Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 849, Jacob Ayres, New Jersey.
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(8-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER
New Jersey | Ayres, Jacob | S.849

carded
CONTENTS
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17,323

New Jersey

Jacob Ayres of Middlesex Co. in the State of N. Jersey, who was a private in the comp(any) commanded by Capt. Bowers of the reg(iment) commanded by Col. Heard in the N. Jersey line for 14 mos. 

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Jersey at the rate of 46 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Aug. 1833 and sent to J.F. Randolph, Present.

Arrears to the 4th of Mar. '33..............$93.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep. '33........23.33
                                           =======
                                           $116.66

Died Aug. 20, 2836

{Revolutionary claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Jos. C. Stiles, Clerk
Book E; Vol. 3; Page 101
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Application of Jacob Ayres for pension.
86 8707

Certificate to be sent to James F. Randolph, N. Bruns(wick), N. Jersey

James F. Randolph
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State of New Jersey 
Middlesex County//

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

On this Eighteenth day of September Eighteen Hundred and Thirty two personally appeared before me, William B. Manning, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey, being a Court of Record, Jacob Ayres, a resident of the Township of Woodbridge in the said County of Middlesex, aged Seventy nine years on the Twentieth day of August last, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States in the Militia of New Jersey as a private and served as herein stated. Viz.: That in the year 1776 he was called into service in the company commanded by James Bonney as captain and under Colonel Heard and marched to Perth Amboy and then to Blazing Star, and was engaged in guarding opposite where the enemy lay on Staten Island, and from thence under the same officers, was called to march to Bergen, Bergen Point, Paulus Hook opposite the City of New York at the time the British fleet sailed up to that city and was engaged in protecting the people in that part of the State from the executions of the enemy. Was on this tour one month or more; does not recollect the exact time. After this was called out again under the same officers and marched to Elizabeth Town and Woodbridge for the same purpose. Believes he was out one month [crossed out: month] or more. After this was called out into service and stationed in [crossed out: Woodbridge] Morristown, he thinks, in January 1777 at the time the British Army lay at New Brunswick and continued there at least one month under Captain Matthew Freeman and thinks that John Nelson was his Colonel, but not certain. While not in this service was engaged in numerous scouting parties for the purpose of confining the enemy within the lines and protecting and guarding the surrounding inhabitants from their...
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...[duplicate: their] plundering parties and almost constant depredations. After this was called into service again under the same captain and thinks the same colonel, but not sure, and marched to Elizabeth Town and other places guarding and protecting the inhabitants from the execution of the enemy which were very frequently practiced by them. Was out on this tour three or four weeks, does not recollect the exact time. After this was called into service again under the same captain (colonel not recollected) and marched to Bonhamtown, Piscataway Town and on to Brunswick landing at the time the enemy lay at Philadelphia. But on this tour between two and three weeks. After this was called out and under Captain William Manning and thinks that Heard was his colonel or general. Marched by the way of Brunswick Landing then to New Brunswick, then to Princeton. And from there where the Monmouth Battle took place. Was near but not engaged therein. Was out on this tour one month. After this called out again in the service under Matthew Freeman, captain (colonel not recollected), he believes either in the year 1779 or 1780, and marched to Springfield, Newark and other places for the purpose of driving the enemy from those places, of which they had got possession, especially Springfield, which place they burnt. This tour lasted one month as near as recollected.

Besides the above tours, he was out on frequent alarms and believes was out on such occasions. Was out three or four [crossed out: weeks] months and he believes he has forgotten other tours in which he was out in the service. But being now old and very infirm, so much so that he has not been out of his house without assistance for two years March last, having had a stroke of the paracletic, by reason of which his memory is much impaired and from the best calculation he can now make under these circumstances, he verily believes he must have been engaged in the service in the whole from...
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...[duplicate: from] first to last as long as twelve months or more. And this applicant further declares that he has no documentary evidence relating to his services excepting the affidavit hereunto annexed. And he hereby declares that he relinquishes every other claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he also declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
s/ Jacob Ayres (X - his mark)

Sworn to and subscribed before me, the subscriber, the day and year aforesaid.
s/ Wm. B. Manning
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Interrogatories put by William B. Manning, Judge as aforesaid, unto him, the foregoing named applicant, namely Jacob Ayres.

1. When and where were you born.
Answer, I was born the 20th day of August 1753 in the Township of Woodbridge, in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey.

2. Have you any Record of your age, and where is it.
Ans(wer), My age is recorded in my Bible, which is in my possession.

3. Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live.
Ans(wer), In the said Township of Woodbridge in said County of Middlesex and lived there during the war and ever since.

