Person:Mary Tunis (6)

CENSUS: 1850 New Jersey, Mercer, Nottingham, 2 Aug 1850
George Holmes 30, male, Blacksmith, 1,000, b. New Jersey
Mary A. Holmes, 32, female, b. New Jersey
Ezekiel Holmes, 4, male, b. New Jersey
Angeline Holmes, 1, female, b. New Jersey
Mary Butcher, 58, female, b. New Jersey

CENSUS: 1860 New Jersey, Mercer, Trenton Ward 3, 16 July 1860
George T. Holmes, 39, male, trucker, 3400, 2150, b. New Jersey, insane from sun stroke
Mary A. Holmes, 33, female, b. New Jersey
Isabella Holmes, 6, female, b. New Jersey
Mary H. Holmes, 6 months, b. New Jersey
Mary Butcher, 68, female, seamstress, 1200, 1800, b. New Jersey

CENSUS:http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/
1870 New Jersey, Mercer, 3-WD Trenton, p. 398
Holmes, Mary, 42, female, white, keepshouse, b. New Jersey
Holmes, Edward 24, male, white, tinsmith, b. New Jersey
Holmes, Emma, 18, female, white, b. New Jersey
Butcher, Mary, 80, female, white, b. New Jersey
Packer, Joseph 25, male, white, tinsmith, b. Pennsylvania
Packer Lucy, single, white, b. New Jersey

CENSUS: http://search.ancestry.com/
1880 New Jersey, Mercer, Trenton, Dist. 102
Holmes, Mary A., white, female, 51, marr., keeps house, b. New Jersey, father & mother b. New Jersey
Holmes, Ezekiel R., white, male, 30, son, marr., machinist, b. New Jersey, father & mother b. New Jersey
Packer, Angeline M., white, female, 31, daughter, marr., keeps house, b. New Jersey, father & mother b. New Jersey
Packer, Lulu R., white, female, 22, granddaughter, attends school, b. New Jersey, father & mother b. New Jersey
Packer, Thomas, white, male, 8, grandson, attends school, b. New Jersey, father & mother b. New Jersey
Butcher, Mary, white, female, 91, mother, wd., b. New Jersey, father & mother b. New Jersey

NEWS:http://mtpl.org/data/rbr/1890-1899/1890/1890.05.14.pdf
RED BANK, N.J., WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 , 1890,
AGED 103 Years
Mrs. Mary Butcher lives on First avenue, Atlantic Highlands, and has reached the age of one hundred and three years. She was born near New Monmouth, and her maiden name was Tunis. She was married three times and has two children, well advanced in years, living. Her health is good, and her mental faculties partially complete. She Is fond of repeating quotations from the scriptures, hymns, and selections from authors and poets, learned in her youth, and she has a habit of saving the smallest articles—pins, carpet tacks or other trifles. Her hearing is a little defective, leading her to talk in a loud tone of voice.

OBIT: FHL film 1298675 Item 6 Obituaries Monmouth Co., New Jersey
Mrs. Mary Butcher died on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Atlantic Highlands, at the remarkable age of 104 years. She was born in Middletown township, in 1787, and was the mother of Thos. T. Rogers, of Atlantic Highlands. She was married three times and has buried all her husbands. Mr. Rogers was a son by her second husband. The funeral took place this afternoon and business places generally were closed.

OBIT: http://mtpl.org/data/rbr/1890-1899/1891/1891.09.09.pdf
RED BANK. N. J., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1891.
A CENTENARIAN DEAD
MRS. MARY BUTCHER DIES AT THE AGE OF 104 YEARS.
Probably the oldest woman in the state - Born at New Monmouth and dying at Atlantic Highlands - A Singer and Poet in Early Life.

Mrs. Mary Butcher died at her home at Atlantic Highlands last Wednesday, aged 104 years. She was born near New Monmouth, her father being Moses Tunis. In 1805 she married a young farmer, who was drowned shortly after the marriage. Her second husband was Ezekiel Rogers, by whom she had two children, the late Mrs. King of Little Silver and Thomas T. Rogers of Atlantic Highlands. Twenty years after his marriage Ezekiel Rogers died. When she was fifty years old Mrs. Rogers married ? Butcher, who lived near Trenton. Upon Mr. Butcher's death, which occurred not long after his marriage, Mrs. Butcher moved to Trenton and then went to Little Silver. All of her family are long lived people. Two brothers living in Michigan are aged 90 and 86 years and a sister is 85 years old. Her father was 99 years old when he died, and her mother had a sister and brother aged respectivcely 87 and 90. During her early days she wrote considerable poetry and she was also a fine singer. She was a good member of the Methodist church, having united with that society at the age of ten years. For several years past she had been cared for by her son, Mr. Rogers. The funeral was held at the Methodist church on Saturday afternoon. Rev. John Reed, pastor of the church, conducted the service, assisted by Rev. J. E. Lake and Rev. L. B. Edwards, former pastors; Rev. Edward Loux of the Baptist church, Rev. Robert Emery of Seaside church and Rev. W. A. Price of the Presbyterian church. The pall bearers were Rev. Robert Emery, J. Willmore, John Dey and John B. Hammond. The remains were buried at Little Silver.

