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..


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

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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..

Married name: Leeds, born ‎± 1754, died ‎± 1816‎, approximately 62 years
Children of Jeremian and Judit

Aaron Leeds, b., Egg Harbor Twp, NJ, d. date unknown, died young.

James Leeds, b. 26 Feb 1777, Egg Harbor Twp, NJ, d. 1798.

Rhuhama Leeds, b. 21 Jun 1779, Egg Harbor Twp, NJ, d. 30 Aug 1862, Interred at Mt. Pleasant United Meth, Atl Co., NJ.

Rachel Leeds, b. 24 Oct 1782, Egg Harbor Twp, NJ, d. 22 Apr 1845, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. NJ.

Adah Leeds, b. 25 Apr 1788, Egg Harbor Twp, NJ, d. 25 Oct 1792.

Sarah Leeds, b. 26 Mar 1790, Egg Harbor Twp, NJ, d. 18 Oct 1792.

Andrew Leeds, b. 30 Apr 1792, Absecon Beach, Leeds Plantation, d. 05 Sep 1865, M.E. Church Yard, Absecon, Atlantic Co., NJ.

Married name: Leeds, born ‎30 Aug 1792, died ‎7 Sep 1873‎, 81 years, buried ‎ Absecon M E Cemetery
Daughter of Isaac Steelman
Millicent Steelman Leeds, after the death of her husband Jeremiah, turned her rather large home into a Boarding House, called Aunt Millie's (she was affectionately called Aunt Millie by her friends and neighbors) Boarding House. As early as 1839 Millicent was taking paying guests in her home. Is considered the first hotel of Atlantic City, NJ.one website for Atlantic City history described it thus: a rude hostelry for Philadelphia residents and surrounds that came to hunt and fish.In Absegami by Heston says this: Chalkley S. Leeds and Robert B. Leeds' mother kept the old Atlantic House as a tavern for oystermen and traders, that stood near Baltic and Massachusetts Aves. Millicent was the daughter of Isaac and Mary Andrews Steelman and widow of Isaac Ingersoll. As well as the niece of Jeremiah's first wife. She had a daughter, Mary Ann Ingersoll who became the wife of Daniel L. Collins, a well-known farmer of Smith's Landing. The Atlantic Co. Historical Soc. has hand woven woolen blankets with the initials M.S.L. woven in the corner Milicent wove from the wool of sheep raised on Leeds Beach or Absecon Island.Will and inv Atlantic Co., NJ 1873 . 500A
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Children

Judith Leeds, b. 06 Apr 1819, Egg Harbor Twp., NJ, d. 11 Aug 1869, Absecom Methodist Cemetery, NJ.



Charles S. Leeds, b. 13 Jul 1821, Egg Harbor Township, NJ, d. date unknown.



Chalkley Steelman Leeds, b. Abt. 14 Jul 1825, Egg Harbor Twp., NJ, d. 10 Sep 1908, Absecon Meth Churchyard, Absecon, Atlantic Co., NJ.



Robert Barclay Leeds, b. 02 May 1828, Absecon Island, NJ, d. 16 Mar 1905, Absecon United Methodist Burying Grounds, Absecon, Atlantic Co., NJ136.