Esther Doyle Read, Copyright 2005

New 24 April 2005

Benjamin F. Martin was the son of Jonathan Martin and Lydia Read. He was born 30 September 1820 in Sussex (now Warren) County, New Jersey. Benjamin married Mary S. Pittenger, the daughter of William Pittinger and Hannah Van Horn. Mary was born August 1821 in New Jersey and died December 1901. They are buried in Stillwater Cemetery on the south edge of the village of Stillwater, Stillwater Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. At least three of their adult children are buried in their plot in the cemetery: Oron O. Martin, Martha L. Martin Borethree and Jerry E. Martin. Jerry's first wife, Martha Jean Staley is also buried in the plot. Benjamin and Mary's monument includes the names of all these children except Jerry, although there is seemly a space on the monument above his wife's name (Martha J. Martin) for Jerry's name. The monument is unusual in that it does not include dates for any of the family members. There is a small individual stone for Jerry E. Martin on the Martin plot. See photo below. At least two of Benjamin and Mary's children died as an infants: an unnamed son in 1854/1855 and Melville in 1862. There is no marker for these infants in the plot. Jerry and Martha Jean Martin may also have several infants buried in the family plot. According to the census at least 5 of their children died at young ages, again there is no marker for them.

The photograph to the right is of the marker for Jerry E. Martin on the Benjamin F. Martin plot in Stillwater Cemetery. It is the only marked grave on the plot with a stone that includes dates. Both photographs were taken 14 April 2005 by Esther Doyle Read. (Click on the photographs and use the icons to enlarge them to full size).