Esther Doyle Read, Copyright 2004

New 5 December 2004

Philetus Bradley Martin was the son of Jonathan and Lydia (Read) Martin. Known as Bradley Martin, he was born 2 February 1845 and died 3 June 1928. He married as his first wife, his second cousin Sarah Catherine Vaughn, the daughter of Benjamin O. Vaughn and Margaret Freese. She was born 18 June 1840 and died 3 December 1930. Their marriage ended in divorce around the beginning of the twentieth century. The couple had two children, Daruis Vaughn Martin and Minniette Martin. Both Bradley and Sarah Catherine are buried in Union Brick Cemetery in Blairstown township, Warren County, New Jersey. Bradley's name is inscribed on the Martin Monument which is midway up the knoll on which the cemetery is located. The photograph to the left is of the Martin Monument. Sarah Catherine's grave is to the right of the photograph at the base of the slope near the cast iron fence. The Martin monument is inscribed on all four faces. These include one face each for Jonathan Martin, who died in New Jersey and is probably buried in Unon Brick and Lydia Martin, who died in Iowa and whose exact place of burial is currently unknown; one face for Jonathan and Lydia's two sons—David R. and John Ogden Martin—who died during the Civil War and are buried elsewhere; and one face which is partially devoted to Jonathan and Lydia and partially to Bradley (left). This face is inscribed:

 

FATHER
AND
MOTHER

MARTIN
(at base)

There is no marker for Irene Martin, Bradley's second wife in the cemetery. Both photographs of the Martin monument were taken on 21 November 2004 by Esther Doyle Read. There are two flags associated with the grave (only one is visibile in the photograph above). They were placed for Bradley's brothers on Veteran's Day 2004.

 

 

Sarah Catherine Vaughn Martin is buried in the far rear corner of the cemetery at the base of the slope. This plot is straight back from the entrance gate. Her large stone is engraved on both sides. One side is for Sarah Catherine, as can be seen in the photograph to the left, the other side is engraved for her daughter Minnie Martin Williams (see below). Sarah Catherine's parents and brothers are buried almost at the top of the slope near the plot where Bradley Martin is buried. Not only did Bradley and Sarah Catherine cut their ties in life by divorcing, they are physically separated in death.

 

The reverse side of Sarah Catherine's stone was engraved for her daugher Minniette Martin Williams, or Minnie. Minnie was married to Charles B. Williams in about 1908. When Sarah Catherine died in 1930, Minnie and Charles were still married. She may be buried with Charles Williams, possibly in Bergen County, New Jersey where they lived. The photographs of the front and the back of Sarah Cartherine Vaughn Martin's stone were taken on 21 November 2004 by Esther Doyle Read.