USA > New Jersey > Historical and genealogical miscellany : early settlers of New Jersey and their descendants, Vol. III > Part 46
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Could any application have procured a greater indulgence to Dr. Lawrence, you may be assured yours could not have failed of success. But, unhappily, madam, we are placed in such a situation, that motives of commisseration to individuals must give place to the safety of the publick.
As Dr. Lawrence therefore has fallen under the suspicion of our generals. we are under the necessity of abiding by the steps which are taken; And are, &c.'" Minutes of Provincial Congress, P. 510.
. He, finally, withdrew to New York, where he commanded a company of volunteers and likewise practiced medicine, attending Governor Franklin's family, the De Lanceys, Livingstons, and many of the Tory families, in Westchester and ineens Counties.
420
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY
In 1783, he returned to Mulberry Hill, Upper Frechokl, where he dwelt, with his unmarried sisters, until his death.
Being possessed of abundant means, he did not resuine the practice of his profession, but lived, for nearly half a century, the life of a country squire, much in accord with his tastes.
"The Doctor always rode on horseback, and sat very erect . . . He was full of life and mirth, fond of games and very convivial . . . . Fox hunting was his favorite amusement, and those who recollect him, tell of some astonishing leaps that he made, and of one which he did not make, his horse stopping while on full gallop, before a ditch, in which his rider was landed headlong.
An old physician, now living in Monmouth County, says, that once, when Dr. Lawrence was threatened with apoplexy, he bled him almost every day, seventeen times in all, and then upon consultation, he bled him again. He lived notwithstanding." Wickes' History of Medicine in New Jersey.
128 HELENA LAWRENCE, daughter of John Lawrence, 35, married, first. license dated May 30, 1765, James Holmes, of New York, merchant; second, Edward Pennington.
Issue
178 Helena Lawrence Pennington
129 LUCY LAWRENCE, daughter of John Lawrence, 35, married, Nov. 5, 1769, Rev. Henry Waddell. Christ Church Record.
Issue
179 Mary Waddell; married John Lawrence, 172. 180 Elizabeth Waddell; mentioned in the will of Mary Lawrence, 131, in 1814. ISI John Waddell; baptized Feb. 23, 1775. Christ Church Record.
130 ELIZABETH LAWRENCE, daughter of John Lawrence, 35, was born in 1750; died Aug. 30, 1831 ; inarried, July 7, 1774, William Le Conte, of Georgia, son of Dr. Peter and Valeria (Eatton) Le Conte, born in 1738; died November, 1788.
1831, Aug. 1. Will of Elizabeth (Lawrence) Le Conte, of Allentown; proved Sept. 13, 1831, mentioned: bequests to the Penningtons.
No issue
131 MARY LAWRENCE, daughter of John Lawrence, 35, was born in 1752; died, Jan. 5, 1816, unmarried. She resided with her brother, Dr. John Lawrence, of Freehold.
1814, Sept. 3. Will of Mary Lawrence; proved Feb. 10, 1816, mentioned:
Brother, John Lawrence
Sister, Elizabeth Le Conte
Sister, Sarah Lawrence
Niece, Helena Lawrence Pennington
Niece, Elizabeth Lawrence Waddell
132 SARAH LAWRENCE, daughter of John Lawrence, 35, was born in 1755; died, July 7, 1821, unmarried. She resided with her brother, Dr. John Lawrence, at Freehold.
1814. She was mentioned in the will of her sister, Mary Lawrence.
1816, Mch. 2. Will of Sarah Lawrence; proved July 30, 1821, mentioned: Edward Pennington, son of my niece. Helena Pennington.
421
LAWRENCE OF MONMOUTH COUNTY
133 ELISHA LAWRENCE, son of John Lawrence, 35, was born in 1740; died, in Cardi- gan, Wales, in ISII. He was a Colonel in the British Army. He married, Feb. 20, 1775. Mary Ashfield, who died without issue.
