Benjamin Minturn Hartshorne, who was probably the wealthiest man in Monmouth county, died on Tuesday night of last week at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Dowling Trask of Astoria, Long Island. He was 74 years old and death was due to paralysis. Mr. Hartshorne was born on the Hartshorne place at the Highlands, which has been in the possession of the Hartshornes since 1669, and which at one time comprised the entire Highlands and Sandy Hook. Mr. Hartshorne went to California during the gold craze in 1849 and engaged in the steamboat business. He was later interested in another Pacific line of steamers and he made considerable money out of these enterprises. His estate is estimated to be worth several million dollars. Three children survive him. They are Robert Hartshorne of the Highlands, Mrs. Ward, wife of Lieutenant Henry Ward of the United States army, and the daughter at whose home he died.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, Mar 28, 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.

  ---