Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 333, Ezekiel Ayers, New Jersey
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(3-1776)

Service
New Jersey

Ezekiel Ayers or Ayres, Eleanor

Number R. 333

Contents
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New Jersey No. 28.283
Ezekiel Ayres
of Warren County in the State of New Jersey who was a Ensign in the Company commanded by Captain Bowman of the Regt. comm [missing] by Colonel Demin in the New Jersey troop line for 8 months & 15 days, ensign $85.00

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 85 Dollars 00 center per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of Mar 1834 sent to Reece Nichols Flanders N.J.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 $255.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " 42.5
$294.5

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by Geo. C. Whiting Clerk
Book E Vol. 3 Page 101
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Application of Ezekiel Ayers
of Warren Co. New Jersey for a Pension 15692

If allowed please direct certificate to Jno M Sherrerd, Belvedere Warren New Jersey
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State of New Jersey

Warren Co. So on this fourth day of September A.D. 1832 formally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, now sitting, Ezekiel Ayers, a resident of the Township of Independence in said county, aged seventy-seven years on the 25th November 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 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. 

I was born in Hackettstown in the County of Sussex, now Warren, in said State, on the 25th November 1754 and now live in the same neighborhood. I have a record of my age in my Bible which I copied from my fathers Bible. As soon as we heard that war was declared, we proceeded at Hackettstown to choose officers for our company. When Samuel Landon, Esq. was chosen our Captain Boman Lieutenant and I was chosen Ensign. We sent for our Commissions and soon received them from Governor Livingston being the first officers chosen in that neighborhood, after Independance was proclaimed. This was in the year 1776. We proceeded immediately to [illegible] company and to make a draft among them [illegible] lot Lieutenant.
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fell upon me, among the officers, to go. And I matched with our part of the company and joined my Captain whose name was John Vliet at Millers Tavern near Squires Point in the said county of Sussex. One [illegible] was our Lieutenant. It was on Sunday we met at Millers and I marched on with half of the company to the top of Schooleys Mountain to Pizers Tavern because we could not all be accommodated at Millers and staid there til the rest came up. We then marched thro Black rivers [illegible] Quibble town to Amboy and was there with Colonel Demun who went with us from Greenwich in Sussex County. I was well acquainted with him & put my clothes in the chest with him. We had a full company of seventy five men to baggage wagon with us. While at Amboy I recalled the English Ambassadors arrived there, and I had the command & kept them until the higher officers arrived & bandage their eyes left them blindfolded up to town. I understood their object was to make peace in case war, & independance had not been proclaimed. I continued there a month & returned home. I think in the month of August.

In the fall of the same year I was called out again and went out as ensign under the same Captain & Lieutenant Landon & Boman. We matched to Elizabeth
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go down the Turkey road to Springfield, & to wait where the roads and til another company came the other road. This we did - til was at night, I think between 8 & 9 oclock when we met and formed to carry on the sheet firing. Capt. Kirkendoll was in the front company and was wounded in the first fire & had two of his fingers shot off. I came on in the next division, & fired and wheeled to make room for the next company, which was our orders. We then had to retreat, but  [illegible] three times & attacked them again & then retreated to Chatham. We had a great many wounded & general killed. laid all might under arms & next day we were reinforced with 800 regular troops from Morristown under Colonel Martin. We then followed the British to Westfield, but could not overtake them. We returned to Springfield staid a week and thence to Chatham & laid upon our arms keeping very strict guard. I was out this tour little better than a month. 

I was out again two other tours in that same part of the country. The other tours of one month each, under the same officers, but nothing particular occurred these months that I now recollect. By this time the British had got to New Brunswick and Colonel Thompson called us out to go to Raritan. I went out under the same officers to one [illegible] which was on the Raritan & were quartered at Domini Hardinburgh large house at Somerville. During this month we had the Battle of Millstone where we took upwards of
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go down the Turkey road to Springfield, & to wait where the roads and til another company came the other road. This we did - til was at night, I think between 8 & 9 oclock when we met and formed to carry on the sheet firing. Capt. Kirkendoll was in the front company and was wounded in the first fire & had two of his fingers shot off. I came on in the next division, & fired and wheeled to make room for the next company, which was our orders. We then had to retreat, but  [illegible] three times & attacked them again & then retreated to Chatham. We had a great many wounded & general killed. laid all might under arms & next day we were reinforced with 800 regular troops from Morristown under Colonel Martin. We then followed the British to Westfield, but could not overtake them. We returned to Springfield staid a week and thence to Chatham & laid upon our arms keeping very strict guard. I was out this tour little better than a month. 

I was out again two other tours in that same part of the country. The other tours of one month each, under the same officers, but nothing particular occurred these months that I now recollect. By this time the British had got to New Brunswick and Colonel Thompson called us out to go to Raritan. I went out under the same officers to one [illegible]
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forty large four horse wagons, loaded with plunder & nothing else occurred this month except that we had continued skirmishes with them almost every day, whereon they attempted to come only to Forage or plunder. This was in the winter for I recollected the horsemen breaking the ice of the Millstone to let the soldiers over. 

In the spring following I was out again one month under the same officers at Boundbrook  & there had a skirmish [illegible] the British with our artillery. We lost none of our men & did not get at it with the small arms. We were laying close by to, noted the artillery. We feared there were several of their artillery [illegible] horse killed.

The next tour was a little after [illegible] I went out with our same company officers and marched to the Minisink Country over the blue mountain on the Border of New Jersey & Pennsylvania, on the Delaware. Colonel Woolbrook commanded there and had our headquarters at the Minisinks. While there we were out upon the scent everyday after the Indians. We never could find any of them. We were upwards of a month out at the time.

The next service I was in I was sent by Colonel Thompson with ten [illegible] men after a water [illegible] called Moodey or Captain Moodey. Gone two or three days, then we searched through the great meadows but could not find him. Took all the [illegible] we could find & filled Sussex Gail with them & then we heard that Moodey intended to discharge them  we burned out again & laid there about two weeks to guard the gaol.
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We were about 500 of us there, guarding the jail without any general officer.

After the termination of the war I took but little VI care of my commission, & rather expect it was burnt with a great many other of my papers. I have no other documentary evidence of my service. 

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of am State and that there is  no clergyman residing in my immediate neighborhood. 

Sworn & subscribed the date above in open court
P W Blair Ezekiel Ayers

Mr William McCullough and Samuel Oliver residing in the township of Greenwich and Independance in said county certify that we are wellacquainted with Ezekiel Ayers who has subscribed  & sworn in the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age, that  is  [illegible] believed in the neighborhood where he resides and has been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn & subscribed in open Court the day & year aforesaid. PW Blair

Wm McCullough
Samuel Oliver his mark
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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 William McCullough Esq who has signed the above certificate is one of the Judges of this Court residing in Mansfield and that Samuel Oliver residing in Independance who has also signed the same are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to is entitled to credit. And that there is no clergyman residing in the immediate neighborhood of the said Applicant. 

PW Blair
Wm Kennedy
John Moore

State of New Jersey
Warren County 

I Phineas B Kennedy Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said county do hereby certify the foregoing to be the original proceeding of the said Court on the application of Ezekiel Ayers for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Belvedere this fourth day of September A.D. 1832 

PB Kennedy Clerk
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Ezekiel Ayres 
New Jersey
[illegible] 8 months & 15 days ensign
Reece Nicholas 
Flanders New Jersey
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War Department, 
Pension Office

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 tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and subjoined notes, you will reading perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show 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 compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A statement, shewing the Service of Ezekiel Ayres

Period when the service was rendered. 1776
Duration of the claimant's service. Years. Months. 1 1 1 1 1 1 Days. Rank of the claimant. Ensign Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Cap. Bowman Col. Demin Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. 79 years. Proof by which the declaration is supported.  

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant,
J.L. Edwards, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
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War Department, 
Pension Office

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 tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and subjoined notes, you will reading perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show 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 compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A statement, shewing the Service of Ezekiel Ayres

Period when the service was rendered. 1776
Duration of the claimant's service. Years. Months. 1 1 1 1 1 1 Days. Rank of the claimant. Ensign Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Cap. Bowman Col. Demin Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. 79 years. Proof by which the declaration is supported.  

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant,
J.L. Edwards, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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
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alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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?
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 the 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 inquiry 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 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 in 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 that the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: __ For ______ year ________ months, and ________ days, I served as a ________; 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 was the 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.

