USA > New Jersey > Historical and genealogical miscellany : early settlers of New Jersey and their descendants, Vol. III > Part 47
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Thomas Leaming being the oldest Son inherited his Mothers land and he purchased the 204 acres that Father had taken up at Cape May: And after his Mothers Death Sold the Lot at Sag for £130. He moved to Cape May & Married Ilannah the daughter of Joseph Whilldin, Esq. the Elder, by her he had Esther, Marcy, Jane, Phebe, Priscilla, Christopher & Thomas who all survived him. And Dec. 31 1723 he died. His widow married Philip Syng of Philadelphia and died herself at Cape May in 1728. Thomas Leamings children mai- ried as follows:
Esther married William Eldredge; Mercy Samuel Eldredge; Jane William Doubbleday; Phebe John Garlick; Priscilla John Stites; and after his Death Jacob IJughs; Christopher Deborah Hand ; and Thomas Elizabeth Leaming. They are none of them childless and some of them have proved very prolific.
2ª Hannah the Daughter of the first mentioned Christopher married James White at South Hampton and at her Death left him James, Ebenezer and a daughter
3ª Jane Married Abraham Bradley of Guilford in Connecticut Government. They are both deceased and left a large Family of Children
4th Christopher was endued with a remarkable Stock of Spirits (a qualification not uncommon to the whole family; and considering himself as poor used to have a saying that he would have an ounce of Lead or a pound of Gold; and in one of the sallies of his Youth he listed to go to Canada on the Expedition against the French; but as even in those days as well as ever since those Canada Expeditions are the disgrace of the Nation and the Ruin of the Colonies * * * [torn] but foreign to my present Subject and not finding : * * [torn] of the Campaign answerable to the narrowness of his for [tunes] he Deserted the Service at albany in the winter, as near as I can remember my fathers relation, and after passing through more hardships in that excu[r]sion than are Sometimes to be met in a Voyage round the world he at last with his companions arrived at Amboy where he accidentally met my father who was on his clopement from his master; and my father endeavoured to . perswade him to come with him to New Jersey; but he refusing the Two Brothers there took Final leave of each other little knowing they were parting never to meet again, little knowing the innumerable perils or un- accountable wonders of that Life they were entring upon. Christopher went to New York and there entered board an Old Ship to go a Privatering with about go Hands, but after being Some time at Sea the company Differed So much that each party took to arms, about 4o opposed to 50. In the height of the Quericha sa.l presented which they unanimously agreed to attack, and she proving to be a french, they took her; and the
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY
. Mutineers about 50 went on board the prize. But Christopher being an adherent to the officers was one of those who stayed in the Privateer, where he inet his Fate a few nights after in a violent storm, which Sunk the Privateer; tho' the French [ship? worn] that was a better boat weathered it. Tho' Aaron was next in birth yet shall I next mention
6th Jeremiah Leaming settled at Guilford first; Since at Middletown in Connecticut. He has several children jeremiah, Matthias, Aaron, Lucy &c. His oldest son Jeremiah is an Orthodox Minister of Rhode Island * * * [worn] He died 1750 and his wife in 1764.
7th Elizabeth married Stephen Stone [here MIS is much worn and torn but I gather that he is dead and she is living and that they had children.]
