USA > New York > Westchester County > Westchester County, New York, during the American Revolution > Part 54
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3.7 areal of the Convention, "Thursday afternoon, July 11, 176;" the anne, " Die Veneris, 9 ho., A. M., July 24, 1776."
+ Colonel Joseph Drake to Goural Levis Miris, " NEW-Rover, "July 24, 1776;" Journal of the Convention, " Die Mercurii, & ho., A.M., "July 31, 176;" Colour Boxph Drake to the President of the Course- tion, " NEW ROCHELLE, Gth August, 177;" Jourand of the Convention, " Dir Inna, 9 ho., A. M., Angt. 5, 1776."
3 Information from Giomoral George Clinton to the Coureation-Jonen of the Cloneration, "Tuesday morning, Angt. 13. 17."
6 Thohne fron to Major Joseph Benedat. "SALEM, September 7. "MANOR, IN Septender, 1776;" Journal of the Contraction, " Die Sab- "bati, 9 ho., A. M., Sepir. H. 1776." Vide pages 172-174, ante.
& Jurant of the Corneration, " Die Sablati, 3 ho., A. M., Septr. 21, 177." "Compare Sound of the d'Hondted of Safety, " Krve Hammer, Aust. "20, 1738," with the Journal of the Contentem, " Monday morning, sep- " tember 20, 1776."
The Correction to the Continental Congress, " IN CONVENTION OF THE " RErersasiATIves, etc., WHITE-PLAINS, WESTCHESTER-COUNTY, July "11, 17:0;" the Journal of the Convention, " Friday morning, Angt. "3, 176;" Report of L'inamatter on a more efectuat male of debreting and defeating the designs of the internet enemies of this State-Journal of the
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was good reason for supporting. it was atil, that a correspondence was kept up between the Royal Arriv. o Long Island, arl prominent inhabitants of that County, as far in the interior as the White Plains, as early as the close of August, in 1756.' The inhabit- ants of Kings-county were said, early in Angust, 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; and, in case "they find it well-founded, that they be empowered "to disarm and secure the disaffected inhabitants ; to "remove or destroy the stoek of Grain ; and, if they "shall judge it necessary, to lag the whole County " weste ; 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 Westelrester-county liad done;3 and, notwithstand- ing two Companies had been already raised for that purpose and were then in service," a third Company was ordered to be added to the local force. 'Like the Militia of Westchester-county, that of Duch- ess-county was exceedingly "disaffected," and would not be drafted; " 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 loeal 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 Bufety, "Tuesday, A.M., Fiskint, Sep. "Irinber the 3rd, ITTA;" the Committee of Safety to the Chairman of the Committy of Wastebedre-county. "Fisurrat, September 3, 1776."
" Journal of the Crucentim, " Die Salbati, + ho., P.M., Angt. 10, 1776." 3 John Field and Jonathan Paddock to the President of the Convention, "DUTCHESS, SOUTHEAST PRECINCT, 7th Och. 1:0;"> Journed of the Com- mittre of Safety, " Die Martin, 9 ho., .A.M., Octr. a, 1776."
4 Viele pages 172, 13, ante.
" Journal of the Committee, "Die Martis, Octo, 8th, P.M., 175%." 6 Information given, personally, by Colonel Humphrey to the Conveu- lion, (Journal of the Correction, " Saturday morning, September25, 1776.") 1 Journal of the Convention, "Somplay morning, September 25, 1776." & Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Din Martis, 9 ho .. . A.M., Oclo- " ber 8, 1776."1
the Convention was completed by the submission of il Long Island, tot excluding the queenliarly zealous revolutionary County of Suffolk, to the authority of the King? In view of these stern facts, there need be no wonder that the Convention was anxions, 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," there need be no wonder that General Washington, also, was anxious, not only concerning the " disaffected" who were within his own comneid, but concerning, also, those who were scattered throughout New York, in the rural districts as well as within the Cities; " 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 honorably discharging their respective obligations of peace and quiet, 1: 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 a-sist the General in selecting his victims,13 and included Mr. Philipse's name on their list of the as- sumed " disaffected," " who were maliciousiy said to have been, also, dangerous." As the General expressly
the Committee of Safety, "DISTRICT OF MANOR LIVINGSTON, October 9, "1776;" the time In the atre, " DISTRICT OF MANOR LIVINGSTON, Octo- "ber 10, 1776;" Petrus You Quebeck, Cheiram, to the same, " MANOR " OF LIVINGSTON, 10th Oct., 177;" 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, aud are ready to take the Oaths of "Allegiance." (General Have to Lord Gorge Germaine, " CAMP AT "NEWTOWN, LONG ISLAND, 3d September, 1776.")
See, also, Joka Stas Hubert to the Courtation, " FAIRFIELD, Octor. 7, 1776." 10 Among other authorities, an extract of a letter from General Greeno to General Washington, quoted by Sparks, in his Writings of Courge. Washington (iv., 9,) is peculiarly noteworthy, in this connection.
11 General Washington to Genend William Livingston, " HEADQUARTERS, "NEW-YORK, 6 July, 5 o'clock, P.M., 176;" the same to General George Clinton, " HEADQUARTERS, NEW York, 12 July, 17:0;" the sand to the " Socat Computer of the Convention of the State of More York," "HEM- "QUARTERS, 13 July, 17:6:" the same to the President of the Provincial Canon of Nor Viel, "NEW-YORK HEADQUARTERS, July 11. ITis;" arit many others.
12 General Wieshington to Guerrier Trumbull, "New-York, 11 August, "176;" the come to the Courcating, " Hiv-QUARTERS, NEW-YORK, 12 " Ang ust, 1776 ;" ele. .
13 General Washington to the Court ution, " HEAD-QUARTERS, NEW-YORK, "12 Anzust, 1776."
1. Korole of Testorie Philips, " HARTFORD, Ange. 29, 1776;" Petition of Fabric Philips, " MenosFrown, 29th Nove. 1775."
12 Frederic Philipse was taken inla cusbaly by an order from General Washington, on the ninth of August, and taken from his own house, at Yonkers, to New Rochelle, "where he was closely confined, un-ler "guard, for eleven days," when he was removed to Connectient, und gave his Part that he would not go beyond the limits of the Town of Middletown, which no one pretends he attempted to violate. lls re. mainel there, until he was officially permitted to go into the City of New York, also on Parde. In the trick which was sutorquently played on those who had been Thus favored, by ordering them to relurh to Con-
See, also, Samuel Tin Becerk, Chairman, pro tem., to the Chairman of \ necticut, but in such a manner that it was evident the Order would not
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stated that all those were " apprehended only un sue- "the Militia and the troops in the field ? it passed . "picion,"" and that not on the personal knowledge of . qualifications of the Surgical sinnf ; " and it sav. the General himself, but on information conveyed to ; ployment to Chaplain- for the Army.R Bargains were bim, unquestionably, by the notorious " Committee to "detect Conspiracies," who was then sitting in the City in which Head-quarters then were,? the same hands directed the movement which had previou-ty directed the similar movements with which the reader is already acquainted ; and the Convention was con- sistent when it thankfully acknowledged the great favor which it then enjoyed, in having received so welcome and so powerful an accession to its power for persecution, as General Washington and the Army of the Continent.3
..
Like the three Congres-ss who had preceded it, the Convention was kept busy, with matters pertaining to the Army. It authorized and superintended the enlistment of men, in the service of the State, for local purposes ; ' it attended to that of men for the reinforcement of the Continental Army ; " and it pro- vided for the payment of Bounties, in ad lition to the stipulated pay, to those who thus enlisted.6 It resorted to Drafts, in order to fill the requisitious for men, when eulistments were tardy ; 7 and where resistance was made to the Draft, force was authorized, to compel men to fill the ranks.8 It appointed Officers of both
reach them, in the distant City, Mr. Philipse was included among the victims of sonubody's official miscondnet ; and, as the widthl knows, that ubintentional failure to return to his place of confinement, in Connecti- ent, was made the ostensible reason for the confiscation of his great estate, in Westchester-county and elsewhere.
There is not the slightest evidence that Frederic Philipe was any- thing else than an honest friend of his native country ; that he ever spoke or wrote or did anything whatever which could be justly cou- strued as inimical to his country or favorable to the obnoxious meas- ures of the Home Government ; or that he ever purposed doing so. He was almost totally blind ; and that and his unusual corpuleury unfitted him for the slightest personal opposition to or support of any political or military movements; while his fondness for gardening, in all its branches, to which the grounds of his Manor hon-es, nt Yonkers and Sleepy Hollow, bore ample testimony, and bis domestic ties, and his un- usual love of home, led him to prefer the quiet and retired life for which he was distinguished, instead of that more active and more pule lie life to which, from his rank nul standing and purity of character, he was so completely entitled.
General Washington to Gocentur Trumbull, "New-York, 11 August, "1776." "
" The Convention it-elf was, then, sitting in the old lunch Church at Harlem ; but the General's correspondouce, on the sulgert ua ler consid- eration, had twen, undoubtedly, with the Committee, why was nearer. Son, also, General Washington to General Williams L' impton, "HEAD- "QUARTERA, NEW - YORK, July 6. 1776, Five o'clock, P.M."
3 The Convention to General Washington, "Tuesday, A. M., Angt. 13, "1776."
A Journal of the Convention, " Die Luna, s ho , A. M., July 22, 1776 ;" the anne, " Die Martis, & ho., A. M., July 23, 1776;" the Convention to the Deputation in the Continental Congress, " Hammer, " Angt, 1774;" etc.
6 Journal of the Convention, " Friday afternoon, July 19, 1776;" the Rune, " Die Salbati, & ho., P.M., Augt. 21, 1776 ;" the same, " Saturday " morning, September 28, 1779 ;" etc.
6 Journal of the Convention, "Die Luna, 9 ho., A. M., July 22, 1776 ; " Journal of the Committee of Safety, "AT THE HOUSE OF MR. DUELL, PHIL- "IT'SE'S MANOR, Augt. 31, 1776 ; " etc.
; Journal of the Convention, " Friday morning, July 16, 1776;" the some, " Die lama, 9 ho, A. M. July 22, ITER;" the zone, " Die Mercuris, "9 ho., A. M .. July 31, 1774;" etc.
" Journal of the Convention, "Saturday morning, September 28, 1776."
made with favored Officer-, when they entered the service, conditioned that they should serve nowhere else than in the City of New York; " and the sett !- ment of disputes among Officers, concerning Rank. occupied much of its time and attention. 13 It exentas - cal the Cavalry from the operations of a general Draft for nien; " and those who were employed in furuace- for smelting iron, in forges for making bar-iron, in steel-manufactories, in the anchor forge in Orange- county, in saltworks, in paper-mills, and in powder- mills," as well as those in a flaxseed-mill, in Duchess- county, 16 and in the workshops of a gunsmith," were, also, exempted from every kind of military duty.
The Militia, of course, was the sole dependence of the Convention, in every emergency ; 14 and, whether well- disposeil or "disaffected"19-it seemed to be equally
9 Journal of the Courention, "Friday morning. July 16, 1776 ;" the emne, " Die Sabbati 9 hro., A. M., July 27, 1776 ;" the same, " Die Sabbati, "@ ho., A. M., Augt. 17. 177 ;" etc.
1 Journal of the Convention, "Tuesday, P.MI., WHITE PLAINS, July 9, "1176;" the same, " Die Salbati, 3 ho., P.M., July 27, 1776;" the store. "Tuesday afternoon, Angt. 20, 1750;" etc.
11 Journal of the Convention, " Monday morning, Augt. 2%, 1776."
12 Journal of the Convention, " Die Mercurli, 4 ho., P.M., July 31, 1976." 13 Journal of the Convention, " Tuesday, P.M., WHITE PL UNG, July 9. " 1776;" the same, " Die Lune, 9 ho., A.M., July 22, 1776-the case of "Colonel Drake against Colonel Thomas ; " the same, "Tuesday morning. "Angt. 13, 1776 ; " etc. 14 Jornal of the Convention, " Die Mercurii, 9ho , A. M., Augt. 7, 1776." 15 Journal of the Convention, "Die Mercurii, 9 ho., A.M., August 14, " 1776.1 16 Journal of the Convention, "Monday morning, Angust 20, 1776." II Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Wednesday morning, Seper. 27, " 1776."
13 The authorities are so numerous, that no attempt will be made to cite any of them:
19 The following, in addition to what has been already stated concerning the disaffection in the Continental Army, presents the subject, very clearly. The Militia of Westchester county contained, of course, all who were friends of the Convention and who lived within the County : but the number of efficient men in the entire Brigade did notexceed the strength of a single Regiment and these were on generally " disatected," either with the servire or with the General commanding them, or with both. that the latter regarded his own life as in danger, among them ; and. therefore, when he was ordered to take the cotamand of his Bricol, Twersom:illy, in New York, he preferred to remain in Philadelphia, where he would be less exposed : " The situation of my Brigale I was con- "vince! was well known to the Convention," were his words. " I ap- " pelaes ! that not more than a Colonel's command was left in it ; att "as such did not think my presence was so absolutely necessary. I have "thought that the existence of such a Brigade, in which were so many "disaffected persons, was dangerous to the cand as well as to my own "life ; bnt being desirous to participate in the virtuous opposition to the "British tyrant, I lad determined, as soon as positie, to join General "Washington, and contribute my assistance to him." (General Levis Mecris to the forcentone " Philadelphia, Sept. 24. 1776.")
The reader may learn from this how very little the Morrises were ro- spected, even among those who were under lead obligations to respect them, in und throughout Westchester county, in the Summer of 1770.
The following will further illustrate the "disatretion " of the Minitia of Westchester county, a reasonable result of the ouvrages which had bren officially perpetrated throughout that County, during many noche preceding: " We suppose your Excellency has taken the arcessary step " to prevent their landing of any men from the ships should they I. .. "inclined, as no reliance at all can be placed on the Militia of West- "chester county." The Committee of Safety to Greet Waking' s. " Fishkitty, lvthe Defr., 1776.")
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relied on, no matter what it's temper might be-it was - drawn into the service, while the other States were delinquent,' until no more could be taken, for any, except for the most temporary, purposes." It was called out to guard the banks of the Hudson-river1 and those of Long Island Sound.' Reinforcements of The vessels of war which the Provincial Congresses had equipped and sent to sea, were duly cared for ; " the Continental Army were taken from it. whenever reinforcements were called for ; 5 the passes in the , and it continued to give authority for the equipment of .privateers. 12
Highlands were constant sources of anxiety ; " and the northern borders of the State? and Long Island, also enjoying its protection. Sometimes it was em- ployed to drive Cattle to places of supposed safety:" sometimes it was employed in repairing roads : W some-
I " We can with pleasure assure you, that by far the greater part of " the levies ordered by the Congress to be raised from our Militia, are " completed, and at their several stations; that almost the whole of those "drafted in cousequence of the enclosed Resolution, will, by the time " this reaches you, be at posts which is thought necessary to our hpy. " least the enenty should cut off the communication between the Army at "New York and the country." * * * * It gives us great pain to in- " forni you that the aid received from our sister States is very inadequate "to our expectations, none of them having yet completed the levies di- "rected by Congress, which leaves us reason to fear that instead of using "every means that linman wisdom dictates for ensuring success, we shall, " with inferior numbers, on the doubtful issue of a single battle, hazard " the glorious cance for which we have struggled." (The Contain to the Delegation of the State in the Continental Congress, "HARLEM, 7th Au- "gust, 1776, A. M.")
: The Convention to General Washington, " FISHKILL, 10th Ortr., 1776." 3 The entire body of Westchester county Militia was ordered to the month of the Croton-river, to oppose any movements, in that County, from the enemy's shipping, (Journal of the Convention, "Thursday ison- "ing, July 25, 1776 ; ") to which the local Company, commauded by Cap- tain Micah Towusend, was added, on the following day, (the same, " Die " Viveris, 9 ho., A.M., July 20, 1776.") The entire body of the Militia of Westchester county was again called out, for the same purpose, with five days' provisions, a fortnight afterwards, (the same, "Die Sabbati, 4 " ho., P.M., Angt. 10, 1776.'') The Militia of Orange-county, below the Highlands -- uow Rockland-county- was ordered out for the protection of the western shore of the river, early in the Autumn, (the same, " Thursday afteruoon, October 10, 1776.")
4 General Morris was sustructed to guard the Sound-shore of Westches- ter-county, at the sante time that he guarded the left bank of the Hud- son. (Journal of the fearvention, " Die Salbati, tho., P.M., Angt. 10, 1776.")
See, also, Colonel Joseph Irake to the Convention, " Wednesday morn- "ing, Augt. 28, 1776;" the Convention's reply. "Thursday morning, " Augt. 29, 1576."
sone fourth of the entire body of the Militia of Westchester, Doch- ess, Ulster, and Orange-counties, to serve until the last day of the fol- lowing December, que ordered out for general service, in July, (Jour. nel of the Corporation, " Friday morning, July 16, 1776;" the same, " The " Jovis, I Im., P. M., Angt, 8, 1770;") one fifth of the entire handy of the Militia of Albany-county, to serve for one month, and one half of that of Kings and Queens conntiva, to serve until this first of september, word added to theer, very soon after, (the Road, " Die Saldati, 1 ho. P.M., " Augt. 10, 1776 ; ") and, a few days later, the entire body of the Militia of Orange, Ulster, Westchester, and Duchess-counties was ordered to hold itself in readiness to mareb, at a moment's warning, with five days" provisions and as much ammunition as possible, (Journal of the Committee of Safety, " HABLEN, And. 20, 1776.")
& The entries on this subject are so very numerous that we can pretend to cite no more than two or three of them, (Journal of the Convention, "" Friday morning, July 16, 1776;" the sims, "Die Jovis, 4 ho., P.M., " Augt. 8, 1776 ; " etc.)
I 'The Contraction to the Delegation from the State, in the Continental Con- green, " HARLEY. 7th August, 1776, A. M .; " Journal of Committee of Safety, " Tuesday morning, Octor, 22, 1776 ;" etr.
Instructions to General Woodhull-Journal of the Convention, " Monday "muruing, Angt. 26, 1774."
ochnerof Windbull to the Cintreation, " JAMAICA, August 27, 1756; " etc. !" The road from the North side of the Highland- to King-bridge and
times, very frequently, it was called from its homes and its necessary labors on the farms, when there was not the slightest appearance of danger, to throw up the defenceson which ordinary day-lahorers, then suffering from want of employment, had better been oripl ved.
As the Convention was largely composed of the same persons as those who had been members of the Provincial Congresses, unto whom the exercise of des- potic power has become not only familiar but agreca- ble and, sometimes, profitable, the same range of authority which those Congresses had usurped was exercised by the Convention, without any other Laws than the promptings of their own wills, as their respective rules of action. It continued, therefore, to provide, as best it could, for the wants of the Army, by manufacturing and by purchasing and distributing among the Powder-mills, all the Saltpeter which it could secure; B by making or buying or bor- rowing Gunpowder, and by distributing it or giving it away; "4 by searching for Lead, and opening Mines, and stripping Window -- ashes, in Tryon and Albany- counties, and distributing it or giving it away; 13 and it attended to the search for Sulphur and Flints and Lead, and to the testing of those discovered.16 It busied itself, also, with the details of distributing Car- tridges 17 and Gunflints." Like the Congresses who had preceded it, it engaged, directly, in the manufac- ture of Arms and Equipments, including that of Lances, with which somebody induced the Conven- tion to attempt to arm the .Militia who had been called into the service ; 19 and it also bought Arms,
"a certain other stoall road which leads from the Post-road afrestid to "the clock, at bildes's ferry," were offered to be repaired ; and requisi- tions on the Militia of Duches, and Westchester-counties, were mule for that particular purpose, (Journal of the Provincial Convention, "9 hro., "A.M., Ortor. 5, 1776.")
" Journed of the Convention, " Saturday morning, September 28, 197;" Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Die Lane, 9 ho., A.M. October 7, "1776 :" the aime, " Wednesday afternoon, Octor. 16, 1776;" ple. 1" Journal of the Conreali u, " Div Veneris, 4 ho., P.M., Angt 2, 1774." 1 . Lareal of the Conventions, " Die Mercurit, 9 ho., A.M., Angt. 14, "ITT; " da vame, " Die Saldati, 9 bu., A. M. Septr 14, ITTO; " etc. " J "rol of the Question, " Fordy morning, July IN, ITS;" Haber from General Washington to John Livingston, in favor of the Contentis, "New YORK, July Is, ITDE : " Juwon of the Convention; " DE saltati, "4 ho., P.M., Augt. 10, 1776;" the ane, " Dio Mercuri, & bu., A.M., ".July 21, 1776;" et.
Is Journal of the Committee of Soft. " Die Lane, O ho., A.M., Angt. 19, "1776;" Journal of the Contration, " Thursday afternoon, July 11. "1776; " the same, " himalay morning, July Is, 1776;" the same." Die ". Sabbati, 9 ho, A M., Oftor. 3. 1776; " the same, " Die Sabbati, 9 ho., "A. M., July 27, 1756; " etc.
16 Journal of the Convention, " Dja Jovis, 9 ho , A.M . Septr. 10, 1776." I Jornal of the Courses, " Saidlay morning July 1, 1776." In Journal of the Conversation. " Thursday morning, July Is, ITis;" the "me, " Die Salbati, J ho. A .M. July 27, 17:6; " the sun. " Die Luna, "9 ho., A.M., Augt. 3, 1776; " etc.
19 Jouent of the ( ourentivo. " Die Mercurii, Pho., A MI , July 31, 1976 ;** the same, " Friday morning. August 2, 176;" Jaren Lot de Commits of Safety, " Die Mercurii, Who. M. M., Sept. 4, 1756 ;" etc.
The manufacture of four thedraud Lances was assigned to the Com-
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when it could do so,1 and, sometimes, it hired Arms, when it could not in other way procure them.2 In short, there seemed to be nothing left, in all which related to the raising, the equipment of, and the fur- nishing of supplies for, the troops, which was permit- ted to be done by any other agency; and it affords subjects for thought and inquiry, as oue reais of its uninvited interference with the instructions of the Quartermaster-general of the Continental Army to his subordinates, concerning purchases of Timber and Oik-plank and old Vessels, for the obstruction of the Hudson-river ;" of its direct participation in the pur- chase of Lime, Brick, Ostk-plank, Cordwood, Grain, and Clothing for the Continental Army, although the Quartermaster-general's officers were present and engaged in the same work ;' and when it also found em- ployment in attending to the Cooperage of leaky Oil- casks belonging to the Continent.'
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