Margaret M. Read Black and Sarah A. Sharp Black

New 16 March 2004

READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS

SARAH ANN SHARP BLACK⁵
MARGARET M. READ BLACK⁴

451. SARAH A. SHARP⁵ (Martha Maria Luse Sharp⁴ Elizabeth Read Luse³, Isaac Read, Sr.², Joseph Read¹) and
343. MARGARET M. "MAGGIE" READ⁴ (Martin Freese Read³, Samuel Read², Joseph Read¹) were second cousins once removed. Both women were married to John H. Black. Sarah was his second wife and Margaret was his third wife.

John H. Black was born October 1835, in Pennsylvania and died 1920. According to the 1910 Census, his parents were both natives of Pennsylvania (1910 United States Census, Enumeration District 131, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 2A, 18 April 1910). John was living in the village of Hope by at least 1860. He worked for Henry Bunnell, a master wheelwright in the village of Hope. John also lived with Henry and Ellen Bunnell The Bunnell home was adjacent to that of David and Mary Burdge, the parents of Rachel N. Burdge. John and Rachel were married in 1861 (1850 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 430, 6 Sept 1850; 1860 United States Federal Census, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 593B, 31 July 1860; Warren County Marriage Index Vol. 2, Book B). Rachel Burdge was born circa 1839. She and John had at least two children, a son named Ellsworth (born about 1862) and a daughter named Ida (born 24 March 1864). Rachel died 23 August 1865 at the age of 26. Her daughter Ida died almost two weeks later on 5 September. John buried Rachel and their daughter in the cemetery on the grounds of what was then the Methodist Epsicopal Church (now United Methodist) in the village of Hope. It had originally been the Moravian Cemetery and was known as "Old Moravian" (St. John's Cemetery). Ida and Rachel's grave stone were both photographed on 23 March 2004.

John married Sarah Ann Sharp within a year or so of Rachel's death. Sarah was born in May or June 1839 and was a daughter of Isaac Sharp and Martha Maria Luse. She may have been born in Green Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. Her father appears on the 1840 census as a resident of Green Township (1840 united sTates Federal Census, Green Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, page 134). By 1850, her father had purchased a farm in Frelinghuysen Township in Warren County. Sarah was 11 years old that year and lived on the family farm with her parents and her eight brothers and sisters: Elizabeth Ann (age 16), William (age 15), Aaron (age 13), Ozias (age 9), Phebe (age 6), Martha (age 5), Isaac (age 4) , and Hetty (age 3). All but the youngest three children attended school (1850 United States Federal Census, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 485A, 30, July 1850). Twin sisters Mary and Letitia joined the family in 1853. By 1860, Sarah was 21 years old and lived with her grandmother, Elizabeth Read Luse in Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County. The 1860 census indicates that she was an "assistant" to Elizabeth, whose occupation was given as housekeeper (1860 United States Federal Census, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 200). How long Sarah remained with her grandmother is unknown. She and John were married in 1867 (Warren County Marriage Index Vol. 2, Book B). They had at least one son named Milton, who was born in May 1868. John's son by Rachel, Ellsworth Black, also lived with the couple (Table 1). In 1870, John and Sarah Black owned property in Hope valued at $1,000 and they had a personal estate valued at $900. John was employed as a wheelwright (1870 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 184, 17 August 1870).

Table1: Household of John and Sarah (Sharp) Black in 1870
1870 United States Federal Census
Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 184

Name	Age	Sex	Birthplace
Black, John H.	35	M	PA
Black, Sarah	31	F	NJ
Black, Ellsworth A.	8	M	NJ
Black, Milton J.	2	M	NJ

John and Sarah left Hope after 1870 and lived in Dallas, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania for a short period of time, they returned to Hope in about 1877 . The first edition of the Blairstown Press on 7 February 1877 included a short article entitled "Doings at Hope," part of the article discussed the businesses in Hope:

There will be opposition in nearly every branch of business in our town the coming spring. Many of our former business men will return as did the prodigal son. J.T. Pierson of Rockaway, formerly of this place, will occupy the cabinet shop he formerly did here. D.C. Hagon will move to another part of the town. John H. Black, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, will open the Turner shop. Mr. Gibbs, our popular carriage builder, will remain at his old stand. Our merchants are doing a lively business since the arrival of Mr. Swayze last spring.