Aaron, surviving child of the first above mentioned Christopher Leamyeng. He was born at Sag near the East end of Long Island the 13th day of October 1687. Upon the Death of his Father he was bound ap- prentice to . . . . . Collins in Connecticut Government to Learn the Trade of Tanner & Shoemaker. I believe he Looked down upon the trades so after 2 or 3 years stay with him he * * * [worn] sented himself and by the Assistance of Capt" Matthews Transported himself to the Jerseys. At that time he was about 16 years of age (Quere whither he was not Younger). After his Separation from his Brother Christopher in Amboy as is above related he wandered to West Jersey And for a Considerable time took up his residence at Salem & Alloways Creek. Here he became acquainted with Sarah Hall an * * * d QuakerLady, Mother of Clement Hall. She herself was an eminent Lawyer for those times; had a Large collection of Books and very Rich and took de- light in my father on account of his Sprightly Wit and Genius and his uncommon fondness for the Law which he read in her Library though a Boy & very Small of his age (for he was a little man) and could not write for the Prisbyterians in New England had taken no other care of his Education than to send him to meeting, cramp his mind * [worn-pre] distination and all the horrors of Presbyterianism *** [and] stunted him with work. It was there I suppose he commenced Quaker for the family before that * * * [worn -I under] stand had been Presbyterians. Thomas Leaming lived at Cape May was a Quaker and I am told * * * [that they! were once zealous professors; but I have no reason to believe that either of them would since my remembrance have suffered Martyrdom for the tenets of the *: * any [worn]. In the latter part of my fathers life he
[worn] he name. In the Summer of 1703 his Brother Thomas * * * [worn] down to Cape May. He had
a -[the MIS here becomes undecipherable-badly worn and pages 487 & 488, constituting a large leaf are lost. The allusions to Thomas's visit in 1703 were in connection with an illness he had -- so writes Di. Coleman Leaming] * * * [worn] arried Lydia born roth day April 16So And he * * * [sold bis] interest in a Lot of 4 acres at East Hampton to * * * [worn] Jeremiah Miller; he moved to Cape May With his family where they landed the 13th of July 1601. But previous to this he came himself to Cape May in the fall of 16co and on December 17. 1690 George Taylor Surveyor Surveyed for him * oo acres of land with 5 [ &? ] 6 allowance at the place where be afterwards lived and Died. For this land he took deed from George Taylor dated the 25th March 1001 which Deed sets forth that Daniel Cox * * * [by a] power of attorney dated the oth day of August 1589 ap- pointed John Tatham & James Budd his attorneys in the Province of New Jersey with power, to them or either of them, to sell or Lease his Lands in New Jersey with power to make one or more attorneys under them or any of them and that the 13th day of June 1600 James Budd being then Dead the said John Tatham by a Letter of attorney on behalf of the said Daniel Cox did appoint the said George Taylor his lawful attorney to sell or Lease any of the lands of the said Daniel Cox lying within Cape May. So that by virtue of this power George Taylor executed the [worn] Afterwards my father procured another deed to my * [worn] from the New Jersey Society dated the 13th Day of D * * for the Same Land. When he the said John Persons was at Cape May * * * ht six cows and calves of [a space for a name which A. L. omits] * * [so that] when his wife and family landed at Town Bank they [went] immediately to milk. John Persons and J * * * [worn] came by land and brought the horses. * * * ptember 1691 he moved to his Plantation * * * [worn] upon it till about the Middle of Januar* * * [worn] died: Leaving the whole 315 acres * * * [worn] Lydia. Mr. Persons first Se * [bottom of leaf worn off] * * * day of April 1695. By him she had
William born August 24th. 1697. He died the 17th Dec. 17-
Richard Shaw born October 30th. 1699
Lydia born September 15th. 1703 John Shaw born February 4. 1705-6 Joshua Shaw born March 24. 1707-8 athan Shaw born December 23. 1710
ain William Shaw her husband died 17th of * * * and on the 12th of October 1714 she was married
to Aaron Leaming as is above related. By the said Aaron Leaming she had Aaron Leaming jun: born July 6. 1715 myself
Jeremiah Leaming horn February 23. 1716-17
Matthias Jwaming born March 24. 2718-19; he Died [worn] day of March 1732-s of a pleuresic Elizabeth Leaming boin Septem' 14. 1721
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LEAMING OF CAPE MAY COUNTY
So far as this I wrote on Two Sheets of Paper. Jan 1757. In the doing of which I had * * * assistance that my mother could give me or I could remember from what I had heard my father say but did not compleat all that I intended. * [worn] being mostly within my own remembrance [ * * * * [worn] at my leisure. I intended to add a regular [worn] Land my father purchased but the credentials * *
* [worn] in my power [ have not been able to do it. * [worn] mas Leaming had kept memorandums of the * * * pal occurrences * of his Life. After my fathers * Journal fell into my hands and I had given * [worn| Thomas. Out of this I had a desire to fill up * * [worn] in this Essay & add as much of it as * * [worn] to my subject but as I have not been * * * [worn] myself of what is necessary from them. So * * * [worn] I find myselt much upon the * * * [bottom of leaf worn away]
Witness my hand this Tenth day of September Anno Domini 1771.
