the measures of the Continental Congress or of the Congress of this Colony.

ARCH. HAMILTON.

John Yates, of the Wallkill Precinct, in Ulster County, labourer, being sworn, saith: That early in this last spring Absalom Bull, one of deponent’s neighbours, came to him and told him he was but a poor man, and that, if he would go with the said Bull, he would make a gentleman of this deponent. That this deponent asked him how. He replied that if this deponent would go and serve the King for three years, or to the end of the American war if that should sooner happen, this deponent should have two hundred acres of land on the frontiers. That deponent said it was very uncertain, for he did not see how he was to get a warranty deed for it; but if he could get a warranty deed for two hundred acres of land, he did not know but he might engage. On this they parted. That for many days repeatedly after that, the said Absalom Bull, together with Isaac Waugh and Richard Bull, came to this deponent and pressed him to enter into the King’s service, but the deponent put them off. That they afterwards went, as they informed this deponent, on board the man-of-war, and when they returned, brought him a letter from Governour Tryon, informing this deponent that if he would come on board his ship and pilot the men-of-war up the North River, he would give this deponent a dollar a day and five pounds a foot for every foot that the vessel he piloted drew more than twenty feet, and should have two hundred acres of land at the determination of the American war; and that Ireland, Scotland and Wales had all united with England to subdue America. That this deponent had, till within a few years last past, been a sea-faring man, and was well acquainted with the navigation of the North River, which was well known to his said neighbours, and, as this deponent believes, was by them made known to Governour Tryon. That this deponent afterwards received two other letters, of the like import, from Governour Tryon. That about six weeks ago this deponent, together with the said Absalom Bull, Richard Bull, and Isaac Waugh, travelled from their homes down through Westchester County to White-Stone Ferry, where they crossed over to Long-Island, and thence to Hempstead, and went to the house of one Simonson, a tavern-keeper, in that town; that they went from thence to the house of Captain Hulet, where they all lodged; that the next morning this deponent’s companions went off from Rockaway in an oyster-boat that plied between that coast and the ships, and supplied them with provisions, as he was informed and believed; that they desired this deponent to go with them, but this deponent being sick, and not much inclined to go on board, said he would wait at Captain Hulet’s till their return; that after three days they all returned to this deponent at Captain Hulet’s, aforesaid, and that Colonel Fanning, the Governour’s Secretary, came with them; that the said Colonel Fanning was well known to this deponent, he having often seen him, and this deponent having been a mariner in Captain Hunter’s ship, which brought the Colonel from England; that at present this deponent did not know Colonel Fanning, he being disguised in the dress of a common labouring man, but on taking this deponent aside he made himself known to him, whereupon this deponent immediately recollected his face and person; that he asked this deponent to go on board with him; this deponent answered that he was too sick to go; that then the Colonel told him that if he could not go then, he must come down when the fleet arrived, and that they would send this deponent a letter to inform him of it, to which this deponent agreed. That Colonel Fanning told him New-York was to be the seat of war; that some of the fleet would run round into the Sound, and land troops on Long-Island; that another division would land on the south side and hoist the King’s standard; and that all the men that engaged to serve the King should come to Long-Island and join them, and that cannon was already provided in different parts of Long-Island, and that there were then three field-pieces and a mortar-piece under the floor of the barn of the said Simonson. The said Colonel Fanning also told this deponent that they should want him to pilot vessels of war up the North River, and that the Savage, Phenix, and Shuldan (which, he believes, was formerly the Rhode-Island packet) were designed for that service. That the Colonel desired this deponent to bring all the provisions he could on board the ships, and that he should receive the following prices for them, viz: five pounds a barrel for salt pork, one shilling per pound for gammons, eighteen pence per pound for butter, and a good price for fowls, eggs, &c, and then gave this deponent a paper (now delivered) with a seal on it, and the letters W. T. on the back of it, and told this deponent that it would serve him as a pass to go by all the men-of-war and cruisers unmolested. That Colonel Fanning further told this deponent that Absalom Bull, aforesaid, had inlisted a great many men, and desired this deponent to do the like, but this deponent declined it. That this deponent knows John Clarke, a painter; that he saw him in this town about a fortnight ago; that he told this deponent he was going on board the ships, and requested this deponent to go with him, which this deponent refused; that he advised this deponent to engage to fight for the King, and said the Americans would be beat. That the aforesaid Absalom Bull this spring showed this deponent a list of persons whom he had inlisted for the King’s service; that the said Absalom told this deponent that there were two hundred names on it, which this deponent really believes to be true, but this deponent does not remember the names of any of them, except Richard Bull, Alexander Scadden, James Scadden, Isaac Waugh, John Clarke, (the painter aforesaid,) Jewel Smith, and one Seely, of a place in Orange County called Oxford. That Absalom Bull aforesaid was to be a Captain, and had a commission for it from Governour Tryon, which he showed to this deponent, and that it was written on parchment, and a great seal hanging to it, but that this deponent did not read it. The said Absalom Bull further said, that all the men so inlisted for the King’s service were to join the fleet when it arrived, and that all who did not, would be treated as deserters from the King’s service.

Sworn the 24th June, 1776, before us:

To Captain ABEEL, of Colonel LASHER’S Battalion :

SIR: Whereas —— Simerson, of the Township of Hempstead, in Queen’s County, Inn-keeper, stands charged with dangerous designs and treasonable conspiracies against the rights and liberties of America, and that for the perpetration of such wicked designs and conspiracies he hath divers cannon and other implements of war now concealed: We therefore, by virtue of the power and authority unto us given by a resolve of the Congress of this Colony of the 20th of June instant, do authorize, and require you to cause to be apprehended and secured the said —— Simerson, with all his papers, and to make search for and take all cannon and other implements of war whatsoever in his house, barn, and outhouses; and that return be made to us of the manner in which this warrant shall be executed, in order that the same may be made known to the said Congress.

Given under our hands this 24th day of June, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present—John Jay, Esq., Chairman; Mr. Philip Livingston, Mr. Hobart, Colonel Graham, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Morris, and Mr. Gansevoort.

Mr. Hobart and Colonel Graham reported a draft of a Warrant to be issued against such persons of equivocal character as may neglect or refuse to appear on summons; which being read, amended, and agreed to, is in the words following, to wit:

To. .. . . . . . . . :

Whereas the Congress of the Colony of New-York, on the 5th day of June instant, did pass certain resolutions, reciting, among other things, that ‘whereas there are in this Colony divers persons who, by reason of their holding offices from the King of Great Britain —from their having neglected or refused to associate with their fellow-citizens for the defence of their common rights—from their having never manifested, by their conduct, a zeal for, and an attachment to, the American cause—or from their having maintained an equivocal neutrality, have been considered by their countrymen in a suspicious light, —whereby it hath become necessary,