SCHENECTADY COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE

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

Two men from Warrens Bush, on their way from Albany, happened to be in company with one William Burton, at the five mile house, who tould them he was sent up from the Secretary's office at New York, with letters to the sherroffs of the several Counteys: they suspecting that said Burton might have other, private letters to some of the Enemys to the Country, Therefore brought said burton and his letters before this board.

Said burton being examined, declared he had no letters about him but one to Alexander White, Sherrof of Tryon County, in which was the governors warrant for holding a new Election inclosed, and one for Sir John Johnson, the contents of which he did not know.

On motion, Resolved, that the letter to Sir John Johnson be opened and Red the same being done, it prooved to be a letter from Judge Johnes of New York, on private Bussines.

At a meeting of the Committee, 13^th Janr^y 1776:

Received a letter from the Committee of Albany, informing this board that a Considerable number of men in Tryon County had taken up arms in behalf of the ministery, and threatened destruction to the frends of America, ---- by said letter they Requested this board to send them, Emediatly, a Company of sixty men Compleetly armed, with proper officers to command them, and four days provision.

In consequence of said letter, Resolved, that the officers of the minute companys be ordered to have sixty of their men in Readiness to March to Albany, with as many more as Chuse to go voluntarily.

Rec^d a letter from Jacob Cuyler, Esq., of this day's date, Covering one from the Committee of Ball's Town, which he requested to be sent by Express.

Resolved, that said request be Complyed with, and that Nicholas Fedder Carrey said letter to the Committee of Ball's Town, for which he shall be paid eight shillings.

Whereas, Jacob Skermurhorn hath refused to axcept of a Lieut Colonel's Commission in the Militia, Nicholas Feder of a Majority, Aaron N. Van Pettan of an ajutansey, and John Peek having resigned the Quartermastership: It is therefore resolved, that the following persons is appointed in their steed, viz. ----

Christopher Yates, Lieu^t Colonel,

Mindert Wemple, 2^d Major,

John Post, Quartermaster.

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

Captain John Minderse, with the other. officers of the minute men, made their appearance before this board with a number of their men as per list on file, and set out Emediatly in slades for Albany.

On motion made, Resolved, that orders be Emediatly sent to Capt. John Van Pettan, to place guards at William De Graf's, Tunis Swart's & Lewis Peek's, to prevent any onfrendly persons or letters from passing upwards.

On motion made, Resolved, that a letter be wrot to James McMaster and Committee of warrens bush, requesting their vigilence in prevent any news from passing that way, which was don in the following words:

Sir: we being suspicious that news may be Carried to Johns Town of what is now Carreing on here, we are about to place guards on both sides of the river, to prevent any person from passing upward who are not knowen to be frends to the american Cause; ---- we therefore request you will take such steps as will prevent any news Passing through Warren’s Bush, and that you will Exemen all letters that you are Suspicious of. By order of the Committee.

To Mr. James McMaster,
or Committee of
Warren's Bush.

H. M., Clerk.

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

A number of strangers being in town from different places, and this board being affraid that some roil might happen in the town, Therefore Resolved that aplication be made to the Majestrates to order a duble watch for the pressent. Jecobus Teller & Harmanas Wendle being appointed to wait on the Majestrates with the above request, reported that the Majestrates Complys theirwith, and that a duble watch will be ordred.

Cap^t Van Dick waited on this board and delivered a letter which he had received from Nicholas Harkemer, signed by Binjamen Hilton, of this Town, and directed to Alexander white, sherrof of Tryon County, Contaning some Expressions verry unfrendly to the American Cause.

Cap^t Van Dick also informed the Board that Hanukel Harkemer informed him that John B. Van Eps. of this Town, had last summer suplyed Sir John Johnson with a quantity of gunpowder.

On motion made, Resolved, that the farther inquirey into both the Crimes aledged against Van Eps & Hilton be put off untill another meeting.

On motion made, Resolved, that any member of this board, while in the Chamber, who shall profainly swer an oath, shall pay one shilling for Every such oath to the Chairman for the benefit of the Committee.

At a meeting of the Committee, 15^th Janr^y 1776:

Thomas Wason, John Little, George Wason, & John Nealley, of Currey's bush, all waited on this board, signed the articles recomended by Congress to be signed by all officers, and received their Commissions.

John L. Peek waited on this board, and delivered in a letter wrot by the Reverand Mr. Stewart, at Fort Hunter, and directed to John Munroe, at Albany, which their guard had intersepted. Said letter Contained some unfrendly sentiments to the american Cause.

On motion made, Resolved, that said letter be kep in Custody by this board.

On motion made, Resolved, that Benjamin Hilton be sent for and Examined relative to his letter to Alexander White, Sherrof of Tryon County.

