Bridgeton pioneer., 1894-03-15
B.T. BRIGHT DEAD.

~. Rr,sht Died Thursday Night
Promiaent and A1ndiy
Iharacter; Noted for Many
generous TT ats.
psriamin T. Bright died suddenly
thursday night about haIf-past eight
,.,o.b Of his home In East Bridgeton,
from heart disease.
M Bright had been unusually cheer
ful during Thursday, and was down
.own several times; he was at St. An
d,ew,s Church In the morning and at
..rded tile 4 O'Clock services there In
Tho afternoon. When he left the
.burch he was in a very cheerful mood
ond took the rector away with him.
The Guild of st.. Andrews P. E.
Church was to meet at his residence In
the evening, and after tea Mr.. Bright
rat,red to his room upstairs to change
his attire; this was about 8 O'Clock,
and members of the Guild had begun
to arrive.
he soon came down stairs and COM
plsined of intense suffering; his family
and the guests assembled became
alarmed at his appearance and extreme
suffering and sent for physician and
DR.. Appelgate, who was the first one
to be found, responded to the sum
mons In about fifteen or twenty min
utes. He was then unconscious and
no medical remedies could be OF any
avail; he expired five minutes later.
What was to have been an evening
of entertainment in a Christian cause
was turned to one of sorrow.
Sympathizlng friends we're around
the death scene, but human aid and
sympathy were of but little comfort to
the little family, who had SO suddenly
been berett of the loving husband and
father. He leaves widow and two
children, son and daughter.
Benjamin T. Bright was born in
Woodstown, Salem county, Nov. ID,
1882. and was conse quently In the Cad
year Of his age.
Mr.. Bright traces his lineage to Jae.
Bright, his greatgreat.grand father,
who emigrated from England, and set
tied In Salem Go. He had son James
Kendell, whose son James was the
grandfather of Benjamin T.
The children of this James were
William, james, Josiah and Nicholas,
and two daughters.
Nicholas was born in 1902 at Woods
town, N. J :, and later made Bridgeton
bis home, where he married Miss
Esther Reeves, and had several chill
dren, two only of whom lived 10 grow
up. Those were Bepjsmin T. and
James K. James died In 1866.
Nicholas Bright served as a drum.
mer boy In the war of 1919; the greater
part of his life was spent in Woods-
town and Salem, where he pursued his
trade as blacksmith, and gained
quite competency; he removed to
bridgeton when Benjamin Il. was
quite youth.
The early life of Ben pjamin was diver
slned as was usual with boys at that
period. He attended the public school
and worked In his fathers blacksmith
snop. After spending a period In
farming ne entered the employ OF the
cumberland Nail & Iron Works, where
ne worked in the engine room.
al the age of 81 he entered the Sur
.ogate's office as clerk. His health
iallea and a long sea voyage was pro-
posed for him; he spent five years at
sea' On his return he married Miss
Aacnel Ladow, Of this county, and had
TWO children, E. Ellsworth and Mary
y. The latter died. Mrs. Bright also
aled' and Mr.. Bright married again,
m nus time Sarah O., the daughter of
.nomas Parsons, of Atlantic City;
'uey nave one daughter, Emma, who
survives.
-o~S W eAo q OIdV0 6OluL6I Lu0
war OF the rebellion, having enlisted
~ ,aoo company H." gath N. j. vols., in
.'Os' ne participated In the great bat
sss OF fredericksburg and Chancel-
,oisVllle. After the close of the war
~ engaged In teaching, but In 1865 he
vassged MY, In the grocery business,
su sui0a ne conducted for ten years.
t,a .u0e retiring from the business his
ue ,a mas been devoted to his handsome
'Sru at East Bridgeton.
w. ar' br'ght was an enthusiastic Free
a, l1sUn ~ and Odd Fellow, having taken
sn.s an sue degrees In the latter order. He
nav ssIlsa =, the Grand Lodge of New Jer.
en..,! On - 1865 and was appointed Grand
Dsn".lan Da.ulan for 1855 ee; he has been
t.. pu,y drand Master and Grand Mas
Ana ana ne became an Odd Fellow In 1874
free Mason In 1S5h ha,ro q ,,.