Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2041, Robert Ayres, New Jersey
Page 1

New Jersey
Ayres. Robert
NUMBER
8. 2041
carded
Page 2


17.923
New Jersey-
Robert Ayres-
[unintelligible] in the State of N.J
Pri. in the company commanded
- of the Regt commanded by Captain in teh Regt commanded by
Lord Sterling in the N.J.
22 1/2 Mos
Inscribed on the Roll of NJ
the rate of 75 Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 11- day of October 1833 and sent- [unintellligible]
M Chesney- Heights Town
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 33
$150.
Semi-anl. allowance ending
37.50
$187.50
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
recorded by E D Bullock Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 101 -
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Declaration of
Robert Ayres
8886
221/2 months private
70 -
4.
3.33
1.99
on Rolls
1 Reg. N. Jersey
for 1 year
Suspended
150
C.G. McChesney
Hights Town
New Jersey
(see ltr 6/21/33 in [  ] R10292
of [   ] street
Page 4

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County
Declaration in order to obtain the Benefit
of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
On this 31. day of July 1832 Personally appeared in open court at a special term of the Inferior Court of Common -
Pleas in and for sd County held at the City of New Brunswick now sitting being a Court of Record. Robert Ayres a resident
of the Township of West Windsor in the County of Middlesex and
State aforesaid aged 78 the 4th day of July last who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath makes the following
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress
Passed June 7th 1832
   That he enlisted on the 8th day of November 1775 in the Town of
Woodbridge Middlesex County and State aforesd in the 2nd Company and first regiment of New Jersey under Captain John Conaway for the term of one years in a few
days after they left the state and went to Long Island was then
under General Heard But soon as the Tories were dispersed they
returned to New York and then remained untill spring 1776
when he marched for Quebec under the command of Col Wynes
of the 1st Regiment of N. Jersey but reached no further than
the Three Rivers from then returned back as far as Fort Shambles [Chambly]
thence to Fort St Johns and also to a Fort on Lake George remained
their until fall. General Sullivan commanded the Regiment
an army took cold from having the small Pox-being much exposed
on guard by order of Gen Sullivan was sent to Albany when he
remained not being fully recovered when his term  of service expired
By which means he failed in procuring his Discharge
accompanying this Declaration will be the affidant of Andrew
Boman who enlisted and served with him the whole tour who is
the only living testimony so Applicant can now obtain at this
period of time- was
after his return home drafted under
Captain Thomas Combs Two or three tours of service in the
State Malitia, served under Captain Randall next but how
long does not distinctly recollect. Shortly after was taken Prisoner
by the Enemy But an opportunity offering made his escape--
He also joined the company commanded by Captain Matthias
Lyon marched to Staten Island and was in the Battle on that
Island under the command of Maj Samuel Hays was a volunteer-2 or 3 times was
afterwards a Volunteer under Col Saml Crow
and was in the seven skirmish of Bonum Town and shortly
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after in the Battle of Ash Swamp and so continued in the Malitia with but little intermission until the close of the war. The foregoing and the most material facts that ┃
he can now remember relating to his services during the Revolutionary War and further declared he has no Documentary Evidence relating to his services -Except the one Before mentioned and doth hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity Except the present and declares that his name
is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State and lastly declares that he verily believes he was engaged at different times as is above related more than two years in the Service and Defence of his country
Sworn to and Subscribed
---
Robert Ayers
The day and year aforesaid-
Robert McChesney
We [   ] as a Clergyman of the Township of East Windsor and State of New Jersey in Middlesex County and Resharrick Moor
of the sd County of Middlesex do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Robert Ayres who has subscribed and Sworn to the forgoing Declaration and believe him to be 78 years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood when he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and Subscribed
Israel Pearce
Resharrick Moor
the day and year afore
Robert McChesney
Interrogatories by the Court to the applicant
1.  When and in that year were you born?
A. In Woodbridge Middlesex County, New Jersey Born 1754
2.  Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
A.  Recorded in the Bible presented before the Court
3.  When were you living when called into service where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
A.  Living in Woodbridge at the time have in Morris County and now live in Township County and State aforesaid
4. How were you called into service?
A.  was Enlisted and was also a volunteer
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5.  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served such continental and-Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances
of your service?
A. General Herd of Malitia & Col Crow: Gen Washington, Genl Sullivan - Col Wynes. Capt Conaway of the Continental.
6.  Did you ever receive a Discharge from the service?
A.  Did not, on account of sickness. Being at the time in Albany 
7.   State the names of persons to whom you are known in your Present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your charater for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
A.  William Fisher, Rescanick Moore, William D. Jewell
Frederick Stells, Charles G. McChesney 

