Copyright 1998, Esther Doyle Read

Updated 28 March 2004

READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS

STEPHEN or STEVEN READ³

60. STEPHEN (or STEVEN) READ³ (Joseph Read II², Joseph Read¹) was born circa 1799 in Sussex (now Warren) County, New Jersey and died 2 May 1851 in Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey. In August 1822, Stephen's brother David Read presented a petition to the Sussex County Orphans Court for division of their father's real estate. Joseph Read had died intestate on 11 November 1806. Each of his five sons was due a portion of the family's 161.1 acre farm which was located in Knowlton Township in Sussex County. David petitioned the court because the five brothers (David, Stephen, John, Daniel and Joseph) "hold the same as tenants in common and by reason of the minority of some of the said children no division can be made by agreement between the said petitioner and the other children." The court appointed John Armstrong, Abraham Newman and William Cook, Esquire as commissioners to make the division. Stephen recieved 22.5 acres and the dwelling as his share of the settlement (Sussex County Surrogate Court Records, Division Book B, page 250).

After his first wife's death, Stephen married second, on 12 November 1842, Keziah Force in Warren County. Stephens's Uncle Samuel Read, who was a Justice of the Peace for the county, performed the wedding ceremony (Warren County Marriages). Keziah died between 1845 (when her daughter was born) and 1847 (when Stephen remarried). Stephen married third, on 29 July 1847, Elizabeth Lauronson of Stillwater, Sussex County, New Jersey. The ceremony was performed by the Elder Edward Barrass, a Baptist minister. He charged them $1.00 for his services (Brownell 1947:4; Warren County Marriages). Elizabeth Lauronson was born circa 1810. In 1850, Stephen was a resident of the village of Hope. His occupation was listed in the 1850 census as weaver. No real estate value was included in the census (1850 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 431). He appears to have purchased a home in Hope, as his house on McCarty's 1852 street plan of Hope on the Map of Warren County New Jersey. The house was on Union Street in Hope.

Stephen had children by his first two wives. He and Elizabeth did not have any living children when the 1850 census was taken. It is not known if a child was born between the time the census was taken and within a few months of Stephen's death in 1851. It is possible that Robert Read was Stephen's son. However, all of this is supposition and needs to be proved. Robert Read was born between 1825 and 1830. He appears on the 1860 United States Federal census as a resident of the household of William Blair Hope Township (page 10). He was 30 years old and appears to have worked for Blair. Robert probably married within the next year, his wife was Sarah J. (last name unknown). She died within a year or two of the marriage, possibly while giving birth to the couples's daughter who was born 9 August 1862 in Knowlton Township (Latter Day Saints, Batch # C509861, sheet 00, type - film). Sarah was buried in Ramseyburg Cemetery in Knowlton Township. Robert appears on the 1870 census as a resident of the household of Charles Green of Blairstown Township (page 2). His daughter was not with him.

Stephen died 2 May 1851 in Hope Township. He was buried in the church yard at St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church (now St. John's United Methodist) in the village of Hope. His grave stone is faded, but is inscribed:

STEPHEN READ
Died
May 2^d 1851
In the 52 year
of his age

CHILDREN OF STEPHEN READ AND REBECCA BENNET:

1038. (i.) DAUGHTER READ⁴, was born circa 1825 and died unknown. The 1830 census places her birth between 1820 and 1825. Stephen and Rebekah were married on 28 April 1824. Their first child was probably born in about 1825 (1830 United States Federal Census, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 386).

1039. . (ii.) DAUGHTER READ⁴, was born between 1825 and 1830; died unknown (1830 United States Federal Census, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 386).

1040. (iii.) SON READ⁴, was born between 1825 and 1830; died July 1851 (1830 United States Federal Census, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 386). Possibly Robert Read of Knowlton Township.

2836. (iv.) ISAIAH B. READ⁴, was born by 18 June 1835 and died July 1851, age 16 years. The 1850 census lists him as age 15, residing with Alvah and Elsy E. Howell in Hope Township (page 435). He does not appear on the 1860 census. There is a very faded grave stone next to Stephen's in St. John's of Hope Cemetery in Hope Township. This stone is that of Isaiah Read. It was field checked 24 March 2004 and is inscribed:

ISAIAH B.
Son of
Stephen & Rebecca
Read
Died ___ July 1851
Aged 16 (?) yrs _______

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CHILDREN OF STEPHEN READ AND KEZIAH FORCE:

313. (v.) ABBY READ⁴, was born circa 1845 in New Jersey, died unknown. In 1850, she was living with her father and step-mother (Elizabeth Lauronson Read) in Hope. Her father died the following year and Abby was orphaned (1850 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 431). She may be the Abby M. Read, age 16, who appears as a resident of the household of Israel and Sarah E. Sipley on the 1860 United States Federal Census in Hardwick Township, Warren County, New Jersey.

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