Last Saturday, Miss Lydia Stilwell died at the Home of the Aged and Infirm in New York City, at the age of 93. Miss Stilwell was born in Holmdel in 1793. She was the daughter of Gen. Jared Stilwell, who died in New York, in 1843. Miss Stilwell moved from Holmdel many years ago. She lived in Fulton street, New york city, for forty years, and afterward moved to Jamesburg. Two years ago she moved to the Home of the Aged and Infirm in Sixty-Seventh Street, New York, where she remained up to the time of her death.

A few of Miss Stilwell's relatives are still living in Holmdel, and her cousin, Mrs. Stacy P. Conover, is now at Congress Hall, Saratoga. Miss Stillwell, in the language of the Matron of the Home was a very imperative sort of an old lady. her father in his time had owned a large nummber of slaves, and Miss Stilwell never forgot that fact. her intellect was good until within a year.

Miss Stilwell's mother was Miss Lydia Holmes of Holmdel. When the British forces were in this county at the time of the memorable battle of Monmouth was fought, Miss Holmes opened the door of the house for Cornwallis who came in the middle of the night. She was forced to entertain the enemy to avoid trouble. Miss Stilwell's mother, thinking that the soldiers would take her best clothes had hidden them in the barn. Cornwallis noticed that she made no change in clothing and finding out the reason ordered the clothes to be brought out saying they would be perfectly safe. The chest that contained the clothes is now the property of Mrs. T. W. Seabrook of Keyport.

Miss Stilwell left her personal effects to the Matron of the Home. Among her most treasured possessions were an invitation to tea ??? John S. Conover and James S. Lawrence dated February 10, 1825, and two old newspapers, yellow and almost tumbling to pieces. Miss Stilwell carried the treasures about with her in a bag, which never relinquished until the last.

Source: Red Bank Register September 8, 1886

Some additional excellent resources for your research are:
• Interment.net ~ Cemetery Transcriptions on the net.

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