Among the many primary sources collected and published by John E. Stillwell in his Early Settlers of New Jersey and their Descendants are the diaries of several of the earliest members of the Leaming family who settled in Cape May, New Jersey. Stillwell says in preface:
"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. 487 and 488 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 1674 that he married to Esther Burnett, the daughter of Aaron [sic s/b Thomas] Burnett of the East End of Long Island and her Father gave her a Tract of Land at Sag near East Hampton which to this time I am informed goes by the name of Leamings Lot or Leamings corner. There he lived till about the year 1691 and then leaving his family at Long Island he came himself to Cape May which at that time was a new Country & beginning to Settle very fast and seemed to promise good advantages to the adventurers. Here he went a whaling in the proper Seasons and at other times 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 9th of April 1696 He caused to be surveyed for himself 204 acres of land see this Vol. p. 93 [i.e. Aaron Leamings Book of Surveys] which was afterwards purchased by his son Thomas Leamyeng and whereon he spent and ended his Life: And is now the estate of Christopher Leaming, a minor, and Great Grandson to the founder of the family. Christopher Leaming died of Pleuresie at Capemay about the year 1697 or 1697 aged 48 years as the reputation is: But indeed I think the time of his Birth, Marriage and Death are uncertain. He made the Coffin of my Grand father Persons who died in January 1693-4. 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 1838 the farm was owned by Israel Townsend and in 1896 by Nathan Price.] At the first Settlement of this country the chief whaling was in Delaware Bay and that Occasioned 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, 1st Thomas, 2nd 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 this 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 Book entitled The Young clerks guide which was *** [worn] property in 1690 and which I have been told he brought to Cape May but after his Death passed thro Sev*** [Several bottom lines lost] in the Division of My Fathers Books June 29, 1747 fell to me. 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 Orthography but which is his handwriting I can not undertake to Say tho' my father once told me that one of them was.
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 Hannah 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 married as follows:
Esther married William Eldredge; Mercy Samuel Eldredge; Jane William Doubbleday; Phebe John Garlick; Priscilla John Stites; and after his Death Jacob Hughs; Christopher Deborah Hand; and Thomas Elizabeth Leaming. They are none of them childless and some of them have proved very prolific.
2d 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.
3d 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 the 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 elopement 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 unaccountable wonders of that Life they were entering upon. Christopher went to New York and there entered board an Old Ship to go a Privateering with about 90 Hands, but after being Some time at Sea the company Differed So much that each party took to arms, about 40 opposed to 50. In the height of the quarrel a sail presented which they unanimously agreed to attack, and she proving to be a French, they took her; and the 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 met 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 1759 and his wife in 1764.
7th Elizabeth married Stephen Stone [here MS 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 12th day of October 1687. Upon the Death of his Father he was bound apprentice 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 Assistane 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 Quaker Lady, Mother of Clement Hall. She herself was an eminent Lawyer for those times; had a Large collection of Books and very Rich and took delight 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] destination 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 MS 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 Dr. Coleman Leaming] *** [worn] arrived Lydia born 10th day April 1680 And he *** [sold his] 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 1691. But previous to this he came himself to Cape May in the fall of 1690 and on December 17, 1690 George Taylor Surveyor Surveyed for him *** 00 acres of land with 5 [&] 6 allowance at the place where he afterwards lived and Died. For this land he took deed from George Taylor dated the 25th March 1691 which Deed sets forth that Daniel Cox *** [by a] power of attorney dated the 6th day of August 1689 appointed 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 Jun 1690 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
***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:
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 I *** [worn] at my leisure. I intended to add a regular *** [worn] Land my father purchased but the credentials *** [worn] in my power I 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 myself 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 part. 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 to encounter 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 Discendants can never be enough thankful. He was confessedly the most considerate 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 uncommon 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 9 or 10 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 incurable. 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 10 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 junr, Patience Foster.
Lydia Shaw, daughter of William Shaw, married George Taylor about the year 1718. Their living children 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 16, 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 Leaming 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.
Sarah Leaming now the wife of Jesse Hand was born the 21st day of February 1743-4 being Tuesday about 10 of the Clock in the morning [Died about 1829 - is interpolated]
Matthias Leaming was born the 19th day of September 1749 and died September 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 11 Clock in the night.
Persons Leaming was born on Friday the 23d day of July 1756 at half an hour past 11 oClock at night
This is our last child [interpolated - Died 29 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 23d day of March 1720.
I have a Letter from the Reverend Mr. Jeremiah Leaming 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. His widow died in December 1764. Their Sons are The Reverend Mr. Jeremiah Leaming about my age. Matthias 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 1690 or 1691. She married Stephen Stone as is above mentioned he died & left her a widow & she died in the Spring 176- aged I supposed about 77 they left several children. Witness my hand September 10, 1771.
