USA > New York > Loyalism in New York during the American revolution > Part 7
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from the state treasury.4 County committees could call out the militia, and if the need was urgent, even use the regulars, or ask a neighboring colony for aid.5 The Provincial Con- gress took great care to guard its own powers, as well as those of the local committees, against rival civil and military authorities.6 When the Westchester committee sent a " dan- gerous man " to the committee of safety for final action, that body returned him saying that the "county committees are altogether competent " for such cases.7
In making arrests 8 there was no regular procedure by war- rants. Any body chosen by the people, from the Provincial Congress to a precinct committee, was authorized to seize
1 Am. Archs., 4th ser., 1473-1474: vi, 1442-1443.
" Ibid., iii, 1248, iv, 186, vi, 1349, 1385-1386, 1415, 1416; Cal. of N. Y. Hist. MSS., i, 88-89; Dawson, Westchester Co., 174, 175, 176, 177.
Am. Archs., 4th ser., v, 1484-1485; 5th ser., i, 1441, 1447, 1472, 1473.
. Ibid., 4th ser., v, 1458-1459.
3 Min. of Prov. Cong., iv, 46; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 402-403, vi, 1442-1443.
" Ibid., iv, 185-186, 401, 1033-1034, 1398, for Sears' raid; ibid., 1498; v, 283, 955, for Richmond county; ibid., v, 192-193, 341, 342, 348, 390, 991, for case of Samuel Gale.
1 Ibid., iii, 916; cf. Min. of Prov. Cong., ii, 54-57, 103-104.
8 Am. Archs., 4th ser., ii, 917, iii, 134-135, Ulster co .; ibid., iii, 50, 87, 96, Tryon co .; ibid., iii, 331, 333, 457-459, 466, 569, 879, 900, 1761, iv, 187, Dntchess co .; ibid., iii, 1263, iv, 393, New York co .; ibid., iii, 827; Min. of Prov. Cong., iii, 37, Queens co .; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iii, 826, 838, 902, 916,- 1707; Min. of Prov. Cong., iii, 319, Westchester co., etc., etc.
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obnoxious loyalists and punish them "at the discretion of the committee," according to the penalties prescribed in the act of August 3, 1775. Under the intense hatred and bigotry of the times, loyalists were not infrequently punished on insufficient and questionable testimony,1 but on the whole, strenuous efforts were made by all bodies to give the accused fair trials .? In fact few loyalists objected to the actual trial ; it was the assertion of the right to try them which they denounced.
In Albany county loyalists were permitted to demand that their accusers should face them, and they were allowed to produce witnesses to prove their innocence ;3 but counsel was denied them.4 While imprisoned, their families might visit them.5 Prior to July 4, 1776, the same moderation characterized the treatment of loyalists in all the counties. In some cases, as has been shown, loyalists were treated in an extremely arbitrary and even inhuman manner, but as a rule, and taking the state as a whole, mobs, riots and the viola- tion of law were denounced by whigs nearly as much as by loyalists.6 In practice, however, neither whigs nor loyalists lived up to their professions. Loyalists arrested outside the counties where they resided, were returned for trial,1 or sent
' Cf. Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 693; Min. of Com. of One Hundred, Jan. 16, 1776.
" Am. Archs., 4th ser., iii, 894, v, 192-193, 293, 342, 348, 390, 991; cf. ibid., iv, 115, 145, 245, 270 and 276 for treatment of loyalists in Virginia and Con- necticut; cf. Proceedings of Alb. Co. Com., i, 30, 133-134, 324.
" Ibid., 390.
+ Ibid., 455. The Provincial Congress made this a provincial law in 1776. Four. of Prov. Cong. (1776), 7-9.
3 Proceedings of Alb. Co. Com., i, 432, 434.
6 Gaine's N. Y. Gazette, March 27, 1775; Essex Gazette, March 21, 1775; Holt's N. Y. Journal, March 23, 1775; Moore, Diary of Am. Rev., i, 52; Am. Archs., 4th ser., ii, 1064-1066; Proceedings of Alb. Co. Com., i, 459.
1 Ibid., 417.
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to the Provincial Congress.1 After being arrested many were liberated on bail to await trial .?