(Illegible) 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 (illegible) 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:
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Decleration
In order to obtin the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th
July 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to
certain widows - - 
State of New Jersey
Warren County  ss
on this 20th day of July A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty nine
personally appeared before me Caleb H. Valentine one of the judges
of the Inferior Court of common pleas in and for said county,
Eleanor Ayres a resident of the township of Independence in
the county of Warren and state of New Jersey, aged seventy
two years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, on
her oath doth make the following decleration in order to obtain
the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed
July 7th A.D. 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions
to certain widows" -- that she is the widow of Esekiel Ayres
late of the township of Independence aforesaid who was an
ensign in the militia in the service of the United States during
the revolutionary war, that he was placed on the pension
roll agreeably to the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
entitled "an act supplementary to the act for the relief of certain
surviving officers and soldiers of the revolution" She further
declares that she was married to the said Esekiel Ayres in 
the month of December in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and eighty seven, at the township of Inde-
pendence aforesaid, by the Revd. Peter Willson pastor of
the Presbyterian congregation at Hacketts Town in said
township of Independence, that there is no record  of said
marriage, that she lived with her said husband until
his death, by whom she had seven children, the oldest
is in his fifty first year, -- that her said husband
the aforesaid Esekiel Ayers died on the twenti-
eth day of August in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and thirty five, at
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Independence aforesaid, that she was not married
to him previous to his leaving the service, but the
marriage took place previous to the first day of
January seventeen hundred and ninety four - vis - at
the time above stated the word deckleration
was interlined on the first page to come in after the
word "following" before the signing, or the oath,
Sworn and subscribed on the
day and year first above written
before me -- 'Vid, 20 July 1838 --
Caleb H. Valentine
Eleanor her X mark Ayres

State of New Jersey
Warren County ⎬
On this 20th day of July A.D. 1839 before me
Caleb H. Valentine one of the Judges of the inferior Court of com-
mon pleas in and for said County, personally appeared John
Johnson Esqr a resident of the township of Independence in
the County of Warren and State of New Jersey, aged 68 years
who being first sworn according to law on his oath saith
that he is acquainted with Elenor Ayres widow of Esekiel
Ayres late of said township, the person whose name and
mark is signed to the above deckleration, and was
acquainted with her before her marriage with Esekiel Ayres,
he was not present at the celebration of the said marriage 
between the said Ezekiel Ayres and the aforesaid deponent 
Elenor Ayres, but lived within two miles of them at the
time and it was publically spoken of, and is certain
it took place previous to the first day of January
in the year seventeen hundred and ninety four, and that the
said Ezekiel Ayres and the Elinor lived togeather until
the death of the said Ezekiel Ayres which he thinks was
in August 1835 and that the Elenor Ayres has lived a
widow eversince his (her said husbands) death, has never
heard the legality of
the marriage between the said
Esekiel and Elenor
disputed on
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question by any one, but believes that every person in the nighbourhood at the time was satisfied that the marriage was legal, and is still of the same opinion. She said Ezekiel and Elenor always had resided  in the said township of Independence, and that he the same Job Johnson has always lived within two miles of them except about two years, and that they the said Ezekiel Ayres and me said Elenor his wife has raised a family of children, the most of them is now living in this place - and that the Rev'd Peter Wilson was the Pastor of the Presbyterian congregation of Hackettstown in the years seventeen hundred and eighty seven according to the best of his knowledge and belief. 

Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year first above written [illegible] the 20th July 1839  Caleb H. Valentine 
Job Johnson

J. Caleb H. Valentine one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Warren and State of New Jersey do hereby certify that Job Johnson [illegible] the person who took and signed the above affidavit is a person of high standing for veracity and truth and full credit is due to all his assertions under oath or otherwise, and that the said Elenor Ayres is a person of respectable standing in society and would  be believed when under oath by any person who is acquainted with her. I do further certify that by reason of bodily infirmity the said Elenor Ayres is unable at this time is unable to appear in open court, the Court being 14 miles distant from her. 

Caleb H. Valentine

State of New Jersey
Warren County ss. 
On the 20th day of July A.D. 1839 before me Caleb H. Valentine one of the Judges of the Inferior
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Court of Common Pleas in and for said county personally appeared Elenor Ayres the person named in the foregoing declaration who being first duly sworn according to law or his oath saith that she is now the widow of the aforesaid Ezekiel Ayres who was a pensioner as State in her declaration, and that she has not been married to any person since the death of the said Ezekiel Ayres her late husband. 

Sworn and subscribed the day and year above written before me Caleb H. Valentine
Elenor Ayres her mark

State of New Jersey. Warren County Ss. I Phineas B. Kennedy Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said county do hereby certify that Caleb H. Valentine Esq. before whom the affidavits of Elenor Ayres and Job Johnson were taken was at the time thereof and still is an acting judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for Warren County aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn into office as such and to whose official acts full faith and credit is due. And further I do certify that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said judge and am satisfied that the signature to said affidavits and the certificate of credibility of Job Johnson, purporting to be the handwriting of the said Caleb H Valentine are genuine. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed  the seal of said Court [illegible] this twenty second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.
PB Kennedy
Clerk
Page 20

State of New Jersey.

Warren County Ss. On the first day of August A.D. 1833 personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, Ezekiel Ayers of the township of Independence in said county, an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress of June 7th 1833 who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, in addition to the declaration he has already made before the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county, that he was living in the said township of Independence, county of Sussex (now Warren) State of New Jersey, when called into the service of his country where he has lived since the Revolutionary War and where he now lives. That he was drafted when called into the service and went in his own peace and not as a substitute. That he did receive a commission as an ensign, under which he performed all his military services; that it was signed by Governor Livingston and that it was destroyed and lost as stated in his original declaration. That he stated the names of William McCullough Esq. one of the Judges of said Court and Samuel Oliver on his original application to whom he was known in his present neighborhood, and who testified to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a Soldier of the revolution and that there was no clergyman living in his neighborhood. That he has no documentary proof other than the affidavits of Mary Hoffman & Rachel Valentine, nor does he know of any persons living by whom he can confirm his Services. 
That by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear, more positively, as to the precise
Page 21

length of his service, show he has done in his original declaration but according to the best of his recollection, he served no less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades 
For 9 months 2 weeks + 2 days he served as an Ensign in the New Jersey militia and for such service he claims a pension. 

Sworn and subscribed the date above before me Ross Crane

Ezekiel Ayers
Page 22

State of New Jersey

Warren County Ss. I Phineas B Kennedy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County certify that the signature of "Ross Crane" [illegible] to the additional declaration of Ezekiel Ayers; to the affidavit + certificate of credibility of Rachel Valentine and to the affidavit + certificate of credibility of Mary Huffman, are his genuine signatures and that at the time of doing thereof he was a Justice of the Peace in and for said Court. In testimony whereof I have hereunder  [illegible] hand & seal of office the 3rd day of August A.D. 1833. P.B. Kennedy Clerk
Page 23

Direct Communication to John Moore Esq. [illegible] Warren Count NJ
Page 24

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the acts of Congress of the 3d of March 1837 & the 7th of July 1838.

State of New Jersey
Warren County Ss. On this sixteenth Day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty three personally appeared before me John Moore one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county of Warren. John Ayres a Resident of the Township of  Freelinghuysen in the county and State aforesaid,  ss he being duly sworn according to Law on his oath makes the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Acts of Congress passed the 3d of March 1837 & the 7 July 1838. 

And declares that he is the son of Ezekiel Ayres and Elenor Ayres his wife late of the township of Independence in the County of Warren and State of New Jersey now deceased, that his said father Ezekiel Ayres was a Revolutionary Pensioner at the time of his deceased, that he did on the 21th day of August 1835 at his [illegible] in Independence near Hackettstown and was buryed in the Presbyterian burrying grouns in Hackettstown  leaving [illegible] and Robert, William, Abraham, John, this declarent, and Ezekiel Jr. and Mary & Sarah, his children him [illegible] that their Mother Elenor Ayres, Deceased on
Page 25

the 13th day of November 1840 and was burryed in the Hackettstown burrying ground; And he further saith his said father & mother were married at Independence by the Rve Peter Wilson a Presbyterian minister some time in the year 1786 or 87. Said minister he has been informed removed to the western heart of Pensylvania about the year 1800 
That he knows of no record of said marriage that his aldut brother as he has always heard and believed was bewn the latter part of the year 1789. That his brother Robert and sisters Mary Demount and Sarah Little and brother William Ayres were all born before the first day of January 1794[;] that his brother Abraham himself and brother Ezekiel were born after that date[;] that he has been informed and believed that his mother in her lifetime made application for her pension as the widow of said Ezekiel Ayres but for some excuse not known to this declarant no certificate has been issued in her favour and as he is informed her [illegible] and [illegible] are on file in the Pension office. 

It is in order to obtain the amount of this Pension that this application is made for the equal benefit of all the children of said widow. And he further says that his mother the said Elenor Ayres was never married again after the deceased[e] of her said husband the said Ezekiel Ayres but died his widow on the 13th day of November 1840 without ever receiving said Pension or any part thereof or any certificate for the same. 