AARON LEAMING
Continuation September 10-1771
The aforesaid Aaron Leaming was about 5 feet and a half high and weighed about 160 pounds; was very active and Sprightly of body; of a constitution rather weakly than Strong; which he wore out with incessant Industry so died worn out before he was 59. His diet was milk when he well could. He was no great meat eater. He had a cough ever since my remembrance as if his vitals were not sound. This I Suppose occasioned by a continuation of colds caught by hardships and settling there till that became the weakest pari. Perhaps Some will hereafter wonder he exposed himself so. Let me answer to posterity that when this Country was new little or no Land clear'd fences or houses made, the Inhabitants had innumerable hardships toencounter that posterity will never think of: And those who did not intend to die as poor as they were born must bestir themselves with great industry: Which he did to great good purpose and for which his Diseendants can never be enough thankful. He was confessedly the most considerable man in this County of Cape May; His estate was by far the largest in this County. More than Doubly So. And clear of Debt or nearly Clear. Lydia Leaming my mother had an uncommon strong Constitution she rise very early I think it was very urcommon for her to lie in bead till Sun rise. I do not remember that she ever did when she was * * [worn] till she was 70 years old. At Sunrise (in the Milk season) she used to be in the Milking yard-A place she took abundance of Delight in. She used to Breakfast very late; Seldom before o or to and this I suppose occasioned her to have the head ach sometimes: She was very fond of a Bag-pudding-Dinner which she generally had. I have heard a jest that a family from East hampton will eat 365 bag puddings in a year. I have heard my Mother say that she never eat a dinner there but once without a bag pudding. Her heartiest meal was at Supper which she generally made of Meat and then went to bead soon after. I never saw any East Endia Tea till 1735. It was the presbyterian Parsons the followers of Whitefield that brought it in use at Capemay about the years 1744- 1745 & 1746 and now it impoverishes the country. She was a member of the Baptist Society ever since & before she married to my father.
In 1758 in February She was suddenly Seized with a most violent sharp pain in the bone of the left side of the face just below the eye & near the nose. She described it to be equally sudden & painful as if a bullet was shot into the bone. She was then almost 78 years old and this ended the Comforts of her life. We were a long time at a great loss to guess what was the disorder or the remedy: at length by the information of Physicians we discovered it was the Gout that had fixed there. We never let her know what her disorder was. It was in- curable. She bore up under it about 4 years and a half. At length by the great mercy of God the 2d day of October 1762 Death (that is most terrible to Others) appeared to her relief at 25 minutes past 2 of the clock in the afternoon. The next day she was buried on her own plantation (on which she had lived 71 years) at the head of her father & mother and father fish and on the South side of her husband William Shaw and her head lies near North east about to feet from the feet of her son Matthias.
Richard Shaw married Patience Stillwell their living children are Lydia Church, Elizabeth Hughes, William Shaw, Richard Shaw jun', Patience Foster.
Lydia Shaw, daughter of William Shaw, married George Taylor about the year 1718. Their living chil- dren are George, John, David [Daniel?] and Lydia Schelinger George Taylor died in 1739 and Lydia Taylor died November 13. 1766 John Shaw married Hannah Jenkins January 15. 1730-31. They are both living but have never had a child [John died January 14. 1773 This sentence has been interpolated.]
Joshua Shaw married Esther Hewit. She is Dead & he is living. Their children are Joshua, Elijah & Mary. Nathan Shaw married Patience Gandy They are both living, their living children are John, Thomas, Matthias [?], Lydia, Priscilla and Mary.
Aaron Leaming married Mary Fourman By whom I have Issue thus
Jonathan Leaming born July 5. 1738 about. break of day being wednesday.
Aaron Learning born the 28 day of August 1740 before one of the Clock in the morning. He died the 31 of August 1764 and is buried on my plantation at home
4
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY
Sarah Leaming now the wife of Jesse Hand was born the 21st day of February 1743-4 being Tuesday about ic of the Clock in the morning [Died about 1829 -- is interpolated]
Matthias Leaming was born the 19th day of September 1749 and died Septem" 27. 1763 [Some one has here interpolated in lead pencil and similar writing to preceding -- Died about 1828-which I think is wrong. J. E. S.] Mary Leaming my daughter was born the 19th day of October 1753 being thursday about It Clock in the night.
Persons Leaming was born on Friday the a3d day of July 1756 at half an hour past II "Clock at night This is our last child [interpolated -- Died 20 March 1807]
My wife Mary Foreman, daughter of Jonathan Foreman was born at Cape May the 12 day of March 1720 viz 1719-20 but if the Stile then had been as it is now it would have been the 234 day of March 1720.
I have a Letter from the Reverend Mr. Jeremiah Leaming son to my uncle Jeremiah Leaming giving account that his father & my uncle Jeremiah Leaming my fathers brother died in 1759 as he was the next in birth to my father its likely he was 70 years old when he died. His Daughter Esther died the same year. Ijis widow died in December 1764. Their Sons are The Reverend Mr. Jeremiah Leaming about my age. Mat- thias Leaming & Aaron Leaming, a Daughter Lucy &c. My Aunt Elizabeth Stone the youngest child of the first above mentioned Christopher & Esther Leamyeng was born I suppose about the 1695 or 1691. She married Stephen Stone as is above mentioned he died & left her a widow & she died in the Spring 176- aged ] suppose about 77 they left several children. Witness my hand September 10. 1771
Jonathan Leaming my oldest child married March 34 1763 to Margaret Stires the only child of John and Priscilla Stites (both deceased) by her he had a Daughter Priscilla born the o'h of October 1764 at 45' past ten oclock in the night and the 22d of October 1764 about 3 in the morning she the said Margaret died. The child is now living.
