Individual Details

Matthias Leaming

(7 Jun 1719 - 6 Sep 1789)

Connecticut records show that at one time Matthias owned much land. However, he was a devout member of the Episcopal Church whose services included included prayers for the King, the head of the church. Matthias would not give up his faith and suffered accordingly. He was in direct conflict with the Congregational or State Church and he was persecuted as a Tory. The Patriots claimed much property of those that did not adhere to their demands. It is an unanswered question as to whether Matthias and his sons were simply rebelling against the State church and its high taxes for its support or the vow he had made to his Episcopal church which declared loyalty to the King of England. By refusing to denounce their church they were persecuted and their property taken from them. This happened to Matthias and also to his elder brother Rev. Jeremiah Leaming. Many, in similar circumstances, fled to Canada, but they remained in the United States.

Events

Birth7 Jun 1719Durham, Connecticut
Marriage4 Aug 1751Middlefield, Connecticut - Philathea Gould
Death6 Sep 1789Farmington, Connecticut

Families

SpousePhilathea Gould (1735 - )
ChildJudah Leaming (1753 - 1829)
ChildDavid Leaming ( - )
FatherJeremiah Leaming (1689 - 1759)
MotherAbigail Turner (1694 - 1764)
SiblingReverend Jeremiah Leaming (1717 - 1804)
SiblingAbigail Leaming (1721 - 1725)
SiblingAbigail Leaming (1726 - 1755)
SiblingElizabeth Leaming (1728 - )
SiblingEsther Leaming (1731 - 1759)
SiblingLucy Leaming (1733 - )
SiblingJane Leaming (1735 - 1759)
SiblingAaron Leaming (1738 - )

Notes

Marriage

On August 4, 1751 he was married by his renown brother, Rev. Jeremiah Leaming to Philathea Gould in Middlefield, Connecticut. Philathea, whose name means "love of God", was the daughter of Rev. Ebenezer Gould and Amy Brewster.

Death

Matthias died in Farmington, Connecticut on September 6, 1789 and is buried in the "old burying ground" on Main Street. It was the request of Matthias that he be buried with his feet to the east (contrary to the custom of facing east) so that when the day of Judgment comes, he might rise up to face his persecutors, thinking he was right in not denouncing his vow to the church. His rude headstone in the old Farmington burying-ground gives the date neither of his birth nor of his death, but laconically proclaims that it is, "In memory of Mr. Mathias Leaming who hars gott beyond the reach of parcecushion [persecution] - The life of man is Vanity."