The Public Letters of George Clinton

The following are letters found inThe Public Papers of George Clinton. Clinton was Governor of New York during the American Revolution.

No. 2873

The Field Officers of Van Woert's Regiment
Submit a Grievance

Cambridge, May 6th 1780

To his Excellency George Clinton Esqr. Gov'r &c. &c.

Sir, It is with the deepest Concern that we find ourselves urged by necessity to Represent to your Excellency upon what a Scene of past misfortunes has made our present Grievance.

Prior to which Grievance we would beg Leave with the most profound respect to Submit to your Excellency's Consideration the following Introductive reasons: Since the time of our return home, after being drove off by the Enemy, we have been under Standing Orders to repair upon the Shortest notice to the frontiers; these Orders we have Punctually Obeyed, Chearfully exerting ourselves upon every appearance of danger; not even upon Such occasions regarding the most pressing calls of necessity to continue at home to provide for our families.

We have likewise borne our proportion in Publick Drafts for Campaine Service, in Detachments, and in Taxation with the other parts of the State. All which assistance we readily afforded, tho distressing in our broken Circumstances. So that the Product of these years past has been nothing less than an unabated Struggle betwixt the Enemy, and Domestick necessity.

In the month of April past we received Orders to List and Equip every thirty-fifth man for the Ensuing Campaine to be posted as frontier Guards, than which nothing could be more to our minds. It was, therefore, Cordially Complied with, and Speedily Executed, hoping by this means to relieve ourselves from the Insupportable burden of Detachments.

But now, Contrary to our Expectation, and what we consider as a Grievance, we are ordered to raise one Eighth part of our Militia, and to provide them with Arms, Ammunition, and Provision; to take post upon the frontiers, and to be continued by Relieving. Now, tho we think it most Necessary that the Frontiers be well guarded, as Some of the Inhabitants are already moving, and we must Soon if not defended, to the now Interior parts of the State will upon a few removes more become the frontier, yet in our present Situation, we are able neither to Raise nor Equip them.

As to Arms they might be provided, but for Amunition it is out of our Power to procure; for tho an Article of the Act for Regulating the Militia Points out how Amunition is to be obtained, yet we are altogether unable to Purchase it.

As to Provision, it is Absolutely out of our Power to to Victual ourselves upon the frontiers, and leave Sufficient to Support our families at home. This Sir is our Grievance for the Consideration and redress of which we most humbly Implore your Excellency.

That your Excellency may long Enjoy the peacable Government of this State, is for what we shall ever pray.

Lewis Van Woert Colonel; John Blair Lt. Colonel; Jam's Ashton Major

No. 3003

Certificates of Good Behavior for
Captain John McKillip

Cambridge District, March 6th 1780

The Depositions of Leut. Andrew Thomson, James McKillips, and Thomas Stark, relative to a conversation that happen'd about ye beginning of November last between Capt. John McKillips & John Dunlop.

Lieut. Thomson deposeth that he cannot remember to have heard Capt. John McKillips calling John Blair (of the Sixteenth Regiment Albany County Militia) or Major James Ashton, Rogues at the affores'd Conversation.

James McK. Deposeth that heath not heard Capt. John McKillips call Coll. John Blair or Major Ashton afors'd Rogues or any other thing worse than their own names at s'd Conversation.

Thom's Stark Deposeth that at said Conversation he hath not heard, as he remembers, the words rogue or rogues mentioned at all, and said Deponent farth say not.

Duly Sworn before me the Day & year above writt'n.

Edw. Rigg

White Creek June the 21 1780

I Dow hearby Sartify that Capt. John McCallips is a Trow frand [true friend] to the Countrey and to my knowledg has in Defens of Con [country] aver axerted him salf, sins he wos a nofaser [an officer] in the millishay as [ms. obscure] we know; to houm Et may Consarn:

Alex'r Webster, Colo.

Joseph McCraken, Mgr.

George Gillmore, Capt.

William Brown, Capt.

Gershom Woodworth, Left.

Edward Long, Capt.

Andrew Thomson, Liet.

Hugh Thomson, Ensign

John McClung, Lt.

Cambredg 1780 June the 22: to whome it may consern: that Johen Meckcelp has Ben a capten in my Regement from the Beginning of our contest and so on and it has allwase Ben my apenyoun from hes Behavear thet he is a good wege [Whig] and frend of our contere, and am of the same appenyoun stell.