Robert Ayers

Sworn to and Subscribed in open court this 31 day of July 1832
Robert Booraem
And the [  ] do hereby declare their opinion after the [   ] ligation of the matter and after putting the above Interrogatories prescribed by the war Department that the above named Applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that the Israel Pearce who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Middlesex and that Rescanick More who has also signed his name to the same is a resident in the same County and is a
Credible Person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Robert McCheney N. Booraem
Thos Hance
Judges
F. S. Vanansdalen Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey do
Hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings
of the so Court in the matter of the application of Robert Ayres for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 31st day of July A.D. 1832
F. S. Vanansdale Clerk
Page 7

Start of New Jersey
Middlesex County

Be it Known that on this Tenth day of July
1833, Personally appeared before me the Subscribed a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Robert Ayers who being duly sworn according to Law Deposeth and saith that the following amendment to his original Declaration is true and made in order to obtain the benefit
the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
1 year . Enlisted on the 8th day of November  1775, in Woodbridge-Middlesex County, New Jersey under Capt Conway for One year in the 2nd Company and 1st Regiment of New Jersey
and marched as original Declaration states,
Some time in the month of December 1776 after his enlistment and return was taken Prisoner by the British and soon after when they were making preparations to carry him
to New York he made his escape, and immediately went before returning home to Washington encampment 
1777 Januray 1 mos.  and then volunteered under Captain James Kean of the Malitia for one month and was stationed in and around Morristown until the one month expired his col. name he is not certain of but thinks it was Ford
February 1 mos.  Drafted under Capt Thomas Combs who commanded a Company of Rangers under Col Crow, was in the
Battle of Ash Swamp near Bonhamtown and scouted around Amboy and Bonhamtown until the month expired.
March 1 mos.  Volunteered under same Capt marched immediately within two or three miles of Amboy and these succeeded in taking a large drove of sheep from the British. We
marched as much at night as in the day scouting
about Amboy and on towards Elizabethtown-This Tour was one month was in the Battle on Staten Island
Carried over -
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1777
May. 1mo.  Drafted under Capt Randall and marched to Elizabethtown back to Woodbridge, and remained Scouting that district of Country until the month expired.
July. 1 mo.  Drafted under Capt Randall and Col Crow marched to Amboy or near then to Bonhamtown, Blazing Star and other places, making one month.
September 1/2mos.  Volunteered under Col. Crow as a minute man was out on scouts not less than five times. each time not less than three days each [   ] making ½ mos was in the Battle of Bonhamtown Se
Nov. 1 mo.  Drafted or volunteered cannot say which, under the same Officers and marched to Woodbridge, Bonhamtown, Blazing Star and other places marking one month.  About this time he was moved to Newark, N.J., to take
charge of his uncle's farm. who had lately been killed by the English.
1778
April.  1 mo.  Drafted under Capt Matthias Lyon and Maj Saml Hays, Marched to Hackensack 7 miles above Newark and Scouted that region of Country, and returned to Newark this Tour was one month
May. 3/4 mo.  Volunteered under same officers and marched to the same places, this tour was three weeks
June. 1 mo.  Drafted under [   ]  Lyon marched to Elizabethtown then to N. Brunswick, was then hastened on to join the American army near Monmouth but did not reach there in time for the Battle, one month,
1779 
was out during this year other tours but cannot recall each of them separately was out this year but cannot particulars
1780
June. 1 mo.  Volunteered under Major Samuel Hays marched to Springfield, the enemy were there and burned the Building, &c. pressured them and was in some
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Skirmishes, remained out this tour one month
1781
January. 1 mo.  Drafted under same officers and marched on towards Princeton this was during the Revolt of the Pennsylvania Line - returned to Newark and remained under arms until the month Expired