That at the death of his father and also of
Page 26

his mother all their children were alive to wit Robert Ayres, Mary Witer (illegible)  Wm Demount Sarah widow of William Little William Ayres Abraham Ayres and John Ayres and  Ezekiel Ayres Jr. now deceased who has left a widow & six children.
And he further states that his father the said Ezekiel Ayres was an Ensign in the Revolutionary War and Pensioner of the United States under the Act of the 7th June 1832 his pension certificate is dated 1th May 1834 for the sum of eighty five dollars per annum and signed Lew. Cass Sect. of War.

This declarant makes this declaration and application for the equal benefit of all his brothers and sisters and the widow and children of his deceased brother Ezekiel Jr. if the [illegible] should be of the opinion that they are entitled to their fathers share. Sworn and Subscribed the day and year first above written before me 

John Ayers

I do certify that the above named John Ayres is a person of good repute for truth & veracity. Febry 16th 1853 

John Moore Judge
Page 27

State of New Jersey
Warren county Ss.

Before me John Moore one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Warren, State of New Jersey, personally appeared Sarah Little, widow of Wm Little who being duly sworn according to law on her oath saith I am the third child of Ezekiel Ayres and Elenor Ayres. Said Ezekiel was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States and deceased in August 1835 and that her mother Elenor Ayres deceased in November 1840. I was born the 12th day of September 1791 as recorded in my father's Bible and transferred from said Bible into my own Bible by myself. My brother Robert and sister Mary are older than I am. Robert is the oldest child of my father.

Sarah Little

Subscribed and sworn this 18th day of February 185 before me John Moore Judge

I certify that the above named Sarah Little is a person of good repute for truth and veracity. John Moore Judge July 18th 1853
Page 28

State of New Jersey 
Warren County Ss.

Before me John Moore one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Warren personally appeared Mary Demount who being duly sworn according to law on her oath saith that she is the second child of Ezekiel Ayres and Elenor Ayres. Her father said Ezekiel Ayres was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States that she was born March 12, 1789 that her brother Robert is older than her. She has often seen the record of her age in her fathers family Bible. Said Bible is lost or mislaid. Search has been made for it but it cannot be found.  Mary Demount her mark

Subscribed & Sworn this 18th day of February 1853 before me John Moore Judge

I certify that the above named Mary Demount is a person of good repute for truth & veracity. Febry 18th 1853 John Moore Judge
Page 29

State of New Jersey
Warren County Ss.

Before me John Moore one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Warren personally appeared Abraham Ayres of Independence County and State aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law on his oath saith that he is the fifth child of Ezekiel and Elenor Ayres that his father Ezekiel Ayres was a Revolutionary Pensioner that this deponents was born on the 5 day of Febry 1795 that his birth was recorded in his fathers family Bible and by him taken from said Bible and entered in his own Bible now before him that Robert Ayres and William two of his brothers and Mary Demount and Sarah Little his two sisters are older than this deponent that his father deceased in August 1835 and his mother deceased in November 1840, that the Bible of his father is lost or mislaid that he [illegible] the record of his birth from his fathers Bible in the year 1815

Subscribed and sworn before me this 18th day of Febry 1853
John Moore Judge

Abraham Ayers
Page 30

Service                                                           Number
New Jersey        Ayers, Ezekiel                       R.333
                     or  Ayres,
                                    Eleanor
Page 31

State of New Jersey
Warren County

Before me John Moore one of the Judges of the  court of pensioner pleas in and for the County of Warren and State of New Jersey Personally appeared Henry Huffman of Independence County and State official who being duly Sworn in his oath saith that he was Born on the 23rd day of December 1780 this Birth is Recorded in his family Bible that it was recorded in his fathers family Bible in the German Language that he transferred it to his own Bible in English himself some fifty years ago or there abouts that he was acquainted with Ezekel and Elenor Ayres his wife said Ezekel Ayres was a Pensioner of the United States that when he was about Sixty years old his father moved in the neighboorhood of Mr. Ayres that he Recollect their living together as Husband and wife almost as far back as he can Remember any thing, untill their deaths and Resided in the immigrant Neighboorhood from that time to this Recolects their oldest son Robert when he was quite a small boy he Resided for Several years within Six or Seven hundred yards of the Ayres house
Subscribed and Sworn       Henry Huffman
this 18th day of February
1853 before me
John Moore Judge
Page 32

State of New Jersey
Warren County//

Before me, John Moore, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Warren, personally appeared Mary Decker of the Township of Frelinghuysen in the County and State aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law on her oath sayeth that she was born on 3d day of September 1776, her birth is record in her family Bible now present and is also record in her fathers family record in a prosperen confession of faith.

That she was acquainted with Ezekiel Ayres and Elenor, his wife, when she was a girl. They resided in the neighborhood and knew them living together as husband & wife and were reputed as such in the neighborhood and raised a family together.
s/ Mary Decker (X - her mark)

Sworn & subscribed this 18th day of February 1853 before me.
s/ John Moore, Judge

I certify that the above named Mary Decker is a person of good repute for truth & veracity.
s/ John Moore, Judge

February 18, 1853
Page 33

State of New Jersey
Warren County  JS
Before me John Moore one of the judges of the court of pensions pleas in and for the county of Warren and State of New Jersey personally appeared Rachel Valentine who being duly Sworn according to Law on her oath Saith that she is in her Ninety first year of age that she has often seen it in her fathers family Bible----
That She was well acquainted with Ezekiel Ayers who was a Revolutionary Pensioner and with Elenor Pike before they were Married that Said Elenor Pike was a cozen of his She was well acquainted the them until they died That She new them to Live together as Man and wife and was Reputed as Such as far Back as She thinks at Least as 1788 that they were intomat and often visited one another- That She was Married in the year 1884 and they were Married within three or four years after that her oldest child was Born January 1786 his Birth is Recorded in her Husbands family Bible. when this depenent were first married they Resided for a Number of years about Two miles apart.
Subscribed and Sworn
this 18th Day of February
1853. before me
John Moore Judge
Rachel Valentine
Page 34

I Certify that Rachel Valentine the within named is a person of good Reput for Truth & verasity
February 18th 1853
John Moore Judge
Page 35

State of New Jersey
Warren County Ls
Before me John Moore one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas Achabald Ayres of the Township of Independence in the County of Warren and State of New Jersey who being Duly Sworn according to law on his oath Saith that he was a half Brother of Ezekiel Ayers now Deceased who was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United Being hath children of Ezekiel Ayres the Elder that he was Born May 16th 1781 as Recorded in his fathers family Bible in his own hand writings is present which has been in his hand since Eversence the Death of his father when Took place August 1796 the age of my half Brother Ezekiel Ayres is also Recorded in the Same Bible in the following words and Ligers Ezekiel Ayres Born November 25th 1753 this Deponet says he has no knowledge of the Marriage of his half Brother Ezekiel That said Ezekiel hired on their fathers land and farmed the same Except a part of the Meadow which past their father Resided cut and Made the hay by himself and hand their father Resided about two Miles from the facin  that as Long ago as this deponet can Remember his Brother Ezekiel and Elenor Lived together on Said farm as Man & wife and was Reputed as Such in the Neighborhood and Raised a family of children together that the oldest child Robert Ayres is several years younger than this deponent Recollects distinctly that when he
Page 36

...was helping his father making hay in the meadow on the farm that Robert Ayres, Ezekiel's oldest son quite a lad helping Ezekiel bound hay & spread hay on his part of the meadow that they, this deponent, resided with his father until his death, his brother Ezekiel & his wife Elenor resided on his father's farms at the time. I was at the funeral of both my brother, Ezekiel and his widow, but have no recollection of the date his wife survived him, some years but do not recollect the time.
s/ Archibald Ayers

Sworn & subscribed this 17th day of February 1853 before me.
s/ John Moore

I certify that the above named Archibald Ayers is a person of good repute for truth & veracity.
s/ John Moore, Judge

February 17th, 1853
Page 37

State of New Jersey
Warren County//

Before me, John Moore, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Warren and State of New Jersey, personally appeared Henry L. Parnell of the Township of Oxford, Independence County and State aforesaid, on his oath sayeth that he was acquainted with Ezekiel Ayres who was a Revolutionary Pensioner and also Elenor, his widow. That he made (sp.) the coffins for each of them and attended the funerals and assisted in burying both of them in the Presbyterian burying ground in Hackettstown, that in referring to my books I find the coffin of said Ezekiel Ayers charged on the 23d day of August 1835 and coffin of said Elenor Ayres, his widow, charged November 15th 1840. That he is confident that the burials took place at the date of the charges in my books. Her further saith that said Elenor resided on the Hamsted Farm from the time of her husband's death and was buried from the dwelling house on said farm.
s/ Henry L. Parnell

Subscribed & sworn this 17th day of February 1853 before me.
s/ John Moore, Judge

I certify that the above named Henry L. Parnell is a person of good repute for truth & veracity.
s/ John Moore, Judge

February 17, 1853
Page 38

Rev. and 1812 War Section

December 22, 1924.

