Ezekiel Gravatt, for many years a resident of Matawan, died on Saturday, February 24th, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. A. Bloomer of Newburg, New York. He was 75 years old and death was caused by locomotor ataxia.

Mr. Gravatt was born near Perrineville. He went to Matawan in 1846 and worked as a wheelwright. He afterward became a carpenter and assisted in building Cartan & Davlin’s mill. Upon the completion of the mill he accepted a position with its owner and remained at the mill until forced to give up work about five years ago on account of poor health. Since then he had lived with his daughter.

Mr. Gravatt was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Carhart, daughter of Joel Carhart. By her he had nine children, the only surviving one being the daughter with whom he lived at the time of his death. His first wife died in 1876 and five years later he married Mrs. Melissa Hankins, widow of Smith Hankins. She survives him, but he had no children by his second wife.

Mr. Gravatt joined the Matawan Methodist church in 1847 and he had always remained in active membership. With the exception of Alexander H. Harris he was the oldest living member of the church. He had been a member of the Odd Fellows lodge of Matawan ever since its organization.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, Mar 7, 1900

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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