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SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Historic Thomas Titus gravesite rededicated

By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
   The long overlooked 162-year old Benson Road grave of former landowner and slave Thomas Titus is much cleaner now thanks to the efforts of Kendall Park resident and Eagle Scout candidate Mike Hickey, 17.
   As part of his Eagle Scout project, Mr. Hickey and other members of Troop 90 cleaned up the gravesite in March and then rededicated the Titus gravesite on May 7.
   Mr. Titus, 64, died from a plague on July 21, 1849, according to research completed by township resident James Shackleford, who said he has studied Mr. Titus for many years.
   After the ceremony, Mr. Shackleford said he has spent many years doing research on the history of slavery in the township, not just the Titus family, and what started out as a hobby turned into something more.
   He said he represented the family’s history in a very positive light, and researched wills and deeds to relay as many facts with as little speculation as possible and said his work was worth every minute of the time. He also said he was glad many descendents of Mr. Titus came to the rededication.
   During the ceremony itself, Mr. Shackleford presented some of the history of the Titus family.
   About 45-50 people attended the ceremony, including some of Mr. Titus’s descendents and members of Mr. Hickey’s troop.
   Mr. Hickey said that the gravesite was cleaned up in about 10 hours during the weekend of March 19-20, with help from his friends and members of his troop, who cleared the overgrowth around the site, planted some bushes and trees and also installed a chain fence around the grave.
   Mr. Hickey also said the ceremony went as planned, that he was relieved the project was finished, and that he was proud of it’s success. He said the project was funded by donations from friends, family, his father’s coworkers, and from local businesses.
   Prior to cleaning up the site, Mr. Hickey said he had to make phone calls, solicit donations, write up the plan for the project and that planning the project was harder than actually executing the plan.
   The idea for the project was inspired by Mr. Hickey’s neighbor, Bob Weber, a township employee that told him about the gravesite.
   Mr. Weber, 52, said when he was growing up, he could see the property from his house but he did not know the history of the site at the time and that the project was a “win-win situation” for all involved, including the township and the Scouts.
   He said the project had support from the Mayor’s office, and Department of Public Works Director Ray Olsen since the township wanted to do something with the site, but had no time or money.
   Deputy Mayor Chris Killmurray spoke during the ceremony and said this rededication is helping to keep history alive, and that the Titus family is going to be a part of the township forever.
   ”We can never forget our history,” Mr. Killmurray said.
   Montclair resident and descendent of Mr. Titus, Frances Moore, was contacted by Mr. Hickey about the project relating to her ancestor and said that she is “very honored” that they would do this for Mr. Titus, who is the most distant ancestor she is aware of.
   Ms. Moore said she would also like members of the Beakman family, who initially sold the property to Mr. Titus and then bought the land back years later, to contact her to get more information.
   Lois Thompson Owens, who is also a descendent of Mr. Titus, said the rededication was an honor, and that this was her third time attending a dedication ceremony for Mr. Titus.
   ”I am proud to be a descendent,” she said.
   She said that it is overwhelming to have many generations and still have family in the township.
   Another ancestor, Raven Moore, said the family has been getting together for hundreds of years, and that there are about 300 living family members.