Mabel S. Page,
1819 Monsey Ave.,
Soranton, Pa.

Madam;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War Pension claim, R. 333, it appears that Ezekiel Ayers was born at Hackettstown, New Jersey, November 25,1754 and was the son of Ezekiel Ayers who died in August 1796.
While a resident of said Hackettstown, he enlisted May 1, 1776 and served at various times as an Ensign in the New Jersey Troops under Captains Samuel Landon, John Vliet and Colonels Demund, Ford, Thompson and Westbrook, he was in the battles of Millstone and Boundbrook and served in all nine months, two weeks and two days.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 4, 1832, while a resident of Independence Township, Warren County, New Jersey and he died there August
Page 39

20 or 21, 1835.
Soldier married in December 1787 in Independence Township, New Jersey, Eleanor Pike, and she resided there in 1839, aged seventy-two years. She died November 13, 1840.
Their children were- Robert; Mary born March 12, 1789, married William Demont; Sarah, born September 12, 1791, married William Little; William; Abraham, born February 5, 1795; John; and Ezekiel, who was dead in 1853 and left a widow and six children, their names are not stated.

Respectfully,

Acting Commissioner.
Page 40

Copy

Pension Office
Oct. 18, 1839

Sir,

The papers of Mrs. Eleanor Ayres, widow of Ezekiel Ayres, have been examined & filed. The proof in relation to the date of the claimant's marriage is insufficient, that fact must be established by record evidence if obtainable; If such evidence cannot be had the testimony of a credible witness who can of his or her own knowledge specify the date - will be required.
s/ Caleb H. Valentine, Esq.

Hackettstown
N.J.
Page 41

Copy of letter in claim giving cause of rejection.

Apr. 28, 1908
Page 42

No. 333
REJECTED
Eleanor Ayres

Sept. 19/'99
O.L. Severson
Pittston, Penna.

1906 Oct 29, History to Mrs. Irwin J Wint, M.B.R.
1908 Apr 28, Hist to Mrs. J.H. Harris, V.L.M.
(Letter in S.F. 28797)
Feb'y 27, 1912, Hist to Walter S. Bellis, V.L.M.
Sept. 30, 1912, Hist. to Myrtle [illegible]
1913 Aug. 30, Hist to John L. Merrill, M.B.R.
1913 Oct. 20, Hist to Mr. Edw. F. Grube, M.B.R.
------------------------------------------------
1921 Apr. 2, Hist. to Pearl J. [illegible]
1922 June 9, Hist. to H. [illegible]
1924 Dec. 22, Hist. to Mabel S. [illegible]
------------------------------------------------
1939 June 29. Hist. to Mrs. W.R. Moore, I.L.L.
------------------------------------------------
1944 June 22. Hist. to Mrs. [illegible] E. Monnett, I.L.L.
Page 43

Eleanor Ayres
Married Dec. 1787
Husb. Died 20 Aug 1835
[crossed out: Letter to C.H. Valentine, 18 Oct. 1839, Jud(ge) Moore Aug. 4 1853]
Hon. J Mildrick, Mar(ch) 1, 1853

Elenor Ayres, dec(eased)
Widow of Ezekiel
ori(ginal)

[crossed out: C.H. Valentine, 18 Oct. 1839, Hon. J Mildrick, Mar(ch) 1, 1853, Jud(ge) Moore Aug. 4 1853]
Page 44

Soldier married Eleanor Pike in Dec. 1787, in Independence Tnsp., Warren Co., N. J. where he died Aug. 20 or 21, 1835 and she applied for pension July 20, 1839 while 70 yrs. of age, but her claim was never allowed for the reason that she failed to furnish sufficient proof of date of their marriage
Page 45

Application of Ezekiel Ayres of Independence, Warren Co. N.J. for a pension.
Page 46

State of New Jersey
Warren County//

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. On this 12th day of Feb'ry 1834 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County now sitting, Ezekiel Ayres, a resident citizen of the Township of Independence in the County of Warren and State of New Jersey aged Seventy nine years on the 25th day of November last past, 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 under the United States under the following named officers and served as herein set forth.

This deponent was born at Hackettstown, Independence Township, now Warren County N.J. on the 25th day of November 1754, his age being recorded in his father's family Bible and also transcribed into this deponent's family Bible now in his possession.

At a company muster of a part of the militia of the western regiment of New Jersey at Hackettstown aforesaid for the purpose of choosing officers for said company, about the first of May 1776, this deponent was duly chosen and elected an Ensign in said Company under Samuel Landon, Esq. as Captain and Edward Bowman as Lieutenant and was soon after duly commissioned as an Ensign of said Company by Governor Livingston, the Governor of N.J., a requisition from the state authorities of N.J. was made for a detachment of Militia for common defense, when the Company of Captain Landon, to which this deponent belonged, met at Hackettstown aforesaid in June, '76 to class and draft the Company of Militia under Captain Landon to meet the Requisition aforesaid, among the officers of said Company, the lot in Draft fell upon this deponent to go with ten men from said Company, and on the first day of July 1776 this deponent was Ensign aforesaid met with the ten soldiers aforesaid at Hackettstown aforesaid according...
Page 47

Service            Number
New Jersey   Ayers, Ezekiel R.333
or Ayres
Eleanor
Contents
Page 48

1776, - and further the first of Jany 1777 the whole company of Capt Landon to which this Deponent belonged were ordered out by Col Thompson of the Militia to march to E Town
Head quarters for Common Defence, with whom this deponent marched as Ensign thereof from Hackets Town aforesaid to Black River-- Morris Town thence to E Town under Colonel
Ford and General Dickerson- the duties of the Troops at Head quarters during this tour were to Keep Guard at E. Town for Common Defense, the Enemy at this time being in possession of Staten Island near by - this Deponent with the whole company of Captain Landon were
Honourably Discharged at E Town Verbally by Col. Ford the Beginning of Feby '77 -- and further on the first of April '77 the Company of Capt Landon was again ordered out ['to E Town Head quarters' crossed out] and this deponent marched with said Company as the Ensign thereof from Hackets Town aforesaid to the quarters of the American army at Morris Town, the enemy now having possession of Elizabeth Town and annoying the adjacent country with their foraging parties - Captain Landon and Lieut. Bowman being absent on furlough I was placed in Command of a detachment of about 250 men of the Militia, and ordered to march to Chatham thence to Springfield, and to act in concert with another Company of Militia under Capt Kirkendale, we found near Springfield an advance party of the enemy and commenced street firing upon them in the evening. we retreated firing and wheeling alternately and
finally Retreated to Chatham where we lay upon our arms the Remainder of the night we had several Killed and wounded among the Latter Capt Kirkendale also the next morning we were reinforced by a party of troops under Col Martin, and pursued the enemy to Westfield but did not overtake them-- we returned to Springfield staid a week thence to Chatham and
Page 49

laid upon our arms keeping very thick guard
when we were Discharged verbally by Col Ford the fore part of May '77 (5 & 6th) and further on the first of June '77 this deponent was ordered out as an Ensign of the Militia of N.J. as aforesaid from Hackets Town as aforesaid &
marched to Morris Town to assist in guarding the American stores at that place from the depradations [depredations] of the Brittish [British] and Tories, and was discharged verbally by Col Ford the first of August 77- our services during this tour of duty were confined to guarding the public stores at M Town and marching and countermarching to various points near Morris Town & the movement of the Tories to keep them in once and submission (7th) and further on the first of February 1778 the enemy being in possession of New Brunswick the Company of Capt Landon was ordered out by Colonel  Thompson of the militia, to check the Depredating of the foraging parties of the enemy when this deponent as the Ensign of said Company marched from Hackets Town aforesd to Somerville on the Raritan River and were quartered at the Large House of the Revd Mr. Hardenburgh in Somerville. we were marched during this tour of duty to Mill Stone
and had a severe Battle at Mill Stone with a foraging party of the enemy and Captured over forty Large four Horse Waggons [wagons] loaded with Plunder  this deponent was engaged in several skirmishes with foraging parties of the enemy during this tour of duty along the Raritan River and was discharged by Col Thompson Verbally at Somerville the first of March '78-(8th) , and further on the first of April '78 the company of Captain Landon was again called out by Col Thompson when this deponent as the Ensign of said Company marched from Hackets Town aforesaid with the Company to Boundbrook and the Light artillery had some skirmishing with the advance Guard of the Enemies Light Horse, when several of the
Enemy where [sic] killed the enemy retreating towards New Brunswick the Musquetry took no part in the skirmish
Page 50