Sarah died shortly after the family returned to Hope, on 25 October 1877, she was 38 years old. John buried her alongside his first wife Rachel. Her grave stone was photographed on 23 March 2004. In late 1877, John had two young sons to raise: Ellsworth who was about 15 and Milton who was 9 years old. He also had a new business to attend to and a household to manage. He married Margaret Read in either 1879 or 1880.

Margaret was born in Hope Township on 25 April 1849 (LDS Batch #C509811; St. John's Cemetery). Her father's farm was in Hope Township and she appears on the 1850 census as a resident of the household. In 1850, she was the youngest child. Other residents in the Read home included her parents, Martin Freese Read and Letitia T. Swisher, her five older brothers and sisters—Ira (age 11), Phebe Ann (age 9), Irene (age 7), Castilla (age 5), and Aaron (age 3)—and 22 year old Margaret M. Aten, who was the family's live-in domestic help. Three other children were born after 1860: Abraham, Jennie and Letitia. By 1870, only Margaret, Jennie and Letitia were still living a home (1850 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 435A, 11 September 1850; 1870 United States Census, Hope township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 187, 25 August 1870, post office Belvidere). Martin Read died in 1875, Margaret was probably still at home with her parents when he died. She married John H. Black in either 1879 or 1880, when she was 30 or 31 years old.

In 1880, John and Margaret lived with John's 12 year old son Milton in the village of Hope. Milton attended school in the village. The census gives Margaret's name as "Maggie". She was probably expecting her first child at the time of the census. Her daughter Phoebe was probably born in January of 1881. Although the 1900 census gives Phoebe's date of birth as January 1880, she does not appear on the 1880 census. The census instructions were to list all individuals living in the household as of 1 June 1880. If Phoebe was born in January 1880, she should have appeared on the 1880 census, but she does not (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 199, Village of Hope, Warren County, New Jersey, page 419A, 11 June 1880). John Black was a wheelwright and he owned his own shop in Hope. He and Margaret were also active in the community. John served as a trustee of the Christian Church in Hope. He was also served as the church's treasurer and Sunday school superintendent The Church had been founded in 1842. One of it's founding members was Margaret's grandfather Samuel Read. The Christian denomination had been introduced in Warren County by Elder Jonathan S. Thompson who had married Margaret's aunt Jane Read as this third wife. Margaret's brother Ira C.Read was a deacon and a trustee of the church (Snell 1881:666).

Table 2: Household of John H. and Margaret (Read) Black in 1880
1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 199
Village of Hope, Warren County, New Jersey, page 419A

Name	Age	Status - Occupation	Place of Birth
Black, John H.	45	Head - Wheelwright	Pennsylvania
Black, Maggie	31	Wife - Keeping House	New Jersey
Black, Milton	12	Son - Attending School	New Jersey

By 1900, John and Margaret had two children: Phoebe (born 1881) and Joseph (born 1885). They all lived in the village of Hope. Neither of John's sons by his earlier marriages were resident in the household (Table 3). The family owned their home free and clear of a mortgage. John was 65 years old, but was still employed as a wheelwright (1900 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, Enumeration District 189, sheet 11B, 25 June 1900).

Table 3: Household of John H. and Margaret (Read) Black in 1900
1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 189
Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, , sheet 11B

Name	Age	Status - Occupation	Place of Birth
Black, John H.	65	Head - Wheelwright	Pennsylvania
Black, Margaret M.	51	Wife - Keeping House	New Jersey
Black, Phoebe L.	20	Daughter - None School	New Jersey
Black, Joseph R.	14	Son - Attending School	New Jersey

In 1910, John and Margaret lived on the Hope Road in Hope Township. They owned their own home, free and clear of all mortgages and liens. According to the census they had been married 30 years and were the parents of two children, both of whom were still living. One of the children, Joseph R. Black, and his spouse Frances, were living with them. John, who was 75, was still working in his wheel sright shop. Joseph Black was employed by the railraod as a postal clerk (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 131, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 2A, 18 April 1910).

