SCHENECTADY COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE

At a meeting of the freeholders & Inhabitants of the Township of Schenectady, the 6^th of May, 1775, the following persons were unanimously Chosen to be a Committee of Correspondance, safety & protection for said Township, viz:

At a meeting of the above members the 8^th May, at the house of Robert Clench, John Sanders and Tabyus Ten Eyck refused to serve.

At a meeting of the Committee the 9^th of May, 1775, at the house of William White:

On motion made, Resolved, that Christopher Yates be Chairman of this Committee, and Hugh Mitchell, Clark.

On motion made, Resolved, that this board hold their meetings at the house of William White.

On motion made, Resolved, that all the members of this board attend the General meeting of the Committee at Albany, the 10^th Inst.

At a meeting of the Committee, 16^th May, 1775:

Rec^d a letter from the Chairman of the Committee of Albany, acquainting this board that Daniel Campbell, Esq^r had a quantity of Gun Powder in store at Albany, which he wanted to take out, but they refused him that liberty until they acquainted this board of the same.

Having taken the contents of said letter into our consideration, and foreseeing the evil Consequences that may attend the powder falling into the hands of our Enemys, Resolved, that this board will purchase the said Powder from Daniel Campbell for the use of the Inhabitants of this Township, and others who may stand in need thereof.

At a meeting of the Committee, 20^th May, 1775:

Rec^d a letter from William Petrey, at the German flatts, informing this board that the bearer of said letter, Adam Perse, had heard Colonel Guy Johnson desire some Indians to rise in armes and Cut of the Inhabitants.

Having taken the contents of said letter into our Consideration, Resolved, that Adam Perse be examined on oath relative to the contents, which was don, and that said letter be answered, which was also don, as Per Coppy on file.

At a meeting of the Committee, 22^d May, 1775.

Abraham Swits, John Vroman & John Clute informed this board that they were informed by good authority that one Mr. Fletcher, a school master in this Town, that Colonel Guy Johnson would Com down the river with five thousand Indians, and Cut us all of, And further said that it would be right, and if he had it in his Power he would do the same, for we were all rebels.

The above report having been taken into Consideration, Resolved, that said Fletcher be sent for to know his motives for so saying, and to answer to the above Charge.

Said Fletcher having been twice sent for did not appear, Therefore Resolved, that the Complainents be acquainted therewith.

At a meeting of the Committee, 23^d May, 1775:

Rec^d two letters one from Colonel Guy Johnson, representing to this board the danger he supposed himself to be in of being taken prisoner by the people of this quarter; The other from the Reverend Samuel Kirtland, informing this board of his stay at Guy Park.

On motion made, Resolved, that both letters be answered, which was don, as per Coppys on file.

At a meeting of the Committee, 24^th May, 1775:

A sub-committee from Albany waited on this board, and informed us that they were on their way to Guy park to deliver an answer to the speech made by the Mohak Indians, & requested that a sub-committee from this board might accompany them thither for said purpose.

On motion made, resolved, that Christopher Yates & John Rosebom be a Sub-Committee from this board to accompany and assist the members from Albany to deliver said answer.

On motion made, Resolved, that the board do now purchase 3381 lbs. of Gunpowder from Daniel Campbell, Esq^r at 3s. Per lb.

On motion made, Resolved, that said Powder be delivered in Custody to John Post & John G. Lansing, and that they dispose of it to the publick as hereinafter directed. Said Post and Lansing is ordered to dispose of the powder at 3s. 9d. per pound, 3s. 1 Od. by the half pound, 4s. by the quarter, and not to dispose of any of it to any person who lives out of this Township, without an order from a member of the Committee.

On motion made, Resolved, that advertisements be Emediately struck up at the most publick places in this Town, desiring all the Inhabitants of this Township to meet here on Saturday, the 27^th Inst., at ten o'clock in the fore noon, for the purpose of informing this board how they are provided with arms and ammunition, and of appointing two other members in the room of Messrs. Sanders & Ten Eyck, who decline serving.

