He also commanded the Seventh Company, Fifth Battalion during the Battle of Brandywine and during the Battle of Germantown.[9] All of his brothers were military officers during the war.[10] Later in his military career, he was selected to lead the Light Horse Dragoons Company, a small elite group with great horsemanship. Horses were trained and selected for stealthy activities and only existing American citizens could apply. The regiment performed numerous raids from whaleboats against British and Loyalist installations on Long Island. Some of the successful raids captured Fort St. George, Fort Slongo and Lloyd's Neck, Long Island. Elements from the unit comprised Washington's personal bodyguard. The regiment's main patrol areas during the war were in Southern Connecticut and New York, where they intercepted British supplies and fought off bands of Loyalist partisans who preyed on local citizens. This duty earned them the nickname "Watchdogs of the Highlands". They also earned the sobriquet "Washington's Eyes", likely because of their spy work. Major Benjamin Tallmadge became a spy master who ran one of the most successful spy rings of the war, able to infiltrate the British military command in New York city.[11]

After his retirement from the military, Captain Samuel went on to grow his Iron business in Reading Furnace, which was already supplying cannons for the Continental Army and lived in the historical Warwick Furnace Farms mansion with his wife Hannah.[12] The furnace was a center of colonial iron making and is associated with the introduction of the Franklin Stove, and the retreat of George Washington's army following its defeat at the Battle of Brandywine, where they came for musket repairs.[13] The location is listed as a temporary George Washington Headquarter.[14]

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  Warwick Farmhouse Mansion

Samuel had eight children with his wife Hannah. All children would own or be involved with the iron industry. On 10 July 1786 They had twin girls and Hannah would die due to birth complications. After her death, Anthony Wayne offered to have Van Leer's kids stay with his family. Captain Van Leer Instead kept his children at his home and never remarried. His granddaughter Ellen Francis Van Leer married George Hussey Earle Sr., who was also part of the anti-slavery movement and prominent Philadelphia lawyer. [15] Their only son George Howard Earle Jr. would go on to have a prominent business career and was highly sought after to save ailing corporations from financial ruin.[16]

His descendant would go on to play various notable roles in American history.

Descendants:

• George Howard Earle Jr., was a prominent Philadelphia lawyer and "financial diplomat" (grandson)

• George Howard Earle III, former Pennsylvania Governor and diplomat

• Ralph Earle II, U. S. Ambassador

• Florence Van Leer Earle Coates (1850–1927), American poet and daughter of George Hussey Earle, a well known abolitionist (great-granddaughter)
• Bird Calladay VanLeer (1867-1933), owner of the Broadview VanLeer Mansion (great-grandson)[17]
• Isaac Wayne Van Leer, enlisted for the Union during the Civil War at age 15 and was documented in several publications for his patriotism (grandson)[18]
• Isaac Van Leer, was a well Iron works owner in Pennsylvania (son)

• Blake Ragsdale Van Leer, a notable military Colonel and president of Georgia Tech (great-great-grandson)

• Blake Wayne Van Leer, Captain and Commander in the U.S. Navy
• Maryly Van Leer Peck, daughter of Blake was inducted in the Florida Women's Hall of Fame and received an award from Daughters of the American Revolution.[19]

• Van Leer House

• Van Leer family genealogy
• The medical Van Leer family of Pennsylvania and New Jersey