Abraham  Hayes was born in Cortlandtown, NY.  His parents were James and Rosetta Hays.  The spelling of his name and his age differ on different documents.  The discrepencies in spelling his name and in the year of his birth were resolved by the discovery in  the the 1870 Census record  that Abraham Hayes could not read or write.  Since he was illiterate, he depended on others to write for him.  The 10 year reduction in age for his military service may have been done by an enthusiastic recruiter.

Click on image to see full size.

In 1850, Abraham Hays lived in the Town of Cortlandt with his mother, Rosetta, his brothers Henry, James K., and Thomas, and his sisters Martha, Rebecca, and Harriet.  According to the 1850 Census, his father, James was not living with the family then.  James Hays was still living in 1842, when Harriet was conceived. We assume Abraham and Charlotte married ca 1855 since their son Lewis was born ca. 1856.  The name of Abraham Hayes and that of his wife Charlotte are on a 1866 quit claim to Charlotte's interest in property of her family.  This document identified Charlotte's father, Abraham Lockwood, her brothers, Stephen and Zabud Lockwood, and her sisters, Amanda Jane Hays wife of Jacob Hayes and Rachel Gardner wife of Cornelius Gardner.  We know that both Abraham and Jacob Hayes served in the same military Unit.  Abraham's sister-in-law Amanda Jane married a man named Jacob Hayes.  We do not know the family relationship between Abraham and Jacob. Abraham, Charlotte, and their children, 14 year old Lewis, 11 year old Abram, and seven month old Emily appear on the 1870 Census.  Abraham worked as a Moulder.  Molders made cast iron products like pot-bellied stoves,  Franklin stoves, firebacks, cannon balls, bullets.  He enlisted  in the 70th NY Regiment in the Civil War.   He served from 1861 to 1863 when he received a disability discharge (click on image to left). Abraham Hayes is listed as a casualty at Fredricksburg, VA. His Certificate of Disability for Discharge , dated Febuary 6th 1863 at Philadelphia PA, states that Abram Hayes,  born in Peekskill, NY, "25 year of age, 5 feet 44 inches high, Dark complextion, Black eyes, Brown Hair, and by occupation when enlisted a Moulder" has been unfit for duty for 60 days. On Jan. 29, 1863, Surgeon-in-charge Jasbamach, stationed in Germantown, certified that he found "Abraham Hays of Lt. Belchers Company "incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of Sprain of Back from being run over by Army Wagon." Abraham  Hayes  died 9/04/1895 in Peekskill, NY.  He is buried in a grave next to Charlotte at the Old St Peter's Cemetery at VanCortlandtville, Westchester, NY.

Co. A, 1st Regiment, Excelsior Brigade, 70th N.Y. Infantry Records show:

Date	Name	Document Title	Rank	Remarks	Copyist
Nov 15, 1861	Abraham Hayes	Detachment Muster-in Roll	Private	Joined for duty and enrolled in Peekskill, NY age 25 years	L C Herrick
Jan 2, 1962	Abraham Hayes	Company Muster Roll	Private	Regimental Recruit	W T Hughes
Jan & Feb 1862	Abraham Hays	Company Muster Roll	Private	Present	W T Hughes
Mar & Apr 1862	Abraham Hays	Company Muster Roll	Private	Present	W T Hughes
May & June 1862	Abraham Hayes (no "e")	Company Muster Roll	Private	Present,  Absent without leave* * Is this typical military?	W T Hughes
July & Aug, 1862	Abraham Hayes	Company Muster Roll	Private	Present	M M Beily
Sept & Oct, 1862	Abraham Hayes	Company Muster Roll	Private	Present	M M Beily
Nov & Dec,1862	Abraham Hayes	Company Muster Roll	Private	Absent - sick	M M Beily
Nov. 1862	Abraham Hayes	Regimental Return	Private	Absent - sick	C G Smith
Dec, 1862	Abraham Hayes	Regimental Return	Private	Absent - sick	C G Smith
Jan & Feb, 1863	Abraham Hayes	Company Muster Roll	Private	Left sick in Hospital at Alexandria	M M Beily
Feb 1863	Abraham Hayes	Company Muster Roll	Private	Absent - sick	D. Maher
March 1863	Abraham Hayes	Regimental Return	Private	Absent - sick	D. Maher
April 10-30, 1863	Abraham Hayes	Company Muster Roll	blank	Discharged	M M Beily
Nov & Dec 1863	Abraham Hayes	Hospital Muster Roll	Pvt	Attached to hospital Dec. 11, 1863	Schevioh
July 6, 1864 NY City	Abraham Hayes	Co. Muster-out Roll	Pvt	Discharged Feb 6/63  by order of  Genl. Montgomery  by reason of Disability	F B Miller

Copies of the above documents can be requested from Susan

See 70th Regiment of NY Cavalry enlisted from Cortlandt, Westchester Co. NY

More Links:
The Abraham/Abram Hays/Hayes family tree is at http://home.att.net/~jg245/kelly.htm
See History of the 70th Regiment Infantry "1st Excelsior"

Jacob Hays or Hayes

Jacob Hayes  was the son of Thomas Hays and Rosetta Quat.  The spelling of his name differs on different documents.  His 1861 military records stated  that he resided in Peekdkill, was a moulder, had light brown hair and was 5 feet 7 inches high.  Jacob was wounded in action at Fredricksburg,VA in Dec.12 1862.  He re-enlisted March 10, 18764 and transferred to the 86th NY Vols. June 23, 1864.  His furlough expired May 10, 1864, and he was listed as  absent until his return Jan 1, 1865.  He was not Court Martialed.   He was promoted to Corporal May 1, 1865. Jacob married Amanda Jane Lockwood, the sister of Charlotte , wife of Abraham Hay(e)s.  Jacob and Abraham  were both moulders by occupation.  Both men lived in Peekskill, NY. They both have a mother named Rosetta.

Jacob  Hayes  died 4/19/1919 in Peekskill, NY.  He is buried at the Old St Peter's Cemetery at VanCortlandtville, Westchester, NY.

 Abraham and Jacob Hays served n the same company A in the 70th NY Regiment in the Civil War, which included 28 local men.  This unit saw action at Gettysburg, Fair Oaks, VA, Seven Days Befire Richmond, Second Battle of Bull Run, Fredricksburg, Chancellorville, the Widlerness, and Spottsville Courthouse.

Northern Westchester and Putnam Soldiers
by William T. Horton, Peekskill, NY 1956,1965
page 113

Peekskill and the town of Cortlandt during the War of the Rebellion 1861-1865
by William T. Horton, Peekskill, NY 1956,1965
page 145

page 146

 
 

 

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