SCHENECTADY COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE

At a meeting of the Committee, 6^th Febr^y 1776:

This board having taken into consideration that a number of the inhabitants of this Township was from hom at the time the General association was handed about to be signed, consequently had not an oppertunity at that time, and by carlesness have neglected doing it since. Willing to give all those who are frendly to the American cause an oppertunity of Evinceing their sentiments to their neighbours, Resolved, that an association paper be agan opned, and that all who incline to sign it may have an oppertunity by applying to the Chairman of this Committee.

On motion made, Resolved, that a letter be wrot to Captain Thomas, of Currey’s bush, to desire him to finish the signing of the association in his district, and return it with the names of the non-associates, by the 14^th Inst., which was don. ______

At a meeting of the Committee, 7^th Febr^y 1776:

The men's names in this Township who are not alredy formed into Companeys, being now made out into three seperate listes, Each list to be a Company, Resolved, that the men mentioned in said listes be warned to appear in Town on Saterday, the 10^th Inst., at 10 O'Clock forenoon, for the purpose of Chusing their respective officers.

Ahasueras Marselis Jun^r to warn those persons mentioned on the first list, Isaac De Graf & John T. Marselis to warn those on the second list, and Jellis Brower and Adam Cundee to warn those on the third list.

Two Messages having been sent to Robert John Donaldson, desiring him to appear before this board, and he having not attended thereto; thereupon Resolved, that an order be give to Captain John Minderse to order a party of his men to bring said Donaldson before this board, which was don in the following words:

Sir,

You are hereby required to order two of the men under your Command to go and bring the body of Robert John Donaldson before this Committee, on friday, the 9^th Inst., at 10 O’Clock, forenoon.

By order of the Committee.
Schenectady, 7 febr'y, 1776.	D. V. I., Chairman.
To Capt John Minderse.

At a meeting of the Committee, 8^th feb'ry, 1776:

Robert John Donaldson appeared before this board, and said he had not received our message until last Evening, and would have come sooner had he known the board wanted him; upon which, Resolved, to Countermand the orders given to Captain John Minderse. On Examination, finding that said Donaldson had some information to give this board against Joseph Kingsley, Resolved, that said Donaldson give the same upon oath; which being don, Resolved, to send for Joseph Kingsley to hear the Evidence which is given against him.

Said Kingsley having been sent for and present, denied the charge, but said he differed with us in sentiments in regard to the present dispute between Great Britain and the Coloneys.

Having taken into Consideration the proof of Crimes Committed by Joseph Kingsley, and finding him to have made use of unwarrentable Expressions, and is in our opinion an Enemy to the American Cause; Thereupon Resolved, that said Kingsley be Committed to the goal of Albany, or place appointed for such Prisoners, there to remain untill the next General meeting of the Committee, to stand trial for his offences, and that a inittimes be wrot and sent with him, which was don in the following words:

Sir:

we send you by the bearers, Harmanas Van Slike & John Van antwerp, the body of Joseph Kingsley, and request you will Cause him to be Confined in the prisson you have prepared for offenders against the American Cause, untill the next General meeting of the Committee, before whom we will lay his Crime, which Consists in high aspersions on the frends to liberty,

	By order of the Committee.
To the Chairman of	D. V. I., Chairman.
the Committee at Albany.

Reuben Simons and John Denney appeared before this board to give their information against John Freel, of John's Town, who is also present.

On motion made, Resolved, that said Simons & Denney give their Evidence against said Freel upon oath; which being don, & the board having taken into Consideration the facts proved against said Freel by said Evidence, are of opinion that he is an Enemy to his Country, and ought to be treated as such: but as he properly belongs to the County of Tryon, Therefore Resolved, that the affidavits of said Simons & Denney be given to John Fry, Esq., which is a member of the Committee for that County and now in Town, that they may proceed against him according to his deserts.

At a meeting of the Committee, 10^th febr^y 1776:

An Election having been this day held for the purpose of Chusing officers for three Companys of Militia, agreeable to a resolve of the 7th Inst., the following persons were chosen:

Thomas Brower Banker, Cap^t
John B. Vrooman, 1^st Lieu^t
Aron Fedder, 2 Lieu^t
Binjamin Yong, Ensign
Henry Glen, Esq^r., Cap^t
John B. Marselis, 1^st Lieu^t
Nicholas Barhite; 2^d Lieu^t
Cornelious V. Sanford, Ensign
Ahasueras Marselis, Cap^t
Jessa Van Slike, 1^st Lieu^t
William Stephens, 2 Lieu^t
Abraham Van Eps, Ensign

Aplication having been made to the publick, at this day's meeting, to appoint John Cuyler, Esq., to be a member of this board, to which they unanimously agreed: on Mr. Cuyler’s being made acquainted therewith, agreed to take his seat.