In 1774, he was Sheriff of Monmouth County.
"Wednesday morning died in her 27th year, Mrs. Mary Lawrence, the amiable consort of Lieut. Col. Elisha Lawrence, of Brigadier General Skinner's Brigade, and daughter to the Hon. Lewis Ashfield, Esq., of Monmouth County, in New Jersey, deceased, and on Thursday, her remains were deposited in the Family Burying Ground, in Trinity Church Yard." The Royal Gazette, New York, Saturday, April 17, 1779.
Elisha Lawrence was a pronounced Royalist. He raised and commanded a corps of five hundred men and had considerable local service. In 1777, was taken prisoner by Gen. Sullivan, on Staten Island. At the peace, he was created a Colonel, and received a grant of land, of large size, in Nova Scotia, to which he removed, but later he withdrew to England.
Elisha Lawrence, late of New Jersey and of Monmouth Co., heard from his father that his personal estate was confiscated, and that he (the claimant's father) was now in possession of the real estate. Report of the Bureau of Archives of Ontario, Part I, P. 504.
136 HANNAH LAWRENCE, daughter of James Lawrence, 47, was born about 1748; married, about 1771, Richard Chamberlain.
Issue
182 Sarah Chamberlain, born 1772.
183 Jesse Chamberlain, born 1775.
184 Mary Chamberlain, born 1777.
185 Catharine Chamberlain, born 1779.
186 Ann Chamberlain, born 1782.
187 Richard Chamberlain, born 1784.
ISS James L. Chamberlain, born 1786.
189 Tylee or Lylee Chamberlain, born 1791.
142 JAMES S. LAWRENCE, son of John Richie Lawrence, 78, was born, Aug. 24, 1797, at Cream Ridge, N. J. He married, first, Feb. 10, 1825, Mary S., daughter of Hendrick Conover, who died Aug. 7, 1834; second, June 3, 1841. Phebe Ann, daughter of Nathanich S. Rue, of New York. James S. Lawrence died Feb. 26, 1860.
He was a Judge in Monmouth County for many years; member of the Legislature, and President of the Freehold Bank.
1897, Oct. 3. Elizabeth Bowen Wildes, of Burlington, N. J., wrote to Lawrence Boggs, of Newark, N. J., that he, James S. Lawrence, had compiled data concerning his family.
1860, Feb. 26. Will of James S. Lawrence, of Upper Freehold; proved Mch. S, 1860, mentioned:
Wife, Phebe Ann
Nephew, James Lawrence Shinn, son of George W. Shinn.
Sister, Margaret R., wife of William Tilton, and their daughters,
Martha Ann, wife of Edward Taylor Wikoff.
Amanda T. L., wife of Joseph T. Scudder.
Issue by second wife 190 Nathaniel S. Lawrence 191 Robert C. Lawrence 192 Sarah M. Lawrence; [married George W Shin?].
422
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY
157 JACOB LAWRENCE, son of William Lawrence, 93, born Mich. 8, 1767 : died IS23: married, first, 1788, Elizabeth, daughter of John Garrison; second, Nov. 18, IS20, Margaret Van C'leaf.
1823, Apl. 25. Will of Jacob Lawrence; proved July 29, 1823, mentioned wife, Margaret, and the following
Issuc 193 Jacob Lawrence 194 Richard Lawrence
195 John Lawrence
196 Samuel Lawrence
197 William Lawrence
198 Margaret Lawrence 199 Elizabeth Lawrence
200 Hartshorne Lawrence
201 Stephen Lawrence
175 JAMES LAWRENCE, son of John Brown Lawrence, 126, was born Oct. I, ISI: died June 1, 1813. He was a Captain in the U. S. Navy. He married Julia Montevert or Montandevert, born July 15, 1788; died Sep. 15, 1865, daughter of James, a French merchant of New York. Capt. James Lawrence entered the U. S. Navy as a midshipman, in 1798. Hc distinguished himself for skill and bravery and attained the rank of Post Captain, and fell in the memorable conflict of June 1, 1813, between the Chesapeake and Shannon, off Boston Harbor, uttering the words: "Don't give up the ship."