Jonathan Leaming my oldest child married March 3rd 1763 to Margaret Stites the only child of John and Priscilla Stites (both deceased) by her he had a Daughter Priscilla born the 9th 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 Esqr deceased by her he had
January 27th 1763 By virtue of a Liscence Jesse Hand was married to my Daughter Sarah by the Reverend Mr. John Sutton [?] a Baptist parson their children are
Witness my hand September 10 1770.
Aaron Leaming
With blanks left for incertion of any occurrences relating *** [worn] or Jesses familys if in my own hand writing.
A.L.
In These Anecdotes p. 490 I mention that my uncle Thomas Leaming had preserved Some useful memorandums out 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 Esqr the first of Cape May Transcribed from a Paper in his own hand writing
"In July the 9 day 1674 I was born in Southampton on Long Island. When I was 18 Years old 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 my father was very Sick and on the third day 1695 he departed this Life at the house of Shamgar Hand. Then I 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 1697 I worked for John Reeeves all Summer in the winter to whaling again and got one small whale. In ye 1698 I went to the Island again and came back to Cape May and worked all winter for John Craf*** [Crafford] and in 1699 went tow ork on my own Land and in that fall I had a sore fit of Sickness at Henry Stites and in the 1700 I lived at my own plantation. And worked for Peter Corson. And In 1701 on the 18th of June we was Married I being that July following 25 years of Age and my wife in her 18 years and ye 1702 in July the 3 day Esther was Born. And that Summer the Small pox was very bad. And in 1703 I went to Cohansie and fetched brother Aaron. And in 1704 Mercy was born on the 10th day of September. And in 1705 I was very Zealous And in ye 1706 I 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 1707 we made the County Road. And in 1708 in June I went to Long Island. And in the 15th of October I was taken with a Long fit of Sickness. And the 4th day of November Phebe was born and we could not get a Nurse, and I very weak. It was a time of Trouble: My Daughter Phebe was a very Sickly Child. And the 15th of June 1710 Priscilla was born. And April the 18, 1712 Christopher was born. And November the 5, 1714 My Mother departed this Life at East Hampton on Long Island at Enouch 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 ye ... and on the .... Joseph Hewit died on the 13 of December William Shaw died on the 17th day Mary Cresse died. On the 19th day Alathea Smith dyed. On the 21 day Keziah Cresse died and on the 22d day Nicholas Stillwell died and on the 26 day old Mary Cresse died and on the 31 day John Reeves died and old Richard Fortescue both died in one day. On the 3 of January both the Arthur resse'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 10 day James Garritson and Return Hand both in one day and on the [20? 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 Samuel Garritson 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 2d 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 Ear.
And in August the 22d, 1715 I took my Journey to Long Island and there I Sold a piece of Land for a hundred 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 my 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 theÉ
I shall just observe that tho he lived a full year after the last of his account which ends the last of December 1722 yet he never enjoyed any more health But on the 31 of December 1723 he died aged 49 years 5 months and 22 days.
In a book which I suppose came from Connecticut I find an account of Abraham Bradleys children which I transcribe but don't know that it will be of any use.
The age of Abram Bradleys children
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 on Long Island, the 12th day of October 1687 being the Son of Christopher Leamyeng (as he spelt his name) an Englishman & Hester his wife whose maidenname 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 his trade & about 1695 died at Cape may & as his Land fell to Thomas Leamyng the eldest son the rest was left poor. Aaron Leaming was bound to Collins a shoemaker in Connecticut but did not serve his time out & came into the Jerseys at about 16 years of age very poor, helpless & friendless; embraced the Quakers Religion lived a time at Salem, came to Cape may whilst yet a boy, settled at Goshen, raised cattle, bought a Shallop & went by 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 Parsens by her he had 4 children Aaron, Jeremiah, Matthias & Elizabeth. Matthias died the 10th of March 1732/3 at *** [margin] and all the rest survived him. He was first a justice of the peace at Cape May In 1723 he was made Clerk of Cape may - in October 1727 he was Chosen assemblyman for Cape may & Served in that post till July 1744. He was universally Confessed 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 9000 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 persons in large Tracts it might [be] an inducement for such persons to endeavour to monopolize the Fisher, 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 follow) Signed by
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Dated this 20th day of Novemr Anno Domini 1752
Aaron Leaming
[Leaming's Book of Surveys, Cape May, p. 165.]
See lineage of Leaming Family
Read about the emigrant, Christopher Leaming
Read about Jeremiah Leaming
Read about Matthias Leaming
Read about Judah Leaming
Read about Judah Leaming, the 2nd
Read the Autobiography of Lydia Leaming Miller
Read the Autobiography of Martha (Mattie) Caroline Rogers Leaming
Read the Biography of Dessie Elizabeth Hayter Leaming