Mrs. Butcher had never had a day's sickness in her life until about ten years ago, when a general break up of her system commenced. Even then the ruggedness and vitality which is such a pronounced family trait, kept her in moderate health. It was due to this inherited vigor and to her methodical habits that her life was prolonged until she became probably the oldest woman in the state.

Her death was considered such an important local event that the board of commissioners of Alantic Highlands took official action upon it. A meeting of the board of commissioners was held last Thursday night and a eulogy of the dead woman was delivered by Peter Y. Everett. He spoke of her upright life; of her accomplishments as a singer and writer in her early days; of her patriotism as manifested by her service in making clothing for the soldiers during the war of 1812; and of her love of American institutions. After Mr. Everett's address a preamble and resolutions were passed by the commissioners, ordering that all places of business in Atlantic Highlands be closed during the time the funeral was being held, and also ordering all flags in the borough to be hung at half mast that day.

OBIT:http://69.39.174.45/DATA/1875-99/1891/1891-09-12.pdf
The Matawan Journal, MATAWAN, N. J., SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1891.

Mrs. Mary Butcher died Wednesday night of last week at Atlantic Highlands, aged 104 years. She was born near New Monmouth, 1787, and was married three times. Her first husband was named Brown. He was drowned. Her second was Ezekiel Rogers and her third James Butcher. In her early life the deceased was a singer and a writer of some prominence. During the war of 1812 she assisted in making clothes for the soldiers of the American Army.

Mrs. Butcher left one son, Thomas T. R. Rodgers, two brothers, one 90, residing at Michigan, and the other aged 86. Her father died at the age of 99?, a sister of Mrs. Tunis at 87, and a brother aged 96? The funeral was held on Saturday last at the Atlantic Highlands Methodist Church.

OBITUARY: www.genealogy bank.com
1891-09-14, Trenton Evening Times
DEAD AT 105
A Correct Likeness and Sketch of Mrs. Butcher.
SHE ONCE LIVED IN TRENTON
Particulars of the life of a plain but interesting lady, who not only herself attained to a great age, but has descendants who inherit her longevity-her character and piety-her relatives-the funeral at Atlantic Highlands.

On Wednesday, September 2, 1891, there died at Atlantic Highlands in this State, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, at the residence of her son, Thomas T. Rogers, Mrs. Mary Butcher, who, if she had lived two months more, would have been 105 years of age.

The fact that her likeness, as given in the New York World, did such injustice to her peaceful and not over-aged face; the further fact that no correct sketch of her has yet been published; and, lastly, the fact the she was for some years a Trentonian, has led The Times to secure a correct likeness of her which is presented today. The photograph from which the likeness is taken by the photo engraving process, was not a strong, clear one and hence the results are not a distinct as could be wished, but the face is truthful and shows her as she appeared in her last days. She did not look in life to be over 80 years of age; the World’s likeness made her about 130.

Mrs. Butcher was born in November, 1786, and was, therefore, at the time of her death, the oldest white person in New Jersey.

SKETCH OF MRS. BUTCHER.

Mrs. Butcher was the daughter of Moses and Christianna Taylor Tunis and was born in Middletown township; Monmouth county, near the present village of New Monmouth. Moses Tunis was a well-to-do farmer of good family, his father being a man of substance and standing in the community, tracing his lineage back to Holland, and suffering in his person and estate for his adherence to the colonial cause in the war of the revolution. In fact, young Moses himself, though scarcely more than a lad at the time, was once captured by a band of Tories, and but for the earnest and persistent entreaties of the refugee Captain’s wife would have been consigned to the notorious ‘Sugar House’ prison in new York.

At an early age the late Mrs. Butcher married a young farmer of the neighborhood named Wilson, who soon after, however, left home on a vessel on which he frequently took passage, and undoubtedly perished at sea, as neither crew nor vessel were afterwards heard from. There was no issue by this marriage, and, her father having about this time sold his farm and removed to another near Englishtown, the young widow accompanied the family, and there met and in due time married Ezekiel Rogers, who lived near Hamilton Square, and was himself a widower, and the grandfather, by his first wife, of our worthy townsman, Dr. R.R. Rogers.

Of this second marriage were born two children, Thomas T., at whose house Mrs. Butcher died, and Mary Ann, who married George Holmes, since dead, and who died herself about a year ago at the residence of her son in Red Bank. No other living children were born to Mrs. Rogers, and some twenty years after this second marriage she again became a widow-Mr. Rogers dying before his children had grown up. For a number of years the widowed mother devoted herself to the rearing of her children, but when they were well grown she married again, becoming the wife of Thomas Butcher of Hamilton Square. This last husband however, died not long after; and becoming a widow for the third time, she did not again put off her widowhood.