Issuc
202 Mary Lawrence, born 1811; married, in 1838, William Preston Griffen, of Vir- ginia, a Lieutenant in the U. S. Navy, and died, Sept. 3. 1843. at Florence, following her accouchment of a daughter.
203 James Lawrence; died an infant.
190 NATHANIEL S. LAWRENCE, son of James S. Lawrence, 142.
Issue 204 Elizabeth Lawrence 205 James Lawrence
191 ROBERT C. LAWRENCE, son of James S. Lawrence, 142.
Issuc 206 Lucretia Lawrence 207 Nathaniel S. Lawrence; deceased.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
1635, October. Wm. Lawrence on ship "Abraham," aged 20. 1 LAURENS DUYTSEN, of Staten Island.
2 Margaret; baptized, in New Amsterdam, Dec. 23, 1039.
423
LAWRENCE OF MONMOUTH COUNTY
3 Jan: baptized, in New Amsterdam, Mch. 23, 1642.
4 Hans; baptized, in New Amsterdam, Sept. 28, 1644.
3 JAN LAURENSZEN DUYTSCH, son of Laurens Duytsen, married, first, Jannetje Jeurians, Oct. 2, 166 ;. He married, second, Neeltje Adriaens, Sept. 27, 1673.
4 HANS LAURENSZEN, son of Laurens Duytsen, married Ytie Jans.
Issue
Catalyntie; baptized, in New Amsterdam, June 13, 1674.
1670 or 1676. Samuel Edsall had daughters, Anna and Judith. IIe conveyed land to his sons-in-law, Benjamin Blogg and William Lawrence.
1677, June 7. Bill of sale from Indians to "Thomas Lawrence, of New Yorke, Baker, of Land Lying and being On the South Side of the Raratan Riuer, Called & Knowne by the Indian Name of Ramawon." The land borders, in part, also on "a small fresh riuer Called Pisscopeck."
East Jersey Deeds, Vol. 1, p. 84, A side.
16SI, Nov. 15. Release of Edward Byllinge, and others, to Richard Lawrence, gentle- man, of London, and others.
16SI, Nov. 15. Richard Lawrence, of London, and Tho Mathew, et al., are mentioned West Jersey Deeds, Lib. B., P. 307. in a business transaction.
1682. A map, in Whitehead's East Jersey under the Proprietors, shows William Law- rence's land at this date.
1682. Deed of Anna Salter, of Penn., to Marcus Laurence, for one hundred acres of land.
1685. Deed of Anna Salter, of Penn., to Marcus Lawrence, of Putsach, West Jersey, for one hundred acres of land.
1694. Thomas Potter married, first, Ann . . . ., who died in this year. He married, second, Jan. 29, 1695, Sarah Lawrence, of Shrewsbury, daughter of William Bickley, of New York. He died 12 mo., 10, 1703, and she married for her third husband, Henry Graves.
1696, Apr. 6. Marriage license, Perth Amboy, John Lawrence and Janike Stevenson. 1699, Sept. 24. Marriage license, Perth Amboy, Richard Lawrence and Charity Clark.
1700. "While in Maryland, some time ago, I was disgusted to come across another family of Lawrences, who appeared to descend from Richard Lawrence, who settled in Kent County, many years previous to 1700."
Extract of letter from Howard Deacon, Esq., of Philadelphia, Pa.
1706, Sept. 15. Will of Richard Lawrence, of New York; proved 1711, mentioned: Daughter, Charity Lawrence
Son, Richard Lawrence; 4 months.
Father-in-law, Thos. Clark
Brother-in-law, Wm. Glen Cross
1720, Feb. 16. Will of Thomas Cox, of Freehold; proved Mich. 25, 1723, mentioned. Mary Lawrence. "I do allso give an acre for a burying place." Robert Lawrence was a witness.
