History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 95

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I > Part 95

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Those who shall desire to know who and what kind of a man it was who had thus possessed and exercised power enough to point his dirty finger at a man and canse him to be thus outrag d, withiont any remedy, may be gratified by turning to a Petition addressed to the Provincial Con- gress, on the fourth of May, 1776, by William Duer, subsequently well known, (Historical Manuscripts, etc. : Petitions, xxxii., 85 ;) and to the Acest of Monies, på by the Treasurer for which no Accut has been ren- dered by the persons to whom they were paid, reported by the Treasurer to the Convention, ou the eighteenth of September, 1776.

(Historical Manuscripts, etc. : Miscellaneous Papers, xxxvi., 257.)

1 The instances of Christopher Templar, already referred to; tbat of Robert Sutton, (Journal of the Convention, " Die Mercurii, 9 ho., A.M., "July 24, 1776 ; ") that of John Thomas, (the same, " Die Sabbati, 9 lo., " A.M., July 27, 1776 ;" that of John Sutton, (the same, " Die Sabbati, 3 "ho., P.M., July 27, 1776 ; ") aud others.

refused to be made tools for their inquisitorial prac- tices, were ordered to be imprisoned "until they " should make discovery or declaration aforesaid." 2 Arrests were inade by military officers, even for al- leged civil offences; 3 and, of course, the arbitrary arrests of those who were obnoxious to members of the several County Committees were continued, with- out abatement +-the Committee of the City of New York assumed authority to pass over the Hudson- river, into New Jersey ; to arrest six persons, “in " Bergen Woods, near Bull's Ferry ; " and to bring its prisoners over the river, and imprison them in the Jail of the City.5 Occasionally, food was provided for those who were thus seized and confined ; 6 but such a favor was exceptional : in some instances, the expense of being confined was increased by official extras ; 7 but there was an instance, also, wherein a prisoner, arrested by order of the Commander-in- Chicf, was liberated from confinement, by the Con- vention, and given the largest liberty, with no other condition than that of an elastic parole, only because of his "connection with a large family of well-attached, " warm -Whigs," and because it would be "the most "politic course to do so;" 8 and a second instance, wherein "a person of cquivocal character," in West- chester-county,9 and whose name was included in the List of Suspected Persons on which Frederic Philipse's name also appeared,10 and who was ostentatiously sum- moned to appear before the notorious "Committee to "detect Conspiracies," of which his half-brother and

2 See the instance of Elizabeth Hicks, of Rockaway, (Journal of the Convention, " Die Mercurii, 9 ho., A. M., August 14, 1776.")

8 Seo the instances of George Davy and William Tucker, arrested by Major Graham, (Journal of the Convention, "Thursday morning, July " 18, 1776 ; ") tbose arrestod by Lieutenant Brett, (the same, "Die Veneris, " 4 lıo., P.M., Septr. 27, 1776; ") etc.

4 The instances of William Sutton and his son, John Sutton, (the latter discharged by the Convention,) arrested by the Committee of Westches- ter-county, (Journal of the Convention, " Die Jovis, 5 ho., P.M. July 25, "1776,") and of Abraham C. Cuyler, John Duncan, Stephen Do Lancey, John Monier, and Benjamin Hilton, arrested and banished into Connec- tient, by the Committee of Albany-county, (the sume, "Die Mercurii, 9 " ho., A. M., Angt. 21. 1776,") are noteworthy.

5 John Berrian, Chairman, to the Convention, "COMMITTEE CHAMBER, " NEW-YORK, Angt. 2, 1776; " Journal of the Convention, "Die Mer- " curii, 9 ho., A. M., Augt. 7. 1776."

6 Tbe instances of Rinier Van Housen and Henry Dawkins, in the Jail at the White Plains, (Journal of the Convention, " Friday moruing, "Augt. 9, 1776,") may be noticed.

