Elias Dayton, born in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, in July, 1737, began
his military career by joining Braddock’s forces, and fought in the
“Jersey Blues” under Wolfe at Quebec. Subsequently he commanded a
company of militia in an expedition against the Indians, and at the
beginning of the Revolution was a member of the Committee of Safety. In
July, 1775, he was with the party under Lord Stirling that captured a
British transport off Staten Island. In 1776, he was ordered to Canada;
but upon reaching Albany he was directed to remain in that part of
the country to prevent any hostile demonstration by the Tory element.
In 1777, he ranked as colonel of the Third New Jersey Regiment, and
in 1781, he materially aided in suppressing the revolt in the New
Jersey line. Serving to the end of the war, he was promoted to be a
brigadier-general the 7th of January, 1783. Returning to New Jersey
upon the disbanding of the army, he was elected president of the
Society of the Cincinnati of that State, and died in his native town on
the 17th of July, 1807.