In the early stages of the struggle committees were often forced to act as local legislatures. In Albany county the committee resolved, May 18, 1775, that all who refused to give up arms for the American cause, or sold arms or sup- plies to " inimical persons," should " be held up to the public as an enemy to their country."' Those refusing public ser- vice were put in the same list later .* March 6, 1776, the committee declared every " non-associator " to be an " enemy to his country," 5 and a little later no person was allowed to settle in the county without a certificate that he was a whig and an associator.6 No person could leave the county without the consent of the committee or of Congress.7 Any person denying the committee's authority was liable to pun- ishment for the "crime." " Like measures were taken in Dutchess county and a stringent oath was proposed for the loyalists.º It seems that the committee of the county of New York took the same course." The Westchester county board was active along similar lines and forced every suspect to carry a certificate." In all the counties, except Kings, Queens and Richmond, a like course was followed. Pains were taken, usually, to have these measures square with the recommendations of the supreme authority.
Loyalists were arrested for arming to support the British, or aiding the enemy in any way ; for harboring or associating with tories; recruiting soldiers; refusing to muster; cor-
1 Am. Archs., 4th ser., vi, 794.
* Proceedings of Alb. Co. Com., i, 434.
› Ibid., i, 37.
Ibid., 85.
' Ibid., 383. 6 Ibid., 39, 403, 470. 1 Ibid., 413. 8 Ibi d., i, 443.
' Am. Archs., 4th. ser., iii, 457.
10 /bid., v, 1491, 1497; vi, 725.
11 /3id., iii, 826; Dawson, Westchester Co., 149-151.
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responding with loyalists, or with the British; refusing to sign the association, or violating its provisions; denouncing or refusing to obey congresses and committees; writing or speaking against the American cause; rejecting continental money; refusing to give up arms; drinking the king's health; inciting or taking part in " tory plots" and riots; being royal officers; and even for endeavoring to remain neutral. Mere suspicion was sufficient to cause seizure, and this meant at least imprisonment. On this wide definition of loyalism, hundreds were arrested, and soon all the jails were overflowing. The jails of New York city were filled very early. By December, 1775, the Albany committee had to provide additional quarters and an extra jailor.' By June, 1776, so numerous were the prisoners there, that the watch had to be doubled." Standing guards were ordered to be kept in Dutchess and Westchester counties.3 Albany and New York city became the great centers where loyalists were brought together for final disposition.
There was no uniform treatment of loyalists. Some were imprisoned,+ others were sent to the Provincial Congress or committee of safety for punishment,5 large numbers were simply disarmed,6 many were released on parole or bond,7 a
1 Proceedings of Alb. Co. Com., i, 360, 364, 426. ' Ibid., 433.
' Am. Arch., 4th ser., vi, 1415, 1416, 1418.
Ibid., iii, 907, 910, 1016, 1267, 1300, 1303, 1314, 1761, iv, 1030, 1071, 1118, v, 548, 558, 1428; MS. Revolutionary Papers, vi, 195, 203, 207; Dawson, Westchester Co., 120, 146; Min. of Prov. Cong., iii, 331-333, iv, 48, v, 7-9; Proceedings of Alb. Co. Com., i, 255, 290, 371, 407, 428, 429, 433, etc.
" Ibid., i, 361, 364, 372, 444, 449; Min. of Prov. Cong., iii, 131, 137, 153, iv, 56-57; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iii, 838, iv, 1068, v, 273, 343, 821, vi, 440, 1055, 1383; 5th ser., i, 1467.
Ibid., 4th ser., v, 1491, 1497; Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i., 68; Proceedings of Alb. Co. Com., i, 365, 369, 394, 396, 416, 418, 421, 459.
1 Ibid., 369, 371, 384, 401, 406, 416, 421, 429, 430, 433, 435, 439, 441, 443, 449, 460, 467; Min. of Prov. Cong., ii, 54-57, 103-104; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 1118, 1181, 1663, V, 253, 265, 269, 273, 274.