7 William Sutton was arrested and confined in the Jail at the Plains, furnishing his owu food, as was usual ; but, soon after, he was banished to Philadelphia, aud there confined, "subsisting himself," besides hav- ing been required to pay to Lieutenant Alexander Hunt, who conveyed him to Philadelphia, the expenses of his own journey, the expenses of Hunt while thus engaged in escorting him, and twelve shillings per day to the latter, "for his trouble in the premises." (Journal of the Con- vention, " Die Sabbati, 3 ho., P. M., July 27, 1776.")

8 See the instance of Willett Taylor, who was thus favored, at the in- stance of General John Morin Scott, (Journal of the Convention, " Tues- "day morning, Augt. 13, 1776 ; " the same, "Thursday, A.M., August " 15, 1776 ; " General John Morin Scott to John McKesson, "NEW-YORK, "hora vesp. 13th August, 1776 ; " the same to - - , "NEW-YORK, " Aug. 13, 1776.")

9 Minutes of the Committee to detect Conspiracies, "Thursday, A. M., " June 27, 1776."

10 Historical Manuscripts, etc. : Miscellaneous Papers, xxxvi., 156.

* The reader will remember that such prisoners as this, those thrust into confinement because it suited somebody to " suspect " them, were compelled to support themselves, while in Jail, or to starve, unless some- body should charitably help them to food.

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THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1774-1783.

another kinsman were leading inembers,1 was made the "Judge of the High Court of Admiralty of this "State," only thirty-four days after he had been thus summoned to answer a charge of having been "sus- " pected," and before he had answered to that Sum- mons ; 2 and a third instance, when a leading member of the Convention itself, because of his known incli- nations and beeause of his continued and frequent correspondence with his friends, in the City of New York as well as with those in Philadelphia, after both those Cities had been occupied by the Royal Army ; and because of his expressed desire to go into the City of New York, for the purpose of visiting those friends; and because of his applicatiou for a flag, for the pur- pose of carrying those desires into effect ; became gen- erally and very seriously " suspected," 3 without hav- ing been officially disturbed, by any one-he was not one of those "poor vipers" of whom he had told, only a few months previously ; * nor did he come within the circle of those whom the dominant, aristocratic clique of that period was inclined to degrade to the level of the common people. There have been some, from that time until this, who have seen that, in the hands of such as then controlled the affairs of New York, the scales of justice were sadly tilted ; that there was one kiud of justice for one class of the inhabit- ants and another kind of justice for another class; that, in practice, the vaunted equality of all men was a fiction.

It was a favorite practice to remove the victims of these arrests from the vicinage of the alleged offence ; and the Jail at Kingston was much employed,5 al- though Morristown, iu New Jersey,6 and Hartford, in Connecticut,7 and the City of Philadelphia,8 and

"others "of the neighbouring States," 9-of course, the older-timerepository of the victims of New York's "suspicion," at Litchfield, in Connecticut, was in- cluded ; 10-did not fail to receive their very welcome supply of well-to-do boarders.

During the first three months of the existence of the Convention, there werc thus lawlessly seizcd, of the residents of Westchester-couuty, William and John Sutton, of Mamaroneck ; 11 John Rogers, a ser- vant of Lewis Morris, of Morrisania; 12 Joseph Reade, of Westchester ; 13 Isaac Underhill, of Yon- kers,14 and Philip Paliner15 and James Horton, Junior,16 besides a number of others the names of whom were not recorded on the Journal of the Convention.17

9 Journal of the Committee of Safety, "Saturday morning, Novr. 9, " 1776."

10 Journal of the Convention, " Die Jovis, 4 ho., P.M., July 18, 1776." 11 Vide page 375, ante.

12 Journal of the Convention, " Wednesday morning, Augt. 28, 1776 ;" the same, " Thursday morning, Augt. 29, 1776."

13 The Athidavit ou which Joseph Reade was ordered to be arrested is such asingular production that we are induced to copy it.

