Drowned at Locust Point

The Dead Body of Peter Stankiewiez Found in Claypit Creek

The dead body of Peter Stankiewiez, who lived alone in a house boat on Claypit creek at Locust Point, was found on Monday alongside of his house boat.

Stankiewiez was around the village as usual on Monday morning. He was a cobbler by occupation and shortly after dinner Thomas Golden and Timothy Maxson went to his house boat to have some work done. The place was open but no one was around and they went away. They returned about two o'clock and finding Stankiewiez still away they suspected that something had happened to him. A search was made and the dead body of Stankiewiez was found lying in about three feet of water alongside of the boat.

Stankiewiez was addicted to the excessive use of liquor but he was sober on Monday morning and it is thought that he fell overboard while in a fit, to which he was at times subject. Coroner Tetley was notified, but he did not deem an inquest necessary and gave a permit for burial.

Stankiewiez was a brother of Joseph Stankiewiez, the blacksmith near All Saints' church at Navesink. He formerly worked with his brother at the blacksmith trade, but he left him a number of years ago and started a cobbler shop in a house which then stood near Claypit creek bridge. The house was moved several years ago and Stankiewiez had since lived in a house boat alongside of the Claypit creek bridge.

Besides cobbling Stankiewiez built boats and he was a handy man at almost anything. He had been a cripple almost all his life and his bent form was a familiar sight about Navesink and Locust Point. He was about fifty years old and was a native of Russia.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, Oct 16, 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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