The company of Captain Landon was Honorably Discharged at Boundbrook the first of May '78 Verbally by Col Thompson - (9th) and further the fore part of September 1778 the Company of Captain Landon was again called upon
to march to the frontiers of New Jersey on the Delaware River  near the Minisink after the Indians   when this Deponent marched as the ensign of said Company from Hacketstown
aforesaid to Minisink aforesaid and was attached to the Regt of Col Westbrook at Minisink head quarters the Troops were kept in constant patrole [patrol] after the Indians for
about five weeks - not finding any Indians the Company of Captain Landon was Honourably Discharged verbally at Minisink by Colonel Westbrook about the middle of October
1778.- (10th) and further this Deponent was ordered out by Col Thompson as an ensign aforesaid about the first of August 1779 and marched with a detachment of Ten Horseman from Hacketstown aforesaid to capture the
Noted tory Called Captain Moody whom we could not find, we however Captured and put in Jail in the County of Sussex a number of Tories and Guarded the jail for their safe keeping by Order of Col Thompson until further orders, this Deponent and the Guard were discharged from further service the middle of the same month being a half months service and now saith he hath no further recollections of his Revolutionary services, and further saith that he hath not any documentary Evidence in his possession of his Revolutionary services never
having received a written Discharge for any of his services but that he had a legal and full Commission as an Ensign in the Company of N.J. Militia organized at Hackets Town in
the Western regiment of New Jersey in the year 1776 which said Commission was signed by Governor Livingston (I think his name was William) and forwarded to this Deponent about the first of June 1776 under which authority this
Deponent performed all his Revolutionary services within stated and that his commission as Ensign aforesaid is not now in his possession but that the same has been since the war of
Page 51

the Revolution Casually Lost or otherwise destroyed & not to be found- and further saith that he was born at Hackett Town aforesaid, and lived there and performed all his Revolutionary services before stated by marching with his Company from Hackets Town. That he has Resided since the war of the Revolution in the Township of Independence near Hackets Town Warren Co. N.J. and now resides there   that he distinctly Recollects Generals Dickerson, Freelinghuysen, and Seely of the Jersey Militia and Colonels Martin, Thompson, Desmand Ford and Westbrook, and that he does not know of any person now living who served with him in the war of the Revolution or that has any knowledge personaly of his serving and further saith that there is not any Resident Clergyman in his neighbourhood whose certificate he might procure but that he is personally known to John A. Johnson & Ross Crane Esq two Respectable Citizens of the County of Warren aforesaid to whom he refers for proof of his good Character and the General Reputation in his Neighbourhood of his Revolutionary service and Lastly that he hereby relinquishes every claim 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 whatever

Ezekiel Ayers

Sworn to and Subscribed
in Open Court the day and
year aforesaid.   }
Wm Kennedy

We John A Johnson and Ross Crane
Residing in the Township of Independence
in the County of Warren N.J. do hereby certify that we are both well acquainted with Ezekiel Ayres of Warren Co. the applicant
Page 52

for a pension who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be Seventy nine years of age that he is reputed and believed in the Neighbourhood where he resides to have been an Officer of the revolution and that we both concur in that Opinion

John A. Johnson
Ross Crane

Sworn to and Subscribed
in Open Court the day and
year aforesaid--  }
Wm Kennedy

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the Investigation of the matter of the foregoing application of Ezekiel Ayres for a pension and after putting to him the Interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Officer and served as he has herein set forth-- And the Court further certifies that John A Johnson & Ross Crane Esq who has signed and Sworn to the preceding certificate are residents of and Respectable Citizens of the said County of Warren and are
credible persons and that their statement is Entitled to credit-- done in open Court the day and year aforesaid

Alain Wwaine
John Stinson
Wm Kennedy
Wm P. Robeson
Jas. Davison Es

State of New Jersey
County of Warren. S. . } 

I Phinehas B Kennedy Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Warren do hereby Certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ezekiel Ayres for a Pension

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal of
the said Court at Belvedere this twelfth
day of February in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred
and thirty four 
P.B. Kennedy Clk
[seal affixed on left]
Page 53

Application of Ezekiel Ayres of Warren County, N.J. for a pnsion.

Please make return to Rhine Nicholas at Flanders, Morris Co. N.J.
Page 54

New Jersey
Morris County  SS⎬ Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Morris aforesaid Sylvanus
Drake a citizen of said County, Seventy years of age who being first duly sworn according to Law on his oath saith that he is well acquainted with Ezekiel Ayres at Hackets Town Independence Township Warren County New Jersey were since the war of the Revolution and also during that period that this deponent in the year 1776 was thirteen years of age and
lived within a few miles of the said Ezekiel Ayres at that period, that an intimate acquaintance Existed at that time between the family of this deponent and the family of the said Ezekiel Ayres, which was the Result of frequent intercourse and family visiting at that period and ever since, this deponent further saith that he was several times at the House of the said Ezekiel Ayres father where the said Ayres Resided during the period of the Revolution and
particularly visited him and the family whenever he could hear of his return from his Campaigns in the Revolution and has frequently heard him tell at that period of the skirmishes and events that transpired while he was out on his Diferent  [different] tours of duty, the History of which is
still impressed in his mind although he cannot recollect the particulars-- this Deponent distinctly Recollects that the said Ezekiel Ayres was an Officer of some grade in the militia at that time but did not know his rank and further saith that from the circumstances above
stated he is fully satisfied that the said Ezekiel Ayres was an officer of the New Jersey Militia in the war of the Revolution and performed a number of tours of duty in the war of the Revolution as such Officer for Common Defense and further saith not

Silvanus Drake

Sworn and Subscribed
before me this 14th day of
Febry 1834----

Stephen Salmon Justice of the peace
Page 55

I Stephen Salmon a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Morris do hereby certify that Sylvanus Drake whose Deposition within was taken before me in behalf of Ezekiel Ayres is a person of credibility for truth and veracity and
that his Testimony in a Court of Justice is entitled to full credit   In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand officially this fourteenth day of February 1834
Stephen Salmon Justice of the peace

New Jersey
Morris County SS ⎬ I Joseph Dalrimple Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common pleas in and for said County of Morris do hereby certify that Morris Hager Esq before whom the within Testimony of Henry Walter was taken as also Stephen Salmon Esq Before whom the within testimony of Sylvanus Drake was taken were each at the time of doing the same and now are each one of the Justices of the peace in and
for the County of Morris in the State of New Jersey duly Commissioned and sworn as such Justice and that full faith and credit is due to all their official acts as such Justice, and that the signature Morris Hager subscribed to the affidavit and certificate of Credibility of Henry Walter is his Genuine Signature as also the Signature Stephen Salmon Subscribed
to the affidavit of Sylvanus Drake and to the Certificate of his credibility is his Genuine Signature

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court at Morris Town in the County of Morris this 27th day of February 1834
[seal affixed at left]
Joseph Dalrimple Clk
Page 56

New Jersey
Morris County ⎬SS   Personally appeared before the subscriber one of the Justices of the
peace in and for said County of Morris, Henry
Walter a Soldier of the Revolution and now a pensioner of the united States aged Ninety Eight years who being first duly sworn according to Law on his oath saith that he was in the service of the New Jersey Militia in the war of the Revolution as a Musician under the command of Captain Godfrey Rhinehart that this deponent was while in said service engaged in Sundry Skirmishes and Battles with the Common Enemy particularly at Springfield, Millstone near the Raritan River and a skirmish with the enemy near Boundbrook and this deponent further saith that he was well
acquainted with Ezekiel Ayres of Hackets Town in Independence Township Warren County N. Y. during the war of the Revolution and ever since that period that the said Ezekiel Ayres was an officer in command of the Militia of N.J. under Captain Landon of Hackets Town and this deponent further saith that he distinctly
Recollects seeing the said Ezekiel Ayres in command as an Officer at a skirmish with the Enemy near Springfield N.J. in the spring of the year 1777 and further saith that he distinctly Recollects seeing the said Ezekiel Ayres also in the winter or fore part of the year 1778 as an officer in command at the Battle of Millstone near the Raritan River N.J. and also of seeing the said Ezekiel Ayres in command as an officer in the spring of the same year near Bound Brook NJ engaged in a skirmish with an advance party of the Enemy or other wise belonging to the Detachment engaged in said Skirmish   this deponent saith that he verily
Believes the said Ezekiel Ayres was an Ensign of
Militia in said service in the war of the Revolution
Page 57

under Captain Landon of the Militia of New Jersey and further this deponent saith not-

           his
Henry  X  Walter
         mark

Sworn and subscribed before
me by the said Henry Walter
making his mark in my presence
this 13th day of Febry 1834
Morris Hager J.P.