721
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY
1727-8, Jan. 17. Letters of administration were granted op the estate of William Lan rence, "Late of Middletown," to Alce Legg, as principal creditor.
1736, June 10. Letters of guardianship were granted to Joseph Rolfe [?], of Essex County, Lib. C., p. Jor, Trenton, N. J.
as guardian of Joseph Lawrence.
1737, May 26. Letters of administration were granted on the estate of Robert Lawrence, "Late of Somerset County, Clazier," to Thomas Haddon.
Lib. C., p. 161, Trenton, N. J.
Major Thomas Lawrence, born, in Shrewsbury, 1740; died, May 31, 1816, aged 76 years.
Sabine's Loyalists.
1745, July 12. Will of Johannis Lawrence, of Pepack, Somerset County; proved Dec. 3. 1745, mentioned:
Wife, Marget Oldest son, Alexander
Son, Daniel Son, John, received a mill. Daughter, Elizabeth, wife of . . . Keater.
Daughter, Sarah, wife of .. . Moore.
Daughter, Barbra, wife of . . .. . Beshearer.
1745, 8mo., 7. Benjamin Lawrence and wife asked for a certificate to remove, of Shrews- bury Monthly Meeting; and again
1746, 2 mo., 7. They made the same request.
1752, Mich. 22. Catharine, wife of Richard Lawrence, died, aged 30 years, 3 months and 15 days. Quaker Burying-ground, Shrewsbury, N. J. It was probably they who had mar- riage license, dated Sep. 16, 1747.
1753. William Lawrence, carpenter, is mentioned; probably of Middletown. N. J.
1755, May 17. Marriage license to William Lawrence. of Whitemarsh, Philadelphia County, and Margaret Wood, of Plymouth, Philadelphia County. William Lawrence, Joshua Moore and Jacob Ca . .... , of the City of Philadelphia, joiners, were bondsmen.
On Record at Trenton, N. J.
1763, Jan. 5. James McComb and Bergetha (Bridget) Mott were married. 1
Richard Lawrence married, first, Mary Leggett, and had a daughter, Gertrude, who married William, son of James McComb. He married, second, Elizabeth Oakley, and had Jane and William Lawrence. Jane Lawrence wrote of visiting "her cousin, John of Flushing "
1764, 11, IO mo. Joseph Jackson and Sarah Lawrence, of Shrewsbury, were married.
1774, July 21. John Lawrence was one of ten delegates, from Monmouth County, to the Provincial Congress.
1780. William Lawrence was an Ensign, in a Royalist Regiment, during the Revolutionary Stryker. War.
17So. John Lawrence was an Ensign and Lieutenant, in a Royalist Regiment, during the Revolutionary War. Perhaps this was Dr. John Lawrence. Stryker, p. 57.
1788, Nov. r9. Elisha Lawrence and Elizabeth Wallen were married. First Reformei Church, Frechuld, N. J.
425
LAWRENCE OF MONMOUTH COUNTY
ISoo. Elizabeth Lawrence, of East Jersey [?], married John Browning.
1800, Feb. 13. Deborah, widow of Samuel Lawrence, formerly of Shrewsbury, died aged 60 years.
1820, July 29. Hannah, widow of Thomas Lawrence, died, aged 75 years.
1820, July 29. Their daughter, Elizabeth, died, aged 45 years.
Mr. Richard Lawrence, Dec. 22, 17SS, stated that he had a wife and nine children, six of which he maintained; that he was born in New Jersey, and joined the British troops on Staten American Loyalists Audit Office Transcript, Vol. 8.
Island in 1776.
page 386. Lenox Library, New York City.
Elizabeth, wife of Richard Lawrence, March 24, 1790, had four small children; her husband had died May 25, 1789.
Idem, page 550.
FROM THE SHREWSBURY, N. J., TOWN POOR BOOK.
