The search for
Abraham Hayes and Jacob Hayes

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.
His name was written as: His age was written as:  His birth year calculates to:
Abraham Hayes on a 1866 deed; . .
Abraham Hays on the 1850 Census; 24 years on the 1850 Census b. 1826
Abraham Hays on the 1870 Census; 45 years on the 1870 Census b. 1825
Abraham Hayes on the 1880 Census; 53 years on the 1880 Census b. 1827
Abram Hayes on the 1879 Westchester Directory; . .
Abraham Hayes 1889-90 Peekskill Directory; . .
Abraham Hayes aka Abraham Hays on 
70th NY Volunteers enlistment of 11/15/1861.
25 years  b. ca 1836
Abram H. Hays on the note found with his wife Charlotte's photo. . .
Abram Hays on his Obituary; . .
Abraham Hays on his grave stone. 67yr, 6mo, 2da on his Sept 4, 1885 Death Record, Obituary, and tombstone. b. 1818


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 (no "e") Company Muster Roll Private Present W T Hughes
Mar & Apr 1862 Abraham Hays (no "e") Company Muster Roll Private Present W T Hughes
May & June 1862 Abraham Hayes
Company Muster Roll Private Present, 
Absent without leave*
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, 1863  by order of  Genl. Montgomery  by reason of Disability F B Miller
Copies of the above documents can be requested from Susan
 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 Before Richmond, Second Battle of Bull Run, Fredricksburg, Chancellorville, the Widlerness, and Spottsville Courthouse.

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

See History of the 70th Regiment Infantry "1st Excelsior"

View the Abraham/Abram Hays/Hayes family tree

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.

His name was written as: His age was written as:  His birth year calculates to:
Jacob Hayes on 1859 Probate papers. . .
Jacob Hayes aka Jacob Hays on 
70th NY Volunteers enlistment of 11/15/1861.
   
Jacob Hays aka Jacob Hayes on Transfer to 86th NY Vols. 
Jacob Hayes on a 1866 deed; . .
Jacob Hays on his Obituary;             89 years March 15 1839

 The Surrogate Court records identify the heir of Jacob Hays as his daughter Louise Badley.   Jacob Hays' estate consisted of personal property of $150.00 as well as a house and barn on 21 and 4/10 acres of property situated in a hallow or low ground, very rough "with a great many large rocks scatered over it", on the southerly side of Furnace Wood Rd. AKA Maple Ave. in the Town of Cortlandt, Village of Peekskill, NY  near the easterly boundry of said village, valued at $1600.00.


Military

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
Peekskill and the town of Cortlandt during the War of the Rebellion 1861-1865
page 146

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Last revised 23rd February 2010 © Copyright 2001-2010 by Susan Godlewski, all rights reserved