I Morris Hager Before whom the foregoing affidavit of Henry Walter was taken do hereby certify that the said Henry Walter is a person of credibility for truth and veracity and that his testimony in a Court of Justice is entitled to credit

In testimony whereof I do hereunto subscribe my name officially this 13th day of Febry 1834
Morris Hager Justice of the Peace
Page 58

Affidavit of Mary Huffman of services of Ezekiel Ayers as a Commissioned Officer in Revolutionary War.
Page 59

State of New Jersey
Warren County SS. } 
Before me one of Justices of the Peace in and for said County, on the fifteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eighteen
hundred and thirty three, personally appeared Mary Huffman aged seventy nine years the twenty fourth of July last who being duly sworn according to Law on her oath saith, that she is well acquainted with Ezekiel Ayres of Independence in said County who has subscribed & sworn to a declaration to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7, 1832 for a pension, that I know that he performed Military service as a commander 
in the Revolutionary war in the Militia of New Jersey but cannot say how long nor what year

          her   
Mary  X Huffman
        mark

Sworn & Subscribed before
me the day and year
above written.  }

Ross Crane

I Ross Crane before whom the above Affidavit of Mary Huffman was made, certify that she is a credible person & that her statement is entitled to credit, witness my hand and seal this 15 day of July 1833
Ross Crane
Page 60

Affidavit of Rachel Valentine
of Revolutionary Services of
Ezekiel Ayers
Page 61

Warner County ss. }
State of Newjersey

Before me one of the Justice of the Peace in and for said County on the twentyeth day of July in the year of Our Lord one thousand Eighteen hundred and thirty three personally appeared Rachel Valentine aged Seventy
years, the sixth day of April last past who being
duly sworn according to Law on her oath saith
that she is well aquainted with Ezekiel Ayres
of Independence in said County, who has subscribed and sworn to a declaration to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7, 1832 for a Pension, that I know that he performed military service as an Ensign in the Revolutionary war in the Militia of Newjersey, did not remember the Captains name nor the year-

Rachel Valentine

Sworn and Subscribed
before me the day
and year above written }
Ross Crane

I Ross Crane before whom the above
affidavit of Rachel Valentine was made certify
that she is a credible person and that her statement is entitled to credit--

Witness my hand & seal 8th of July 1833
Ross Crane
Page 62

Revolutionary Claims
Free
James L Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 63

Flanders Morris County N.J.
February 17th 1834

Dr Sir,

I herewith enclose the necessary papers to
the Pension Department for Ezekiel Ayres a Soldier of the Revolution, containing his renewed declaration,  Mr. Ayres having heretofore forwarded his papers through
John M. Sherrard Esq of Belvedere Warren Co N.J. and they having been returned to him for Correction & Explanation he has been induced to say the Original papers [cut off] and make an entire new application, Mr Ayres informs
me that the person who drew up the original papers informed him that the particular data of his services was not so necessary as a minute history, and the data was accordingly omitted as unnecessary, upon a minute Examination of the Original application the only remedy appeared to be, an entire new set of paper sto which is appended the additional testimony of Henry Walter and Sylvanus Drake, Mr Ayres did not know that Henry Walter was living untill his papers were made out, having heard that Mr Walter was dead, he has omitted noticing
him in his Declaration as a witness, although Mr Ayres knew Mr Walter in the Revolutionary war and was in a part of his service with him, the Original papers are herewith Enclosed, Except the Brief of Objections, which I presumed were sent to Mr Sherrard with the Return.  Mr Sherrard has been called upon for the Brief, and says there was none came back with the last return, I therefore send such papers as have come to my possession, the Pension
Page 64

Department will please make the Return of the
Enclosed application to Rhue Nicholas P.W. at Flanders Morris Co. N.J.  I have Returned to the Department through the Hon, Philemon Dickerson of N.J. the Papers of Job Daniels without any further alteration, Mr Daniels States to me that he cannot at his advanced age in life from loss of memory, and Extreme debility of Body and mind, give any additional Explanation or history of his Revolutionary services, which
fact I think he has stated in his additional and Explanatory Declaration appended to the Original and that if his claim is rejected he is Still in possession of that peace of conscience Resulting from the fact that he has stated nothing in his Declaration but what is strictly true from the best of his Recollection after the lapse of half a century. and more since his services were performed  I would also state that I Received a note from G. W. Crump Esq of the Pension department stating that the claim of John Lefoy for Revolutionary service had been Examined and Rejected, and the papers
placed on file, the Reasons assigned were that the statement of Mr Lefoy was contrary to the General facts of the service, for that none of the Militia were held in service for the Period stated by the Declarant in his Declaration, with due
deference to the opinion of Mr Crump on the subject   I would refer him to the fact stated in the Declaration that the Company of Militia to which Mr Lefoy
Page 65

Belonged were volunteers for an untimely period (if I am Correct) for Common Defense and that the section of Country where the Company Resided to wit at Tappan N.Y. near the City then in possession of the enemy for the
whole period of his alleged service, rendered it
absolutely necessary that the adjacent country should be constantly Defended from the Depredations of the enemy and the Company of Mr Lefoy therefore liable to constant duty from the fact of their being volunteers. I would further Refer the Department for a precedent in favor of Mr Lefoys claim in the Decision in favor of John H. Fisher and Henry Walter whose claim Rested entirely on the fact of their being volunteers in a Company of N.J. Militia for common Defense-- I suggest these facts hoping the Department will reconsider the decision of Mr Lefoy's Claim and give the subject a further investigation, and I would further state from frequent examinations of Militia Soldiers I find most of these services were around the vicinity of N.Y. for two or three years while the enemy were in possession
of the City-- as I have made out and forwarded many Claims for Revolutionary soldiers, and the Department have the evidence of their 
correctness and authority by passing all
but two (to wit) McDaniels and Lefoy, I assure
the Department that I would not knowingly send
any soldiers claim for allowance without a strict
Examination of every case and a full conviction
for myself of its Justice, the General success they have met with by being allowed is presumptive evidence of the facts above stated

Very Respectfully your Obedient Servant
James L. Edwards Esq 
Rheu Nicholas P. W. Flanders
N.J.
Page 66

5856
Eleanor Ayres
Wid(ow) of Ezekiel
New Jersey 
Act July 7, 1838

333

N.W. Cole will permit Hon. Mr. Price to examine the within pension papers.
s/ J.E.H.

Maj. Lester
Nov. 10, 1832

1838
- 98
----
1736
Page 67

Hoboken, Oct. 14, 1852

Maj. Wm. B. Scott

Dear Sir,

You will oblige me by calling the Pension Office and look at the papers in the following cases. Viz.:

 - James Fawset of Sandyston, Sussex Co., N.J.
 - Hannah Gard, widow of Daniel, Rockaway, Morris Co. N.J. and 
 - Elizabeth Post, widow of John H., Acquackanonk (sp.), Passaic Co., N.J.
 - Hannah Adams, widow, Newark, Atlantic Co., N.J. 
 - Elenor Agres, widow of Ezikiel, Warren Co., New Jersey

Please examine them & let me record at your earliest convenience the character of the testimony in each case.

Your Obedient Servant,
s/ Rodman M. Price
Page 68

Jud(ge) Moore
Aug 4/'53
Page 69

65
Pension Office
Aug 4 1853
Sir,
It is [illegible] to attempt the further [illegible]
cation of the claim of Eleanor Ayres wid-
ow of Ezekiel [illegible].  Her children have
no claim, you are familiar with the re-
port made to Hon. J Mildick [illegible] 1 1833,
which gives the reason why this care can
not be admitted.

John Moore Esq.
Marlboro
N.J.
Page 70

Commissioner of Pensions
Page 71

Dear Sir,

I freely last surrendered the accompanying papers to the Hon. Isaac Wildrick, then a member of Congress from this district. He states that he handed them in and that they were returned to him by the Clerk to whom he gave the papers with the accompanying decision from the department.

Believing that the examining clerk had overlooked the fact that the application is made under the Act of the 3 March 1837 as well as Thirty eight, was other examination is asked for.

The act of 3 March 1837 states that if any person who served in the War of the Revolution in manner specified in the passed the Seventh day of June 1832, have died leaving a widow whose marriage took place before the First of January 1794 and after the expiration of the last period of his services, said widow shall be entitled to receive for and during the term of five years from the Fourth day of March 1836, the person which might have been allowed (sp.) to her said husband in virtue of said act if living at the time it was passed. In examining the papers it will be perceived that her husband was serving at the time the act of 1832 was passed, that he had died at the time the act of 1837 was passed, having shown Ayres, his widow, entitled to the benefit of said act. 