Leavis Vanwoert, Colonel

Peter Yates, Coll.

No. 3647

John Younglove's Letter Covering
Proceedings in Vermont

Cambridge, 18 April 1781

Honired Sir, I take the Liberty to enclose you a paper which accidentally fell into my hand yesterday but without the design of some of our people who now take the lead here about matters relitive to s'd paper. Mr. Ira Allen & others has bean taken much pains threw the different destricts around us; the People or many of them are in grate disorder; they have had many meetings on the subject of joining the people of the Grants. A Convention of Committees from different destricts meats here today on the subject. A trustee from hear has just returned home from over the mountain. I have bean at but one of the meetings & then advised the people to be cairful of their conduct. I am told that Mr. Whitesid & Col. Blair are much in favor of the plan & as near as I can find about one hundred more of the others also. You will pleas, sir, not to let this came abroad, for if our people should find that I am buisy agains the plan, it would be high treason & cost me some troble as they are very zealos. A line of direction by the bearer, James Colter, wold much oblige, sire, your very humble sarvent.

John Younglove

To Robert Yates, Esqr.

No. 3780

John Younglove's Complaint
Regarding Conditions in Vermont
- Governor Clinton Replies

Cambridge, 20th June 1781

May it Pleas Your Excellency, I received your Excelencys Letter on the eavening of the very day the Pretended Convention met. I had just been warning them of their danger & after receiving your Excelencys Letter, Repeated it again. Informing them of the Letter & even went so far as to warn them to disperce & make no father atemts, telling them they Might yet expect Mercy; they still percisted. I also went to the Committee from Vermont had one hour's conference. Desired them to desist & make no more Disturbance, As we had troble anuff; matters still went on; the first convention fel (?) at was the final Abolishment of their alegiance to the State of New York. Then on Articles of Union with Vermont; then sat up advertisements for a day of meating of the people. The gratest part that met voted in favor of the articles; then proceeded to the Election of Members of Assembley to set at Vermont. Mr. Whitesid & one Coldwell Were chosen & have taken their seats. As your Excelency Directed me to make returns of their proceedings as soon as I cold get coppeys of their papers, I proceeded to Poughkipsey & found your Excellency was gone to the Highlands (to my grate sorrow); however, I left My papers with the Atturney General to be forwarded to your Excelency. I have (as well as others) strove to keep the people to their aleagiance but many have swarved. We are now as near as I can gess about half & half almost at swordspoints. Col. Blair promised the Vermonters he would pruve true to them & as yet has bean so; he has not regarded the General orders he has received from time to time this spring; once he called his Captains together & ordered them to Class the Men, in order to Rais the 20th, at the same time told them it was not worth while to Regard the orders, for we were going to join Vermont; however, some of the People Raised the men & he would nither receive or forward them; these things and many more I am Ready to prove. At two different times I have in person called on Major Ashton to act in his office and take the Command as Blair would not. He always said he was willing but he had no people. I told him I was well asured there was two thirds would obey him, Yet he wold never make the attempt. So that we are now in the Greatest confution. those that still adheairs to their alegiance, has resolved never to submit until It is the order of Congress. Their is also grate devision in Vermont so that unless some speady relief is granted, we in all probability shall have mornful times. The Barer, Fenner Palmer, one of the Justices of the District of Hosack, is now wateing to give your Excelency a much more perticular account than what I can do in writing. If you Excelency would favor me with some direction for our future conduct It might be of Enfinate service here. I have the honor to be Your Exelencys humble serv't.

John Younglove

To his Exelency George Clinckton Esq.

N.B. We have In company with this Petitioned the Legislature for Relief.

Governor Clinton's Reply

Sir, I rec'd your Letter of the 20th ulto. previous to which I had the Papers you formerly transmitted me with such others as I had Rec'd respect'g the conduct of the People of the Grants and other misguided subjects of the State in your vicinity, before the Legislature. Their present Session however is so near it experation that having their attention engaged with matters of the greatest public importance I am in Doubt whether they will no do anything conclusive and effectual in this business. If they do I will apprize you of it immediately after rising. If they do not I can only advise you to persevere & encourage a firm and steady alegiance to this State, avoiding altercation whcih might interrupt an exertion agt the Common Enemy, patiently waiting for a Period which I firmly hope is not far distant when we shall be in a situation to extend just authority & Jurisdiction of our State over all its subjects.

Pokeepsie 29 June 1781

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