" DUTCHESS COUNTY, SS. Abraham W. D. Peyster, being sworn, depos- "eth and saith: that, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the fourth, "fifth, and sixth days of September instant, he was at New-Rochelle, in " the County of Westchester; that on one of the above-nameil days, he "heard, (as far as he can at present recollect,) either Theodosius Bartow, "of New-Rochelle aforesaid, or Anthony Abrahams, of the Towu of " Westchester, iu substance, say, in a conversation this Deponent had " with the one or the other of them, on the American contest, that Jo- "seph Reade, late of the City of New-York, Attorney-at-Law, but, at "present, as this Depouent understood, a resident in the Town of West- " chester, was reputed a great Tory ; that the chief of his, the said Jo- "seph Reade's, conversation was of the Tory kind; and that he, the "said Joseph Reade, had reported that, in the late Battle on Loug Ex- "land, between the American Army and that of the King of Great " Britain, the Americans had lost either seven or fourteen thousand men. "(This Deponent cannot now recollect which of the two numbers was "mentioned, but rather thinks fourteen.) This Deponent further says, "that the amount of all he heard at New-Rochelle, at the time afore- "said, respecting Joseph Reade, was, that the said Joseph Reade was a "great Tory aud very nufriendly to the American cause, and further " this Deponent saith not.

"A. W. D. PEYSTER.

" Sworn before me, this 10th } Sept., 1776. " ABM. YATES, JUNE., President."

That Abraham W. De Peyster was an employ? of the Convention, in its work of making arrests and conveying the victims into exile, as a copyist, etc. ; and he was evidently anxious for another job, of the sanie class, when he volunteered this singular testimony. But the Committee of Safety disappointed his evident expectations, by transmitting the Affi- davit to the Committee of Westchester county, " with a letter requesting "them to proceed thereon," (Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Die " Martis, 8 ho., A.M., Septr. 10, 1776.")

14 Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Die Luna, 9 ho., A. M., October "7, 1776."

15 Ibid.

16 Journal of the Courention, "Wednesday afternoon, July 17, 1776." 17 " RESOLVED : That General Morris be ordered immediately to appre- "hend and secure the persons ordered to be apprehended by this Con- "vention, yesterday, and that he be furnished with a list of those persons "names," (Journal of the Convention, " Die Sabbati, 4 ho., P. M., Augt. "10, 1776.")

As no such Order for the arrest of any ene as is recited in the above Resolution appears in the published Journal of the Convention of the pre- reding day, it is evident that this is one of those instances of arbitrary lawlessness, familiar to despots, of which the records are buried in secracy.

1 Minutes of the Committee to detect Conspiracies, "Thursday, A. M., "June 27, 1776."

2 Compare the record of the Summons of Richard Morris, in the preced- ing Note, with that of his appointment, in the Journal of the Convention, " Die Mercurii, 9 ho , A.M., July 31, 1776."

3 Reference is made, in this place, to Gouverneur Morris ; and those who shall inclue to know more of the subjects referred to, are referred to Doctor Sparks's Life of Gouverneur Morris, i., 154-161, iu which, not- withstanding the evident purpose of the kind-hearted biographer to say as little in disparagement of the aristocratic culprit as possible, the careful reader will perceive the unceasing hankerings of that distin- gnished "patriot," for the fleshpots of monarchy.

4 Vide page 188, ante.

5 The instances of Bloomer Nelson, Samuel Haiues, Josiah Disberry, and Jacob Schureman, residents of Westchester-county, (Journal of the Convention, "Tlinrsday morning, August 29, 1776;" Petition of John Stre. Bloomer Neclson, and others, " KINGSTON GOAL, Febry 19th, 1777 " -- Historical Manuscripts : Petitious, xxxiii., 638 ; Petition of Bloomer Nelson and three others, " KINGSTON GOAL, March 26, 1777-Historical Mana- scripts, etc.,: Petitious, xxxiii., 610.) are sufficient for this purpose, although there are numerous others.

6 Journal of the Couventi'm, " Die Sabbati, 9 ho , A. M., Angt. 17, 1776 ;"' the President of the Convention to the Committee of Ulster-county, " IN Cox. " VENTION OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, "Hval.EM, Angt. 17, 1776 ;" etc.

