SCHENECTADY COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE

At a meeting of the Committee, 1^st Apr^l 1776:

The sub-committee being Returned from the General meeting of the Committee at Albany, laid before this board a Resolve of said Committee of the 29^th March, made for the Chusing of twelve members to represent the City and County of albany in provincial Congress for twelve months, the Election for said members to be held the third tuesday of this month: also, a Resolve of said Committee for the Chusing of new Committees in the different districts of this county, and that the Election for said committees be held in the differant districts the first Tuesday in May next.

At a meeting of the Committee, 8 Apr^l 1776:

On motion made, Resolved, that advertisements be Emediately struck up on the most publick places in this Town, desiring all persons intituled to vote for Delegates to attend at the House of William White, on Tuesday, the 16th Inst., for the purpose of Chusing twelve members to represent the City and County of Albany in provincial Congress, agreeable to a Resolve of said Congress.

On motion made, Resolved, that Derick Van Ingan & Abraham Wemple is appointed to be a Sub-Committee to attend at the General meeting of the Committee at Albany the 11th Inst.

At a meeting of the Committee, 10^th Apr^l 1776:

The board having taken into consideration the appointment of a Captain to the Company now raising in the district, Resolved, that the appointment of a Captain for said Company cannot with propriety be any longer delayed; and as John A. Bradt, whom the board intended to make an offer of this Commission to is not yet come home, Resolved, that an offer of said commission be made to Garret S. Veder, Junr.

Said Garret S. Veder Jun^r having been sent for and pressent, and made acquainted with the above resolve, axcepted of said commission.

At a meeting of the Committee, 12 Apr^l 1776:

Lieutenants Pendelton & Bates, & Ensign Snow applyed to this board for leave to resign their warrents, and gave for their reasons that the men were mutinous and dissatisfyed at Garret Vedet’s being appointed to be their Captain.

M^r Pendelton being Examined relative to what money he had drawn on account of his recruting, acknowledged that he had receved two hundred dollars from the paymaster’s clerk, on M^r Christopher Yates asuring the Clerk that M^r Pendelton was a recruting officer for this District.

On motion made, Resolved, that the farther consideration of the above Gentlemen's request be put of until there is a full board, to-morrow.

Information being given to this board that Nicholas Stephens is gon up the North River to Trade without a Certifycat from this board.

On motion made, Resolved, that a letter be wrot to General Schuyler, who is now on his way to Ticanteroga, to acquaint him of the proceedings and character of said Stephens, on which was don in the following words:

Hon^d Sir,

Information being given to this board that Nicholas Stevens, Indian Trader of this place, is gone up to the northward, and that he hath obtained a pass from you; if so, we are of opinion he must have by some means or other imposed upon you, as he had no Certifycat from this board: he hath never signed the General association, nor hath never appeared in favour of the General Cause of American liberty while here, ---- we are informed that he is gon in partnorship with Garret Rosebom, of Albany. we are, Hond sir.

To
The Honorable
Philop Schuyler, Esq^r
major General.

At a meeting of the Committee, 13^th apr^l 1776:

Lieu^t Pendelton & Bates, & Ensign Snow appeared before this board and delivered up their warrents.

The above Gentlemen, on a second Consideration, and after some Conversation with Cap^t Veder, waited again on the board and requested that their warrents might be returned to them. The board having taken said request into consideration, Resolved, that the warrants be returned to them, after giving them a Caution respecting their future beheveour.

James Ellice aplyed to this board for a Certifycat of his Character to General Schuyler, in order to obtain a pass from him to go up the country.

The board having taken into consideration the request of M^r Ellice, Resolved, that on his taking the following affidavit, that the Trade he Carreys on here, and that he intends to carrey on, if permitted, up the country, is entirely on his own aecount, and that he is no ways bound to give or be accountable to either James Phyn or Alexander or Robert Ellice for any part of the profites arising from said Trade, he be furnished with a certifycat.

James Ellice having been sent for and pressent, on being asked if he Coold take an affidavit to y^e same purport of this Resolve, to which he answered he would freely do it.

On motion made, Resolved, that an affidavit be drawn in writing and that M^r Ellice be sworn, which being don before John Cuyler, Esq., Resolved, that the following Certifycat be given to him.

This is to certify, that the bearer, M^r James Ellice, hath signed the General association, and hath not to our knowledge don anything against the american Cause of liberty.

James Ellice informed the board that his brother Robert intends going up the Country this spring, and that he intends sending his clerk, George Forseth, up the country.