Jonathan Leaming married to Judith Hand Daughter of Jeremiah Hand Esq' deceased by her he had Aaron born July oth 1768
Jonathan born July 1770
January 27th 1763 By virtue of a Liscence Jesse Iland was married to my Daughter Sarah by the Reverend Mr. Jolm Sutton [?] a Baptist parson their children are
I Mary born October 24. 1763 being Monday about 4 o'Clock
2 Jeremiah born December 16. 1765 about break of day
3 Aaron born June Sth 1768
4 Sarah born Aug 27. 1770 [interpolated-died in 1828 or 9]
Witness my hand September Ioth 1770
AARON LEAMING
With blanks left for incertion of any occurrences relating * [worn] or Jesses familys if in my own hand writing . Ι.
In These Anecdotes p. 490 I mention that my uncle Thomas Leaming had preserved Some useful memor- andums ont of which I intended when Opportunity permitted to fill up some Chasms in these broken Memoirs I am now possessed of it: And find the whole a useful piece of Family History And as any Extract would fall short of the worthy design of the author I shall here transcribe it in his own words ---
The family Anecdotes of the Leamings as they were kept by Thomas Leaming Esq" the first of Cape May Transcribed from a Paper in his own hand writing
"In July the g day 1674 I was born in Southampton on Long Island. When I was 18 Years did I came to Cape May; and that winter I had a Sore fit of the Feaver & Flux. The next Summer I went to Philadelphia with my father and there my Father was Lame with a Withered hand; which held him till the day of his Death. The winter following I went a whaling: And we got 8 whales and 5 of them drove to the Hore Kils and we went there to cut them staid a month and the first day of May we Came home to Cape may and ny father was very Sick and on the third day 1695 he departed this Life at the house of Shamyar Hand. Then T went to Long Island and Staid that Summer and in the Winter I came and went a whaling again and got an old Cow and Calf. The Summer in the year 1696 I went to Long Island again, and into New England to Guilford and back again to whaling again and made a great Voyage. And in ye year 1boy I worked for John Rreeves all Summer and in the winter to whaling again and got one small whale. In y' roos I went to the Island again and came back to Cape May and worked all winter for John Craf * * * Crafford] and in rogo went to work on my own Land and in that fall I had a sore fit of Sickness at Heury Stites and in the 1700 1 lived at my own plantation. And worked for Peter Corson. And In igor on the ist day of June we was Married I being that July following as years of Age and any wife being in her re years and in jo rion
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LEAMING OF CAPE MAY COUNTY
in July the 3 day Esther was Born. And that Summer the Small pox was very bad. And in 1763 I went to Cohansie and fetched brother Aaron. And in 1704 Mercy was born on the roth day of September. And in 1705 I was very Zealous And in ye 1706 ] built my house. And in the 15th of October my Daughter Jane was Born And Samuel Matthews took a horse that was worth Seven pounds because I could not train. In ye 1757 we made the County Road. And in Itos in June I went to Long Island. And in the i5th of October I was taken with a Long fit of Sickness. And the 4th day of November Phebe was borg and we could not get a Murse, and I very weak It was a time of Trouble: My Daughter Phebe was a very Sickly Child. And the 15" of June 1710 Priscilla was born. And April the IS. 1712 Christopher was born. And November the 5. salt My Mother departed this Life at East Hampton on Long Island at Enoch Fathians house.
Thomas Hand was Drownded in October 21. 1714 and Joseph Mapes was drownded at Tucahoe on the 28th of October and was not found till 2 days after. Cornelius Hand died with the distemper on ve . . . . . and on the ..... Joseph Hewit died on the 13 of December William Shaw died on the 17th day Mary Cresse died. On the soth day Alathea Smith dyed. On the 21 day Keziah Cresse died and on the zad day Nicholas Stillwell died and on the 26 day oid Mary Cresse died and on the 31. day John Reeves died and oldl Richard Fortescue both died in one day. On the 3 day of January both the Arthur Cresse's died in one day and on the 5th John Stillwell died and on the 7th day three died that is to say Sarah Holdin Reuben Swain and Richard [Smith? worn] all in one day and on the io day James Garritson and Return Hand both in one day and on the [25? worn] day John Foreman died and on the 21 day Abigail Buck [ Buck, worn] died And on the 26 day Jedediah. Hughes and John Matthews both in one day and on the 27th day Samuch Garritsor and on the 31 day Daniel wells died which is the last day. And in February (this was 1714/15) there died Nine Judith Hughes on the 2ª day and in March there died Seven and in May there died three with this Sore distemper The pain in the Side and breast and back and Navel and Some taken with the pain in the Tooth and Some in the Eye and Some with a pain in the Hand foot and Legs and Bar.