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few were reprimanded and let go,' others were handed over to the Continental Congress at Philadelphia,2 numbers were exiled to and imprisoned in Connecticut,3 Massachusetts,4 New Jersey5 and New Hampshire ;6 many were forced to re- cant or to sign the association, or to take a harsh oath,7 others were removed to some adjoining county,8 nearly all were forced to carry certificates, for which they paid a fixed sum ; 9 hundreds were published in the newspapers as public ene- mies and " delinquents," 1º several were ostracized," some were compelled to give hostages,12 still others were put to hard labor,13 and "a few were murdered." 14 When impris- oned or banished, loyalists had to pay their own expenses. If they were too poor for this, then the province paid the costs.15
Neither the Continental nor the Provincial Congress hesi-
' Am. Archs., 4th ser., iii, 905, 906; Proceedings of Alb. Co. Com., i, 367, 373, 382, 431.
1 Min. of Prov. Cong., iii, 923.
' Conn. Four., Nov. 29, 1775, no. 424; Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i, 67, 109-110; Am. Archs., 4th ser., v, 192, vi, 710, 1072; Cal. of N. Y. Hist. MSS., i, 328- 333; Proceedings of Alb. Co. Com., i, 456.
' Moore, Diary of Am. Rev., i, 52.
5 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 1498.
' N. HI. State Papers, viii, 379, 389, 393.
' Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 156, 858-860; 5th ser., ii, 325; Min. of Prov. Cong., iii, 329; MS. Revolutionary Papers, vi, 109, 195, 203, 207; Campbell, Annals of Tryon Co., 34-36, 42.
' Am. Archs., 4th ser., vi, 647; Proceedings of Alb. Co. Com., i, 290, 454.
" Gaine's N. Y. Gazette, no. 1272, Feb. 26, 1776; Four. of Cont. Cong. (1776) 7-9; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iii, 826, v, 405.
10 Ibid., iv, 372-375, v, 518; Min. of Prov. Cong., iv, 123.
11 Docs. rel. to N. Y. Col. Hist. viii, 568, 581.
11 Am. Archs., 4th ser., vi, 643.
13 Ibid., v, 1231.
"' Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i, 109-110.
15 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 427; MS. Revolutionary Papers, vi, 159.
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tated to interfere in any county where there was no commit- tee, or where the committee was too weak to cope with a powerful combination of loyalists.1 Revolutionary civil au- thority was always backed up by military force. Such inter- vention was necessary in Tryon, Dutchess, Westchester, Kings, Queens and Richmond counties. In the first three counties the committees and local militia were unable to deal with the "inimical " effectually, while in the last three these bodies had practically disbanded by the fall of 1775.
Loyalism in Tryon county had a unique history. The powerful Johnson family swayed the Mohawk valley. Their retainers, about 1,000 in number and mostly Scotch High- landers, were nearly all loyalists. In addition, many others throughout the county who were indebted to the Johnsons for favors, chose the royal side.2 Sir John Johnson was the leader, ably assisted by Guy Johnson, Colonel Claus and John Butler.3 Sir John Johnson and Guy Johnson soon had tilts with the county committee.4 The Continental Congress resolved, December 30, 1775, to send General Schuyler to secure the arms and stores of the tories in this county, and "to apprehend their chiefs."5 With 3,000 men, including 900 Tryon county militia, General Schuyler started for Johnstown.6 Sir John agreed to surrender all his arms and military stores ; to allow his Scotch retainers to give up their arms, swear neutrality and furnish hostages; and to try to
1 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iii, 569, 579, 630, iv, 393, v, 45, 466. The Continen- tal Congress ordered the Skeenes of Cumberland county arrested and sent to Connecticut on parole. Ibid., ii, 1864, iv, 248.
2 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 828-830; cf. Campbell, Annals of Tryon Co., 37.
$ Ibid., 75.
" Am. Archs., 4th ser., ii, 638, 661, 662, 671, 879, 911, iii, 1194, 1245, 1964, iv, 397, 667.
5 Ibid., iii, 1964; Four. of Cont. Cong., 310.
6 Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i, 71, 579.