HER RESIDENCES.

After her children had attained their majority and established homes of their own she took up her quarters alternately with them-residing some time with her daughter, Mrs. Holmes, (who lived several years in this city, at first near the site of the Broad Street National Bank, and afterwards on Mercer street), and spending other portions of her time with her son who married Miss Alice King of Rumson, Monmouth county, and settle in that neighborhood.

Her daughter, Mrs. Holmes, afterwards removed to Windsor, and thence to Red Bank, accompanied by a son and daughter and Mrs. Butcher made her home with her daughter and grandson until about seven years ago, when, her son Thomas having removed to Atlantic Highlands, she took up her abode with him, and remained in his family, tenderly cared for, until he died.

HER HEALTH TO NINETY-FIVE

Throughout her life, up to the age of 95, she enjoyed almost uninterrupted health, her relatives recalling no serious illness whatever, but about this time there seemed to be marked deterioration and she became very hard of hearing. Her eyesight was also seriously impaired. Afterwards she rallied and would have rounded out her century in comparatively good condition but for growing deafness and failing vision.

HER LAST DAYS

Within the last few months, however, there came a general breaking up and towards the last it became almost impossible to make her intelligently comprehend what was transpiring around her. The brain gave way, the faculties seemed benumbed and it was evident that dissolution was at hand. Extreme weakness was followed by entire prostration, and on the Sunday preceding her death the precise time of her departure had resolved itself into a question of hours, and on the afternoon of the third day thereafter she passed away, surrounded by her children and children’s children to the third generation.

REVIEW OF HER CHARACTER

There was nothing perhaps of special significance to the life of this aged woman in itself considered, except its remarkable prolongation; and probably she will have been more talked about in the brief than during all the years she lived. But she was not altogether commonplace and will be remembered for some marked personal trait, as well as for her unexampled length of days.

When young she was of comely and agreeable presence, retaining unmistakable traces of good looks even in her declining years. She possessed also unusual intelligence and an excellent memory, and had, withal, a voice of uncommon sweetness and power. Naturally of a religious turn, and a member of the Methodist Church, from childhood, she was apt and copious in Scripture quotations and took special delight in singing the quaint old hymns which did so much to popularize early Methodism, and remain to inspire the hearts and energize the efforts of its multitudinous adherents today.

While in her prime she also became acquainted with many of the good old pioneers and leading lights of the church, and later in life took pleasure in recounting the happy experiences she had thus enjoyed. She was, moreover, thoroughly patriotic in feeling and gladly engaged with others during the War of 1812 in making and forwarding clothes to the soldiers and in other ways testifying her devotion to her country. She outlived her compeers in this good work, but she was always proud to recall the days thus spent and cherished the memory of those who participated in her labors of love. These were doubtless the most stirring days of her life, and they lingered long in her memory.

Her father had narrowly escaped a British dungeon and she never failed to resent the attempt upon his liberty and life.

HER REMARKABLE FAMILY

But long, as she lived herself Mrs. Butcher has not outlived her father’s family. The record as we have gathered it is appended, and we submit that it is hard to “break.”

Her father, dying at Englishtown many years ago lived to the age of 94. His oldest daughter, Phebe, wife of Samuel Danser, late of Windsor, in this county, passed away in her 97th year. The subject of this sketch was his second daughter, and the third was Sarah, who married Dominicus Vanderveer of Middletown, removed to Michigan and died at about the age of 90, as likewise did the fourth daughter, Ann, wife of the late James Borden of Jabobstown, Burlington county.

The fourth daughter was Hetty. She married Thomas Holmes and lived near Edinburgh, in this county. She died while her children were young, at the age of 38. After these came Henry, the oldest son, who died near Freehold last year in his 91st year, and Asher, whose demise occurred at Englishtown about 1860, at the age of 58, and William of Michigan, and Thomas of Monmouth county, and Pamelia, widow of Amos Rogers of Michigan, the last three of whom are still living and in tolerably good health oat the ages respectively of 86, 84, and 81.

Of this large family only two died at less than four score; two approached and two passed their 90th year; one almost reached her 100th and another passed it with a handsome margin to spare.

THE FUNERAL OCCASION

The funeral of Mrs. Butcher was held on Saturday, Sept. 5., at the Methodist church, within a stone’s throw of her late residence. Her pastor, Rev. John Read, preached an appropriate sermon from Eccles. xii; C, and Revs. L.R. Edwards and J.E. Lake, former pastors, and Rev. Edward Lonx of the Baptist church, assisted. Other clergymen were also present. The borough commissioners had taken official cognizance of the event, and during the obsequies places of business were closed and flags floated at half mast throughout the village, and at the hour appointed, despite the unfavorable weather, the friends and neighbors of the deceased gathered in large numbers to take a last look of her features and hear testimony to their respect and sympathy for the living. The interment took place at Little Silver and the casket was reverently born to the tomb by grave and elderly men.