Samuel Shelly having been sent for and pressent, in order to inform the board of what he had heard George Ramsey say relative to the present dispute between Great Britain and the Coloneys,-----

On motion made, Resolved, that the Evidence which Samuel Shelley hath to give be given upon oath, which was don accordingly.

Resolved, that John Van Driesen is appointed to be ajutent to the Schenectady Batallion of Militia.

At a meeting of the Committee, 12 Febr^y 1776:

This board having been informed that Solomon Pendelton had heard Robert Clinch makes us of som unbecoming Expressions, Resolved to send for said Pendelton to know what he hath to offer to the Board. Said Pendelton having been sent for & pressent, on motion made, Resolved, that he give in writting what he hath to offer against said Clinch, which being don and signed by him, and the board having taken the contents thereof into Consideration, and finding they do not amount, in their opinion, to a sufficency for punishment, Thereupon Resolved, that the said Certifycat be put by this board for the pressent without making any mention of it to Mr. Clinch.

Having taken into Consideration the proofs against George Ramsey, are of opinion that he is a high ofender against the American Cause, Therefore Resolved, that said Ramsey be sent to albany, there to be Confined untill the next General meeting of the Committee, then to stand trial for his offences, and that a mittimus be Emediatly wrot and sent with him, which was don, in the following words:

Sir,

we send you by the bearers, Moss Van Vranken and son, the body of George Ramsey, and request that you will Cause him to be Confined in the goal or place prepared for such prisoners, until the next General meeting of the Committe, before whom we will lay his Crimes.

To the Chairman	By order of the Committee.
of the Committee	D. V. I., Chairman.
at Albany.

On motion made, Resolved, that Every member of this board shall attend at the Chamber on being warned, and if inconvenient for any of them to sitt, to make there Excuse in person only, ---- in Cases of ajurnment, Every member to attend within fifteen minutes of the time mentioned in the ajurnment, without being warned.

Received a letter from the Committee of Albany, dated the 7^th Inst., requesting to know how many slades this district will furnish for the use of the provincial trupes who are now going up to Canada, and acquainting the board that General Schuyler will allow the slades four shillings per day to pay for their provender. By said letter they also request that inquiry be made what number of troops can be raised in this district, and who will be proper persons to appoint for their officers, and to make report of the same to the Committee at their next General meeting.

Having taken the first Claus of said letter into Consideration, Resolved, that Harmanas Wendle and Abraham Wemple is appointed to be a Sub- Committee to take the sense of the people of this Town respecting the furnishing of slades, and make report of the same.

On motion made, Resolved, that Abraham Oothout and Hugh Mitchell is appointed to be a sub-committee from this board to attend at the general meeting of the Committee at albany the 15^th Inst.

At a meeting of the Committee, 13^th feb'ry, 1776:

The board having taken into Consideration the appointment of officers to command what troops may be raised in this district, and having thought John A. Bradt a fit person for the Command of a Company; but said Bradt being at present in Canada on a trading plan, Therefore Resolved, that John Cuyler & Abraham Wemple is appointed to be a sub-Committee to wait on M^rs Bradt to know her sentiments of the Matter and when she expects her husband hom, and make report of the same.

At a meeting of the Committee, 14^th febr^y 1776:

The Sub-Committee appointed to wait on M^rs Brat report that she doth not know when her Husband will be hom, ---- that for her part she doth not aprove of his going into the army, tho he always did as he pleased. She was of opinion that he would not axcept of a Commission, ---- that he was ill used last year in that respect; and farther, that he intended to wait and retaile his Cargo in Montreal if he did not meet with a good market for it by wholesale.

Having taken said report into Consideration, and Expecting that a Company will be requested to be raised in this district, thereupon Resolved, that John A. Bradt be recomended for Captain, Solomon Pendleton for first Lieut. & David Bates for 2^d Lieut. But in case said troops are to be Emediately raised, and that the officers be now Commissioned, Resolved, that Jells Wolket be recomended for to be Captain in the room of John A. Bradt.

On motion made, Resolved, that Mess^rs Oothout and Mitchell take with them to Albany, the affidavits of William Murray & Robert John Donaldson against Joseph Kingsley, and the affidavits of William Murray & Samuel Shelly against George Ramsey, in order to prosecute said Kingsley & Ramsey, before the General Committee.