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induce all the loyalists in the county to do the same. Sir John was then released on parole.1
Hearing later that he was inciting an Indian massacre,2 General Schuyler summoned him before the Albany com- mittee.3 The rumor proved to be false, so he was released.+ But shortly after, the reports against Sir John increasing, Schuyler decided to seize him. Hence Colonel Dayton was sent with a letter to the accused, freeing him from his parole, and with orders to take him a close prisoner before General Washington.5 Suspecting this piece of treachery, the titled loyalist and his Highlanders fled to Canada.6 In retaliation Johnson Hall was sacked and Lady Johnson taken as a hos- tage to Albany,7 then sent to Fishkill, from which place, being refused a pass,8 she escaped to the British.9 Guy Johnson, John and Walter Butler and Joseph Brant, with a crowd of loyalists, had preceded Sir John in their flight to Canada.1º For some time Schuyler kept his eye on the re- maining tories, and stationed Colonel Dayton on the Mohawk "until further orders." 11
Orange county was so seriously disaffected and the county committee so inactive, that the Provincial Congress authorized Colonel Hay to arrest the worst tories and send them to New York city,12 using the militia, if necessary, for
1 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 827.
$ Ibid., 195, 196.
' Ibid., v, 195, 772.
Ibid., 196; Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i, 584.
5 Am. Archs., 4th ser., vi, 643.
" Ibid., 644, 511, 538; cf. Sir John Johnson's Orderly Book, i, 3 note.
1 Am. Archs., 4th ser., vi, 643, 647, 913; Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i, 76-77, 646.
8 Am. Archs., 4th ser., vi, 913, 930, 992; Jour. of Prov. Cong., ii, 251, 256, 761. 9 Jones, Hist. of N. Y., xi, 77-81.
10 Frothingham, Montgomery County, 78.
11 Am. Archs., 4th ser., vi, 493, 645, 647.
" Ibid., 1442; Gaine's N. Y. Gazette, no. 1276, Aug. 12, 1776.
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the purpose. Dutchess county was fairly overrun with loy- alists. The committee was forced to ask the Provincial Con- gress to arrest the ringleaders.' The militia was repeatedly called out, and finally the chairman of the county board begged the Provincial Congress to keep 150 paid troops con- stantly on guard to suppress the internal foes. This request was granted.2
In Westchester county the loyalists formed a majority of the population, and were so active and formidable that they intimidated the local authorities.3 An appeal was therefore made to Connecticut to help disarm the tories. The Pro- vincial Congress also decided to raise an armed police force of fifty men to keep the peace in the county.4 The raid of Isaac Sears through this county, in November of 1775, was conducted in a lawless way. The leading loyalists of East and West Chester were disarmed, and "Parson Seabury, Judge Fowler and Lord Underhill" were carried off to New Haven.5 This deed was denounced by both whigs and loyalists, and was repudiated by the Provincial Congress.6 General Charles Lee also made a raid on the loyalist farmers of this region and carried away everything resembling arms. This was done without the sanction of the committee or of the Provincial Congress.7 Frightened by a "plot . . . to carry off several of the members " and being "at present
1 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iii, 466.
" Ibid., vi, 1415, 1416, 1418, 1425.
$ Dawson, Westchester Co., 83, note 4, 154-157, 163; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iii, 1763, iv, 590.
' Four. of Prov. Cong., June 20, 1776; Dawson, Westchester Co., 173, 174.
5 Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i, 65, 562-566; Docs. rel. to N. Y. Col. Hist., viii, 581; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iii, 1707; Conn. Your., Nov. 29, 1775, no. 424; Dawson, Westchester Co., 128.
6 Ibid., 132; Holt's N. Y. Journal, Dec. 7, 1775, no. 1718.
1 Am. Archs., 4th ser., v, 272, 273, 274, 304; Four. of Prov. Cong., Feb. 13, 1776; Dawson, Westchester Co., 123.
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too weak " to suppress it, the county committee asked for an armed guard.'
