Samuel van Leer

Captain Samuel Van Leer (1747–1825) was a well known Pennsylvania Ironmaster and a United States Army officer. On outset of the American Revolutionary War, he started a military career with enthusiasm with his neighbor Anthony Wayne in 1775. His furnace supplied cannon and cannon balls for the Revolutionary Army.

Captain Samuel van Leer was born in 1747 at Marple Township. After his mothers death, he was raised by his father Bernardhus Van Leer a notable person, known for traveling on horseback until the age of 102 and 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.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 is also part of historical tour for the Van Leer Cabin 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.  

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. All of his brothers were military officers during the war.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. 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. 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. The location is listed as a temporaryGeorge Washington Headquarter.

• Warwick Farmhouse Mansion

Samuel had eight children with his wife Hannah. All children would own or be involved with the iron industry. On10 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 married George Hussey Earle Sr., who was also part of the anti-slavery movement.

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

Descendants:

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

• 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.

• George Howard Earle Jr., was a Philadelphia lawyer and "financial diplomat" who was highly sought after to save ailing corporations from financial ruin (Great-grandson)

• George Howard Earle III, former Pennsylvania Governor and diplomat (George Howard Earle Jr's son)

• Ralph Earle II, U. S. Ambassador

• Florence Van Leer Earle Coates (1850–1927), American poet (great-granddaughter and George Howard Earle Jr's Sister)
• Isaac Van Leer, Samuel's grandson enlisted for the Union during the Civil War at age 15.