The First Conspiracy
Page 34
One of the masterminds of this Loyalist plot: See footnote #1 under “To George Washington from the King’s District Committee of Correspondence, 13 May 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-04-02-0229.
“From these you will readily discover”: GW to Philip Schuyler, 21 May 1776, PGWR 4: 360–361.
“Having the utmost confidence in your integrity”: Ibid.
“our internal enemies have many projects”: Ibid.
“a duty I owe myself and my country”: Philip Schuyler to GW, 28 May 1776. Ibid., 4: 401–403.
“I cannot sit easy under such an infamous imputation”: Ibid.
“plot being formed for the destruction”: Mark Hopkins to GW, 26 May 1776, ibid., 387–388.
“The said Convention … took all those methods”: Ibid.
“That there has been a plan forming”: Ibid.
“some wicked designing men”: Ibid.
This is where James Mason: James Mason’s arrival in Goshen and the other details in this chapter are taken from his June 20, 1776, testimony before the Committee on Conspiracies within the New York Provincial Congress. CHM, 1: 344–345.
a man named William Farley: William Farley’s real name is William Forbes. We’ve changed Forbes’s last name to “Farley” throughout the text to avoid possible confusion with the gunsmith Gilbert Forbes, who is also closely connected to Tryon’s plot but bears no relation to William Forbes.
“Governor Tryon would give five guineas”: Examination of James Mason, 20 June 1776, CHM, 1: 344–345.
Farley gets something out of it too: William Farley, aka William Forbes, denies the accusation that he is a paid recruiter for Governor Tryon. However, his denial contradicts other sources, and the weight of evidence supports Mason’s story. For Farley’s (aka Forbes’s) testimony, see Ibid., 356.
“was to have a bounty from the Governor”: Examination of James Mason, 20 June 1776, CHM, 1: 344–345.
“there are riflemen staged there”: Ibid.
“Look at New York, where even the church”: Quoted from Karen Q., “The Indecent Side of Revolutionary Era New York,” Behind the History (blog). https://patriottoursnyc.com/stories-dont-tell/
By one tally … there are about five hundred: From Edwin G. Burrows and Mike Wallace, Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 (New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1999), 214.
equivalent of some 33,000: According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau projections from 2017, the population of Manhattan is approximately 1.66 million. Two percent of this number is 33,200.
“at first I thought nothing could exceed”: Isaac Bangs, 25 April 1776, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs (Cambridge, Mass: John Wiley & Son, 1890), 29.
“bitchfoxy jades, jills, hags, strums, prostitutes”: Loammi Baldwin to his wife, 12 June 1776. Quoted from John J. Gallagher, Battle of Brooklyn 1776 (New York: Da Capo Press, 1995), 69.
“continue their employ”: Ibid.
“castrated in a barbarous manner”: Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs (Cambridge, Mass: John Wiley & Son, 1890), 30.
body of a prostitute: McCullough, 1776, 125.
“broke up the knots of men and women”: Loammi Baldwin quoted from Gallagher, Battle of Brooklyn, 69.
“Our Company are now about one half”: Bangs, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs (Cambridge, Mass: John Wiley & Son, 1890), 64.
afflicted soldiers … are ferried to Montresor’s Island: Schecter, Battle of New York, 90.
unfit for duty: McCullough, 131.
“he thought the paper he wanted”: Examination of Israel Young before the New York Provincial Congress, 15 May 1776, JPC, 1: 447.
the only people home at the Youngs’ house: This detail and others taken from Jeremiah Wool testimony before the New York Provincial Congress, 14 May 1776. JPC, 1: 443.
“immediately enters”: Ibid.
going to nearby Huntington: Ibid.
Mathews would often join them: On February 15, 1776, the same day Mathews was appointed Mayor, the New York Provincial Congress had granted him open-ended permission to visit Tryon’s ship. JPC, 1: 302.
“obtain permission from the Governor”: Examination of David Mathews before the Committee on Conspiracies, 23 June 1776, CHM, 1: 354.
“private room”: Ibid.
“put a bundle of paper money in my hands”: Ibid.
“Take out five pounds”: Ibid.
