man John Leeds‏‎, son of Japeth Leeds and Deborah Smith‏.
Born ‎1708, died ‎1785‎, 76 or 77 years
Birth: 1708
Leeds Point
Atlantic County
New Jersey, USADeath: Sep. 16, 1785
Leeds Point
Atlantic County
New Jersey, USA
In Memory of John Leeds, son of Japheth Leeds and Deborah Smith. He married twice, his first wife being Rebecca Cordery. After she passed away he married Sarah (Mathis) Coate. There were several children from both marriages.

Please see the memorial of his son William, for an explanation of location names.

This is an excerpt from the Daily Union History of Atlantic County. Its copyright has expired and it's available as a free book on Google.

From page 410:
John Leeds, the second son of Japheth Leeds, born about 1708: Married Rebecca Cordery, June 17, 1737. He was one of the pioneer farmers of Atlantic County, receiving by his father's will the homestead at Leeds Point, where he conducted a thrifty and prosperous farm. He was a minister of the Society of Friends and travelled extensively on ministerial journeys through what are now Cape May, Atlantic and Burlington Counties. His wife, Rebecca, bore him four children:

1. William, b. May 24, 1738; d. February 1828; m. Mary Osborn, 1768.
2. John, b. November, 1740; m. Elizabeth Giffen.
3. James, b. May 1742.
4. Mary, b. February, 1746.

While travelling in Burlington after his first wife's death, John met and married Sarah (Mathis) Coate, 1751, daughter of John and Alice Mathis and widow of Marmaduke Coate, a noted Friend of Mansfield, NJ.
The children of this marriage were:

1. Daniel, b. July 25, 1752; m. Mary Steelman, January 3, 1775, daughter of Frederick Steelman.
2. Jeremiah, b. March 4, 1754; d. October 1838; m. first, Judith Steelman, December 8, 1776; second, m. Millicent Steelman-Ingersoll.
3. Vincent, b. July 30, 1756, d. December 28, 1841; m. Catherine Smith-Carr, daughter of Noah and Judith Smith and widow of Job Carr.
4. Dorothy, b. July 30, 1756, twin sister of Vincent; d. about 1823; m. Robert Smith, son of Noah and Judith Smith.

Married ‎1751 (33 or 34 years married) to:

woman Sarah Mathis‏‎, daughter of John "The Great" Mathis and Alice (Higbee) Andrews‏.
Born ‎9 Jul 1721, died ‎17 Apr 1799‎, 77 years, 1st marriage to: Marmaduke Coats, ‎2nd marriage to: John Leeds

Children:

1.
man Daniel Leeds IV‏
Born ‎25 Jul 1752 Glouchster County New Jersey, died ‎1787 New Jersey‎, 34 or 35 years
Daniel was disowned for marrying out of the faith at the 4/3/1775 Monthly Meeting for Cape May and Egg Harbour.
2.
man Jerimiah Leeds‏
Born ‎4 Mar 1754 Gloucester County New Jersey, died ‎Oct 1838‎, 84 years, buried ‎ Steelman Burying Grounds, Northfield New Jersey. Occupation: Assisted as a wrecker in those days when many vessels with valuable cargoes were lost on the shoals..
P206_250_244.jpg
Jeremiah Leeds First Permanent Settler of Atlantic City New Jersey
P207_174_233.jpg
Jeremiah Leeds First Permanent Settler of Atlantic City New Jersey


