1828-1900
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Thomas W. Middleton was born July 24, 1828 at Groveville, New Jersey. His great grandfather Thomas Middleton was a member of the Monmouth County Horse during the American Revolution. His grandfather, also Thomas Middleton, served in the War of 1812. His maternal great grandfather, Jesse Jenkins, was the owner and founder of Jenkinstown, PA and was the Chief Carpenter of Commodore Decaturís fllet at Tripoli.
He was admitted to the bar in November, 1852 and followed that profession in Bordentown, NJ for about one year. In 1853 he removed himself to Toms River and continued his practice there until the Civil War broke out in 1861.
He helped to raise the first company of recruits from Ocean County, Co. D of the 9th NJ Volunteers and was mustered in as their Captain when the unit was activated at Trenton, NJ. He served with that unit until he was wounded at the Battle of New Bern on March 14, 1862.
Thomas W. Middleton returned home to recuperate and was ordered to Camp Convalescent, Baltimore, MD, where he served as Judge Advocate for about six months under General Wool. He resigned and returned to Toms River, NJ.
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Early in 1863 he was commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln to Captaincy in the Veteran Reserve Corps and attached to the Twelfth and then to the Twenty-third Regiment. He was then detailed for special duty as recruiting in Kingston, NY and then sent to Washington in command of four companies at Columbia College Hospital. From there he was sent to St. Louis, MO as Commandant of the Draft Rendezous Barracks again having charge of four companies. He served for about two years until his old wound broke out in the fall of 1865 and he was sent home to recuperate. He resigned and resumed his practice of law soon after.
In Ocean County he served as the Prosecutor of the Pleas for twenty five years, from February 28, 1872 until March 15, 1897. He was a charter member and Past Commander of the Ambrose E. Burnside Post # 59 Grand Army of the Republic and was Past Master of Harmony Lodge, No. 18, Free and Accepted Masons.
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