The price of the guns: The price Gilbert Forbes was originally quoted was “three guineas apiece” for his nine rifles and eleven smoothbore guns; in other words, sixty guineas. One guinea was the equivalent of one pound and one shilling, or slightly less than 1.1 pounds. The total price of his gun shipment would therefore be roughly sixty-five pounds.
On May 17, 1776: JPC, 1: 450
“dangerous machinations … intestine enemies”: Session of the New York Provincial Congress, 18 May 1776, JPC, 1: 450.
“be a Secret Committee” … the resolution is passed: Ibid.
five members … any three of them: Ibid.
“Committee for the Hearing”: CHM, 1: 340.
immediate target of investigation: Willliam Tryon will soon be the first name on the committee’s “List of Suspected Persons” who will become targets of investigation. Ibid.
The Patriots may have started the worst of it: See for example Gabriel Schoenfeld, Necessary Secrets: National Security, the Media, and the Rule of Law (New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 2010), 59.
Skinner’s letter, written … in December 1775:, AA, 4: 363–364.
“many sentiments and expressions”: Proceedings of the Provincial Congress of New Jersey, 2 March 1776, Minutes of the Provincial Congress and the Council of Safety of the State of New Jersey (Trenton: Naar, Day & Naar, 1879), 403.
Now, he is a familiar presence: As we’ll see, Gilbert Forbes’s name will come up repeatedly when authorities examine suspected Loyalists, the gunsmith is frequently described as a regular presence at Loyalist-friendly taverns and inns. Many examples are found in the proceedings of the Committee on Conspiracies of the New York Provincial Congress, CHM,1: 342–372.
Graham is a former British officer: Examination of Gilbert Forbes before the Committee on Conspiracies, 29 June 1776, CHM, 1: 372.
finding and organizing men: Ibid.
Accounts vary as to exactly how and when: Forbes and Mathews give different stories of how and when the transaction occurs, but after initial denials both men eventually confess to the money changing hands (CHM, 1: 354–355, and AA, 6: 1085). Other witnesses will also testify to having knowledge of the transaction.
“exerted himself … and raised enough men”: CHM, 1: 372.
“Paper money was in those times”: Benjamin Franklin, The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Written by Himself, ed. John Bigelow (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1902), 3: 354.
half the money in circulation is fake: See for example Stuart Hatfield, “Faking It: British Counterfeiting During the American Revolution,” Journal of the American Revolution, 7 Oct 2015. https://allthingsliberty.com/2015/10/faking-it-british-counterfeiting-during-the-american-revolution.
The first report comes from a Cold Spring Harbor resident: The resident’s name is Charles Friend, who says he learned of the matter largely through another resident named John Anderson. JPC, 1: 437.
unusual tools and supplies: Ibid. See also Examination of Thomas Henderson, ibid., 445.
“Whereas … without delay”: Ibid., 437.
Jeremiah Wool makes the trip: These and other details of Captain Wool’s mission to Cold Spring Harbor are from his testimony before the New York Provincial Congress on May 14, 1776. Ibid.: 443–444.
“Isaac Young came to the door”: Ibid., 443.
“they proceeded to a room”: Ibid.
“At the head of one of the beds in that room”: Ibid.
“proceeded up the said stairs”: Ibid.
“the press,… two dollar bill of Continental money”: Ibid., 443–444.
“employed in this business to get paper”: Ibid., 444.
initial statement from Dawkins: Ibid.
Following directions they were given back in Elizabethtown: These and other details of the group’s journey are primarily from James Mason’s examination before the Committee on Conspiracies on June 20, 1776, CHM, 1: 344–345. See also William Forbes’s (aka William Farley’s) examination on June 23, ibid., 356. William Forbes’s testimony is less reliable as it contains self-serving and unpersuasive denials of his own role as a recruiter.
“McLean and Farley whispered together”: Ibid., 344–345. We have changed the original text such that “Forbes” is written as “Farley” in this quote.
“McLean had sent and recommended them”: Ibid.
“qualified”: Ibid., 345.
“swear not to divulge anything”: Ibid.
“to be sent to the Governor”: Ibid.
“Gilbert Forbes promised”: Ibid.
“Forbes said that he could not help it”: Ibid.
“he had enlisted about sixty men”: Ibid.