At the time of his marriage to Millicent Jeremiah was 62 and Millicent was 24. He stood six feet tall and weighed 250 lbs.He was a humane, kindly Quaker and did not approve of killing game except for food to feed the family. So the wild fowl found sanctuary on the lands of Jeremiah. He built up and protected the sand dunes with cedar brush, thus preserving the fresh water ponds to provide plenty of drinking water for his livestock and wild fowl. His offshore friends would, at times, be quite unhappy with him when he would only allow them to shoot ducks and geese sufficient for their immediate needs.2/5/1776 Friends monthly meeting Evi Smith made report that Jeremiah and Vincent Leeds along with Joseph Risley have been in the practice of bearing arms in the military way and to be considered at the next monthly meeting. At the next meeting 3/4/1776 Robert and Jesse Smith were appointed to visit Jeremiah and Vincent in the matter of bearing arms. At the 5/6/176 Robert and Jesse Smith reported that Jeremiah should be disowned and testified against until he shall become sensible of his misconduct. Jeremiah,upon being informed he had the right to appeal refused. Vincent Leeds was continued. 7/1/1776 acknowledged his errors and requested to be reinstated. Jeremiah was a Quaker when he died however. An inv was done of his est Atlantic Co., NJ 1838 15A.Birth, marriages and deaths in atlantic Co. Historical Soc Vol. 7. It cannot be proved the date of his coming to Absecon Island. He has stated in his pension papers that "since the Revolutionary War" " and has "lived within ten miles" of where he was born, and that he is living on Leeds Beach. Since his last War service was in late Oct of 1778, it is possibe that he started taking his live stock to Absecon Beach for the summers, as early as 1779. His father in law, Frederick Steelman, by early surveys, already owned much of the Island and Jeremiah gradually acquired title to most of the land above what later was known as South Atlantic City. Jeremiah moved from Leeds Point to Absecon Beach (originally called Leeds Beach) in 1783. He was the first white settler in what is now Atlantic City. His first purchase of land was in 1804. On 5 July 1805, Jeremiah purchased 48 acres of beach and meadow on Absecon Beach from James Conover, Joseph Conover, John Conover and Enoch Conover, sons of Joseph Conover (Woodbury Deeds).Jeremiah cleared and cultivate a large and productive farm and sold produce to passing vessels. He raised cattle, horses and sheep. He prospered and the traditional log cabin, with its two rooms and giant fireplace extending all the way across one end of the kitchen, was replaced by a comfortable frame dwelling. All his children were born on the Mainland at Leeds Point, Egg Harbor Twp. NJ except Robert Barkley who was born on the island.On April 1, 1816 he leased land on Absecon Beach to John Bryant with the privilege of erecting a dwelling house and salt works, and of pasturing two cows and team for the salt works.The site in Atlantic City now known as Columbus Plaza is a part of Jeremiah's original farm.On 6/7/1832 at the age of 80 applied for his Revolutionary War pension. According to the information provided he served 1 to 2 month terms from Sept. 1776 to Oct 1778 under various Captains but all in Col. Somers Regiment. Of particular interest he fought in the Battle of Trenton under Capt. Zephania Steelman in Col Somers Reg. He states that "sometimes I was drafted and sometimes volunteered. Once I volunteered as a substitute but got measles and couldn't go". When he was discharged finally he was a First Lieutenant.Peter Steelman, John Dunham, Esq., levi Price, John C. Smallwood and Thomas Ford attested to his claims. He was granted a pension of $60.00 per annum.He died intestate and his large estate descended to his widow and his six children and was purported buried in the Steelman family burying ground in Northfield. When new developments and the need for more streets came about most of the graves were removed except those of Jeremiah, Frederick Steelman and 2 others. Government Headstone placed there through Gen. Lafayette Chapter N.S.D.A.R. April 12, 1924.
His son Chalkey S Leeds became the first Mayor of Atlantic City in 1854

--------------------

Military

Military service 1: 18 Sep 1777, Records at Trenton, NJ shows that Jeremiah Leeds had risen to be 1st Lieutenant in Captain Joseph Connover's 6th Co, 3rd Battalion, Gloucester Co. Militia.Military service 2: Bet. Sep 1776 - Oct 1778, Served under Capt Nehemiah Morss, Capt Zephaniah Steelman, Capt George Payne, Capt Samuel Snell; Capt William Price, Capt Christopher Rape, Capt Joseph Conover, all under Col. Somers Reg. He received a pension of $60 per annum..