Pension Application

S.17245
New Jersey & New York, private in company commanded by Captain Countryman
            In the Matter of Thomas Ayres, an applicant for a pension, under the act of Congress of June 7, 1832, recorded in Book A Page 320 Edward Patton, clk.
            Whereas it has been represented to me; William C. Keen, Judge of Switzerland Probate Count [court], that Thomas Ayers [sic] of said county, is a REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER—that he resides in the township of Posey and is unable to appear at court, in consequence of bodily infirmity; whereupon, I attended at the residence of said Thomas Ayers and after examination, do certify that said Thomas Ayers is unable to, and cannot, appear at court, in consequence of BODILY INFIRMITY, caused by general debility.
            Given under my hand this 7th day of September A.D. 1832.
            The state of Indiana Switzerland County, SS. William C. Keen. On this seventh day of September A.D. 1832 personally appeared, at his own house, in Posey township, county aforesaid, before William C. Keen Esq, Judge of the Switzerland Probate court, Thomas Ayers, aged seventy seven years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his said oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of congress, passed the 7th of June A.D. 1832—that he, the said Thomas Ayers entered the service of the United States, during the AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR, under the following named officers and served as herein stated—That he, the said Thomas served in AD 1776, in a company of New Jersey Militia, under Captain Countryman again in a company commanded by [line not legible]in a company commanded by same captain—again in a company commanded by Capt. Sheaver or Shafer—again in Capt. Kingkendolis company –again Capt. Gano & Delevan’s companies—again in Capt. Harken’s Compy again in Capt. Bunnell’s Company.
            And, 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.
            The Judge then propounded the following interrogatories to the said Thomas Ayres.

Where, and in what year were you born? I was born in Somerset County N. J. on the 21st August AD 1755.
Have you any record of you age, and if so, where is it? I have no record of my age.
Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war; and where do you now live? I lived in Sussex Co. NJ—after the war I removed to Penns, and remained in that state about 5 years, then to Cincinnati and lived in Ohio about 25 years or more—since that in Indiana.
How were you called into service; were you drafted—did you volunteer, or where you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? I was drafted and enlisted.
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 service. General Lafayette, General Poor, was buried while I was with Lafayette—General Washington—Gen. Wayne, General Dickinson.

In AD 1778 he the said [torn] as a private soldier for one month, in a company of New Jersey militia commanded by Capt. Henry Countryman, in the regiment commanded by Col. ______he believes the Col’s name was Thompson in Sussex County New Jersey. After his time expired, he continued to serve in the same company, but under the command of Capt. Meeker for one month as a substitute for his father Peter Ayers. At the expiration of said time he was discharged at Amboy, NY by Gen. Dickinson. He was stationed during the whole of said two months at Perth Amboy. A body of troops known by the name of the “Flying Camp”, was stationed at the same place at the same time. He was taken sick three days before his term had entirely expired but was at the request of Gabriel Compton, discharged by Gen. Dickerson.
Again in AD 1777, in the month of [blank] he was drafted in Sussex county aforesaid, and served in a company of New Jersey Militia, commanded by Benjamin Kuykendoll, and marched to Elizabethtown and continued there for one month. General Wines commanded the whole forces composed chiefly of New Jersey Militia.
            Again in AD 1777 or 1778 in the month of [blank] he was drafted in Sussex county, New Jersey in a company of militia commanded by Lieutenant Westfall, and marched to Elizabethtown. General Wines, still in command and served one month.
            Again in AD 1778 or 1779 in the month of [blank] he was drafted in Sussex county New Jersey in a company of New Jersey militia commanded by Capt. Kuykendoll (one Lieutenant was named Midday) and marched to Paramus, and served one month. Col. Seward was in command at Paramus, at this [torn]
            Again in AD 1778 in the month of [blank] drafted at Sussex county, N. Jersey in a company of Militia of the State of New Jersey, commanded by Captain Peter Shaver or Sheafer (a miller) and marched from place to place, until we reached Elizabethtown where we continued until or time expired and served one month.
            Again in AD 1779 on the [blank] day of [blank] he was drafted in Sussex County aforesaid in a company of militia commanded by Captain Kuykendoll and marched to and was stationed at Minnisink for one month.
Again in AD 1780 he enlisted at Goshen, State of New York in a company commanded by Captain Gano, and marched to West Point, where he was picket out of his company and attached to the command of Captain Delavan at [?] of Colonel Courtland’s regiment, General Hand’s brigade. Lafayette, commander in chief and [fold] months. During this tour, our troops were not stationed at any particular place but were kept moving from place to place—we were at Hackensack and Bergentown. The British lay at a block house on Bergen Point—a man was hung at Bergen in the woods for shooting at or threatening to shoot Lafayette, as said in the camp—his name he has forgotten—he, said Thomas was dismissed at Poughkeepsie, NY by Capt. Delavan.
Again in AD 1781 in the month of April, he enlisted at Minniskink, N.Jersey in a company commanded by Captain Joseph Harker, New Jersey Militia—during this tour the Indians attacked Capt. Chalmer’s house and we drove them off after a pretty severe brush after which time, another company was raised and sent to strengthen us, commanded by Capt. James Burnnell which company continued with us the balance of the time. Captain Bunnell’s men built a block house at Shimer’s or Shiner—our company was kept traversing the county between the above named block house and Fredenberg’s or Fredenbury. He served during this tour nine months.
            Again in March or April of AD 1782, he enlisted at Capt. Bunnell’s quarters (which was at Shimer or Shiner’s the captain’s father in law) in a company of New Jersey Militia commanded by Captain James Bonnell and were stationed at the above named block house and continued there until the first day of December and herein during this tour nine months & no other troops at Shimer or Shiner’s block house but Bun Nellis company. That he the said Thomas Ayres served during the American Revolutionary War altogether for the full term of Twenty Nine months.
            In 1780 after being discharged from Delavan’s Infantry—he the said Thomas Ayers served as a substitute for robert Brooks, who had previously served three months in the same company and served about one month or more in a company of Militia, which lay at Maj. Westbrook’s house.
            When I joined the company under Delavan they took a descriptive list of any person &c I am, in that list, named as a tanner and shoemaker, my age—my height & c is also there. A very young man called Captain Washington was Capt. of our guard several times—he was not more than 16 or 18 years of age at t6hat time—he was [torn] New Jersey. [This seems to be the end of the deposition.]

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