In Committee of Safety, New-York, January 29, 1776

SIR: We have obtained evidence against Josiah Burrell, William Hains, James Hains, Jun., Thomas Hains, (sons of James Hains,) Isaac Gidney, the blacksmith, and Joseph Purdy, that they have been concerned in spiking up the cannon near Williams's.

We request you to have all those persons apprehended, and sent here under a proper guard. We send you this by express, to prevent delay, or any of them having a longer opportunity to escape.

We are, respectfully, sir, your most obedient servants.

By order of the Committee.

To Colonel Joseph Drake.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted by Sampson Dyckman, as an express.

A draft of a Letter to the Officer of the Guard at the Cannon, at King's Bridge, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

SIR; You are hereby requested to apprehend Isaac Valentine, the blacksmith, with his servant or journeyman, and all the men which belong to his family, and send them down to this Committee to be examined. Endeavour to have them prevented from having any conversation with each other after they are apprehended, or on the way to New-York.

We are, respectfully, sir, your very humble servants.

By order of the Committee.

To the Officer commanding the Guard at the Cannon, near King's Bridge.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted by Sampson Dyckman.

Die Martis, 10 ho. A. M., January 30, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present; Colonel McDougall, Colonel Brasher, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Sands, Mr. Clarke.

George Shannon was brought before the Committee with a number of Proclamations, and Papers, and Pamphlets, which, he says, he received of Governour Tryon. He says he lives at Dover, in Dutchess County; that a horse was stolen from one Ross, in Dutches County; that they came to look for the horse; that the Govenour gave him the Pamphlets, and King's Speech and Proclamation, to take to the country.

. . . . . . . . . . . Ross. That they were in pursuit of a thief who stole a horse; that they supposed the thief was on board of the, men-of-war; that the thief stole oxen and sold them, and went off to New-York; that a horse of his brother is since stole, they suppose by the fame thief; that they came to search after the horse and thief; supposed that the thief was on board the King's ships; that, they asked if there was any harm to goon board, and was informed there was not; that they went on board, and waited till they had an opportunity to see the Governour and inquire if he knew any person who had come on board of his or the other ships, who had stole a horse; that he did not receive any papers of the Governour; that Governour Tryon inquired how the people stood affected in the County where he lived. That he is to bear the expense of Shannon.

John Buchanan and Nicholas Carmer were examined. Thereupon, the said George Shannon and Ross were discharged, and their papers redelivered to them.

Captain John Sands, from Cow-Neck, informed the Committee that Jacob Mod, who had made his submission to this Committee of Safety, and been restored, was taken into custody and detained by Colonel Heard, and is now under bonds of five hundred Pounds, and his arms demanded. The Committee are of opinion that it is not good policy to use those severities to Jacob Molt, unless he has misbehaved since his restoration.

Thereupon, a draft of a Letter to Colonel Heard was read, and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Committee of Safety, New-York, January 30, 1776.

SIR: Jacob Molt, of Queen's County, who, by the resolves of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, was advertised, and put out of protection, made his submission to this Committee, acknowledged his contrition for his past conduct, and engaged to behave amicably to the cause of his country. Whereupon, he was publickly restored to his former standing, during his good behaviour.

We have not the least information that the said Jacob Mott has, by any means, forfeited the protection of his country, or swerved from his engagements, since his restoration. In our opinion, sound policy dictates the most tender treatment of a reformed penitent.

We are informed that the said Jacob Mott has been in custody, and is under bonds to you. We request, sir, that the said Jacob Mott may be released, and permitted to retain his arms, unless you should find that he has forfeited his late engagement, and that the said Jacob Mott may be treated with as much lenity as you, in your prudence, may conceive to be consistent with your duty and instructions, with which we would by no means be thought to interfere, in any article whatever.

We are, respectfully, sir, your most obedient servants.

To Colonel Heard.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and carried to the Chairman, to be read and signed, and transmitted by Captain John Sands.

3 ho. P. M., January 30, 1776.

Present: Colonel McDougall, Colonel Brasher, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Sands.

A Letter from Jonathan Blake, commanding the Cannon Guard beyond King's Bridge, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"The Guard at the Liberty-Pole, January 29, 1776.

"GENTLEMEN: According to your desire, I have sent down (Mr. Valentine and son, and journeyman, under guard of seven men, and should be glad of a small reinforcement, as the duty of the men is very hard, on account of their numbers.

"I am, with the greatest respect, your humble servant,

"JONATHAN BLAKE.

"To Joseph Hallett, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Safety, New-York."

Ordered, That all the said persons be brought before this Committee for examination.

Isaac Valentine, being brought before the Committee to be examined, says, that he lives in Westchester County; that the guns lie about four hundred or five hundred yards from his house, in a field; that he does not know whether his son, or servant, was at home on last Wednesday night a week; that, on a Sunday, his brother, who lives neat the guns, informed him that, if he had been at his house last night, he would have heard musick, and informed him that he; heard the guns every now and then ring, sometimes at one end of the parcel of guns, and sometimes at the other; that he knows William Lownsberry; did not see him, or Joshua Gidney, at his house that night; does not know who spiked the guns; that John Williams came, down to his house, and informed him that the guns at Williams's were spiked up; that, at his request, they went to the guns in his field, and found them spiked.

William Dickin; Says he is an Englishman; lives with Isaac Valentine; was at home on last Wednesday night a week; had not a light at one or two o'clock, that night; that he sleeps in the old house, now called the kitchen; that he thinks Mr. Valentine's son was at home that night; did not see any persons come in there late; that his young master says a drover came to their house, and first told him the guns at Williams's were spiked up.

Isaac Valentine, Jun.: That he has not signed the Association, but is hearty in the cause of his country; does not know William Lownsberry; has seen Joshua Gidney but once, to his knowledge; was at home last Wednesday night a week; does not know what light was in the house; Knows nothing about spiking up the guns; that the guns are two hundred and fifty yards from his father's house; that a drover, from New-England, first told him, in an evening, that the guns were spiked; that, next morning, John Williams came down, and informed his father that the guns near his house were spiked; that they went and founds them spiked.