“Internal secret enemies”: James Thacher, Military Journal During the American Revolution, 1775–1783 (Boston: Richardson & Lord, 1823), 55.
must swear an oath of secrecy: Details about this oath, including the wording, are found in the proceedings of the New York Provincial Congress of May 19, 1776. JPC, 1: 453.
“WHEREAS his Excellency”: Language is from the secret committee’s “Report on Disaffection,” 21 May 1776. CHM, 1: 338–340.
“WHEREFORE, as well out of regard”: Ibid.
In what will be a long and expansive career: One recent biography of John Jay is Walter Stahr’s John Jay: Founding Father (New York: Diversion Books, 2012).
“The encouragements given by Governor Tryon”: GW to John Hancock, 10 Jun 1776, PGWR, 4: 487–489.
two men at Corbie’s begin a conversation: The description of this scene is a composite based on the testimony of William Green on June 26, 1776, before the general court-martial (AA, 6: 1085) and the examination of Gilbert Forbes before the Committee on Conspiracies on June 29, 1776 (CHM, 1: 372).
Mr. Corbie himself: We don’t know definitively that this meeting took place at Corbie’s; however, both the close proximity of Corbie’s to Mortier’s estate and the common use of Corbie’s by Loyalists to hold clandestine meetings make it the likeliest location. Also, we know that Gilbert Forbes has utilized Corbie’s in the past for activities related to Tryon’s plot; for example his swearing in of James Mason and William Benjamin as described in CHM, 1: 344–345.
Part IV: A Most Infernal Plot
arrested and taken to New York City: As documented at the end of Jeremiah Wool’s testimony before the New York Provincial Congress. JPC, 1: 444.
He also presents the physical evidence: The transcripts of Wool’s testimony include mention of the physical evidence he presents to the Congress. Ibid., 443–444.
None of the suspects’ accounts matches another: The bulk of the counterfeiters’ combined testimony before the Provincial Congress, given on May 14 and May 15, 1776, is found in ibid., 443–448.
“Israel Young frequently came to visit”: Henry Dawkins’s examination before the New York Provincial Congress, 14 May 1776. Ibid., 1: 445–446 and 447–448.
“after he … had been a day or two at Cold Spring”: Ibid.
“requested him to do it immediately”: Ibid.
“showed him how to press the bills”: Ibid.
“he never had any hand in counterfeiting money”: Israel Young’s examination before the New York Provincial Congress, 15 May 1776. Ibid., 447.
“that he does not know that Dawkins”: Ibid.
“he did not know that Henry Dawkins was engraving”: Isaac Young’s examination before the New York Provincial Congress, 14 May 1776. Ibid., 446.
“it was a sin”: Ibid.
“had not been concerned”: Isaac Ketcham’s examination before the New York Provincial Congress, 14 May 1776. Ibid., 444.
this little group of a half dozen: The general characterization of the guards in this chapter is derived from the combined testimony of several witnesses and suspects eventually examined by the Committee on Conspiracies or before the general court-martial, including William Green, Gilbert Forbes, James Mason, William Welch, William Forbes, and John Craig.
“five feet six inches high”: Quoted from Washington Irving, The Life of George Washington (New York: William L. Allison Co., 1856–1859), 2: 81.
“a favorite”: Benson J. Lossing, “Washington’s Life Guard,” Historical Magazine 2, no. 5 (May 1858): 131.
They complain about the Continental army: As above, this depiction of Green, Hickey, Lynch, et al. is derived from the combined testimony of multiple witnesses and suspects.
the Continental army under Washington’s personal command: This characterization does not include the failed Battle of Quebec on December 31, 1775, fought by northern detachments of the Continental army under the command of Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler.
One night in the first week of June: This and the coming depiction of Green’s interactions are drawn from his June 26 testimony before the general court-martial (AA, 6: 1085). Gilbert Forbes gives a different version of the meeting (ibid. and also CHM, 1: 372), and also suggests a much earlier date. Forbes’s date is not plausible given the full timeline of events.
“conversation on politicks”: AA, 6: 1085.
“I had repeated conversations with Forbes”: Ibid.
“He invited me to dine with him”: Ibid.
He’s been sent by his boss: The details of William Leary’s story in this chapter are taken from Leary’s examination before the Committee on Conspiracies on June 20, 1776. CHM, 1: 342–343.