The board being aprehensive that they by some indirect methodes might obtain a pass, thereupon Resolved, that a letter be wrote to General Schuyler, informing him of their Characters Respecting the present dispute between Great Britain & america, which was don in the following words:

Hon^d Sir,

James Ellice, who was just now with this board and obtained a Certifycat that he hath signed the General association, informed us that his brother Robert Ellice, intends going up the Country to settle his bussiness there, and that James Ellice intends to send his clerk, George Forseth, up the country, we beg leave to acquaint you that neither of the above named persons hath ever signed the General association, and we look on them to be Enemys to the american Cause of liberty.

To	We are, &c.

  The Honorable
  Philop Schuyler, Esq^r
  Major General.

At a meeting of the Committee, 15^th apr^l 1776.

M^r Garret Lansing Jun^r aplyed to this board for party of men to go after and assist him in aprehending some of his men that are deserted.

The board having taken said aplication into Consideration. Resolved to give him an order to Cap^t Garret Veder for three men of his Company to go after said deserters, which was don accordingly.

At a meeting of the Committee, the 16 apr^l 1776:

This being the day appointed for the Chusing of twelve delegates to represent the City and County of albany in provincial Congress, therefore Resolved, that a pole be opened for that purpose: which being don, and votes Called in until seven O'Clock in the Evening, when proclamation at the door, and no more voters apeared; upon which Resolved, that the pole be Closed, which was don accordingly.

At a meeting of the Committee, 17 apr^l 1776:

Received a letter from Daniel Campbell, Esq^r., requesting a recomendation from this board in order to obtain a pass from General Schuyler to send goods up the Country to Mess^rs Andrews and Meidrum.

The board having taken the above request into Consideration, Resolved that M^r Campbell cannot have a recommendation from this board to General Schuyler, and that he be made acquainted of this Resolve by a letter from the board, which was wrote in the following words:

Sir,

yours of this day's date is now before us, and have duly considered the contents thereof, and are unanimously of opinion that this board cannot recomend you to the General to obtain a pass.

By order of the Committee.
To Daniel Campbell, Esq^r.

At a meeting of the Committee, 22^d apr^l 1776:

This board being informed that Robert Ellice was gon up the Mohak River in order to proceed up the country: ----

The board having taken said Report into Consideration, Resolved to Enquire of James Ellice what are his brother's Intentions. James Ellice having been sent for and pressent, Informed the board that his brother was gon up the River to engage Battaumen, and that he would return this Evening or to-morrow.

At a meeting of the Committee, 22^d apr^l 1776:

Henry Millen' & John Jeffreys Made aplication to this board for passports to go down the Country.

The board taking said aplication into consideration, Resolved to give said Millen & Jeffreys passports.

At a meeting of the Committee, 22^d apr^l 1776:

James Stewart, Charles Marten & John Robison made aplication to this board for Certifycats in order to obtain passports from General Schuyler to go up the Country.

The board having taken into consideration the aplication of the above persons, Resolved, that a Certifycat be given to Each of them, mentioning that they have not signed the General association, but in other respects have appeared to be true frends to the American Cause.

Robert Ellice & Charles Morrison made aplication to this board for Certifycats in order to obtain passports to go up the Country.

The board having taken into Consideration the aplication of said Ellice & Morrison, and being of opinion that they are both Enemys to the Caus of American liberty, as nothing to the Contrary hath com to the Knowledge of the board, thereupon Resolved, that they Cannot have Certifycats from this board.

Andrew Mcfarlan made aplication to this board for a Certifycat in order to obtain a pass to go up the Country.

The board having taken into Consideration the aplication of Andrew Mcfarlan, Resolved, that a Certifycat be given to him, the same as the president sent to this board by General Schuyler.

On motion made, Resolved, that John Cuyler and Abraham Oothout be a sub-committee from this board to attend at a General meeting of the Committee at Albany the 25^th Inst.

At a meeting of the Committee, 24^th apr^l 1776.

Robert Ellice & Charles Morrison made aplication to this board for a hearing before the board.

This board having taken the aplication of said Ellice and Morrison into Consideration, Resolved, that they be sent for to hear what they have to offer.

Robert Ellice having been sent for and pressent, informed the board that he wanted leave to go up the Country in order to Collect debts due to Phyn Ellice and partners, and that he was a real frend to the American Cause of liberty; and that his oniy reason for not signing the association and appearing openly in the Cause was that he had a Great deal of property up the Country, and that he was affraid his signing the association, or being known to Conside with the pressent measures Carried on in america might be a detriment to him in the settling of his bussiness up the Country.