Queens county was the stronghold of loyalism in New York .? Its inhabitants were a standing menace to the American cause and an encouragement to the British. They caused the Continental Congress, the Provincial Con- gress and General Washington more anxiety and trouble than the loyalists of any other county. The county committee there did little more than to organize.3 Therefore all serious cases were brought before the Provincial Congress.4 The Huntington committee called on that body for aid to quell a tory uprising.5 Because twenty-six obnoxious loyalists refused to appear before the Provincial Congress when sum- moned, December 12, 1775, the whole county was " entirely put out of the protection of this Congress" and all inter- course "interdicted."6 A list of 734 "delinquents " was printed in hand bills and published in the newspapers.7 The Continental Congress approved of these measures and sug- gested making them more severe.8
So dangerous did the loyalists soon become, however, that the supreme body ordered Connecticut troops from the east and New Jersey troops from the west to enter the county simultaneously, to disarm all who voted against sending deputies to the Provincial Congress, and to arrest and confine obstinate loyalists.9 The twenty-six
1 Jour. of Prov. Cong., iii, 317-321, 327, 329.
'Am. Archs., 4th ser., vi, 725, 1264. * Cal. of N. Y. Hist. MSS., i, 334.
' Min. of Prov. Cong., iii, 37, 39, 41; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iii, 887, 889; iv, 1181, 1201.
5 Ibid., 404; Min. of Prov. Cong., iv, 50.
' Ibid., 123.
1 Ibid .; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 372-375, 435.
8 Four. of Cont. Cong. (1776), 7-9.
" Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i, 68; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 860-861.
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loyalist leaders who refused the summons of the Provincial Congress, were also ordered to be seized.1 In the end only Colonel Nathaniel Heard with about 900 New Jersey militia entered the county.2 In four weeks the whole county was disarmed. Governor Tryon reported that six hundred had been treated thus in ten days.3 Four hundred and sixty- two loyalists were forced to sign an agreement to obey the revolutionary authorities in all instances 4 and nineteen of the leaders were carried to Philadelphia, confined several ·weeks, returned to New York, held a few weeks longer and then released on parole.5 Loyalists in some cases were maltreated and robbed,6 but Colonel Heard "treated the inhabitants with civility and the utmost humanity." 7 Some of the chief tories fled.8
Meanwhile, General Charles Lee, fresh from "tory hunt- ing " in Rhode Island, proposed his "scheme" to Wash- ington to suppress the loyalists on Long Island.9 This was : to disarm all of them, then to force them to deposit one-half the value of their estates with the Continental Congress as a pledge of good behavior. Those refusing to take the "strongest oath . . . to act defensively and offensively in support of the common cause "-the " desperate fanatics " -were to be sent under guard into the interior.1º Washing- ton ordered him to proceed and notified the New York com-
1 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 764, 772. 2 lbid., 1639, Jan. 10, 1776.
$ Ibid., 923; Docs. rel. to N. Y. Col. Hist., viii, 663.
+ Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 858-860; Cal. of N. Y. Hist. MSS., i, 215-218.
5 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 1118-1119, 1181, 1663, v, 253, 265, 269, 273; cf. Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i, 68-69; Cal. of N. Y. Hist. MSS., i, 240, 262.
6 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 923. Jones overcolors the facts.
' Ibid., 857, 858, 923.
8 Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i, 108-109.
9 N. Y. Ilist. Soc. Colls., Lee Papers, i, 235.
10 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 806-807, 1095; Min. of Prov. Cong., iv, 612; N. Y. Hist. Soc. Colls., Lee Papers, i, 249.
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mittee of safety.1 Lee raised 1,200 Connecticut volunteers and started for New York, but the Continental Congress ordered him to stop on the border, while a committee was sent to investigate the situation.2
The committee reported, March 14, 1776, that the de- fense of southern New York was "totally fruitless" unless the "professed enemies of American liberty" in Queens and Richmond counties were rendered harmless. The bonds re- quired were "too ridiculous to be mentioned," and the asso- ciation forced upon them was null. Hence the committee advised that, in addition to disarming them, their children should be taken as hostages.3 But without waiting for fur- ther instructions from the civic authorities, Washington, dis- appointed at the interference, ordered Lee to arrest all loyal- ists "notoriously known."4 Lee at once sent Colonel Wood to Long Island "to secure the whole body of professed tories."5 With him went Isaac Sears, empowered either to force certain notorious loyalists to take a severe oath or to carry them to Connecticut.6 These instructions were carried out with such severity as "to convert whigs to tories," 7 and to cause the Provincial Congress to demand an explanation.8
Though disarmed, paroled and banished, the loyalists in this county were not suppressed, but, as months passed and British forces were expected, they were reported to be
. N. Y. Hist. Soc. Colls., Lee Papers. i, 236; Min. of Prov. Cong., iv, 371; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 1095.
