3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 425-36 (1980)
| dc.coverage.spatial | New Jersey | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-03T22:20:45Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1756 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Established a colonel to command New Jersey's frontier forces and required him to oversee discipline, training, and military readiness. He was obligated to conduct regular inspections of forts and posts, maintain at least eighty men on patrol, keep detailed records of enlistments, discharges, deaths, and military activities, and submit periodic reports to the governor and legislature. The colonel was also required to take loyalty oaths and swear to maintain accurate muster rolls and payroll records to prevent fraud and ensure proper compensation of soldiers. | |
| dc.description.lawtext | WHEREAS it is highly necessary, that the Forces lately ordered to be raised by this Colony, for the Defence and Preservation of the Inhabitants upon the Frontiers, should be under such proper Regulation and Discipline, as may answer the good Purposes thereby intended. BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Governor, Council and General Assembly of this Colony, AND IT IS HEREBY ENACTED by the Authority of the same, that there shall be a Colonel, and Commander over the Forces, to be appointed by Commission from his Excellency the Governor of this Colony, which said Colonel and Commander, shall also take upon him the Command of one of the Companies of one hundred Men of the said Forces, as Captain of the said Company. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid, that the said Colonel and Commander so appointed as aforesaid, shall constantly attend his Duty with the said Forces, that he may be the more ready and capable of performing the great Trust reposed in him. And the said Colonel and Commander shall cause all the Men under his Command (who shall not be upon other Service) to appear daily under Arms, at their several Stations, with their proper Officers, to learn their Exercise, and to be taught the Use of their Arms, as well as to keep them from Idleness, Gaming, Drinking and other Vices, as to render them useful and fit for the Service for which they are intended. And the said Colonel and Commander shall once in Four Weeks at furthest, visit every Fort, Fortification, Post and Station of the said Forces (while on the Frontiers) to take Care that both Officers and Soldiers keep to their Duty, and do not desert the Service to which they shall be ordered. And shall order and keep Scouts constantly patrolling through the Country for the better Security and Defence of the neighbouring Inhabitants, and the Discovery of the secret lurking Places of the Enemy, as well as any approaching Danger; which Scouts or patrolling Guards shall be divided into so many Corps, and consist of so many Men, as the said Colonel and Commander shall in his Discretion think the Necessity of the Service may require; so that not less than eighty Men be constantly patrolling in such Corps. And the said Colonel and Commander shall not only keep a daily Journal of the Situation and Posture of Affairs, but likewise of all his Proceedings, Orders and Detachments, and therein shall also insert the Time of the Enlistment, and Discharge of the Soldiers under his Command, either enlisted or discharged, and shall monthly, or oftener if required, transmit, or cause to be transmitted unto the Governor or Commander in Chief of this Colony, for the Time being, a true Copy of such Journal, to be laid before the House of General Assembly for their Inspection. And the said Colonel or Commander, at the Time of obtaining his Commission, shall take the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy required by Law, and have a Certificate endorsed on his Commission, and also take the following Oath, and have a Certificate thereof endorsed as aforesaid: "To wit: A.B. do swear, that I will keep an exact Account, or Poll, of the Time of the enlisting every Soldier under my Command, and of the Discharging, Desertion or Death, of such Soldier, and that I will not suffer any Person to be entered on the Roll or Mustered, but such as are either truly Inlisted, or otherwise declared Soldiers, by the Act, entitled, 'An Act for the better Regulation of the Forces upon the Frontiers of this Colony in the County of Sussex, for the Protection and Defence of the Persons and Estates of the Inhabitants there, and the Places adjacent,' and are designed, or by the Act aforesaid obliged to perform the Service under my Command; and will from Time to Time, render unto the Muster Master appointed by the said Act (or his Successor in case of his ceasing to be Muster Master) all the Assistance in my Power, for the better enabling him the said Muster Master, or his Successor, to make a fair and honest Account of all the Pay that shall from Time to Time become justly due to myself and every Officer and Soldier, that shall be hereafter under my Command." | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.firearmsresearchcenter.org/id/frc0001/5912 | |
| dc.rights | CC0 1.0 Universal | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ | |
| dc.subject | ARMED FORCES | |
| dc.subject | LOYALTY OATH REQUIRED | |
| dc.subject | MILITIAS | |
| dc.title | 3 Bernard Bush, Laws of the Royal Colony of New Jersey 425-36 (1980) |
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