Respectfully yours,
s/ John Moore

To Commissioner of Pensions
Page 72

The examining clerk is referred to the opinion of Atty. Gene F. Buller, that the right to a pension is a vested right and passed to the children of age Sixty, presented rules & regulation of Pension Office rite of spring January 17th 1839.

Also, page 113 in same pamphlet determined pension rules now in force - children of soldiers or their widows may draw what was due their parents when they died, although the proof might not have been her justice at their deaths.

Also page 130 - also page 158 & evidence of marriage, general reputation & cohabitation support as to time established by evidence of the same correction - last cause Attorney General J.Y. Mason
Page 73

5856 July 31st Hackettstown July 27th N.J. Eleanor Ayres wid of Ezekiel Act 7, July 1838
The Honl. J.L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington City FREE
Page 74

Hacketts town 26 July 1839
At the request of Mrs Elenor Ayres I enclose you her deckleration etc inorder to obtain her pension she being adle and infirm requests you to send any communication you have to make to me at Hacketts town, Warren County, New Jersey With high consideration of and esteem yours etc Caleb H. Valentine 
Hon J.L. Edwards
Page 75

408 Wyoming Ave Pittston Pa July 18 /99 Sect Interior Pension Beureau Honorable Sir I desire any information you may be able to give from record in Office regarding Ezekiel Ayers of New Jersey. He was a Revolutionary Solder and Recd a pension for serices Can you give his Rank - Service body of troops he served with & and obliged your respectfully O.L. Severson He was a Revolutionary Soldeir
Page 76

Morristown N.J. Sept 25, 1912 Commissioner of Pensions: Kindly send me an abstract of pension application put in by Ezekiel Ayers, who served in the Revolution. His pension was allowed in August 1832 and he lived in Independence Township N.J. He was Ensign of Militia, and fought in several battles. Would like to obtain a few accurate facts if possible. Thanking you in advance for your attention to same, I am Yours Truly (Miss) Myrtle C. Ayers, 15 Pine St., Morristown, N.J.
Page 77

THE NEW JERSEY SOCIETY

OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
JOHN LEONARD MERRILL

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT
JOHN BREWER WIGHT

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
FRANKLIN MURPHY, JR.

SECRETARY
JOHN RANDALL WEEKS

TREASURER
OSCAR HALSTEAD CONDIT

REGISTRAR
GEORGE H. RICHARDS

HISTORIAN
WILLIAM C. ARMSTRONG

CHAPLAIN
RT. REV. EDWIN S. LINES, D.D.

Members of the Board of Managers
W.L. LINCOLN ADAMS
JOHN LAWRENCE BOGGS
NEHEMIAH PERRY HOWELL
ALEXANDER MALIEU HUDNUT
CHARLES SYMMES KIGGINS
CHARLES M. LUM
RAYMOND TOWNLEY PARROT
DAVID LAWRENCE
PIERSON
HENRY ALBERT POTTER
FRANK HENRY PRESBY

SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Headquarters
756 BROAD STREET (ENTRANCE 1 CLINTON STREET) NEWARK, N.J.
PHONE 8085-M MARKET

August 21, 1913.

Bureau of Pensions,
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:

Will you kindly forward me certificate showing the service of Ezekiel Ayers in the Revolutionary War, as it appears his application for pension.

He was born in Hackettstown, N.J., Nov. 25th, 1754, and died in Independence Township, N.J., Aug. 20th, 1835, and served in the New Jersey Militia as Ensign under Captain Lander and James Van Fleet and Colonels Ford and Thompson. We desire to prove the eligibility of his descendant to membership in our Society.

Thanking you in advance for this certificate, I remain, Very truly yours,
John Leonard Merrill
President.

[illegible]
Page 78

MEW Scranton Pennsylvania October 19 1906 To the Honorable "Commissioner of Pensions" Will you kindly give me the war record of my Great-grandfather Ezekiel Ayers of the Revolutionary War - He was an ensign and
Page 79

during his service in that war and drew a pension up to the time of his death which occured I believe in 1839 - His remains he in the Cemetary at Hacketts town New Jersey. Any information as to exact date of his enlistment and time of service as a soldier will be much appreciated by yours Respectfully (Mrs) [Isivin?] J. Wint. Firnal descendant of Ezekiel Ayers Hackettstown New Jersey - 515 East Market St Warren County Scanton Pennsylvania
Page 80

MASSENBURG & SON.
Pharmacists.

Towson, Md., Feb. 15, 1912. 19

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:

I kindly ask you to forward me the date of my ancestor, Ezekial Ayers, pensioner of the War of the Revolution and Division Reg. Wid. 333 Ezekiel Ayers. Rev. War my ancestor,
Ezekiel Ayers served under Cols. Ford and Thomson as Ensign under Capt. Landers and James Van Fleet, Battles Millstone and Found Brook.

As I want to join the Sons of the American Revolution, Maryland Chapter, I trust you will forward me a copy of my ancestor, Ezekiel Ayers, record enabling me to join the above.

Yours respectfully,
Walter Shalwell Bellis
Page 81

EDWARD F. GRUBE | CHARLES E. DUTCHER

GRUBE & DUTCHER
HATTERS - FURNISHERS
50 COURT STREET
"THE SHOP THAT SATISFIES"
BINGHAMTON, N.Y., Oct. 17, 1913

The Commissioner of Pensions:

Dear Sir,

I am searching for a record of my Great Great Grandfather who was a pensioner of the Revolutionary War. His name was Ezekiel Ayers of Independence Township, Warren Co., New Jersey.

I shall appreciate greatly all the data you have in regards to him on file in your department.

Very Respectfully Yours,
s/ Edward F. Grube
56 Court St.
Binghamton, N.Y.
Page 82

Rev. [illegible] Oct. 11, 1921
Department of Interior,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir,

Would you please send me the record of Ezekiel Ayers Jr. Ensign of...
Page 83

...the Militia. Please send to
Miss Pearl J. Gulick,
310 High St.
Hackettstown, N.J.
Page 84

Rev(olutionary War) Sec(tion)

Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York

Frances Tavern
Corner Broad & Pearl Street
New York City
May 12, 1922.

Pension Bureau,
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

Will you kindly give us any information you may have with regard to the Revolutionary Service and family of Ezekiel Ayers, Jr. who was born in Hackettstown, N.J. November 25, 1754, was a citizen of New Jersey and died in Independence Township, N.J. August 20, 1835.

He was a pensioner and claim was allowed August 1, 1832, when he was 78 years of age.

Yours v-ery truly,
s/ Henry Russell Drowne, Secretary

HRD, HT
Page 85

17.18.2

Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York

Frances Tavern
Corner Broad & Pearl Street
New York City
April 27, 1922.

Pension Bureau,
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

Will you please give me the Revolutionary Record of Ezekiel (sp.) Ayers, Jr., who was born in Hackettstown, N.J., November 25, 1754, and died in Independence Township, N.J., August 20, 1835. He was a pensioner and his claim was allowed August 1, 1832, at which time he lived in Independence Township, N.J. and was 78 years old.

Yours very truly,
s/ Henry Russell Drowne, Secretary

HRD. HT
Page 86

1819 Monsey Ave.
Scranton, Pa.
Dec. 1 - 1924

Commissioner of Pensions

Dear Sir,

Have you a record in your dept. of Ezekiel Ayers and Ezekiel Ayers, Jr. in the Revolutionary war - (farther and son) from Independence Township, N.J. and also any record of Captain William Shotwell in the war of 1812.

If so I am very anxious to get any such information.

Respectfully,
s/ Mark S. Page
1819 Monsey Ave.
Scranton, Pa.
Page 87

Can't identify 4-29 pages.

Cares, Calif.

April 22, - 1939

Pension Bureau,
Washington, D.C.

Sirs:

Will you please send me a copy of the record of a pension claim to Leona or Eleanor Eick or Pike who was the only one wife of Ezekiel Ayres Jr. who was a commissioned Ensign, Capt. Samuel Landoris Co. - 1st Regiment, Sussex Co. N.J. Militia May 1, 1776.

Thank you.

Respectfully,
s/ Mrs. W.R. Moore
Rt. 1, Box 810
Ceres, Calif.
Page 88

Norman Okla. May 15,-'40
Veterans Administration
Washington D.C.

Dear Sirs,

If available I should like the pension papers of Ezekiel Ayres (sometimes written Ayers) who enlisted in Revolutionary War - Militia - from Sussex Co., New Jersey. (later Warren Co.)

He was born at Hackettstown, New Jersey, formerly Sussex County but later Warren County. He was born 1754. Died at Hackettstown, N.J. 1835. Was pensioned 1834.

Respectfully Yours,
s/ (Mrs) Carrie E. Monnett
515 W. Symmes.
Page 89

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3-525
J.L.M | DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
R.333 | BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D.C., Nov. 2, 1921

Miss Pearl J. Galick
310 High St.
Hackettstown, N.J.