1742. Joseph Lawrence, Overseer. His signatures appear in this book.
1755. Richard Lawrence's widow is mentioned.
1761. To cash paid Jno. Lawrence, the Lawyer, for counsel, 17 s .- 4 d.
1768. Richard Lawrence is mentioned.
1769. Richard Lawrence, for making a coffin.
1770. Richard Lawrence, of Squancom, being unable to pay his assessment, it was re- mitted.
ISo. Richard Lawrence for writing a pair of indentures.
I7So. .. . . . from Lawrence's Estate.
1783. William Lawrence, for making a coffin.
178.1. Elisha Lawrence, Esq .; cash paid him.
1786. Richard Lawrence is mentioned.
1794. Samuel Lawrence, one of the town poor, (probably of Upper Freehold).
MARRIAGE LICENSES.
1731, Mch. 11. Mary Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and William Lowry.
1731, Apr. 26. John Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and Hannah Borden, of Burlington.
1734, Jan. 9. Rebecca Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and William Douglas.
1741, May 21. Mary Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and Thomas Leonard.
1743, Oct. 7. Mary Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and Cornelius Hanell, or Harrell.
1745, Dec. 3. Rachel Lawrence, of Middlesex County, and Robert Montgomerie, of Monmouth County.
1747, May 5. Jane Lawrence and Lewis Guest, of Monmouth County.
1747, Sept. 16. Richard Lawrence and Catharine Steele, of Monmouth County. Hugh Fitz Randolph was a bondsman.
1753, Mch. 19. William Lawrence, of Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, and Marah Dud- ley, of Monmouth County. Gershom Bills was a bondsman.
1756, Nov. 13. Samuel Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and Mary Tilion.
1758, Feb. 11. Benjamin Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and Rebecca Herbert.
1761, May 9. Catharine Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and Garret Lougstreet. 1762, Feb. 2. Sarah Lawrence, of Shrewsbury, and James Reed, of Frechold.
1764, Mch. 15. William Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and Anne Longstreet.
1565, Mob. 2. Deborah Lawrence, of Burlington County, and John Wandde af Freehold.
426
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY
1765, May 30. Eleanor Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and James Holmes. of New York.
1765, Oct. 29. James Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and Catharine Waters, of Bur- lington.
1766, Feb. 22. Joseph Lawrence, Jr., and Deborah Tilton, of Monmouth County.
1767, Feb. 21. Deborah Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and William Brand.
1779, May 25. Benjamin Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and Eupham Barton, of Monmouth County.
1779, May 29. Jacob Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and Pathena Polhemus.
1781, Oct. 10. Mary Lawrence and Isaac Imlay, of Monmouth County.
1782, May 29. Nancy Lawrence, of Monmouth County, and Reynold Keen.
1785, Feb. 27. James Lawrence, Jr., of Monmouth County, and Mary Rogers.
MARRIAGES FROM THE FREEHOID RECORDS.
1796, Jan. 24. John Lawrence, of Woodbury, and Mary Ann Waddell.
1802, Nov. 28. Joseph Lawrence and Mary Newell.
1803, May 27. Gilbert B. Lawrence and Ann Newell.
1818, Sep. 5. Samuel Lawrence and Elizabeth Reynolds.
1820, Nov. IS. Jacob Lawrence and Margaret Van Cleve.
1822, Aug. 18. Samuel Lawrence and Ann Avres.
IS22, Nov. 7. John G. Lawrence and Hannah Van Cleve.
H. L. Everett, Esq., of 227 South Sixth St., Philadelphia, Pa., wrote, in 1892:
(1) "I am writing a little book on Lawrence, Hartshorne and Stout, with photos of their signatures," etc.
(2) He has the year in which the old Hartshorne house was built.
(3) Trying to locate the residence of the First William Lawrence, on llop Brook, near which was a burying ground.
(4) His grandfather, Hartshorne Lawrence, was born on the site of the old maid Harts- horne's house, or within a few hundred yards of it; i. e. Hartshorne Lawrence, his grandfather.