And in August the 221. 1715 I took my Journey to Long Island and there I Sold a piece of Land for a bun- dred and twenty pounds And from thence I went to New England to see my Two Sisters and Brother. And in August the 12. 1720 I made Bricks for iny house: And I was taken Sick held up and down till the middle of March following and then taken down so bad that everyone thought I should have died for about Two weeks then got about house again but remained Sick until the last of December 1722. Then died John Townsend, Nathaniel Norton and Deborah Russel."
Thus Ends the Memoirs of Thomas Leamyeng Esq. He takes no notice of the Birth of his son Thomas who was his last child and born the
I shall just observe that tho he lived a full year after the last of his account which ends the last of Decem- ber 1722 yet he never enjoyed any more health but on the 31 of December 1723 he died aged jo years 5 months and 22 days.
1
In a book which I suppose came from Connecticut I find an accot of Abrabarn Bradleys children which 1 transcribe but dont know that it will be of any use.
The age of Abram Bradleys children Jane was born the io of September 1698
Hannah was born the IS of February 1700
Abram was born ye 26 of July 1702 Obedience was born ye oth of december 170-2 [sic original] Lucy was born the 22 day of May 1707 Daniel was born ye IS day of October 1709 Joseph was born ye 5 of November 1714 Sarah was born ye 11th day of February 1711 [sic]
Note the above said Abraham Bradley the father was the husband of my fathers Sister Jane.
June 20th 1746 Aaron Leaming of the County of Cape May Departed this Life at Philadelphia of a pleurisie about 5 oClock in the after noon --- He was Born at Sag near East Hampton cn Long Island. the reti day of October 1687 being the Son of Christopher Leamyeng (as he spelt his name) an Englishman & Hester his wife whose maiden name was Burnet & was born in New England. Christopher Leamyng owned a Lot at East Hampton but he came to cape may being a Cooper and stayed several years & worked at huis trade & about 1695 died at Cape may & as his Land fell to Thomas Leamyne the oldest son the rest was left poor. Aaron Leaming was bound to Collins a shoemaker in Connecticut but did not serve les time out & came h.ty the Jerseys at about 16 years of age very poor, helpless & frien less; embraced the Quabers Religion lived a time at Salem, came to Cape may whitey yet a boy, settled at Geshen, manca cattle, i ought & Shallg & went by
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY
water, gathered a considerable estate but more Knowledge than money; the 12th day of October 1714 married Lydia Shaw widow of William Shaw & daughter of John Parsers by her he had a children Aaron, Jeremiah, Matthias & Elizabeth. Matthias died the ro'hof March 1732. 3 at * * * [margin] and all the rest survived hin, He was first a justice of the peace at Cape May In 1723 he was made Clerk of Cape may -- in October 172; he was Chosen assemblyman for Cape may & Served in that post till July 1744. He was universally Confesser to have had a Superior knowledge, he amassed large possessions and did more for his children than any Cape may man has ever done, he left a clear estate and was buried in the church yard in Philadelphia.
[Page 211, of Aaron Leaming's Book of Surveys.]
AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE LANDS IN CAPE MAY CO.
Whereas the West N. J. Society once stood seized of oooo acres of land situated & containing the chiefest part of that " Island or Tract of Land called Cape May" between Delaware Bay & Great Egg Harbor River & the said Society having sold the best portions thereof to divers persons & whereas there is yet remaining unsold a parcel of broken & sunken marshes, sounds, creeks, barren lands &c of very little value which nevertheless if the same should be purchased by any particular person or persons in large Tracts it might [be] an inducement for such persons to endeavour to monopolize the Fishery, Oystering &c which Nature seems to have intended for a general blessing to the Poor & others who have bought the lands & settled contiguous thereto And many of us the Subscribers having already given advanced prices for our Land by reason of the vicinity of the said priviledges are now unwilling to be deprived thereof: Wherefore we the Subscribers each & every of us agree &c with each other in manner & form following-to wit. That we will each associate & join in the purchase of the said land &c to be held in equal shares amongst us &c as tennants in common &c &c (numerous provisions
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