from the New Jersey Courier, 4 Oct 1900
Captain Thomas W. Middleton died very suddenly on Saturday morning last, falling over upon the steps of his law office in the bank building. He had been ill for a week or so past, the ailment being pronounced as acute indigestion. Saturday morning he felt better and came down town, greeting many of his friends in his usual cheery way. His sudden death from neuralgia of the heart is a distinct shock to the whole community.
Thomas Woodward Middleton was of English descent and a great grandson of Thomas Middleton, a member of the Monmouth County Horse in the Revolution, a grandson of Thomas Middleton of the War of 1812, and the son of Esdeck Middleton, who as Captain of the Groveville, NJ Volunteers participated in one of the receptions to Lafayette in 1825. Mr. Middleton's mother, Rebecca, was a daughter of Charles Jenkins, who was a son of Jesse Jenkins, the owner and founder of Jenkintown, PA, and the Chief Carpenter of Decatur's fleet at Tripoli.
Thomas W. Middleton was born at Groveville, near Trenton, July 24, 1828, was educated at Rev. Alden C. Scovel's preparatory school, Bordentown, and read law there with the late Garrit S. Cannon. He was admitted to the bar in November 1852, and for about year followed his profession in Bordentown. Coming to Toms River in 1853, he was in active practice until the war broke out in 1861, when he raised the first company of troops in Ocean County. He went out as Captain of Company D., Ninth NJ Volunteer Infantry and served with great credit until he was wounded at the battle of New[illeg----], March 14, 1892. He returned home to recuperate and later was ordered to C---[illeg.] Convalescent, Baltimore where he served as Judge Advocate under General Wood for about six months when he resigned and again came home. He was a member of the M.E. church and was for many years superintendent of the Sunday school.
In December 1852 Mr. Middleton married Martha A., daughter of James Rediker of Bordentown. She died in March 1896, leaving two daughters surviving -Miss Clara Middleton of this town and Mrs. Annie, wife of Clayton Grover of Islip, L.I.. Their only son, James R., was accidentally killed at Red Bank while in the employ of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
Funeral services were held at the Main St. residence on Tuesday at 1:30, Rev. I.O. Manchster of the M.E. Church officiated, assisted by Rev. J.J. Cale and Rev. H.B. Carpenter. Masonic ceremonies were held at the grave, the order turning out in a body. Josiah Moorehead of Philadelphia acted as master.
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