The board having taken into Consideration the Contents of what Mr. Ellice had said, Resolved to draw up an affidavit in writting, setting forth that he has been and is still a true frend to the american Cause of liberty, and that what he hath towid the board was his whole reason for not signing the General association, and apearing openly a frend to the American Cause.

The affidavit being drawn, and M^r Ellice Called in and shown said affidavit, he said he was willing to swar to it. The board thereupon Resolved, that John Cuyler, Esq^r take the affidavit of Robert Ellice, which being don, the board thereupon Resolved, that a Coppy of said affidavit be inclosed in a letter from this board to General Schuyler for his Consideration ---- the letter to be in the following words:

Honored Sir,

M^r Robert Ellice aplyed to this board for a Certifycat in order to obtain a pass to go up the Country to Colect debts due to himself, his brother, Alex ander Ellice, and James Phyn. James Phyn hath resided for some time past in England: Alexander Ellice, who went also to England last fall, we know to be an open Enemy to the american Cause, for he harangued & discoreged the people in street last spring from Chusing a Committee, when they were met for that purpose. we here inclose you a Coppy of an affidavit which Robert Ellice hath this day made before us, and must beg to leave the matter farther to your Consideration. I am, Hon^d Sir, &c., &.

To	By order of the Committee.
Philop Schuyler, Esqr	The Honorable H. M., Clerk.
Major General.

Charles Morrison being called in, informed the board that he wanted a Certifycat in order to obtain a pass to go up the country, and said he thought he ought to be put on a futting with others who had not signed the association and he had been informed was to have Certifycats from this board.

On his being asked by a member of the board if he would swer that he was a frend to the American Cause, he said he would not. The Board thereupon Resolved that Mr Morrison Cannot have a Certifycat.

At a meeting of the Committee, 27^th apr^l 1776:

The sub-committee being returned from Albany, laid before this board a Resolve of the Committee for the City and County of Albany. made at the General meeting the 26^th Ins^t that Joseph Kingsley & George Ramsey pay the charges this board was at on account of their imprissonment in february last, to this board. on motion made, Resolved, that said Kingsley & Ramsey be sent for and ordered to pay the following sums: viz., Kingsley twenty shillings, for a slade and two men to carry him from here to Albany; Ramsey sixteen shillings, for a slade and one minute man to carry him to Albany. having been both sent for and pressent, and made acquainted with the above Resolve, Ramsey promised to pay his part to the Chairman by Saterday next: Kingsley absolutely refused to pay his part of said charges, upon which it is Resolved, that if said Kingsley do not pay his part of said charges to the Chairman by nine o'clock on Monday next that he, the said Kingsley be sent to prison in albany, there to remain until he pay said sum, together with what charges may arise on account of his second imprisonment.

On motion made, Reced, that a letter be wrot to the Chairman of the Committee of albany, to know what regulations that board hase made Respecting the prices of goods, which was don in the following words:

Sir: The Bohea Tea being regulated by a resolve of the Honorable Continental Congress, in which Resolve the other Teas & goods, our sub-committee informes us, that you have regulated the prices of other goods; we should be glad to have a coppy of your resolve and regulation respecting the same. I am,

	By order of the Committee.
To Abm Yates, Esqr	D. V. I., Chairman.
Chairman of the Committee
of Albany.

On motion made, Resolved, that advertisements be put up on the most public places in this district, desiring all the male inhabitants that are of full age and have resided three months in this district to attend on the first Tuesday in May next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, at the House of William White, then and there to elect and chuse eleven persons to be a Committee of Correspondence, safety and protection for this District, for six months and no longer, to take their seats the fourth Tuesday in May next.

At a meeting of the Committee, the 29^th Apr^l 1776:

Lieu^t Bates waited on this board and reported that one John Jeffreys, a soldier in his company, intended to desert, and that said Jeffreys had obtained a pass from this board by which he might probibly make his escape.

The board having taken the above report into consideration, Resolved that said Jeffrey be sent for and made return the pass to the board, and be exemined. Said Jeffreys having been sent for and pressent, delivered up the pass, but denyed his intention to desert.

Owen Owens & John Cook, soldiers in said Company, having been sent for and Exemined relative to what they knew of John Jeffreys' intention to desert, both declared that he towid them he intended to desert, and desired them to desert with him. Thereupon Resolved, that it be recomended to Lieu^t Bates to send him to Albany, there to be keep under guard until he is relieved by the Captain or commanding officer of the Batalion.