Enlistment and Malitia Services amounting to
1 year 11 months and 1 Week

I further declare that I was out many other
Tours after the Term of my enlistment expired
than those designated in this supplement
Being infirm and in my 80th year of age
This Deponent further declared that since the
last return of his Declaration he has travelled
more than one Hundred miles in search of
Testimony but having no acquaintance in those
places since the Revolutionary war and after many days search is entirely unable to find a Single Individual now living who was in the service with him
-and further saith not Robert Ayers
Sworn to and Subscribed
the day and year above written
Before me
Robert Jones
---
John Smith
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State of New Jersey,
I James D Westcott, Secretary
of the State of New Jersey, do certify, that John Smith
before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken ┃
and who hath attested the same was at the ┃
time thereof and now is a Justice of the Race
in and for the County of Middlesex duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith
and credit are and ought to be given to his official attestations
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
seal of office this twenty fourth
day of July A.D. Eighteen hundred and thirty three,
James D Westcott
Page 11

Rev.&1812 Wars Section.

                                                   May 11, 1928
Mrs. Mary D. LaRue,
2716 South Girard Avenue,
Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Madam;

I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 2041, it appears that Robert Ayres was born July 4, 1754, in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey
While living in Woodbridge, New Jersey, he enlisted November 8, 1775, and served at various times until sometime in 1781, amounting to about one year eleven months and one week
in all, as a private with the New Jersey troops under Captains John Conway, James Kean, Thomas Combs, Randall and Matthias
Lyon, Major Samuel Hays and Colonels William Winds, Ford, and Crow; he was taken prisoner in December, 1776, but soon made
his escape was in battles of Bonhamtown, Ash Swamp, Staten Island and in skirmishes at Springfield at the time it was burned by the enemy.
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 31, 1832, at which time he was living in West Windsor Township,
Middlesex County, New Jersey,
There are no data on file relative to his family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.
Page 12

1906 Aug. 3. Letter to Adj. Gen.
of New Jersey.
-
1910 Feb. 14. Hist. to Mr. John H Stokes
-
1928 Mary 11 hist to
Mrs. Mary D. LaRue MCS


2041
INVALID.
---
File No. 2041

-
Robert Ayres
Privt Rev War
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 14
[Arrangement of 1870.

1833
80
1753
Page 13

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County

Be it Known that on the Twenty third day of August, Eighteen Hundred and Thirty Two before me Robert McChesney one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas in and for the said County of Middlesex personally appeared
Andrew Bowman who being duly sworn according to Law, did depose and say that he is well acquainted with Robert Ayres and hath
been previous to the Revolutionary war, and that he distinctly remembers that he the said Robert Ayres was in the service of the United States
and enlisted in the month of November in the year 1775 in the company commanded by John Conaway in the first Regiment of New Jersey for
the Term of one year, was marched to Long Island, and to New York, and there
remained until the spring of 1776 when he marched for Quebee, under the
said Captain & under Colonel William Wynes, of the said Regiment, But
marched no farther than the three Rivers, and shortly was marched back to
Fort Chambly, and from thence to Fort St John, and from there to the
Isle of Noix, and from thence to Ticonderoga, and there lay until the fall
General Sullivan was commander at first and after that General
Gates commanded, at which place he then said
Ayres was taken sick and sent to the hospital, and he believes
returned in the month of November nearly about then and of the the time of his
enlistment expired, after this did not see him the said Ayres
during that term of service, he, the said deponent, and him the
said Ayres was all the above mentioned time in the same
Company, but as to his services afterwards in the Militia of New Jersey
he has now no knowledge they having been engaged in
different Regiments, and further this deponent saith not.