"All of our family of Lawrence lived in Pleasant Valley, my grandfather, Hartshorne Lawrence, having been born there. I do not suppose there is any one who has more docu- mentary evidence about these 'old folks' than I have. My people in Brooklyn and New York have the old Family Bibles. I will soon have my man among certain Hartshornes, who have many relics of the family. They are pretty well scattered, but the most important are at Newark. The little book I am getting up, I want to illustrate with portraits and places."
Thomas Lawrence, of Philadelphia, and his descendants, in New Jersey, have been quite fully written up by Martha Morris Lawrence. See The Boundary Line, printed in 1895, by the Sussex Independent, Deckertown, N. J.
Sarah Lawrence, see Monmouth County History, p. 620, by Ellis, married, first, Nathan Allen; second, Thomas Lawrie, of Allentown [?].
1776. David Olden, Doorkeeper of the Assembly, it 1776, married Elizabeth Lawrence.
1784. Among the papers of Squire Henry Taylor, of Middletown, N. J., is a deed of this date of James Lawrence and Ann, his wife, of Richmond Co., conveying land to John Morgan, of the same place.
In 18;S, June 3. The late Edwin Salter, Esq., writing to nie concerning the Lawrences,
427 .
LAWRENCE OF MONMOUTH COUNTY
said: "I have been told that much of what has been written concerning the Lawrence family was furnished by James N. Lawrence, who, ten years ago, lived at Hightstown, and once lived in Ocean County. As he inherited valuable papers from some of his New Jersey ancestors, he had the best opportunity, of any member of the family, to furnish correct information; but whether he mislaid or lost the papers, in his many changes of residence in New Jersey and out West, or carelessly or wilfully misstates, I am unable to say, but this I do know, that his state- ments on historical matters are so unreliable that no dependance can be placed on anything he says, He has frequently written for Freehold and Tom's River papers, and more than once I have called attention to his glaring errors."
1786, Oct. 30. Thomas Leonard married Alice Lawrence. Ist Reformed Church, Freehold.
1759, May 28. Robert Lawrence, of Upper Freehold, and John Williams, of Lower Free- hold, executors of Benjamin Gibbons, of Middletown, for £32, conveyed to Edward Taylor, land, in Middletown, formerly owned by Richard Gibbons, who sold the same to his brother, the afore- said Benjamin Gibbons, who conveyed part thereof, during his lifetime, to John Stevenson.
For other references to Lawrences see Ellis' History of Monmouth County, p. 617.
LEAMING
OF
CAPE MAY COUNTY
The Leamings are among the historic families of New Jersey. They were pioncers in the settlement of Cape May County, and were conspicuous for their wealth, ability and social position and are today represented by some magnificent specimens of manhood, physically and intellectually, socially and morally, Dr. C. F. Leaming, Dr. Jonathan Leaming and others.
THE DIARY OF AARON LEAMING, THE SECOND, OF CAPE MAY, N. J.
This interesting diary is a valuable contribution to the early history of Cape May, its settlers and their descendants. It was written by Aaron Leaming, the Second, and contains, no doubt, much of the diary of his father, Aaron Leaming, the First (the whereabouts of which is now unknown), and probably all of the diary of his uncle, Thomas Leaming. . It was written by him in a Book of Surveys, pp. 482 to 497 inclusive, which can be found ( 1896) in the County Clerk's Office, at Cape May Court House, N. J. Unfortunately the leaf containing pp. 437 and 4SS is lost. Jeremiah Leaming, who copied copiously from it in 1838, then noted its absence. It is to be regretted that a perfect transcript of this document was not made earlier for it might have saved some lines now lost. This copy is a literal transcript and has been made none too soon as marginal decay and age are rapidly destroying the writing and the leaves are falling apart from the binding.