Thus passes away in all probability the oldest inhabitant in a commonwealth of a million and a quarter of souls. Peace to her ashes, and continued health and a final happy release to her nearest surviving kinsmen. They certainly have “lived long in the land,” and we bare our heads in their venerable presence.

OBIT: http://mtpl.org/data/rbr/1890-1899/1891/1891.09.09.pdf
RED BANK. N. J., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1891.
A CENTENARIAN DEAD
MRS. MARY BUTCHER DIES AT THE AGE OF 104 YEARS.
Probably the oldest woman in the state - Born at New Monmouth and dying at Atlantic Highlands - A Singer and Poet in Early Life.

Mrs. Mary Butcher died at her home at Atlantic Highlands last Wednesday, aged 104 years. She wa born near New Monmouth, her father being Moses Tunis. In 1805 she married a young farmer, who was drowned shortly after the marriage. Her second husband was Ezekiel Rogers, by whom she had two children, the late Mrs. King of Little Silver and Thomas T. Rogers of Atlantic Highlands. Twenty years after his marriage Ezekiel Rogers died. When she was fifty years old Mrs. Rogers married ? Butcher, who lived near Trenton. Upon Mr. Butcher's death, which occurred not long after his marriage, Mrs. Butcher moved to Trenton and then went to Little Silver. All of her family are long lived people. Two brothers living in Michigan are aged 90 and 86 years and a sister is 85 years old. Her father was 99 years old when he died, and her mother had a sister and brother aged respectively 87 and 90. During her early days she wrote considerable poetry and she was also a fine singer. She was a good member of the Methodist church, having united with that society at the age of ten years. For several years past she had been cared for by her son, Mr. Rogers. The funeral was held at the Methodist church on Saturday afternoon. rev. John reed, pastor of the church, conducted the service, assisted by Rev. J. E. Lake and Rev. L. B. Edwards, former pastors; Rev. Edward Loux of the Baptist church, Rev. Robert Emery of Seaside church and Rev. W. A. Price of the Presbyterian church. The pall bearers were Rev. Robert Emery, J. Willmore, John Dey and John B. Hammond. The remains were buried at Little Silver.

Mrs. Butcher had never had a day's sickness in her life until about ten years ago, when a general break up of her system commenced. Even then the ruggedness and vitality which is such a pronounced family trait, kept her in moderate health. It was due to this inherited vigor and to her methodical habits that her life was prolonged until she became probably the oldest woman in the state.

Her death was considered such an important local event that the board of commissioners of Alantic Highlands took official action upon it. a meeting of the board of commissioners was held last Thursday night and a eulogy of the dead woman was delivered by Peter Y. Everett. He spoke of her upright life; of her accomplishments as a singer and writer in her early days; of her patriotism as manifested by her service in making clothing for the soldiers during the war of 1812; and of her love of American institutions. After Mr. Everett's address a preamble and resolutions were passed by the commissioners, ordering that all places of business in Atlantic Highlands be closed during the time the funeral was being held, and also ordering all flags in the borough to be hung at half mast that day.

NAME: father's will, FHL film 548105 Moses Tunis, Manalapan, Monmouth, New Jersey
Signed 19th day of October 1850
five daughters equal share of the same as my grandsons, Phebe Dancer, Sarah Vandeveer, Nancy Burden, Mary Butcher, late Mary Rogers, Amelia Rogers, wife of Amos Rogers

RECEIPT & DISCHARGE of ESTATE: FHL film 804912, Vol A., p. 213. Filed July 5, 1856
"I Mary Butcher one of the residuary legatees of Moses Tunis late of the County of Monmouth, New Jersey deceased have received of Henry Tunis and Benjamin Dey Executors of Moses Tunis deceased four hundred and twenty three dollars and twenty two cents which is in full of my legacy and share in the estate of said deceased...."
Signed 14 Dec 1855

New Jersey, Mercer County: On this fourteenth day of December eighteen hundred and fifty five before me, Andrew Dutcher, a master in Chancery of New Jersey personally appeared Mary Butcher who is I am satisfied the grantor named in the foregoing deed of discharge and having informed her of the contents of the same and she being examined alone and separate and apart from her husband acknowledged that she signed sealed and delivered the same as her voluntary act and deed and freely without any fear, threats or compulsion of her husband, alledging that her husband does now and has for many years lived separate and apart form her and she maintains herself and controls and conducts her business herself without any participation therein by him in any way. Andrew Dutcher, M.C.C.