[AF] [John Halsted's Certificate respecting Jⁿ. Dyer Mercer late of Canada —] I hereby certify that I was personally acquainted with M^r John Dyer Mercer at Quebec in Canada, from the year 1769 to 1775 that he resided there in the character of a Merchant, that in the last of October or beginning of November 1775 he was by order of Government sent on board an armed Vessel at that Port, and in the month of December following, he was sent on from at Point Levis; that he remained with the American then before Quebec, untill their retreat on the fixth day of May 1776, when he came from that Country into the United States, leaving his property behind him, I believe to a considerable amount. Given under my hand at Perth Amboy this twentieth day of July one thousand Seven hundred and ninety nine. John Halsted. [The Hon^ble James M. Henry Esquire Secretary of War Philadelphia] [seal]