Madam:

In reply to your request of Oct. 11th, received Oct. 12th for a statement of the military history of Ezekiel Ayers, 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.918

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. (CAPTAIN/COLONEL) | STATE.

May 1, 1776 | Served at various time 9 mos. 2 weeks and 2 days. | Ensign | Samuel Landon & John Fleet | Demund, Ford, Thompson & Westbrook | N.J. | Soldier was the son of Ezekiel Ayers who died in Aug. 1796.

Battles engaged in, Millstone and Bound Brook.

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Hackettstown, Sussex Co., N.J.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 4, 1832 his claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Independence Twp., Warren County, N.J.
Age at date of application, born Nov. 25, 1754 at Hackettstown, N.J.
Remarks: He married in December 1787 in Independence Twp., Warren Co., N.J. Eleanor Pike, and died Aug. 20 or 21, 1835 in Independence Twp., Warren Co., N.J. where she resided July 20, 1839 aged 72 years. She died Nov. 13, 1840. Children: Robert [crossed out: born in 1789]; Mary b(orn) March 12, 1789 mar(ried) William Demont; Sarah b(orn) Sept. 12, 1791, mar(ried) William Little; William Abraham b(orn) Feb. 5, 1795, John and Ezekiel died 1853 c/o [illegible]

Respectfully,
Commissioner.

I-2856
Page 90

Rev. War.

February 27, 1912.

Mr. Walter S. Bellis,
Towson, Maryland.

Sir:

In addition to the military history of Ezekiel Ayres, R. File No. 333, Rev. War, you are furnished the following data from the papers in said claim:

They had seven children:
Robert was in his 51st year in 1839.
Mary born March 12, 1789, married William Demont.
Sarah born September 12, 1791, married William Little.
William -----
Abraham born February 5, 1795.
John -----
Ezekiel, deceased prior to February 16, 1853, he left a widow and six children, no names are stated.

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 91

Mr. John Leonard Merrill
756 Broad St.
Newark, N.J.

R.333
Ezekiel Ayres
Page 92

June 29, 1939.

BA-J/ILL

Mrs. W.R. Moore
Route 1, Box 810
Ceres, California.

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Ezekiel Ayres, Jr., who served from Sussex County, New Jersey.

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, R. 333, based upon service of Ezekiel Ayers in the Revolutionary War.

Ezekiel Ayers, son of Ezekiel Myers, was born November 25, 1754 in Hackettstown, Sussex County, New Jersey, and lived there during the period of the Revolutionary War. The name of the wife of Ezekiel, senior, was not given; said Ezekiel, senior, died on his farm in Hackettstown, in August 1795. The son, Ezekiel, had a half-brother, Archibald Ayers, who was born May 16, 1781; the name of said Archibald's mother was not given.

Ezekiel Ayers, the son, entered service May 1, 1776, as ensign in the New Jersey militia, served at different times, amounting in all to nine months, two weeks and two days, under Captains Samuel Landen, John Vliet and Colonels Demund, Ford, Thompson and Westbrook. During the period of his service, he was in the battles of Millstone and Bound Brook (ap.), and in many skirmishes.

The soldier resided after the Revolutionary War in Independence Township, near Hackettstown, Sussex County, later Warren County, New Jersey.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 4, 1832, at which time he resided in said Independence Township, New...
Page 93

...Jersey. The soldier died at his home there, August 20 or 21, 1835, and was buried in the Presbyterian burial grounds at Hackettstown; he was reared a Presbyterian.

Eleanor Ayers, the soldier's widow, applied for pension July 20, 1839, at which time she resided in Independence Township, New Jersey. She was aged then seventy years; the date and place of her birth are not shown. She stated that she was married to Ezekiel Ayers, the soldier, in December 1787, in Independence Township, Warren County, New Jersey, by Reverend Peter Wilson, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Hackettstown. Her name before her marriage was Eleanor Pike; the names of her parents are not shown. [added: (begin a new) paragraph next time.] Eleanor Ayers' claim for pension was not allowed as she failed to furnish proof of the date of her marriage as required by the pension law. She died November 13, 1840 and was buried near her husband.

Ezekiel Ayers and his wife, Eleanor, had seven children; the following data are shown regarding them:

 - Robert Ayers, first child, in his fifty-first year on July 20, 1839.
 - Mary Ayers, born March 12, 1789
 - Sarah Ayers, born September 12, 1791.
 - William Ayers --------
 - Abraham Ayers, born February 5, 1795
 - John Ayers, --------
 - Esekiel Ayers Jr., --------

In 1853, Ezekiel Ayers, Jr., the son cited above, was deceased; he was survived by a widow and six children, whose names were not stated. The other children of the soldier were all living in 1853; Sarah was then the widow of William Little, and Mary was the wife of William Demont, Mary, Sarah, Abraham and John were all residents of Warren County, New Jersey.

In 1853, Rachel Valentine, a cousin of Eleanor, who married the soldier, Ezekiel Ayers, resided in Warren County, New Jersey; she was in her ninety-first year in February 1853. One Caleb H. Valentine...

3.
Page 94

...was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Warren County, New Jersey, in 1839; no relationship between him and the soldier's widow was stated.

In 1853, Archibald Ayers, the soldier's half-brother, referred to previously, resided in Independence Township, Warren County, New Jersey.

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

3.
Page 95

June 21, 1940.
BA-J/ILL aw
Ezekiel Ayers
R. 333

Mrs. Carrie R. Monnett
515 West Symmes
Norman, Oklahoma.
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request 
information in regard to Ezekiel Ayers, a Revolutionary War soldier
who received a pension in 1834.

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on
file in pension claim, R. 333, based upon service of Ezekiel Ayers
in the Revolutionary War. 
Reference is made to your letter in which you 

Ezekiel Ayers was born November 25, 1754 in Hackettstown,
Sussex County, New Jersey, and lived there with his father, Ezekiel
Ayers, Sr., at the time of the Revolutionary War; the name of his
mother was not given. His father died in August 1796 on his farm
in Hackettstown. Archibald Ayers, a half-brother of Ezekiel, the son,
was born May 16, 1781 in Hackettstown; the name of his mother was
not given.

Ezekiel Ayers, the son, entered service May 1, 1776 as
ensign in the New Jersey militia, and served at different times,
amounting in all to nine months, two weeks and two days, under Captains
Samuel Landon and John Vliet, Colonels Demund, Ford, Thompson and
Westbrook; during his service, he was in the battles of Millstone and
Boundbrook, also, in many skirmishes.

After the Revolutionary War, he resided in Independence
Township, near Hackettstown, New Jersey,

Ezekiel Ayers was allowed pension on account of his service
in the Revolutionary War on his application executed September 4, 1832,
at which time he resided in Independence Township, Warren County, New 
Jersey.
He died at his home there August 20 or 21, 1835 and was buried
Page 96

in the Presbyterian burial grounds in Hackettstown; he was reared
a Presbyterian.

Eleanor Ayers, this soldier's widow applied for pension July
20, 1839, at which time she resided in Independence Township, New 
Jersey. She was aged then seventy years; the date and place of
her birth are not shown. She stated that she was married to Ezekiel
Ayers, the soldier, in December 1787 in Independence Township, New 
Jersey, by Reverend Peter Wilson, pastor of the Presbyterian Church
of Hackettstown, New Jersey. Her name before her marriage was
Eleanor Pike; the names of her parents were not given.

Eleanor Ayers' claim for pension was not allowed as she
failed to furnish proof of her marriage as required by the pension
law. She died November 13, 1840 and was buried near her husband.

Ezekiel Ayers and his wife, Eleanor, had seven children; the
following data are given regarding them-
Robert Ayers, the eldest child, in his fifty-first year,
July 20, 1839.
Mary " [Ayers] born March 12, 1789
Sarah "  "[born] September 12, 1791
William "
Abraham " born February 5, 1795
Ezekiel, Jr. 

In 1853, soldier's son, Ezekiel Ayers, Jr. was deceased; he was
survived by a widow and six children, their names not given. All of [x'd out] the
other children of the soldier were living then (1853); Sarah, was then the
widow of William Little, and Mary was the wife of William Demount or
Demont. Mary, Sarah, Abraham and John were residents of Warren County,
New Jersey, in 1853.  

In 1853, Rachel Valentine, a cousin of Eleanor who married the
soldier ( Ezekiel Ayers), resided in Warren County, New Jersey; she was
in the ninety-first year of her age then. One Caleb H. Valentine was
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Warren County, New Jersey, in 1839,
no relationship between him and the soldier's widow was stated.

In 1853, Archibald Ayers, the half-brother of Ezekiel Ayers, the
Page 97

soldier, resided in Independence Township, Warren County, New
Jersey
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.