Table 4: Household of John H. and Margaret (Read) Black in 1910
1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 131
Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, , sheet 2A

Name	Age	Status - Occupation	Place of Birth
Black, John H.	75	Head - Wheelwright	Pennsylvania
Black, Margaret M.	61	Wife - None	New Jersey
Black, Joseph R.	25	Son - RR Postal Clerk	New Jersey
Black, Frances R.	28	Daughter-1n-law - None	New York

John died in 1920, he was about 84 year old. Margaret died six years later in 1926. she was about 76 years old. They are buried with John's first and second wives, and his daughter Ida in the cemetery associated with St. Johns of Hope United Methodist Church in Hope, also known as "Old Moravian." Their grave stone was photographed on 23 March 2004.

Child of John H. Black and Rachel N. Burdge
Child of John H. Black and Sarah A. Sharp
Children of John H. Black and Margaret Read
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CHILD OF JOHN H. BLACK AND RACHEL BURDGE:
Step-children of both Sarah A. Sharp and Margaret M. Read

(i.) ELLSWORTH A. BLACK was born circa 1862 in New Jersey. In 1870, he lived with his father and step-mother in Hope Township and attended school (1870 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 184B, 17 August 1870).

(ii.) IDA F. BLACK was born 24 March 1864 in New Jersey and died 5 September 1865, aged 1 year, 5 months, 15 days. She is buried in St. John's of Hope Methodist Church Yard, Hope, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey. Her grave stone was photographed on 23 March 2004.

CHILD OF JOHN H. BLACK AND SARAH A. SHARP:
Step-son of Margaret M. Read

2831. (iii.) MILTON J. BLACK⁶, was born 2 May 1868 in Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey (LDS Batch number C02206, film). In 1870, he lived with his father and mother in Hope Township (1870 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 184B, 17 August 1870). His mother died in 1877 and his father married again by 1880. In 1880, Milton lived with his father and step-mother in the village of Hope and attended school (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 199, Village of Hope, Warren County, New Jersey, page 419A, 11 June 1880).

CHILDREN OF JOHN H. BLACK AND MARGARET M. READ:

1035. (iv.) PHOEBE L. BLACK⁵, was born February 1880 in New Jersey and died unknown. She resided with her parents in the Village of Hope in 1900 (1900 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, Enumeration District 189, sheet 11B, 25 June 1900). She did not live with her parents in in 1910 (1910 United States Census, Enumeration District 131, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 2A, 18 April 1910).

1034. (v.) JOSEPH R. BLACK⁵, was born 2 June 1885 in New Jersey and died January 1969 in Forida (Social Security Death Index). Joseph lived at home with his parents in 1900 and attended school (1900 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, Enumeration District 189, sheet 11B, 25 June 1900). He married circa 1906, Frances R. (Last Name Unknown). She was born in circa 1882 in New York. According to the 1910 census, her parents were natives of New York. In 1910, Joseph and Frances did not have children. Joseph worked as a clerk for the postal department of the Railways. In 1909, Joseph was out of work for 8 weeks. In 1910, he and Frances lived with his parents in Hope Township (1910 United States Census, Enumeration District 131, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 2A, 18 April 1910). In 1930, Joseph and Frances lived on Hughes Street in Lincoln Park, Morris County, New Jersey. They owned a home, which was valued at $3,500. The couple also owned a radio. Joseph was a real estate developer (1930 United States Census, Enumeration District 14-29, Lincoln Park, Morris County, New Jersey, sheet 7B, 10 April 1930). The Social Security Death Index gives Port Orange, Florida as the location of death payments.

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This web site was produced by Timothy Doyle 5/5/98, <edrtjd@charm.net>