At a meeting of the Committee, 26^th May, 1775:

Information being given to this board that Elisha Abby, lately from the Oneida Castle, had some intelligence to offer to the board relative to Colonel Johnson and the Indians.

On motion made, Resolved, that said Elisha Abby give his information upon oath.

Received a letter from the Committee of Albany, requesting some of the members of this board to attend a General meeting of the Committee there the 27^th Inst., on business of importance. In consequence of said letter, Resolved, that Abraham Oothout & Harmanas Wendle be a sub-committee from this board to attend said General meeting, at Albany the 27th Inst.

On motion made, Resolved, to request the public at their meeting the 27^th Inst., to appoint Cornelious Cuyler, Esq., & Jecobus Teller to be members of this board, in the room of John Sanders and Tabyus Ten Eyck; also, to raise three companies of minute men in this Township for its safety, in manner following, viz: two companies in the Town & one company in the westina, - that each company consist of one Captain, two Lieutenants, four Serjants, three Corporals, an drum, and fifty privites to choose their own officers, and that when said companys are formed, the Captains to give in, Each, a list of his Company to the Committee, and that said companies spend a few hours every week in learning the military Exercise.

At a meeting of the Committee, 27^th May, 1775:

The Inhabitants of this Township being assembled and made acquainted with the resolve of the 26^th Inst., unanimously agreed to the appointment of Cornelious Cuyler, Esq., - Jecobus Teller, to be members of this Committee, and requested the Committee to appoint the officers for the three minute Companies.

Having taken said request into consideration, Resolved, to appoint the following persons to be officers in said minute Companys, viz:

Jelles T. Fondau, Captain,

Andrew Van Petten, 1st Lieut.    first Company.

Minairt A. Wemple, 2d lieut.

Cornelius Van Diek, Captain,

John Minderse, 1st Lieut.             second company.

Garret Veder, 2d Lieut.

John Van Peten, Captain,

Cornelius Van Slyke, 1st Lieut.    third Company.

Mindert R. Wemple, 2d Lieut.

At a meeting of the Committee, 28^th May, 1775:

Cornelious Cuyler and Jecobus Teller being now present took their seats. A sub-committee from the County of Tryon waited on this board to inform us of the state of affairs in that country, which they looked on to be dangerous in respect to the Indians, and requested a supply of powder.

Having taken the above request into consideration, Resolved to furnish them with fifty pounds of powder.

At a meeting of the Committee, 29^th May, 1775:

In consequence of a request of the Committee of Albany to raise one com pany of men for the Continental service, to go to ticantarog, Consisting of one Captain, one Lieutenant, one Ensign, three Serjants, three Corporals, one Drummer, one fifer and fifty privates;

Resolved, that Cornelious Van Dike is appointed Captain, Benjamin Hilton Lieut., & Cornelious Van Slike Ensign for said Company, and that the utmost dispatch be made in raising said Company,- Their pay to be as follows, .viz:

Capt. per month	£6. 0. 0.
Lieut. per do	"4. 0. 0.
Ensign per do	"3. 0. 0.
Serjants	£2. 8. 0.
Corporals	"2. 4. 0.
Drummer	"2. 4. 0.
fifers	"2. 4. 0.
privites	"2. 0. 0.

all Lawfull money of New England.

On motion made, Resolved, that Every officer and soldier belonging to any of the Companys now raised or to be raised within this Township sign the association recommended by the Honorable, the Continental Congress, and that no person muster, or apear under armes in any of the Companys who do not Comply with this resolve.

On motion made, Resolved, that Instructions be Emediately given to Captain Van Dike for raising of his Company.

At a meeting of the Committee, 31^st May, 1775:

Cap^t Van Dike made aplication to this board for provision for his men.

The board having taken said request into consideration, Resolved, that Captain Van Dike's men be boarded for the present at the Houses of John Welsh & Robert Marton, at the rate of one shilling, N. Y. Currency, per day, per man.

On motion made, Resolved, that all Physicians and others desist from inoculation of the small pox for the present, agreeable to a similar resolve of the Committee of Albany, and that the same be made publick by advertisement.