OFFICIAL REGISTER OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF NEW JERSEY Page 7

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Adjutant General's Office,
Trenton, July 4th, 1871.

To His Excellency
Theodore F. Randolph,

Governor of New Jersey,

When I first entered this office in April, 1867, I found few papers relating to the Revolutionary War. Constant inquiries from all parts of the Union for a certified copy of the records of soldiers of that war, brought the matter frequently to my attention, and I soon began to note such names and data as were verified in some way officially. These notations had already assumed considerable size and importance when your order of June 1st, 1870, was issued, and I immediately entered vigorously on such a research as I believe has hitherto been unattempted by this or any other State. The pension lists of the government, and the minutes of the Congress of the United States, and of the Legislature and Council of Safety of New Jersey, and all the records of the War Department, so far as they were found to relate to this State at that early period, were carefully examined. Original manuscripts, rolls of companies of Continental troops, diaries of officers, paymasters' memoranda, quartermasters' reports, treasurers' receipts, "returns" to the Commander-in-Chief, lists of soldiers paid at sundry times in Continental money, other lists of men who received notes for depreciation of said currency, - all these and various other kinds of vouchers have been most faithfully compared. The result of all this research I have now the honor to present you. After the lapse of nearly a century, and without the aid of any valuable documents preserved by the State, I cannot but be pleased with such success as I have met with. Not asserting that it is complete or without an error, I do affirm that no record has been made hastily or without what seemed to me to be well verified. I shall be thankful at any time to receive, from any one, well-authenticated proof of any omission or mistake, and make the same public.

Before closing, I must acknowledge my indebtedness to Mrs. Dr. Jonathan E. McChesney, of Hightstown, for her kindness in allowing me an examina-

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