“Forbes ran … prevent[s] him from using the said pistol”: Ibid.
James Mason, a part-time miller: James Mason is never questioned regarding this meeting with Leary, so we don’t know his account of it. All details are based on William Leary’s account.
“might see them if he would take an oath”: Ibid.
“go and be qualified”: Ibid.
“intending to decoy them thither”: Ibid.
“they discovered [my] pistols”: Ibid.
“I had no doubt when I left this city”: GW to John Hancock, 10 June 1776, PGWR, 4: 487–489.
On Thursday, June 13: JPC 1: 492.
“diligently, impartially, without fear”: Ibid., 495.
Divided by region, the list includes every person: The “List of Disaffected Persons” is found in CHM, 1: 340–41.
“William Tryon, on board the Ship of War”: Ibid., 340.
“the persons under guard”: JPC, 1: 464.
“WHEREAS it has been represented”: Ibid.
On May 30, two days after: Ibid., 467.
on June 1, authorities apprehend … Philip Young: Ibid., 470.
one from Dawkins and one from … grief-stricken father: The petitions can be found, respectively, in CHM, 1: 296 and 321.
“is injured by the leg irons”: JPC, 1: 481.
a sister of Israel and Isaac Young: JPC, 1: 485.
“deeply impressed with shame and confusion”: Petition of Isaac Ketcham, 9 June 1776, AA, 6: 1410.
“dangerously ill by sore sickness”: Ibid.
With the guards out of earshot: This depiction of events in the cell is based on the combined testimonies of Isaac Ketcham before the New York Provincial Congress on June 17, 1776 (JPC, 1: 497) and his testimony before a general court-martial on June 26, 1776 (AA, 6: 1085–1086).
twenty-six members: This tally and other minor details of the morning’s session are taken from JPC, 1: 496–497.
The first … written more than a week ago: This is Ketcham’s June 9 petition letter described in the previous chapter. AA, 6: 1410.
“I … have something to observe to the honorable House”: Petition of Isaac Ketcham, 16 June 1776, CHM, 1: 325.
On June 9: Some records suggest the congressmen als
o received an earlier letter from Ketcham, supposedly written on June 8 (AA, 6: 1410). This letter states that Ketcham’s coconspirator Israel Young also has a story to share about a plot he learned about in the jail, and that Young specifically requests an audience with John Jay to share it. However, the wording and content of the letter suggest that it has been filed under the wrong date, and was probably written June 18, after Ketcham’s current testimony.
Ketcham’s cryptic request: The congressional records indicate that Ketcham may have also included an additional “memorandum” attached to the June 16 note. If so, the memorandum is now missing. For more on this, see the related endnote below referring to p. 239 of the text.
“Ordered, that the officer commanding the guard”: AA, 6: 1410.
Ketcham answers: It has to do: This depiction of Ketcham’s testimony is based on the congressional transcripts from June 17, 1776, found in JPC, 1: 497. Some emphasis and clarity are also borrowed from Ketcham’s later June 26 testimony on the same subject before the general court-martial, found in AA, 1085–1086.
Ketcham overheard them speaking: The transcript of Ketcham’s testimony is confusing in that they begin with him speaking as if the subject has already been introduced (for example “he had further conversations with the two soldiers”). Our suspicion is that the transcripts missed the opening part of his actual testimony, in which he first reveals what he learned in the jail.
Gilbert … “Horbush”: Ketcham probably misheard “Forbes” to be “Horbush.” As we’ll see, the committee figures out the mistake. In some historical manuscripts (for example AA) the correct spelling is actually printed within Ketcham’s original testimony, ignoring his apparent misstatement.
“piece of paper”: Ibid.
This piece of paper … no longer exists: Elsewhere in the congressional records, there is also a mention of a “memorandum” that Ketcham attached to the letters he originally sent to Congress asking for an audience (CHM, 1:325). This memorandum, like the “piece of paper” alluded to during his testimony, has since gone missing. Our suspicion is that these two documents are one and the same. In other words, Ketcham attached the memorandum to his petition to speak to congress, and then alluded to it during his testimony before them a few days later. The content is likely some sort of list of conspirators that was intended to be sent to the British ships, but that Hickey or Lynch gave to Ketcham instead.