At a meeting of the Committee, 17^th febr^y 1776:

Received a letter from General Schuyler, dated the 16^th of this Inst., informing this board that he will want fifty or sixty men the ensuing summer to be employed as laborers and battaumen on Lakes George & Champlain, and desires to know if they Can be got here, and at what rate. The board having taken said letter into Consideration, Resolved, that, advertisements be Emediately struck up on some of the most publick places in the Town, Desiring those who have a mind to engage in such service to give in their proposels to the Chairman on or before the 25^th of this Inst.

On motion made, Resolved, that the letter from General Schuyler be answered, which was don in the following words:

Hon^d Sir,

We rec^d your favour of the 16^th Inst., and are much obliged to you for your offer of preference to the battaumen of this place: we will inquire what hands we Can ingage and at what Price, as soon as possible and acquaint you theirwith. We are, with the greatest respect, &C. &C.

D. V. I., Chairman

To
The Honorable Philop Schuyler, Esq^r
Major General at Albany.

At a meeting of the Committee, 24^th febr^y 1776:

On motion made, Resolved, that Abraham Oothout and Christopher Yates is appointed to be a Sub-Committee to Colect the donations subscribed by the Inhabitants of this place for the purpose of paying slades to Carry troopes from albany to Lake George.

On motion made, Resolved, that John Cuyler and Christopher Yates is appointed to be a Sub-Committee from this board to attend at the next Gen- eral meeting of the Committee at Albany, the 29^th Inst.

The board having made the necessary inquiry respecting battaumen, Resolved, that a letter be wrot to General Schuyler acquainting him of the terms they will ingage for, which was don in the following wordes:

Hon^d Sir:

agreeable to your request, we have made inquirey Concerning the battaumen, and are of opinion that we shall be able to ingage them here for about four pounds five shillings per month.

we shall be glad to know if you intend to appoint a Captain or overseer over them; if so, what his wages will be, and when they enter into pay. your answer, with the particular Terms under which the Battaumen is to be ingaged will greatly oblige.

To	HondSir, &c. &c
the Honorable Philop Schuyler, Esqr	By order of the Committee,
Major General	D. V. I., Chairman.
at Albany.

At a meeting of the Committee, 28 febr^y 1776:

A letter and recruiting warrant from General Schuyler to Ahasueras Wendle, as Ensign, having been delivered to this board by Cornelious Van Dick, Thereupon Resolved to send for Ahasueras Wendle and deliver to him said letter and warrant: said Wendle having been sent for and pressent, refused to axcept of the warrent.

The board having taken the refusal of Ahasueras wendle into Consideration, Resolved to recommend Solomon Ter Willega as a fit person to fill up the place of said Wendle. Ter Willega having been sent for and pressent, also refused axcepting of the warrent.

At a meeting of the Committee, 29^th febr^y 1776:

The board having again taken into Consideration Ahasueras Wendle's Refusel of the warrent, and being aprensive that the service may suffer for want of an officer to fill up that rank, Resolved, to make John Denney an offer of a recommendation for said warrent. Said Denney having been sent for and pressent, upon being asked if he would axcept of an Ensignsey in the Continental service, he answered that he would. Thereupon Resolved, to recommend him to General Schuyler, in the room of ahasueras wendle, and that a letter be wrot for that purpose, which is in the following words:

Hon^d Sir,

The warrent you sent to Ahasueras Wendle, of this place, he hath Returned to this board, and says he Cannot axcept of it. He was recommended without his knowledge, by a sub-committee from this board at a General meeting of the Committee at Albany, who did not know that any Ensigns was to be appointed untill they went there. We herewith return you the warrant, and beg leave to recommend the bearer of this, John Denney, as a fit person for that warrent. We are,

To	Hond Sir, &C. &C.
The Honorable Philop Schuyler, Esqr	By order of the Committee,
Major General at	D. V. I., Chairman.
Albany.

Jacob Vrooman waited on this board and informed us that General Schuyler desires to know what was done respecting the battaumen.

On motion made, Resolved, that another letter be wrot to General Schuyler, and sent by Express, which was don in the following words:

Honored Sir,

we Just now received your message by Jacob Vrooman, desiring us to acquaint you what we have don Respecting the Battaumen. we beg leave to inform you that we have made inquiry, and find that the number of men may be got here for about four pounds five shillings per month: they are desirous to know if there will be a Captain, or other officers appointed over them.

we wrote to you the 24^th Inst., on this subject, which we are sorry have not Come to hand, --- we send this by Express.