4. How were (you) called into service.
Ans(wer), As a as a drafted militiaman and classed.

5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
Ans(wer), I do not recollect the names of any other officers who commanded where I served than those I have mentioned in my foregoing declaration and the general circumstances of my services are also all therein related as far as I can recollect.

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service.
Ans(wer), No, other than a verbal one.

7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Ans(wer), I am known to John Longstaff, James Longstaff, Gershom Martin, Joseph Freeman, William B. Manning, Esq., Simeon Mundy, Esq., Doct(or) William Martin, H.R.

s/ Jacob Ayres (X - his mark)

Sworn to and subscribed before me, the subscriber, the day and year aforesaid.
s/ Wm. B. Manning
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We, Holloway W. Hunt, Pastor Second Presbyterian Church, Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex, and John Longstaff of the said County, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jacob Ayres, who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration and interrogatories and believe him to be Seventy nine years of age or there abouts. And that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution & we concur in that opinion.
s/ Rev'd Holloway W. Hunt
s/ John Longstaff

Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid.
s/ Wm. B. Manning

And he, the subscriber, William B. Manning, Judge as aforesaid do hereby declare it to be his opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a soldier and served as he states. And he further certifies that it is known to him that the s(ai)d Holloway W. Hunt, who has signed the above certificate is a Clergyman resident in the vicinity of the said applicant in the County of Middlesex and that John Longstaff, who has also signed his name to the same is a resident in the said County also and is a candid person and that their statement is entitled to credit. And he further certifies in his opinion that he, the said applicant Jacob Ayres, labors under such bodily infirmities that he cannot attend the Court of our Common Pleas of said County of Middlesex to have his case investigated.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name
s/ Wm. B. Manning
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State of New Jersey
Middlesex County//

I, F.S. Vanansdale, Clerk of the Court of the County of Middlesex in the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify that William B. Manning, before whom the foregoing proceeding were had and before whom the within affidavits were sworn was at the time a Judge of the said Court and duly authorized to administer oaths.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal of Office this 17th day of September 1832.
s/ F.S. Vanansdale, Clk.
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State of New Jersey
Middlesex County//

Personally appeared before me, the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas & one of the Justices of the Peace in & for said County, Jacob Ayres, who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively to the precise time & length of his services in the War of the Revolution but to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below  & in the follow grades. He entered into the service of his county, being drafted & called out in the summer of 1776 & served one month under Captain Bonney & Col. Heard at Bergen & Bergen Point, Paulus Hook opposite New York. The British were there in the bay. Shortly after, and in the same summer, he was ordered out. Served two months, as he now recollects, on two tours of a monk each under the same officers at Amboy & Blazing Star; engaged in guarding the lines. January 1777, he was again ordered out. The enemy then lying in Brunswick & served four month in four tours of a month each under Captain Mathew Freeman, as he intended to say & thought he had said in his original declaration, & was stationed at Morristown in Morris County in New Jersey and
was engaged in scouting parties to keep the enemy within the lines & in protecting & guarding the surrounding inhabitants from the plundering parties of the enemy.

In the summer after [Gen'l] Howe left Brunswick & landed at Amboy in the year 1777, he was again ordered out and served one month under Captain Freeman, & he thinks, Col. Neilson & was stationed at Elizabeth Town engaged in the performance of similar duties in that vicinity. In the early part of 1778, he was again ordered out & served one month, as he now believes, under the same captain & was marched to Bonhamtown, Piscataway Town, Brunswick...
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...Landing & Brunswick & Princeton. In June 1778, he was ordered out & served one month under Captain William Manning & Col. Heard & was marched by the way of Brunswick to Princeton & thence into Monmouth County & although not in the great battle, was in that vicinity at that time & engaged in guarding & scouting in that section of the State.

In the year 1779, he was ordered out & served one month under Captain Freeman & was stationed in the middle of the State engaged in guarding & protecting the property of his fellow citizens. In the year 1781, he was ordered out & served three months, as he now believes upon reflection, under Captain Freeman (further officers not remembered) & was at the Woodbridge station engaged in performing similar duties during this time. He was marched to Elizabeth Town, Newark, Springfield & other places in the eastern part of the State for the purpose of driving the enemy from that section of the State. During all the time he was out, he served as a private & was actively engaged in the service of his country & was not engaged in any civil pursuit. In June he was out
much more, being requests out on alarms, but cannot more particularly specify & for these services he claims a pension.
s/ Jacob Ayres (X - his mark)

Sworn & subscribed this 9th day of July A.D. 1833 before me.
s/ Simeon Mundy, Judge

