The Man His Father Was
by Pat Leonard (Goodreads
Author)
From the back of the
book:
Puritan neighbors whose morals they did not
share. Finally driven from Massachusetts by way of the notorious Salem
courthouse, and hastened by the bloodiest conflict on American soil, they
arrived in what seemed to be a paradise by comparison – only to discover they
had traded persecution for political anarchy.
Spanning 139 years – from the original settlements in New England through the crisis of the American Revolution – The Man His Father Was brings to life some of early America’s most memorable events and noteworthy personalities. With documented appearances by both the famous and infamous – including colonial patriarchs, military leaders, Indian sachems, inventors, murderers, itinerant preachers, healers, educators, and a brilliant and beautiful poetess whose sparkling works have only recently been rediscovered – this is a rags-to-riches-to-rags epic that demolishes the notion that our forefathers were uniformly pious and cheerless.
And most of the story is true.
Spanning 139 years – from the original settlements in New England through the crisis of the American Revolution – The Man His Father Was brings to life some of early America’s most memorable events and noteworthy personalities. With documented appearances by both the famous and infamous – including colonial patriarchs, military leaders, Indian sachems, inventors, murderers, itinerant preachers, healers, educators, and a brilliant and beautiful poetess whose sparkling works have only recently been rediscovered – this is a rags-to-riches-to-rags epic that demolishes the notion that our forefathers were uniformly pious and cheerless.
And most of the story is true.
Leona's Review:
This book is fiction but based on real characters of
American History. Pat Leonard has really brought the
past into a personal story for the reader .
The book begins in New Jersey in 1695 in Massachusetts
and ends in Pennsylvania in 1863. It is divided into four
sections with a Leonard giving the story in first person.
There is a map in the front of the book as well as the
family tree of the Leonard family. A list of some historical figures are also
on the page with dates of the births and deaths of the people.
There are some illustrations: The Furnace and Forge at
the Saugus Ironworks, The Keith Line 1687 Map by John P. Snyder, The fort at
Loyalhanna (Ft. Ligonler) and Soldiers' huts at Jockey Hollows,
Massachusetts, Nassau Hall, Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church, Philadelphia and Margaret Leonard's Headstone, Princeton Cemetery.
What a good book to read for anyone interested in the
history of America. Book One is Samuel, Book Two is James, Book Three is
Infant-John and the last section is John Jr.
Many historical figures such as George Washington,
Benjamin Franklin, and Aaron Burr. I did not know many of the characters that
helped make our country. Annis Boudinot Stockton and her husband, Richard.
Richard was one of the signers of The Declaration of Independence and Annis was
an American poet and one of the first women to be published in the Thirteen
Colonies.
These were harsh days for the Leonard families as well
as good days. It gets very emotional as we read of the struggles of everyday
life and the fight for the freedom of America.
I do genealogy for my family tree. The Man His Father
Was is one of the best examples of a family history that I have ever read.The
book is written as a novel but I felt it put the reader in the time period and
was involved in the personal lives of the Leonard families.
The book is dedicated to Sam.
A wonderful book for a gift for your family or anyone
you know interested in the history of America.
I received a signed compliment copy of The Man His
Father Was from goodreads.com and the author, Pat Leonard.
I definitely give this book a 5 star rating. The
opinions are my own.
Pat Leonard may be found at www.goodreads.com/author/show/1071019.Pat_Leonard
Leona Olson
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