Guide to the New Jersey State TroopsMilitary Record Book 1781-1786 (Bulk dates: 1781-1782) MG 229

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Restrictions
Access Points
Related Material
Administrative Information
Bibliography

Container List

Orderly Book

Guide to the New Jersey State Troops Military Record Book
1781-1786
(Bulk dates: 1781-1782)
MG 229
The New Jersey Historical Society
52 Park Place
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Contact: NJHS Library
(973) 596-8500 x249
library@jerseyhistory.org
https://www.jerseyhistory.org
© 2006 All rights reserved.
The New Jersey Historical Society, Publisher
Inventory prepared by Luis Delfino, May 2001, as part of the “Farm to City” project funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis. March 2006. Production of the EAD 2002 version of this finding aid was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finding aid written in English.


Descriptive Summary

Creator: New Jersey. Militia.
Title: New Jersey State Troops Military Record Book
Dates: 1780
Abstract: Book of orders and quartermaster’s accounts kept by John Speer, a lieutenant in the Essex County Militia and in Captain John Craig’s Company, New Jersey State Troops. The orders were issued July 17 – December 4, 1781.
Quantity: .2 linear feet (1 volume)
Collection Number: MG 229

Biographical Note

Throughout 1781, the main body of the Continental Army was encamped in the Hudson Highlands. The New Jersey State Troops were a separate entity organized and financed by the New Jersey State Assembly for the defense of the boundaries of the state. During the period of time covered early in this volume, Captain John Craig’s Company of the New Jersey State Troops left their camp in Dobbs Ferry, New York crossed the border and by December 4, 1781, had advanced Connecticut Farms (now Union Township) to Newark. This was a time of gradual British retreat to their coastal strongholds.

Captain John Craig’s company was part of Major Samuel Hayes’ (1728-1811) Battalion of the First Essex Regiment of the New Jersey State Troops. Lieutenant John Speer (1754-1818) kept orderly and financial records for the Company.

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Scope and Content Note

This volume is a military record book kept by lieutenant John Speer of Captain John Craig’s Company of the Essex County Militia from 1781-1786. The volume consists of quartermaster’s accounts dating from 1781-1786 and an orderly book dating from 1781. Typical entries in the quartermaster’s account portion of this volume regard money owed to individual soldiers, the number of rations distributed, and provisions purchased. Among the entries is a list of thirty names entitled “Names of Men intitled (sic) to the prize taken at Newark.”

Entries in the orderly book portion of this volume include brigade orders, garrison orders, and regimental orders, and were issued from Dobbs Ferry, New York; Connecticut Farms, New Jersey; and Newark, New Jersey from July 17-December 4, 1781. Typical orders regard troop movements and formation, rations of food and rum, and court martial proceedings.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Photocopying of materials is limited, and no materials may be photocopied without permission from library staff.

Use Restrictions

Researchers wishing to publish, reproduce, or reprint materials from this collection must obtain permission.

The New Jersey Historical Society complies with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions and protects unpublished materials as well as published materials.

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Access Points

The entries below represent persons, organizations, topics, forms, and occupations documented in this collection.
Subject Names:
Craig, John.
Speer, John.
Subject Organizations:
New Jersey. Militia.
United States. Army–Military life
United States. Continental Army.
Subject Topics:
Courts martial and courts of inquiry–New Jersey.
Military camps–New Jersey.
Military maneuvers–New Jersey.
Military supplies–New Jersey.
Quartermasters–New Jersey.
Subject Places:
Dobbs Ferry (N.Y.)
Newark (N.J.)
Union Township (N.J.)
United States–History–Revolution, 1775-1783.
Document Types:
Orderly books.

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Related Material

Manuscript Group 91, First Continental Artillery Regiment Orderly Book

Manuscript Group 222, Francis Barber (1750-1883) Orderly book

Manuscript Group 223, Continental Artillery Brigade Orderly book

Manuscript Group 224, 7th Rifle Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line / Patton’s Additional Regiment Orderly book

Manuscript Group 225, Continental Army Artillery Regiment Orderly book

Manuscript Group 226, First New Jersey Continental Regiment Orderly book

Manuscript Group 227, Jersey Brigade Orderly book

Manuscript Group 228, Alexander Scammell (1747-1781), Adjutant General in the Continental Army, Orderly book

Manuscript Group 230, Nathaniel Heard’s Brigade, New Jersey Militia Record book

Manuscript Group 233, Jabez Campfield (1737-1821), Military surgeon, Journal and Orderly book

Manuscript Group 257, Second Dragoon Regiment, Continental Army Orderly book

Manuscript Group 525, Essex County Militia, Second Regiment Record Book

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 229, New Jersey State Troops

Military Record Book, The New Jersey Historical Society.

Acquisition Information

The source of this collection is unknown.

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Bibliography

Striker, William S. Official Register of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War. (Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1967)

Timeline of the American Revolution, 1765-1783. Available at: <http://www.nps.gov/vafo/HISTORY/rwtimeline.htm>

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Container List

Orderly Book

Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Orderly book 1781-1786

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