Middlesex County
New Jersey//

Be it known that on this Tenth day of July 1833 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned & sworn, personally appeared John Longstaff & James Langstaff, Soldiers of the Revolution, who being duly sworn...
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...depose & say that they are personally and well acquainted with Jacob Ayres, named in the foregoing declaration & have been so for nearly or greater Sixty years. That they believe him to be a man of strict veracity & honor & have no doubt of the truth of his entire statement as to his services in the War of the Revolution. And the said John Longstaff, for himself says, that he was repeatedly out with the said Jacob Ayres & knows him to have been out as he states in 1776 under Capt. Bonney & in 1777 and then 1778 under [Captain] Freeman. These three periods he distinctly recollects but cannot of his own knowledge detail the various tours he performed during those years. And the said James Longstaff, for himself says, that he saw the said Jacob Ayres in service in 1776, but has no personal knowledge of the number and length of the tours he performed at that or at any other time.
s/ John Langstaff
s/ James Langstaff

Sworn & subscribed before me day & year aforesaid.

I hereby certify that I am acquainted with John Longstaff & James Longstaff, the persons whose affidavit immediately precedes. That they are men of respectability & probity. That their statement is entitled to full credence.
s/ Peter P. Pennyon, Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Middlesex
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Jacob Ayres

I, Nicholas Booraem, clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Middlesex, do hereby certify that the foregoing papers contain the original & supplemental proceedings in the case of Jacob Ayres, an applicant for a pension. That Simeon Mundy & Peter P. Pennyon, before whom the supplemental proceedings were had, are Justices of the Peace, duly commissioned & sworn. That their official acts as such are entitled to full credit, and the signatures hereto of Simeon Mundy & Peter P. Pennyon are in their own proper handwriting.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court this Eighteenth day of July Eighteen Hundred Thirty three.
s/ N. Booraem, clerk
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No. 8707 | Adm(itted)

Jacob Ayres, N.J.

Returned

Admitted, Private, 14 months.

[crossed out: (illegible)]
James S. [illegible], agent
James P. Randolph, N. Bruns(wick), New Jersey
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
3 June 1833

Sir:

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A statement, shewing the service of Jacob Ayres of Middlesex Co., New Jersey.

Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service. (Years/Months/Days) | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | Battles in which the applicant was engaged. | Country through which he marched. | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. | Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Called into service 1776 | (blank) | 1 or more | (blank) | Private | Capt. James Bonney | Col. Heard | (blank) | To Perth Amboy, then to Blazing Star on Staten Island. To Bergen Point & Paulus Hook | In the Township of Woodbridge, County of Middlesex, New Jersey. Aged 79  | Traditionary
After this 1776 | (blank) | thinks 1 (mo.) | (blank) | (blank) | Capt. J. Bonney | Col. Heard | (blank) 
Called out in 1777 | at least 1 (mo.) | (blank) | (blank) | Capt. Matthew Freeman | thinks Col. John Neilson | (blank) | To Elizabeth Town & Woodbridge | (blank) 
Called out | (blank) | (blank) | 21 or 28 (days) | (blank) | Capt. Matthew Freeman | Col. Jno. Neilson | (blank) | To Elizabeth Town
Called in service | (blank) | (blank) | between 14 or 21 (days) | (blank) | Capt. Matthew Freeman | To Bonhamtown, Piscataway Town & on to New Brunswick Landing.
Called out | (blank) | 1 (mo.) | (blank) | (blank) | Capt. William Manning | thinks Col. Heard | (blank) | To Brunswick Landing - to Brunswick Town & Princeton & then to Morristown.
Called out in 1779 or 1780 | (blank) | 1 (mo.) | (blank) | (blank) | Capt. Matthew Freeman | (blank) | (blank) | To Springfield, Newark & other places.

Besides the above service he was called out on request & alarms & thinks his whole service was twelve months.

I am, respectfully your obedient servant,
J.L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of //
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of __________ in the county of __________ and State, Territory or District
of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____ , with _____ and
served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. (illegible) This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. __________ A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I, __________, of the Court of __________ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of
__________ for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the __________ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with __________, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the 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 A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the __________, and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the __________ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, __________, Clerk of the Court of __________ , do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of __________ for a pension. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person...
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3
... will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there
subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. (To a Soldier) Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
6. (To an Officer) Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:

"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A.B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For (blank) year (blank) months, and  (blank) days, I served as a  (blank). For  (blank) months and  (blank) days, I served as a  (blank); and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 18

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section. EEL

February 8, 1930

Miss Cora S. Ayres
19 Stratford Place
Newark, New Jersey

Dear Madam:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.649, it appears that Jacob Ayres was born August 20, 1753, in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey.

While residing in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, he enlisted in 1776 and served at various times until 1780, fourteen months in all, as a private in the New Jersey Troops under Captains James Bonney, Matthew Freeman and William Manning, Colonels Heard and John Neilson.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 18, 1832, at which time he was residing in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey.

He died August 20, 1836.

