As part of a local history project in Caldwell, NJ I have been reviewing microfilm of the local newspaper. Recently I came upon the following article originally printed in the Caldwell Progress on July 26, 1913: "Finds Records of Old Volunteers Muster Roll of Company Organized in Caldwell One Hundred Years Ago "Charles T. Smith, who lives over Meyer's store on Bloomfield avenue, came across an old set of records while rummaging around in the attic of that building during the week. The find turned out to be a set of muster rolls of a company known as the Columbian Volunteers, which was organized in Caldwell in 1814, almost one hundred years ago. "According to the records, which are considerably worn by age, Rufus Harrison was captain, Joseph C. Cook, lieutenant; Jonathan Squier, ensign; Jared F. Harrison, Matthias Morehouse, Elias Williams, and Abraham Cook, sergeants; John Morehouse, Jr., Elijah Pierson, Henry Davidson and Ezra B. Morehouse, corporals; William D. Beach, fife; Israel Beach, drummer. "Among the names of privates are: Richard Harrison, Wells Wade, William Warren, David W. Morehouse, Joseph Wade, Ezra Beach, Daniel Markets, Aaron Easton, James Morehouse, Cyrus Harrison, Jesse Morehouse, Ashbel Harrison, Isaac Tompkins, Nathaniel Beach, Abner Kent, William McChesney, Aaron Morehouse, Hervey Harrison, Josiah B. Wilkinson, Josiah Williams, Israel Williams, Reuben Brundage, Aaron R, Harrison, Calvin Kent, Timothy Osborn, Ebenezer Teed, Allen Smith, Nathaniel Taylor, Garrett Van Emburgh, Samuel Beach, Joseph Stephen, Thomas C. Wright, Joseph Kent, Pell Teed, Jr., Smith Lyn, Joseph Harrison, Jr., Samuel Pickens, Bern B. Poster, Usual Harrison, Isaac Baldwin, Zenus Harrison. "There are some other names not very intelligible, and there are also records of Rufus Harrison, as justice of the peace, and Parker Teed, an overseer of the poor. "The New Jersey Historical Society at Newark, have no official records of this company of volunteers, but agrees that the company was organized in 1814, The records found by Mr. Smith are dated 1815." Today I spoke with the NJ State Library and learned that these militia records were apparently not transmitted to the Adjutant General in 1898, therefore these men aren't be listed in the usual records for NJ state militias (and the Librarian checked to make sure there was no mention of them.) Since this militia company apparently isn't documented other than in this obscure article, I think it is useful to post the entire article on this list. In addition, there were many familiar names in the group, so I decided to see if I could figure out who they were. I think I have identified a number of them and I wonder if some of you who are tracking Essex County families can confirm my guesses and add some of your own. The question marks below indicate my uncertainty as to whether the data I have actually belong to any of these specific individuals. All the birth, death and marriage data were obtained from a variety of sources. I've alphabetized the names for convenience. Pvt. Isaac Baldwin Pvt. Ezra Beach Drummer: Israel Beach Pvt. Nathaniel Beach Pvt. Samuel Beach Fife: William D. Beach Pvt. Reuben Brundage Sgt. Abraham Cook Lt. Joseph C. Cook Cpl. Henry Davidson Pvt. Aaron Easton Pvt. Aaron R. Harrison 1778-1856, son of Richard Harrison (1743-1822) and Elizabeth Baldwin, grandson of Judge Joseph Harrison (1697-1779) and Mary Tompkins? Pvt. Ashbel Harrison: I have an Ashbel G. Harrison, grandson of Uzal Harrison (below), born before 1835 in Caldwell; maybe he was named after an uncle I haven't yet found! Pvt. Cyrus Harrison: bapt 1797 at Caldwell, son of Zenas Harrison (1768-1831) and Phebe Williams (see below)? Pvt. Hervey Harrison: (1798-1869) bapt at Caldwell; son of Joseph Harrison (1747-1837) and Phebe Tompkins, grandson of Judge Joseph Harrison (1697-1779) and Mary Tompkins? Sgt. Jared F. Harrison: (1790-1862) son of Judge Joseph Harrison (1697-1779) and Mary Tompkins? Pvt. Joseph Harrison, Jr.: (1793-1878) son of Joseph Harrison (1747-1837) and Phebe Tompkins, grandson of Judge Joseph Harrison (1697-1779) and Mary Tompkins? [Although his father was also known as Joseph Jr., it seems unlikely that a 70+ year old was serving in the militia] Pvt. Richard Harrison: (1786-1829) son of Richard Harrison (1743-1822) and Elizabeth Baldwin, grandson of Judge Joseph Harrison (1697-1779) and Mary Tompkins? [Although his father was alive, it seems unlikely that a 70+ year old was serving in the militia] Capt. Rufus Harrison: (1778-1848) son of Judge Joseph Harrison (1697-1779) and Mary Tompkins? Pvt. Usual Harrison: (1771-?) son of Richard Harrison (1743-1822) and Elizabeth Baldwin, grandson of Judge Joseph Harrison (1697-1779) and Mary Tompkins?; he married Hamutal Wade, sister of Wells Wade (see below) Pvt. Zenus Harrison: (1768-1831) son of Richard Harrison and Elizabeth Baldwin, grandson of Judge Joseph Harrison (1697-1779) and Mary Tompkins? Pvt. Abner Kent Pvt. Calvin Kent: (1800-1839) son of Samuel Kent and Jane --?--; he was married and buried at Caldwell? Pvt. Joseph Kent Pvt. Smith Lyn Pvt. Daniel Markets Pvt. William McChesney: there was a family of that surname in Essex County at that time Pvt. Aaron Morehouse: a man of this name married Elizabeth Gould who was baptized at Caldwell in 1819 Pvt. David W. Morehouse Cpl. Ezra B. Morehouse Pvt. James Morehouse Pvt. Jesse Morehouse Cpl. John Morehouse, Jr. Sgt. Matthias Morehouse Pvt. Timothy Osborn Pvt. Samuel Pickens Cpl. Elijah Pierson: possibly the Elijah who was son of Caleb Pierson and Joanna Baldwin and married Martha Williams at Essex County 26 Feb 1805? Pvt. Bern B. Poster Pvt. Allen Smith: married Mary --?--; father of Margaret Smith (1826-1892)- she was born at Livingston (which was then still part of Caldwell Township) Document Finder: Charles T. Smith Ensign Jonathan Squier Pvt. Joseph Stephen Pvt. Nathaniel Taylor: second husband (in 1801) of Mary Ball (1761-1813); she was born at Newark Pvt. Ebenezer Teed: This family intermarried with the Harrisons of Roseland in the latter part of the 1800's- maybe earlier too? Overseer of the Poor: Parker Teed Pvt. Pell Teed, Jr. Pvt. Isaac Tompkins: married Nancy Condit (b 1798 at Orange) 7 Apr 1822? Pvt. Garrett Van Emburgh: This was the surname of another husband of Mary Kirk (1762-1840), third wife of Joseph Harrison (1747-1837) (see above); it is not known if she had children in the Van Emburgh marriage Pvt. Joseph Wade Wells Wade (1780-1858) had 12(!) sisters including Hamutal who married Uzal Harrison (see above)? Pvt. William Warren Pvt. Josiah B. Wilkinson Sgt. Elias Williams: married Sarah Tompkins (dau of Amos Tompkins and Nancy Dodd) at Caldwell 3 Dec 1797? Pvt. Israel Williams: born 1789 at Caldwell; Married Elizabeth Williams at Caldwell in 1816; son of Simeon Williams (1758-1826) and Mary Smith? Pvt. Josiah Williams: brother of Israel; married Phebe Wade, first cousin once removed of Wells Wade (see above)? Pvt. Thomas C. Wright I think I probably am correct with the Harrisons, Wades and Morehouse; the closeness of fit is pretty compelling- and tempting! Of course the newspaper article provides no real proof of any relationships, so all of this is speculative. Any additional ideas on this data would be welcomed. Regards- Bev