Thanks to all who answered my question. "Oath" of Allegiance seems to be what I'm looking for. Evidently, my ancestors, the Demarest's, thought it important enough to mention in connection to the family name. Does anyone know if there's any information on this subject in books about Orange Co.? Or, perhaps, reference to the Demarest's who lived in Goshen mid - late 1700's? My ggggrandfather, John Demarest b. in 1746 (Goshen), was a Revolutionary War soldier serving in the 2nd Regt., Orange Co. Militia... Jackie bunny-jo@webtv.net