It is not stated that soldier was ever married.

Very truly yours
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.
Page 19

INVALID.
Rev(olutionary) War

File No. 849
Jacob Ayres
Pri(vate) N.J. Line

Act: June 7, 1832

Index: -; Vol. A; Page 14

{Arrangement of 1870.}

1908 May 12  - Hist(ory sent) to Dr. L.D. Carman. V.S.M.
1930 Feb. 8. - Hist(ory sent) to Miss Cora S. Ayres & ret(urned).
1931 Feb. 10 - Cora S. Ayres addr(ess) no(t) active, Jacob etc. D.M.S.I.F
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1351 Q St. N.W.
Washington, D.C.
May 3, 1908.

Hon. Vespasian Warner,
Commissioner of Pensions.

My dear Sir:

I would appreciate being furnished for historical purposes a statement of the military services of Jacob Ayres during the Revolutionary War as narrated by him in his pension claim File No. 849.

If he made more than one statement as to his service in the N.J. Middlesex County militia will appreciate a resume of both.

Very respectfully,
s/ L.D. Carman, M.D.
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MISS CORA S. AYRES
NINETEEN STRATFORD PLACE
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

Dec. 29, 1929

Gentlemen,

I am making application to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

I would like, if possible, more information regarding Jacob Ayres, who was a soldier in Middlesex County, N.J. Regiment, in the Revolutionary War. His residence was in Metuchen, N.J. He was my great, great grandfather.
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His father, James Ayres, was also a soldier in the War of Revolution. James Ayres was born May 2, 1716, and married Hope Bloomfield. He lived in Woodbridge, N.J.

I have found the Ayes history in the, "History of the Treman, Tremaine, Truman Family in America with related families of Mack, Dey, Board and Ayers," being a history of one John Ayers of Newberg, Mass. & their descendants, by Ebenezer Mack Treman & Mack Poole, Part II, Page 1825. Also, Stryker's N.J. Rev. Archives, page 494.
Page 23

Any further information you can give me in regard to Jacob and James Ayres will be greatly appreciated.

Yours truly,
s/ Cora S. Ayres
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MISS CORA S. AYRES
NINETEEN STRATFORD PLACE
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

Sep. 24

Gentlemen,

Sometime ago I wrote you in reference to the Revolutionary Service of Jacob Ayres and you answered under date of Feb. 8, 1930, that Jacob Ayres born Aug. 20, 1753, in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex Co., N.J. had served in the war and was granted pension, but you had no record that he was ever married.

I looking up the records of the Magazine of American Genealogy, I find these notes - Ayres, Jacob; pvt., Middlesex Co., N.J. Mil.; [illegible] (No. 158 - R172 - T610)

I also inquired about James Ayres and...
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...you replied that you had no record of him.

The Magazine of American Genealogy gives these notes.:
"Ayers James, pvt. 3d Ln., Gloucester Co., N.J. Mil. (N158 T610)."

I am writing to inquire whether these notes would help in any way to find anything more about Jacob and James Ayres.

Yours truly,
s/ Cora S. Ayres

Rev & 1812 Wars Section E.E.L.
Rev & 1812 Wars Section A.W.F./eel
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In reply to your request of (blank), received (blank) for a statement of the military history of Jacob 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. Jacob Ayres, S.F.849

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. (CAPTAIN/COLONEL) | STATE.
1776 | 3 mos. | Pvt. | James Bonney | Heard | N.J.
1777 | 5 mos. | Pvt. | Matthew Freeman | John Neilson
1778 | 1 mo. | Pvt. | Freeman | (blank)
Summer 1778 | 1 mo. | Pvt. | William Manning | Heard 
1779 | 1 mo. | Pvt. | Matthew Freeman | Heard 
1780 | 3 mos. | Pvt. | Freeman | Heard

Battles engaged in, (blank)
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Woodbridge Twp., Middlesex County, N.J.
Date of application for pension, Sep. 18, 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Woodbridge Twp., Middlesex Co., N.J.
Age at date of application, Born Aug. 20, 1753 in Woodbridge Twp., Middlesex Co., N.J.
Remarks: Died Aug. 20, 1836 (Agency book)
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February 10, 1931

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
MMHF:MLB

Miss Cora S. Ayres
19 Stratford Place
Newark, New Jersey

Dear Madam:

You are advised that the history of Jacob Ayres (s.849), which was furnished you on February 8, 1930, is that of the only soldier by that name found in the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.

Said records do not show a claim for pension or bounty land on file on account of the services of his father, James Ayres; or of any James Ayres of New Jersey.

The data furnished by this bureau in regard to Revolutionary War soldiers are obtained from papers on file in claims for pension or bounty land and unless such claims are made, no record can be furnished.

Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner