USA > New York > Westchester County > Westchester County, New York, during the American Revolution > Part 55
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The establishment of a new form of Government
ties of Albany, Ulster, Orange, Duchess, and Westchester, eight hundred to each ; and, in the last-named County, Stephen Ward, William Millar, and Thuddens Crane were appotuted " to procure the proportion " of Lauces affixed to their respective names." (Journal of Committee of Safety, " Die Mercurii, 4 ho., I.M., Sept. 4, 177 1.") Models were made from Spears procured in New York, (the same, " Die Innar, 11 ho., A MI., " Sept. 2, 1776; ") aml, including the long handles, five shillings and six- Jetice was paid for those w bich were not steched, and six shillings and six pence for those which were steeled, (Journal of the Convention, " Die " Juvis, 9 ho., A.M., Ocior. 3, 1776.")
We have not niet the slightest notice of the use of those four thousand Lances, in the service or elsewhere ; and it is more than probable that they were never used, by any one.
1 Journal of the Convention, " Die Mercurii, 9 bo., A. M., Aug. 21, 1776 ;" ete.
2 Journal of the Convention, " Die Mercurii, 9 ho , A.M., August 11, 1776." 3 Journal of the Courention, " Die Sabbati, 9 ho., A.M , Septr. 21, 1776." Journal of the Convention, " Monday morning, September 3:1, 1776 ;" Journal of the Committee of Safety, "Die Lama, 9 ho., A. M., October 7, "1776;" the sume, "Die Mercurii, 9 ho., A.M., Octr. 9, 1776 ; the same, " Thursday morning, Octor. 17, 1776 ;" etc.
Stephen Ward, Gilbert Strang, and Phil. Leake were appointed to pur- chase coarse woollen Cloth, Linsey-woolsey, Blankets, woollen Hose, Mittens, coarse Liuen, felt Hats, and Shoes, for the soldiers, and to have the Linen made up into Shirts, all in Westchester county ; and three bun- dredd pounds-seven hundred and fitty dollaus-were appropriated for that purpose. (Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Die Mercuri, 9 ho . A. M., "Octr. 9, 1776.") Although there were supplies of Grain mich nearer to the Ariny, and vastly more exposed to the enemy's foraging parties, no Grain was purchased elsewhere than in the Livingston Manor, from which three thousand bushels of Oats, at four shillings per bushel, and foni' thousand bushels of old Corn and one thousand bushel of Riye, the two lattrt at five shillings per bushel, were drawn, al ute time ; but Peter R Livingston was President of the Convention, and Gilbert Liv. ingslote ail James Livingston and Philip Living-ton and Robert R. Liv- ingston and James Duane and John Jay and Porre Van Cortlandlt-the last.named three having been Livingstons by their murringes-were members of that Convention ; and six of them were present when the order was given. (Journal of the Convention, " Monday morning, Septem- " ber 30, 1776.")
Need there be any surprise that, with such an array of strong men in its favor, that he more distant and less exposed Mayor of Invingston should be chosen, especially since the purchasing agent of the Quarter- master-general of the Continental Army was at Fishkill, with funds to meet the drafts of Dirck Jansen, who was selected by the Convention, to gather the grain from the farmers or from the manorial storchones, aml. alto, especially since no inspection of either the quantity of the quality of what was to be this purchased, was provided for.
5 Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Friday morning, September 27, "' 1776."
received the dilatory and half-hearted attention of the Convention-an abridgement of their existing de .. potic authority was opposed by the Deputies who then exercised it ; 6 and there was a lingering, longing de- sire, among the master-spirits of the Convention, for a reconciliation with the Mother Country and a restor :- tion of the former form of Colonial Government, evidently with themselves and their friends adminis- tering it.7
The subject was introduced into the Convention, very properly, on the day after thett body had approved and accepted the Declaration of Independence ; but the consideration of it was postponed, from time to time, until the first of August, when a Committee was appointed for the purpose of taking into consid- eration and reporting a plen for instituting and fram- ing a Form of Government, together with a Bill of Righta, ascertaining and declaring the ex-ential Rights and Privileges of "the good people of this State," as a foundation for such Form of Government, with instruc- tion- to report to the Convention, on the twenty-sixth
6 As late in the year as the early days of October, the attempt of the County-clerk of Duchess-county to continue the old practice of halling a County Court for that County was tormally forbidden by the Conven. tion, John Jay, James Duihr, and Robert R. Livingston having been present in the Convention, ' Journal of the Convention, " Die Sabbati, O ho., " A. M., Octor. 5, 1776.")
¡ There need be no better evidence of that fact, although there is an abundance, elsewhere, than in the successive orders for the issue of Bills of ('redit, by the Convention. It continued to issue such Bills. in the une of the Colony, long after it had professed to accept the Declaration of Independence, by which it had ceased to be a Colony. (Journal of the Conreution, " Die Merenrii, 9 ho., A.M., Augt. 7, 1776") anl, sul .~.- quently, when a new issue of such Bills of Credit was ordered to be printed, (Journal of the Convention, " Die Murtis, & ho., P.M , August 10, "1756 ") it was ordered to be printed with the insignia of the Corpara- tion of the City of New York, (Ibid;) and the engravers of the several plates were instructed to leave a blank space where the name of the maker of the obligation should be, on those plates, in order that such name as should be subsequently found to be most useful-the Colour, the State, the City, or something else-might be inserted, with type, after the sheets should have been printed on the plate press-conclusive evidence that the permanence of the new-formed State was regardel hy even the mister spirits of the Convention, as very questionable.
In the same connection, it may be well to inquire and to consider what The Earl of Coventry meant, when, in his place in the House of I. inds, on the twenty-fifth of November, G79, he said, " He lamented that a " War so fatal to Great Britain should ever have been logan, much more "that it should be continue I with so much obstinacy; and declared that. "had the Bone paid attention to the propositions which he, the best " sessions, informed them la was authorized to wake from two persons " of authority and influence, in America, and which, had they let " listened to, by Parliament, aud agreed lo, would have been ratified by " Congress, we should have been, at this lour, in peace will. Americi." -Speech of the Part of Coventry, in the House of Lords, in Alion's Pariet- mentary Register, AS .. IT.
" The la. t Sessions," during which the Earl of Coventry, by withority. presented overtures for reconciliation to which the Continental Coupe. .. I would have agreed, was the Fifth Session of the Fourteenth Parliament of Great Britain, November 26, 1778, to July 3, 17:00 long after the alliance of the United States with France had been perfected, and utilized in Auterica. As the Earl, on another occasion, boldly acknow1- edged his personal friendship an-t correspondence with niure than one of those who, then, were regarded as prime leaders in the Relalion, there ured be very little trouble in searching for the names of those who were. undenttally, the mouthpieces of the Continental Congres, in the with of reconciliation, on the occasion referred to by the Earl of Coventry, in 1779.
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207
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
of August, less than four weeks from the date of its While the Convention was the- b-ily employed- appointment.' The Committee w hu was appointed for and justice requires that its industry andI determina- those purposes consisted of John Jay. Colonel John tion, in preparing for a successful opposition to the Royal Armies, on the northern frontiers as well as in the vicinity of New York, should be fully and prop- erly recognized-other events of the utmost impor- tance to New York and to her sister States, were of everyday occurrence. Broome, and General Juhn Morin Scott, all of the ! City of New York; John Sbos Hobart and William Smith, of Suffolk ; Abraham Yates, Junior, and Robert Yates, of Albany-county ; Henry Wisner, Senior, and Colonel Charles De Witt, of Ulster-county ; William Duer, of Charlotte-county ; Gouverneur Morris, of Westchester-county ; Sammel Townshend, of Queens- county; and Robert R. Livingston, of Duchess-county."
The subject continued to be played with, bath by the Committee and the Convention, by both of whom nothing was done, until the Royal Army occupied the City of New York and prepared to extend its operations into Westchester county, when other subjects occupied the attention of both; and thus were the best interests and the safety of the inhabitants of the State endangered-thus were their properties and their families and everything which was dear to them, subjected to the hazard of a revo- lutionary uprising, of anarchy, and of entire de- struction-only because James Duane and John Jay and the Livingstons and the Morrisses and their friends preferred a reconciliation and a reconstruction of the former system of Government, with themselves in the offices ; and, for the promotion of those selfish purposes, withheld every form of Government from the young State, and exposed every one and everything, within the State, to lawless anarchy and entire ruin.
There was searcely a matter, in either the Judicial or the Legislative or the Executive departments of Government, with which that Congress did not in- terfere ; " and it ventured to ask the Continental Con- gress, only because it laeked courage enough to do so, to revise the Book of Common Prayer and to exercise an official censorship over the prayers of those who did not use Rituals.‘
1 Journal of the Convention, " Die Jovis, 8 ho., A.M., August 1, 1776."
.3 Without entering into details, the Convention provided for the refu- geo Poor, from the City of New York; protected the Cattle of the farmers, from the enemy's foraging parties, as far as if could do so ; guarded the Military-stores of the State; built Vessole-of-War ; obstructed the navi- gation of the fludson river ; arbitrarily set aside the Elections of Officers who weto distasteful to it ; borrowed Money, whenever they could find leaders ; treated with the Indians ; issued Paper-currency ; Have employ- mout to grambling Mechanics ; watched the "disaffected," in New Jei- sey; lent Money to ineennions County Committees; guarded thn official Records; ordered Fasta; gave l'usses to those making journeys ; srized the Royal Quitrents; removed those who were exposed to the enemy : provided postal facilities ; gave Licenses to Innkeepery; gave relief to insolvent Debtors ; provided for the care of Orphans; relieved distressed Solliers; etc , etc.
The Journal of the Convention and those of Its Committee of Safety may be referred to, by those who shall desire further information concerning the action of the Convention or the Committee, thereon.
+"We take the liberty of suggesting to your consideration, alte, the "propriety of taking some measures for expainging from the Bank of " Common Prayer, auch parts, and discontinuing in the Congresstions "of all other denominations, all such prayers, as interfere with the in- "terest of the American canso. It is a subject we are afraid to med.fle " with, the onomies of America having taken great foius lo insinuate "into the mitly of the Episcopalians that the Church was in danger.
As we have already stated, the Royal troops which had been withdrawn from Boston and carried to Halifax, during the preceding March, "having suthi- "ciently recovered from the fatigues and sickness "occasioned by their confined situation in that town"' [Boston,5] left the later place, [Halifar] on the eleventh of June," under convoy of Admiral Shuld- ham ;i reached Sandy-hook on the twenty- ninth of the same month; ' landed on the northeastern shore of Staten-Island, between the second and fourth of July ; " and were welcomed by the persecuted inhabit- ants of that beautiful island, as their deliverers from the terrible oppression of the revolutionary powers, both that of New York and that of New Jersey."
On the afternoon of the twelfth of July, for the purpose of distressing the American Army, "by "obstructing supplies coming down the river and other "good consequences dependent on that measure "- probably, also, for the purpose of offering encourage- ment to the conservative farmers of Westchester- county to follow the example of those on Staten Island, in declaring for the King-the Pharmir, com- manded by Captain Hyde Parker, of forty guns, the Rose, commanded by Captain Wallace, of twenty
" We would wish the Congress would pass some Resolve, to quiet thrir "frary : and we are confident it would il essential service to the cause of "America, at least in this State." (Jourand of the Provincial Convention, " Thursday morning, July 11, 1776.")
5 History of the Civil War in America, By an Officer of the Army [ Cap- tain Hull; i., 173; Stelman's History of the American War, Ed. London, 1794, i., 190.
The Annual Register for 1716 : History of Europe, 166, 167. * an 1, fol- lowing that authority, The History of the War in America between The Britain and her Colonies, Ed. Dublin, 1779, i., 199, Jag and Murray's In- partiel History of the War in america, Edit. Newcastle, il., las, -ty the troops were not comfortable at Halifax ; and that General flowe was obliged to sail from there, because of a scarcity of provisions; but we prefer the statement of Captain Hall, who was present, and who wrote with unusual prevision and accuracy, especially with Stedman support- ing him.
" History of the Uil Wir is America, [Capt, Hail'>] i., 173; Stornate History of the American War, i., 190.
i General Hogy to Lord George Grenadine, "STATEN ISLAND, 7 July, "1776 ;" Awwad Register for 1176: History of Europe, BUT .*
8 General Home to Lord George Germane, " STATEN ISLAND, 7 July, "1776;" Hell's] History of the Cied War in America, i., 151; Stefan's History of the Imeries . War, i., 190 ; Marshall's Life of George Il anhang- ton, Fal. Phila., 1501, if., 415.
? Tienetol Hore to Lord George Germaine, " STATEN ISLAND, July, "1776;" [Hall's] History of the Cred Wor in ,Ineres, i, 17h; Gordon's History of the american Revolution, Ed. London, 175, i., 27- ; etc.
1Houral Hare to Land George Germaine, "STATEN ISLAND, 7 July, "1774:" General Howe's Ofe protams uguns paraphlet unified letters to a Nobleman, Ed. London, Iso, 5; London diete, " ADMIRALTY OFFS. " August 10, 174; ". Governor Tryon to Lord George Germaine " Dell' "OF GORDON, ON STATEN ISLAND, July'S, 175, " John Adams to His.
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208
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
guns, and three tenders, "taking advantage of the "tide and a fresh breeze," left Staten Island, and passed the City, receiving the fire of the American batteries on the Red Hook, Governor's Island, Powle's Hook, and along the line of the Hudson-river, within . the City, without sustaining any material damage, and returning a fire which was equally harmless.1 They anchored off Tarrytown, during the early evening; " but, if their errand was to encourage the farmers on the Philipse Manor to declare themselves favorably inclined to the King, their officers must have been sadly disappointed, since Lientenant Daniel Martling, with whom the reader is already acquainted, on the first appearance of the approaching vessels, promptly ordered his command to turn out, to oppose any attempt which might be made to effect a landing ; and, during the night, under the personal direction of Lieutenant-colonel Hammond, who lived in the vicinity, cartridges were distributed, and the inhabitants of the village and neighboring farms were collected, in order that an effective resistance should be made.3 Fresh supplies of ammunition were sent, by the Convention, then in session at the White Plains ; and measures were taken for reinforce- ing the inhabitants ; " but, although it is said the ships were visited by one or two periaugas, they appeared, while they remained off Tarrytown, to have been sent for no other purpose than to take soundings, 6 although there is little doubt that they also cut off the supplies, as well as the communication between the main Army and that on the northern frontier,' and availed then- selves of the darkness of night to open communica- tions with those of the neighboring inhabitants of ' - Westchester and Orange-counties, who were supposed to have been friendly to the Royal cause.
The successful passage of these ships, up the river, very reasonably, created much anxiety and alarm, in the Army and throughout the State. General Wash- ington, wisely suspecting that the purpose of the movement was to encourage the tenantry on the Manors of Philipsborough and Cortlandt to declare for the King, immediately ordered General George
Clinton, then commanding the Militia who had been called out for the protection of the passes over the Highlands, to desire General Ten Broeck, comman .. ing the Militia above the Highlands, to march down with as great a force as he could collect, in order the more effectually to secure those passes, particularly the road which passed over Anthony's Nose; and, at the same time, he authorized General Clinton, it there should seem to be any danger from those who were "disaffected," to send an express to Connecticut, desiring the western portion of that State "to col- "leet all their forces at the same point."" As we have already stated, the Convention of the State, then seated at the White Plains, besides sending :d- vices of the threatened inroad to the officer command- ing the fort in the Highlands, also sent a supply of powder and ball to the inhabitants of Tarrytown, and provided for reinforcements, "along that shore," and solicited protection for King's Bridge, "the destruction "of which it apprehended to have been an object " with the enemy." 9
On the fourteenth of July, General Washington wrote to the Convention a letter which is so signifi? cant of the great anxiety which he felt and so highly illustrative of his character, as a great commander, that we make room for it, in this place.
"NEW-YORK HEAD-QUARTERS. "July 14th, 1776.
"GENTLEMEN :-
" The passage of the enemy up the North-river is "an event big with many consequences to the public "interest. One particularly occurs to me well descry- "ing your attention, and to prevent which I shall "gladly give every assistance in my power, consistent " with the safety of the Army.
"I am informed there are several passes, ou each " side of the river, upon which the communication "with Albany depends, of so commanding a nature "that an inconsiderable body of men may defend " them against the largest numbers. It may be that, "on board these ships, there may be troops for that "purpose, who, expecting to be joined by the disaffeet- "ed, in that quarter, or confiding in their own "strength, may endeavour to seize those defiles, in " which case the intercourse between the two Armics, "both by land and water, will be wholly cut off, than "which a greater misfortune could hardly befall the " Province and Army. I must entreat you to take " the incasttre into consideration, and, if possible. " provide against an evil so much to be apprehended. " I should nope the Militia of those Counties might be " usel on such an emergency, until further provision " was made.
" I have also thought it very probable these ships
1 General Howe to Lord George Germain, " STATEN ISLAND, S July, "1776; " the samme to the same, "STATEN ISLAND, 6 August, 1776; " General Washington to General Clinton, " HEAP-QUARTERS, SES " Your, 12 July, 1176;" the same to the President of Congress, " VE" "York, 14 July, 176 ;" the same to General Schuyler, " NEW YORK, 15 "July, 1776; " Monwirs of Major-general Month, MA. Boston, 1705, 49 ; [ Hall's] History of the Civil War in Imerica, i., 185, 185 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii, 301.
: The Convention of New York to General Washington. " Saturday morn- "ing. July 13, 1776 ;" [Hall's] History of the Wird Wer in Imerios, i., 155 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, il .. 314.
's Report and Kridvace in the Case of Lieutenant colonel Hammond. - Historical Manuscripts : Miscellaneous Papers, xxxiv., 199.
4 The Convention to General Washington, "Saturday Morning, July 13, " 1776."
& The Convention to General Washington " IN CONVENTION, July 15, 1776." " The Convention to General Washington, "Saturday morning, July 18, " 1776.''