¡ The instances of Abraham C. Cuyler, John Duncan, Stephen De Lancey, John Mouier, and Benjamin Hilton, already referred to, will be remembered by the reader.

8 It will be remembered that William Sutton of Mamaroneck was bauished to Philadelphia.

378

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Those who were supposed to have been " disaf- " fected," whether they were really so or not, very much alarmed the Convention; and the reports of the ill disposition of large portions of the inhabitants, in various parts of the State, were really and reasonably sufficient to create alarm, even among more resolute men than those of whom the Conven- tion was constituted. Those whom the Committees and the Congresses had persecuted and outraged and all whom their sufferings could influence, very naturally and very reasonably, were " disaffected," as the inhabitants of Staten-Island had been : many, great numbers, of those who had honestly and earnest- ly opposed the Home Government and who had bold- ly demanded a redress of the Colonial grievances, were also " disaffected," when the fire-eaters' Reso- lution of Independence was forced on them, nolens volens, as Colonel James Holmes, of Bedford,-who had represented Westchester-county in the Provincial Convention which had sent the Delegation of the Colony to the second Continental Congress ; who had represented the County in the First Provincial Con- gress ; and who had commanded, throughout the en- tire Campaign of 1775, the Regiment of Troops in which were the Companies from the same County -- was "disaffected," thereby. The greater number of those who had held places of honor and emolument, in the Colonial Government, notwithstanding it was politic to keep quiet, was also, more or less " disaf- "fected ;" and the multitude, whose timidity would not permit them to entertain a thought that Indepen- dence would be worth what it would evidently cost to secure it, was not very loud-toned in its favor, even if it did not, very often, lean toward "disaffection." Lastly, the inhabitants of the State, very generally, anxious only to attend to their business and their farms, without the distress and misery which a Civil War would necessarily produce, and seeing no ad- vantage to themselves or to their families by the violent overthrow of one Government and the equally violent establishment of another Government-the great majority, by far the greater number, if not the almost entire body, of the farmers of Westchester- county, was of that class-preferred to remain as they had been, before they had been outraged by the new regime; and, therefore, were classed as "disaffected." There was reason, therefore, for the more tender anxiety of the Convention, composed of those who were cowards by instinct, since "its chickens had " come home, to roost;" and, as we shall see, its anxiety was not relieved by what it was subsequently required to experience. Governor Tryon was enlist- ing as many as he could entice into the service of the King, both in New York and in other States; 1 and

those who were "disaffected," in Westchester-coun- ty and elsewhere, were beginning to organize and to arm, for their own defence and, now and then, in support of the Royal cause.2 The Troop of Horse, in Westchester-county, of whom mention has been made, when a quota of its members was ordered for the reinforcement of the Continental Army, at New York, early in July, 1776, had refused to comply with the Order; 3 the Regiment of Westchester Mili- tia, commanded by Colonel Joseph Drake, of New Rochelle, also declined to be submitted to a Draft, for the same purpose, later in July; + it knew that very few of the Militia of that Counts could be ex- pected to enter the service, even for the protection of the County itself; 5 and, on the earnest appeal of the friends of the Convention, in Salem and on Cort- landt's Manor, for the protection of the small revo- lutionary factions, there, from the greater number of those who were regarded as "disaffected, in those "portions of the County,"6 a special Company of thirty men, to be commanded by Captain Samuel Delavan, and in addition to the similar Company commanded by Captain Micah Townsend, previously organized,7 was necessarily ordered to be enlisted and established, at the expense of the State, for that particular ser- vice.8 Even the authority of the Convention and that of the Committee of Safety of the State were disregarded by Captain Varian, of Westchester-county ;9 and there

Convention, "Die Sabbati, 4 ho., P.M., Sept. 21, 1776;" and many others.

