Martin Freese Read was born 17 September 1816 in Knowlton (now Hope) township, Sussex (now Warren) County, New Jersey. He was fourth son and seventh child of the ten children of Samuel Read and Maria H. Freese (Kern 1938; Union Brick). He was named after his mother's father, Martinus Freese (Warrell and Freese 1967). Martin appears on the 1830 census as a resident of the household of Samuel Read. He was listed as a male between the ages of 10 and 14 (born 1816 through 1820). Samuel Read's farm was located in Knowlton Township (1830 United States Federal Census, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 378).

Martin married Letitia T. Swisher. She was born 18 November 1818 in New Jersey and died 4 March 1898 (Union Brick). Martin and Letitia lived in Hope Township in 1840. Hope had been set off from Knowlton Township the previous year (Snell 1881:66). The census lists the family with three individuals: a male 20 to 30 years of age (Martin), a female 20 to 30 years of age (Letitia) and a male under 5 years of age. The latter was Martin and Letitia's oldest son, Ira C. Read, who was 2 years old. In the census, Martin's household is preceded by his father Samuel's household and followed by the household of Nancy Read (1840 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 341, 4 August 1840).

Table 1: Household of Martin and Letitia (Swisher) Read in 1840
(1840 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 341)

In 1850, Martin and Letitia Read lived on a farm in Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey. The farm was valued at $7,000. Six of the couple's nine children had been born: Ira, Phebe, Irene, Castilla, Aaron and Margaret. Twenty-two year old Margaret M. Aten lived with the family. She was probably a live-in domestic servant (Table 2). Martin's first cousin Lavina Read Cummins, and her family, was listed adjacent to Martin on the census. Martin was family 741, Lavina was family 742 and Lavina's brother Isaac S. Read was family 745. Lavina and Issac were children of Martin's uncle David Read and his aunt Anna Middlesworth (1850 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 435A, 11 September 1850).

Table 2: Household of Martin and Letitia Read in 1850
1850 United States Federal Census
Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 435A

Martin and Letitia had three more children after the 1850 census: Abraham, Mary Letitia, and Jennie. Abraham was born in 1852 and probably died before 1860 as he is not listed as a resident of his parents household in 1860. The other eight children were all in residence in 1860, from 20 year old Ira to 4 year old Jennie (Table 3). The value of the Read farm had increased to $10,400 by 1860. The census indicates that the family owned a personal estate valued at $1,500. Martin's first cousin, Isaac S. Read was listed immediately before him on the census. Isaac lived in dwelling number 50, Martin was in dwelling number 51. Isaac's sister, Eleanor Read Flumerfelt lived in dwelling 54 with her family (1860 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 8, 28 June 1860, post office Hope).

Table 3: Household of Martin and Letitia Read in 1860
1860 United States Federal Census
Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 8

The 1870 census indicates that Martin Read was a retired farmer. The census gives the family's dwelling number as 219, but does not list a real estate value for the property. It is possible that Martin had divided the farm among his children. He and Letitia owned a personal estate valued at $1,000. By 1870, only Margaret, Mary Lutitia and Jennie were living at home (Table 4), the rest of the Read children had married. Ira and his wife, Margaret Loller, lived in dwelling 216 with their two daughters—Ada Minerva and Olivia. Their son Aaron was listed adjacent to their household in dwelling 218. He was married to Mary Adeline West and had two sons—Austin and Albert (1870 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, pages 181-182, 28, 16 August 1807, post office Belvidere). Irene was married to Jehiel Pierson, a cabinet maker in the village of Hope. They had had three children by 1870" Savilla, Willie and Clarence. Savilla had died in 1865 (1870 United States Census, Hope township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 187, 25 August 1870, post office Belvidere). Phebe and Castilla's whereabouts are currently unknown. It is assumed that they were married by 1870.

Table 4: Household of Martin and Letitia Read in 1870
1870 United States Federal Census
Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 182

Martin was one of the original trustees of the Hope Christian Church in the village of Hope. The church was founded in 1842. Martin may have belonged to the Christian Church in Johnsonburg before joinning the church in Hope. His brother-in-law Jonathan S. Thompson, husband of Martin's sister Jane Read, was the pastor of the Johnsonburg Church. Martin's children were also active in the church. Ira C.Read was a deacon and a trustee in 1881. John H. Black, who was married to Martin's daughter Margaret, was also a trustee in 1881 and he served as the church's treasurer and Sunday school superintendent (Snell 1881:666).

Martin died on 4 September 1875 and was buried in Union Brick Cemetery. The grave is directly to the right as you enter the gate of the cemetery. Letitia moved into the village of Hope after Martin's death. The 1880 census describes her as the head-of-household. Her youngest child, Jennie Read, lived with her. Jennie was 24 years old, single and was employed as a millener (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 199, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 420A, 12 June 1880). Letita's daughter Margaret (who had lived at home in 1870) had married John H. Black. She had at least one living step-child by John's earlier marriage to Sarah Sharp. This child's name was Milton J. Black (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 199, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 419A, 11 June 1880). The whereabouts of Letitia's daughter Mary Letitia are currently unknown.

Letitia died on 4 March 1898. She had turned 79 the previous autumn. She was buried with Martin in Union Brick Cemetery, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey. Martin and Letitia share a stone in common with their son Ira C. Read and his wife Margaret Loller. It is inscribed:

PRIMARY

Cemetery

Census Records

SECONDARY

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