I General Washington to John Ingustine Washington, "NEW YORK, 22 " July, 1776.""
& General Washington In General George Canton, " HEADQUARTERS. " NEW YORK, 12 July, 1776."
The Convention to General Washington, "Saturday morning, July 1., "1776."
209
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
. may have carried np arms and ammunition to be it out to the . who may favour their cause, and operate with that a fixed time. I would, to " guard against this, -nhumit to your consideration the ' propriety of writing to the leading men, on our "side, in those Counties, to be very vigilant in ob- "serving any movement of that kind, in order that "so dangerons a scheme may be nipped in the bud; " for that purpose, to keep the utmost attention to "the conduct of the principal Tories in those parts, "any attempts of intercourse with the ships, and all "other circumstances which may lead to a discovery "of their schemes and the destruction of their meas- " ures.
" I am, Gentlemen, very respectfully, " Your mo. obt. and very hble. servant, " GEO. WASHINGTON. " TO THE HONBLE. THE PREST. OF THE
" PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF NEW- YORK."
As we have said, the inhabitants of the vicinity of Tarrytown turned out for the purpose of obstructing any attempt which might be made, to effect a landing from the ships; ' but they were farmers, in the midst of their harvest ; and when they had been there three days, without having seen much pressing necessity for their further stay or any prospect of a relief or of a supply of provisions, although the Convention was sitting within six miles from them, they expressed their desire to be relieved, and some of them went home, without leave, " in order to attend to their har- "vests." 2
Very ungraciously and, certainly, not in such words as were calculated to inspire respect for those who had employed them, among those against whom they were thus tossed, by the aristocratie master- spirits of the Convention,3 Orders were issued to Captain Micah Townsend, who had probably been sent from the Plains to Tarrytown, on the day after the arrival of the ships, to remain at the latter place, with his Company ; Colonel Thomas was ordered to send detachments from his Regiment, to relieve those who had not returned to their homes; and the pay and rations allowed to the Continental troops, were promised to those who were, as well as to those who should be, called into the service.+ But, on the fol- lowing day, [ July 16, 1776,] all those in the neighbor- hood of Tarrytown were relieved from immediate danger, by the ships and their tenders weighing their anchors and sailing up the river, occasionally firing a shot, as they passed a house on the western side the river; and by their anchoring a short distance below Verplanck's-point, and "opposite the stores at Hay-
"erstraw." During the afternoon of the same day, one of the tenders beat up the river, against an unfa- vorable wind, sounding the river very carefully as she proceeded, until she had come within gun-shot of Fort Montgomery, when her progress was arrested by a thirty-two pound shot, which struck her, and compelled her to put about, and to run down the river, not, however, without having plunderel a little house which stood near the river.5
During the morning of that day, [July 16, 1776.] before the information of the departure of the ships from Tarrytown had reached the Convention, that body had provided for the removal of "all Provisions and " other Stores, as well private as publie property, which "were stored in places within the district of Peekskill "and so situated as to be in danger of being taken by " the enemy," " to such places of safety as the Sub- "committee of Peekskill shall think proper ;" and when the information of the departure of the ships was received from Lieutenant-colonel Hammond, the Convention very promptly despatched Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt and Zephaniah Platt, the former a Depitty from Westchester-county and the latter one from Duchess-county, "to the Highlands, in order to " call out such Militia as they may think necessary for "the defence and security of this State; to direct "their stations; to reinforce the garrisons of Forts "Montgomery and Constitution, if expedient ; and to "supply such forces as may be called out or to ap- " point proper persons for that purpose;" at the same time, promising Continental pay and rations to the Militia who should be thus employed ; and advancing five hundred dollars, to be disposed of in procuring Provisions for the forces who should thus be called into active service." The Convention further signified, at the same Session, its determination to protect the State, as far as it could do so, by ordering into imme- diate service, one-fourth of the entire body of Militia of the Counties of Westchester, Duchess, Orange- which then included what is now known as Rockland -- and Ulster-counties, " for the defence of the liber- "ties, property, wives, and children of the good peo- "ple of this State ; and as, at this busy season of the "year, the service may be inconvenient to many of "them, each man be allowed twenty dollars, as a " Bounty, with Continental pay and subsistence, and "be continued in the service until the last day of " December next, unless sooner discharged." At the same time, the men to be raised in Westchester and Duchess-counties were ordered to repair, immediately. to Peekskill; General Washington was requested to appoint an officer to take command of all the levies to be raised, on both sides the river; to designate what stations they should ocenpy ; and to nominate two Deputy Commissaries for the troops, on each side
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