Andrew [his mark]  Bowman

sworn to, and subscribed before
me the subscriber this 23 day
of August 1832
Robert McChesney
Middlesex County ss
Page 14

State of New Jersey
Middlesex County ss
I F.S. Vanansdalen Clk of the
Court of Common pleas in & for sd County of Middlesex do hereby certify that Robert McChesney before whom the within affidavit was taken was on the date thereof and is now a Judge of said Court and that the name of Robert McChesney as thereto subscribed is the
proper hand writing often said judge

In witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of office this 28th day
of August A.D. 1832
F. S. Vanansdalen Clk
Page 15

FEB 8 - 1910
Mrs John H. Stokes
The Porter
Washington DC.

requests official
record of Robert Ayer
Pension Certificate-
No 17923 Rev. War
Page 16

19 /115
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF ADJUTANT-GENERAL

CW
Trenton, August 1, 1906
Attention and reply through desk,
[name ]
First Deputy Commissioner

The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
Robert Ayers of the Middlesex County New Jersey Militia, was a pensioner, file No. 2041, for service in the Revolutionary War. Can you furnish me from the records in your Department the date of his death or the name of the agency that paid the pension, so that the date can be ascertained.
Very respectfully,
R Heber Breintnall
Adjutant General.

Deputy Commissioner
Aug 2 1906
S 
Pension Office
Page 17

Minneapolis, Minn.
2716 S. Girard Ave.,
July 30, 1927

Mr. Winfield Scott, Commissioner
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions, Washington.
Revolutionary War Section

My dear Sir:
I see by the Revolutionary War Pension
Census 1840 that Robert Ayres was a Revolutionary soldier, a private, and pensioner from Middlesex Co. N. J.

Oliver Cory, age 76, a pensioner from Middlefield, Otsego County N. Y.

Wm. Bradley pensioner, sergeant, 7th Virginia Reg living at Rockbridge, Hocking County, Ohio

We shall appreciate very much your kindness
in forwarding copies of these three pensions. We shall thereby be able we think to finish out the missing link of these ancestries.

Thanking you most sincerely I am
Yours very truly,
hers, Mary D La Rue
Page 18

In reply to your request of_______________, recieved________________for a statement of the military history of Robert Ayres. a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.    S. File 2041
                                              officers under whom 
                                              service as rendered 
dates of             length of  Captain    Colonel State
enlistment or    service
appointment
Nov. 8  '75    1 year ┃ John                   William  NJ 
                                       Conway             Winds
1777         6 1/2mos   James Keen         Ford
                             Thomas Clark Combs  Crow
                                                   Randall     Crow
1778         2 3/4mos   Mathias Lyon  Maj Samuel                                                                                                                                      
                                                                        Hays
1780     1mo                       "                             "
1781     1 "                          "                              "                           
Battles engaged in, 2 Ash Swamp, 3 Staten Is., 1Bonhamtown, 4 burning Springfield
Residence of soldier at ist enlistment, Woodbridgee, Middlesex Co. N.J
Date of application for pension, July 31, 1832.
Allowed
Residence at date of application, West Windsor Twp Middlesex Co. N.J
Age at date of application, born July 4, 1754 Woodbridge, N.J.
Remarks: Captured in Dec. 76, escape re-enl Etc.
Page 19

Aug 3,1906

R. Heber Breintnall
Adjutant General of New Jersey,
Trenton, New Jersey

Sir:  
In reply to your letter dated the 1st instant, received the 2nd, relative to Robert Ayers, a pensioner of the Revolutionary War
under Survivor's File #2041, I have the honor to advise you that the papers on file in this Bureau fail to show the date of his death.

For the date of last payment of pension apply to the Auditor for the Interior Department, Treasury Department, citing the following data: ""Certificate #17,923, issued October 11, 1833, under the
Act of June 7, 1832, at the New Jersey Agency,

Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.