? N. Y. Hist. Soc. Colls., Lee Papers, i, 235; Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 943.
* Ibid., v, 213-215.
Ibid., iv, 895-896.
& Min. of Prov. Cong., v, 3-5.
6 N. Y. Hist. Soc. Colls., Lee Papers, i, 296.
" Ibid., 359; Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i, 573; Am. Archs., 4th ser., v, 105, 371-372; Min. of Prov. Cong., v, 59, 60.
8 Ibid., 66; Am. Archs., 4th ser., v, 372.
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"growing worse and worse."1 The Provincial Congress, in June, 1776, urged Washington to disarm and secure them at once .? Even the Queens county committee was revived, and resolved that five hundred soldiers be billeted on the loyal- ists and that all the dangerous ones be sent to the provincial authorities.3 Consequently Washington sent Colonel Cor- nell to Queens county with 1,000 men.+ The loyalists, dis- armed by Heard the winter before, " all fled." 5 A general hunt followed, some were wounded, "a few were murdered," and those who were captured were sent to New York under guard, and then, without trial, sent to " different parts of New England."6 The arrival of the Howes saved the county from further punishment.
Richmond county ranked next to Queens in the prevalence of loyalism. Because it refused to send deputies to the Pro- vincial Congress, that body declared the county guilty of " open contempt," consequently published the "delinquents" in the newspapers and "totally interdicted " the island.7 The election of two representatives from the county on Janu- ary 19, 1776, delayed the execution of the interdict.8 A month later the defiance and insolence of the loyalists forced the Provincial Congress to ask New Jersey to quell them. Colonel Heard with seven hundred men arrested the most dangerous and carried them to New Jersey.9 The county committee, composed of loyalist sympathizers, wholly in- active up to this time, sent three of their number to New Jersey to demand the release of the captured loyalists, and
1 Am. Archs., 4th ser., v, 450, 1451, 1490, 1491, 1501, vi, 569-574, 1031, 1055, 1320-1321, 1343, 1344, 1347.
" Ibid., v1, 533-534, 1427. $ Ibid., 1055, 1383, 1394; 5th ser., i, 1466.
4 Jones, Hist. of N. Y., i, 108-109. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid., i, 109-110.
1 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 435, 1034, v, 283; Min. of Prov. Cong., i, 123.
8 Ibid., iv, 224, 225, 226, 308, 309, 464.
9 Am. Archs., 4th ser., iv, 655, 1163, 1498, v, 283.
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appealed to the Provincial Congress.1 That body requested the New Jersey authorities to return them for trial by the local committee, and also asked that the latter body should report on the cases .? After a brief examination some of these accused persons were released on the ground of in- sufficient evidence.3 In fact so manifestly lenient was the local board in dealing with such domestic foes that a council of war condemned their course as "improper and inef- lectual."" General Lee's plans for Staten Island were never carried into execution.5 As in the case of Long Island, the arrival of the British saved Staten Island from further whig invasion.
It appears that the county committees, organized in every county except Kings, were far from being uniform in origin, numbers, method of procedure or activity. Their power originated in the right of revolution and in the recommenda- tions of the revolutionary bodies above them. These com- mittees could determine which were the enemies and which the friends of American liberty, and could banish the former. This power was successfully exercised by the county com- mittee, without the intervention of the superior body, in the counties of Albany, New York, Cumberland, Suffolk and Ulster. Albany had most and Cumberland and Suffolk least to do. In Tryon, Dutchess and Westchester counties the committees were very busy and well organized, but so pow - erful were the loyalists that aid was solicited from either the Continental or Provincial Congress. In Orange, Queens and Richmond counties the committees were so fecble and the " inimical " so strong that it was necessary for the superior bodies to assume direct control. To the loyalist all these
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