Benjamin Phillips, who lived alone in a small house along the shore at Port Monmouth, died on Saturday of consumption, aged 63 years. His lungs had been affected for some time. About three months ago he fell and broke three ribs and since then he had failed rapidly.

Mr. Phillips was born at Toms River but had lived at Port Monmouth for the past forty years. He was a clammer by occupation. When he was eighteen years old he received a bad cut on the knee that left him a cripple. He leg was drawn up and he could get about only with the aid of a crutch. This made his work with a boat very difficult. Two daughters and a son survive him. They are Mrs. Mary Ann Bothwick of Port Monmouth and Mrs. Patience Bennett and John Phillips of Belford. He leaves also two sisters and two brothers. They are Mrs. Stewart Mitchell, Mrs. Elsie Van Note and Reuben and Angus Phillips, all of whom live at Belford.

The funeral was held yesterday at two o'clock and was conducted by Rev. J. Ward Clark. The body was buried in the Covert burying ground.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, Apr 10, 1901

Some additional excellent resources for your research are:

• New Jersey Census, 1772-1890 - Ancestry.com

• Calendar of New Jersey Wills, 1670-1760 - Ancestry.com

• Interment.net - NJ ~ New Jersey Cemetery Transcriptions on the net.

  ---