The instance of William Lounsberry, who refused to surrender and was killed, while four of his recruits-Bloomer Nelson, Jacob Schure- man, Samuel Haines, and Joseph Turner-were captured, is noteworthy. Both Lounsberry and his fourteen recruits were Westchester-county Loyalists ; and he and they were intercepted in Westchester-county, by a party of Westchester-county Militia, on the twenty-ninth of Angust, 1776. (Journal of the Convention, " Thursday moruing, Augt. 29, 1776 ;" Committee of Safety to General Washington, "IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, " HARLEM, Augt. 30, 1776.")

2 The Committee of Safety to General Washington, "FISHKILL, 10 Oc- "tober, 1776."

A Corps of Westchester county Refugees was subsequently raised, the Lieutenant-colonency of which was taken by the veteran, Jantes Holmes, of Bedford, already mentioned, (A Short Account of the Descent and Life of James Holmes, Esq., edit. 1815, reprinted, in extenso, in de Lancey's Notes to Jones's History of New York during the Revolutionary Har. ii., 621.) Two Battalions of Loyalists were raised in Queens-county ; and in several of the other Counties, heavy enlistments were also niade.

8 Journal of the Convention, "Thursday afternoon, July 11, 1776;" the same, "Die Veneris, 9 ho., A.M., July 26, 1776."

Colonel Joseph Drake to General Lewis Morris, "NEW-ROCHEL, "July 24,1776 ;" Journal of the Convention, " Die Mercurii, 9 lio., A. M., "July 31, 1776;" Colonel Joseph Drake to the President of the Conren- tion, " NEW-ROCHELLE, 6th August, 1776;" Journal of the Convention, " Die Lunæ, 9 ho., A.M., Augt. 5, 1776."

6 Information from General George Clinton to the Convention-Journal of the Convention, "Tuesday morning, Angt. 13, 1776."

6 Thaddeus Crane to Major Joseph Benedict, "SALEM, September 7, "1776 ;" Major Joseph Benedict to Colonel Gilbert Drake, "CORTLANDT "MANOR, 18 September, 1776 ;" Journal of the Convention, "Die Sab- "bati, 9 ho., A. M., Septr. 21. 1776." 7 Vide pages 348-350, ante.

8 Journal of the Convention, "Die Sabbati, 9 ho., A.M., Septr. 21, 1776." " Compare Journal of the Committee of Safety, "KINGS BRIDGE, Angt. "30, 1776," with the Journal of the Convention, " Monday morning, Sep- " tember 30, 1776."

1 The Courention to the Continental Congress; "IN CONVENTION OF THE " REPRESENTATIVES, etc., WHITE-PLAINS, WESTCHESTER-COUNTY; July "11, 1776 ;" the Journal of the Convention, "Friday morning, Augt. "9, 1776 ;" Report of Committee on a more effectual mode of detecting and defeating the desigus of the internal enemies of this State-Journal of the

379

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1774-1783.

was good reason for supposing, it was said, that a correspondence was kept up between the Royal Army, on Long Island, and prominent inhabitants of that County, as far in the interior as the White Plains, as early as the close of August, in 1776.1 The inhabit- ants of Kings-county were said, early in August, to " have determined not to oppose the enemy ;" and a Committee was appointed, with considerable ostenta- tion, to go to that County, and to " inquire concern- "ing the authenticity of such report; aud, in case " they find it well-founded, that they be empowered " to disarm and secure the disaffected inhabitants ; to " remove or destroy the stock of Grain; and, if they " shall judge it uecessary. to lay the whole County " waste ; and, for the execution of these purposes, " they be directed to apply to General Greene, or the "Commander of the Continental Troops in that " County, for such assistance as they shall want ;" 2 as if such a rash purpose would have been permitted to be carried into effect, under such peculiar circum- stances, while the entire military and naval power of the King, in that part of the Continent, was resting within a mile of the proscribed County, and eager for a fight. Duchess-county, also, asked for further protection from the aggressions of the "disaffected," as Westchester-county had done;3 and, notwithstand- ing two Companies had been already raised for that purpose and were then in service,4 a third Company was ordered to be added to the local force.5 Like the Militia of Westchester-county, that of Duch- ess-county was exceedingly "disaffected," and would not be drafted; 6 and with the rashness and haughtiness of the despotism which it wielded, James Duane and John Jay being present, the Committee of Duchess-county, with its local military force, was directed to assist in enforcing the Order," as if one who was thus forcibly crowded into the Army, after the manner of the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel and the other Old World despots, would ever become a useful and effective soldier. The lower portions of Albany-county and the Manor of Livingston, also, asked for the enlistment and establishment of a local military force, for the only purpose of protecting the very few friends of the Convention who lived there, from the far greater number of the "disaffected" who also lived there; 8 and the measure of the anxiety of

