Percival Seaman Leggett

     Percival was born on Tuesday, 8 January 1839 at the family home at 76 Mercer Street, Manhattan, New York County, New York, at 3:30 am. His name at birth was William Haight and was switched with his younger brother who bore the name Percival Seaman. This switch was noted in the family bible by his father and was done at the suggestion of friends. By friends, it is not known whether it was meant Quaker friends or friends of the family. He often went by the nick name Percy. He was twenty four years when he joined Company 1 of the 5th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War. Percival departed this life on Tuesday, 1 September 1863 in Port Conway, Virginia, at age 24 years, 7 months and 24 days. He died intestate filed 2 October 1865 administrator Junius Teneyck concerning his property in Lapeer County.


Death Notice: Shot on the Banks of the Rappahannock River while reonnoitering within the enemy lines on the evening of September 1st, Lieut. Percival S. Leggett, of Waterford, Oakland County, Michigan, age 24 years. [handwritten below: died in camp of General Kilpatrick and Lieut. of Company I, 5th Michigan Calvary. He was murdered without challenge by the rebels. He is interred at Pontiac.]

Percival was buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan, in plot 4-447 with his parents.