To All People whom these Presents may concern: This 18th day of January 1757 I Aaron Leaming of the County of Cape May in the Province of New Jersey Send Greeting
Know ye That the First accounts we have of the Family of Leamings are that Christopher and Jeremiah Leamyeng were brothers and Englishmen but who were their Progenitors, what circumstances they were in or what part of England they inhabited are incidents that have not been transmitted to their posterity. In all probability it was about the year 1670 they left Britain to Seek their Fortunes in this then new world. In coming over sea Jeremiah was much troubled with Sea sickness and being attacked at the same time with a bleeding of the nose the conjunct disorders ended his Life; and left his brother the only man of the name to begin a new family in a new world. Christopher Leamyeng Landed in Some parts of New England near or at Boston. From Some Circumstances and the best accounts we can obtain it was about the year 1074 that he married to Esther Burnett, the daughter of Aaron Burnett of the East End of Long Island and her Father gave her a Tract of Land at Seg near East Hampton which to this time I am informed goes by the name of Leamings Lot or Leaming corner. There he lived till about the year rogy and then leaving his family at Long Island he caine himself to Cape May which at that time was a new Country & begining to Settle very fast and seemed to promise good advantage. to the adventerers. Here he went a whaling in the proper Seasons and or other times
42S
429
LEAMING OF CAPE MAY COUNTY
worked at the Coopers trade which was his occupation and good at the time by reason the great Number of whales caught in those days made the demand and pay for Casks certain. The off of April 1606 He caused to be surveyed for himself 204 acres of land see this Vol. p. 3. [i. e. Aaron Leamings Book of Surveysj which was afterwards purchased by his son Thomas Leamyeng and where on he spent and ended his Life: And is now the cstate of Christopher Leaming, a minor, and Great Grandson to the founder of the family. Christopher Leam- ing died of Pleuresie at Capemay about the year 1097 or 1007 aged 48 years as the reputation is: But indeed I think the time of his Birth. Marriage and Death are uncertain. Ile made the Coffin of my Grand father Persons who died in January 1603-4. Christopher Leaming's remains were interred at the place called Town which Town was Situate next above New England Town Creek and then contained about 13 houses, but on failure of the whale Fishery in Delaware Bay is dwindled into common farms and the Grave Yard is on the plantation now owned by Ebenezer Newton [In IS3S the farm was owned by Israel Townsend and in 1806 by Nathan Price] At the first Settlement of this country the chief whaling was in Delaware Bay and that Oc- casioned the Town to be built there. But there has not been one house in that town Since My remembrance. In 1734 I saw the Graves. Samuel Eldredge shewed them to me. They were then about 50 rods from the Bay and the Sand was blown up to them. The town was between them & the water. There were then some signs of the ruin of the houses. This information touching the family I have had in part from my father & part from my mother who is still living. Christopher Leamyeng had by his wife Esther, Ist Thomas, 201 Jane, 3rd Hannah, 4th Christopher, 5th Aaron, 6th jeremiah, 7th Elizabeth, whom he left with a widow, to be Scattered over the wilds of America whersoever the Caprice of Fortune or the Precipitances of Youth should guide them. On the Introduction of this House of Orphans into the world they took the priviledge to alter the Spelling of their Sirname. Thomas wrote his Name "Leamyeng" and Aaron who was my father called himself Leaming and all the rest of the fraternity as far as I could be informed followed his example and wrote their names Leaming. I have heard my father say that Thomas preserved the y in order that if any Estate should descend to them in England he being the oldest son might claim by the proper name of the Family. Tho' in that case there * * * [worn] was a defection of the Letter "e." The authority I have for writing my Grand fathers name Leamyeng * * * [worn] a Bock entitled The Young Clerks guide which was * * * [worn] property in 1600 and which I have been told he brought to Cape May but after his Death passed thro Sey * * * [Several bottom lines lost] in the Division of My Fathers Books June 29. 1747 fell to mie. In the Frontis piece of this Book and the blank page facing the Same his name is wrote Several times by Several hands according to that Orthogra- phy but which is his handwriting I can not undertake to Say tho' my father once told me that one of them was.
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