1 Journal of the Committee of Safety, "Tuesday, A. M., FISKILL, Sep. "tember the 3rd, 1776 ;" the Committee of Safety to the Chairman of the Committee of Wl'estchester county, "FISHKILL, September 3, 1776."

" Journal of the Convention, " Die Sabbati, + ho., P. M., Augt. 10, 1776." 3 Juhu Field and Jonathan Paddock to the President of the Convention, " DUTCHESS, SOUTHEAST PRECINCT, 7th Oct .. 1776;" Journal of the Com- mittee of Safety, " Die Martis, 9 ho., A.M., Octr. 8, 1776."

4 Vide pages 348, 349, ante.

6 Journal of the Committee, "Die Martis, Octo. 8th, P.M., 1776." 6 Information given, personally, by Colonel Humphrey to the Conven- tion. (Journal of the Convention, " Saturday morning, September 28, 1776.") " Journal of the Convention, "Saturday morning, September 28, 1776." 8 Journal of the Committee of Safety, "Die Martis, 9 ho .. A.M., Octo- " ber 8, 1776."

See, also, Samuel Ten Broeck, Chairman, pro tem., to the Chairman of

the Convention was completed by the submission of all Long Island, not excluding the peculiarly zealons revolutionary County of Suffolk, to the authority of the King.9 In view of these stern facts, there need be no wonder that the Convention was anxious, con- cerning the "disaffected ;" and because of the purely speculative disposition of the Eastern Troops, and of the apathy, if not of the "disaffection," which pre- vailed in those of the Middle States, especially among those who were forced into the Army, unwilling sol- diers, from New York,10 there need be no wonder that General Washington, also, was anxious, not only conceruing the "disaffected " who were within his own command, but concerning, also, those who were scattered throughout New York, in the rural districts as well as withiu the Cities; 11 nor that he took unto himself the authority to seize and remove from their homes, some of those who were said to have been " disaffected," in many instances, those who had given their paroles and were houorably discharging their respective obligations of peace and quiet,12 among the former of whom was Frederic Philipse, of Yonkers, whose almost total blindness and entirely harmless life would have undoubtedly sheltered him, had not "a number of well-affected inhabitants" volunteered to assist the General in selecting his victims,13 and included Mr. Philipse's name on their list of the as- sumed "disaffected," 14 who were maliciously said to have been, also, dangerous.15 As the General expressly

the Committee of Safety, "DISTRICT OF MANOR LIVINGSTON, October 9, " 1776;" the same to the same, " DISTRICT OF MANOR LIVINGSTON, Octo- "ber 10, 1776 ;" Petrus Van Guusbeck, Chairman, to the same, " MANOR "OF LIVINGSTON, 10th Oct., 1776;" Journal of the Committee of Safety, "Saturday morning, Oct. 12, 1776."

9 " The inhabitants of this island, many of whom had been forced "into rebellion, have all submitted, and are ready to take the Oaths of "Allegiance." (General Honice to) Lord George Germaine, " CAMP AT " NEWTOWN, LONG ISLAND, 3d September, 1776.")

See, also, John Sloss Hobart to the Convention, " FAIRFIELD, Octor. 7, 1776." 10 Among other authorities, an extract of a letter from General Greene to General Washington, quoted by Sparks, in his Writings of George Washington (iv., 9,) is peculiarly noteworthy, in this connection.

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 95

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1354

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354