Minutes, 1776 Dec. 11-1778 Sept. 23 | WorldCat.org (original) (raw)

Summary:Meeting minutes of the New York Committee for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies, 1776 Dec 11-1777 Jan., and the Commission for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies, 1777 Feb. 15.-1778 Sept 23. Minutes document the activities of both committees, including the apprehension and examination of suspected Loyalists; tendering of the oath of allegiance to the Continental cause; the confinement, deportation, or relocation of prisoners; supervision of parolees; recording of depositions related to charges of treason; and the active administration of secret service employees engaged in the investigation and arrest of persons suspected of rendering aid to the British. Original committee members included William Duer, Charles DeWitt, John Jay, Leonard Gansevoort, Zephaniah Platt, and Nathaniel Sackett. The succeeding Commission consisted of members Egbert Benson, Jacobus Swartout, and Melancton Smith. Entire contents published and indexed in v. 57-58 of the Collection of the New-York Historical Society, 1924-1925