Said Hilton having been sent for and pressent, acknowledged himself to be the author of the letter ---- said it was Lieu^t McDonald, of Albany who gave him the information mentioned in said letter ---- that he wrote this letter purposely to please said White, as he knew his sentiments: he farther says he knew he was doing wrong, but never thought it would be discovered.

This board having taken into Consideration the Crime Committed by Benjamin Hilton, Resolved, that said Hilton either Cause his said letter with the said decleration to be published three weeks successivly, in Hugh Gain s newspapers, to appear first by the fifth day of february next; or this board will publish said letter and decleration, together with his affidavit, taken before Cornelious Cuyler, Esq^r., the 14^th of July, 1775.

Said Hilton being again present and made acquainted with the above resolve, promised to Comply therewith, ---- that he would cause the letter and declaration to be published, agreeably to the first clause of the above resolve.

At a meeting of the Committee, 18^th Jan^y 1776:

Clarey Bastedo having informed this board that she had some intelligence to give them relative to the proceedings in John's Town,

On motion made, Resolved, that said Clarey Bastedo be Examined upon oath: which being don, and finding it might be necessary for General Schuyler to know the informotion she gave, Resolved, that the affidavit of said Clarey Bastedo be inclosed in a letter, from this board, and sent to General Schuyler, which was don as follows:

We think it our duty to send you the inclosed, as the fact therein attested is in it self possible, and as it is so necessary to guard against and Counteract a thing of that sort.

To	I am, Sir,
The Honorable	with the greatest Respect,
Philop Schuyler, Esqr	your verry Hubl Servt
on his way to John's Town.	D. V. I., Chairman.

On motion made, Resolved, to send orders to Captain John Van Petten to dismiss his guards to-day, at 12 O'Clock, which was don accordingly.

At a meeting of the Committee, 22^d Janr^y 1776:

Received a letter from Benjamin Hilton, Covering a Coppy of a letter which he had wrot to the Sub-Committee for the City and County of Albany, by which it plainly appears that he hath applyed to that board for a new Trial before the County Committee at their next General meeting. This board having taken the contents of said letters into Consideration, Thereupon Resolved, that a letter be wrot to the Committee of Albany to acquaint them of said Hilton’s Having stood trial before this board, which was don, as per Coppy on file; and that this board will lay the proceedings of and against 4 said hilton before them at the next General meeting.

On motion made, Resolved, that advertisements be struck up on the most public places in this town, desiring all the inhabitants who have been imployed with their Slades in the Expedition to John's Town to give in their accounts to Hugh Mitchell, on or before the 30th of this Inst., which was don in the following words:

Advertisement :----- all persons that have been Employed to go with their slades on the Expedition to Tryon County are desired to give in their accounts to me on or before the 30th of this Inst. By order of the Committee.

H. M., Clerk.

Schenectady, 22 Janr^y 1776.

At a meeting of the Committee, 23 Janr^y 1776:

The Majistrates of this Town made aplycation to this board to know if they would protect them in the Execution of their offices.

The board having taken the aplication made to them by the into Consideration, Resolved that the Majistrates be protected in Execution of their Lawfull office, and that a Sub-Committee from this board wait on them and acquaint them of this Resolve.

At a meeting of the Committee, 26^th Janr^y 1776:

This board having taken the state of the Militias of this Township into Consideration, and Considering the many inconvenianceys which have and may arise from their not being properly formed into Companeys, thereupon Resolved, that a List of the inhabitants be made out, the better to enable this board to form all them into Companys which are not already formed.

At a meeting of the Committee, 31 Janr^y 1776:

On motion made, Resolved, that Derick Van Ingen, Hugh Mitchell, & Abraham Wemple is appointed to be a Sub-Committee from this board to attend at the general meeting of the Committee at Albany the 1^st of febr^y next, and lay before that board the proceedings of this board against Benjamin Hilton.

Information being given that William Murray, late soldier in Captain Van Dick’s Company, hath some information to give to this board,

On motion made, Resolved, that said Murray be sent for; which having been don, and said Murray present, on his being asked what he had to inform this board of, said he had heard George Ramsey make use of some reflections against himself in particular, and the friends of the American Cause in General

On motion made, Resolved, that William Murray draw up in writing what he knowes against said Ramsey, and that he be sworn to the truth of the same, which was don. William Murray, in his affidavit says,’ that being in Company with George Ramsey at the house of Reuben Simons, said Ramsey Called him a Tratore & a Rebel, and asked him if he was not ashamed to fight against his king.

George Ramsey having been sent for and pressent, and hearing the Evidence which William Murray gave against him, Confessed the truth of it, but said for excuse that he only did it to put Murray in a passion as he knew he was of a quick temper.