Bertram Erickson Marriner

On this day, 4 October 1937, Bertram “Bert” Erickson Marriner passed away. He was my 2nd great-grandfather.

Born on 23 July 1873, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Bertram Erickson Marriner was the son of Josiah K. Marriner and Georganna Ida Marks. He joined an older sister, Ida, who was born one year earlier in July 1872.

Battered and Bruised

Today is the first day in National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence affects many worldwide. In the United States alone, the statistics on domestic violence are staggering:

• Nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner. In one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. Of those, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence (e.g. beating, burning, strangling) by an intimate partner.
• 1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner.
• 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have been raped in their lifetime. Almost half of female (46.7%) and male (44.9%) victims of rape were raped by an acquaintance. Of these, 45.4% of female rape victims and 29% of male rape victims were raped by an intimate partner.
• 1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.

And Still She Rose

Some people break under pressure, crumbling when faced with adversity. Then, there are those who walk tall under the weight of the world and rise above the strife. My grandmother was one of the latter.

Hannah Anna (Layton) Marriner

On this date, 23 February 1952, Hannah Anna (Layton) Marriner James, passed away. She was my 2nd great-grandmother.

Born on 10 October 1874, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey, Hannah was the daughter of Augustus Layton and Rebecca Ann Moore. She joined older brother, George Augustus, who was born earlier that year.