Charles A. Bennett, ex-lay-judge of the Monmouth county court and for many years prominent in the political affairs of the county, died at Freehold on Monday, aged 81 years. Death was due to a complication of diseases, superinduced by old age.

Judge Bennett was the son of Jane Lefferson and William H. Bennett. He was born at Freehold on June 4th, 1820. His ancestry is traced back to Jeremiah Bennett, who, in 1685, owned a large tract of land along the Navesink river in Middletown township. Mr. Bennett graduated from Princeton college in 1844, studied law under Judge Bennington F. Randolph and was admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1847. On admission to the bar he located in his native town and had lived there ever since.

From 1850 to 1868 he was acting surrogate of the county, during the terms of Dr. A. V. Conover and Dr. John R. Conover. For 26 years previous to 1874 he was clerk of Freehold township. In 1882 he was appointed lay-judge by Governor Ludlow and he remained in that position until the office was abolished. He had been identified with the Freehold Mutual fire insurance company and with the Freehold gas light company.

In 1854 Judge Bennett married Eleanor B. Clayton, daughter of Louisa M. and Elias C. Clayton of Millstone. She survives him and he also leaves a son, Frederick D. Bennett of Freehold.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, Jul 24, 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.

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