Frank Hendershot

Frank…

Researcher, Historian, Friend

One of Frank Hendershot’s passions was Hendershot Family history. He scoured the New Jersey libraries, courthouses, cemeteries and Historical Societies for many years collecting Hendershot Family information. Recently he wrote to a researcher, “I have extracted just about all the [Hendershot] vital statistics recorded in the public records of New Jersey. A few may have escaped me, but not more than a few.” Frank followed the trails of Hendershots into other states such as Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. He also followed those who went to Canada. Besides a researcher, Frank was teacher and encourager to other researchers. He was generous with what he had learned and helped many others with their research. He answered letters and e-mail, sharing his insights and copies of information and documents. He was a tour guide whenever he had the opportunity... how he loved showing people the Hendershot home places of New Jersey!

Frank was a friend. His smile was contagious. I imagine all you who knew him would agree...to know Frank was to love him. We will miss him and think of him often as we forge ahead with our research. I can imagine him smiling with us when we discover a new fact about the Hendershots or put together a new link in our families.

Frank was born 17 December 1922, in Bayonne, New Jersey. He died on the 14th of September 2002 in Toms River, New Jersey at age 79.and is buried at Christ Church Cemetery near Sayreville, New Jersey. Frank served in World War II and in the Korean War, attaining the rank of Major. Before retiring, he was a salesman at Sears and Roebuck Company in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His wife preceded him in death, but he is survived by two daughters, Eileen Hoernlein and Grace O’Keefe, four grandchildren and his companion, Betty Paton. Frank loved history and genealogy. He was a member of the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield and of course the Hendershot Researchers.

Annette Ely Schaumann