Provincial Convention of New-York

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City of New-York, April, 20, 1775.

The Deputies hereinafter named, from the following Counties, assembled at the Exchange in this City, for the purpose of forming a Provincial Convention, viz:

CITY AND COUNTRY OF NEW-YORK. — Philip Livingston, Esquire, John Alsop, Esquire, James Duane, Esquire, John Jay, Esquire, Colonel Leonard Lispenard, Mr˙ Francis Lewis, Mr˙ Abraham Walton, Mr˙ Isaac Roosevelt, Mr˙ Alexander McDougall, and Mr˙ Abraham Brasher.

CITY AND COUNTRY OR ALBANY. — Colonel Philip Schuyler, Colonel Abraham Ten Broeck, and Abraham Yates, Junior, Esquire.

ULSTER COUNTY. — Charles De Witt, George Clinton, and Levy Pawling, Esquires.

ORANGE COUNTY. — Colonel A˙ Hawkes Hay, Henry Wisner, Esquire, John Herring, Esquire, Mr˙ Peter Clowes, and Mr˙ Israel Seely.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY. — Colonel Lewis Morris, John Thomas, Junior, Esquire, Robert Graham, Esquire, Major Philip Van Cortlandt, Samuel Drake, Esquire, and Mr˙ Stephen Ward.

DUTCHESS COUNTY. — Colonel Morris Graham, Major Robert R˙ Livingston, Junior, and Egbert Benson, Esquire.

KING' S COUNTY. — Simon Boerum, Esquire, Captain Richard Stillwell, Mr˙ Theodorus Polhemus, Mr˙ Denice Denice, and Mr˙ John Vanderbilt.

SUFFOLK COUNTY. — Colonel William Floyd, Colonel Nathaniel Woodhull, Colonel Phineas Fanning, Thomas Tredwell, Esquire, and John Sloss Hobart, Esquire.

NEW-TOWN AND FLUSHING, IN QUEEN' S COUNTY. — Colonel Jacob Blackwell and Mr˙ John Talman.

The Convention unanimously chose Philip Livingston, Esquire, to be their President.

Ordered, That the sense of this Convention, upon every question, be taken and determined by the majority of the votes of the Counties here represented.

That the votes of the City and County of New-York be considered as four; the City and County of Albany as three; and that of each of the other Counties, respectively, as two; and that this arrangement shall not, upon any future occasion, be drawn into precedent.

The Convention then unanimously elected John McKesson, Esquire, to be their Secretary.

The Deputies of the City and County of New-York produced the poll-lists Taken the fifteenth day of March last, in each Ward of the said City, certified under the hands of the Vestrymen of the respective Wards, and others before whom they were taken, by which if appears that Philip Livingston, John Alsop, James Duane, John Jay, Leonard Lispenard, Esquires, Messrs˙ Francis Lewis, Abraham Walton, Isaac Roosevelt, Alexander McDougall, and Abraham Brasher, all now present, together with Mr˙ Isaac Low, who is not present, were elected by a very great majority of voices to be the Deputies of the said City and County of New-York, for the sole purpose of appointing Delegates to attend the next Continental Congress, to meet at Philadelphia, on the 10th day of May next.

Colonel Philip Schuyler, Colonel Abraham Ten Broeck, and Abraham Yates, Junior, Esquire, produced a Certificate subscribed by John N˙ Bleecker, Clerk of the Committee of Correspondence for the City and County of Albany, certifying that they, together with Colonel Peter R˙ Livingston and Walter Livingston, Esquire, were unanimously, elected by the said Committee, (which Committee was expressly empowered for that purpose,) as Deputies for the City and County of Albany, to attend the Provincial Convention to be held in the City of New-York on this day, for the purpose of choosing Delegates to represent this Colony in the next Continental Congress, to meet at Philadelphia, on the 10th day of May next, which Certificate bears date at Albany on the twenty-first day of March last past; and being read and accepted, is filed with the Secretary.

Charles De Witt, George Clinton, and Levy Pawling, Esquires, produced a Certificate bearing date the seventh

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The Convention then adjourned to 5 o' clock, P˙ M.

Five o' clock, P˙ M˙, April 20, 1773.

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

CITY AND COUNTY OR NEW-YORK. — Philip Livingston, Esquire, President, Messrs, Francis Lewis, Alexander McDougall, Abraham Brasher, John Jay, Esquire, Leonard Lispenard, Esquire, Messrs˙ Isaac Roosevelt, and Abraham Walton.

CITY AND COUNTY OF ALBANY. — Abraham Yates, Junior, Esquire, Colonel Philip Schuyler, and Colonel Abraham Ten Broeck.

ULSTER COUNTY. — Charles De Witt, George Clinton, and Levy Pawling, Esquires.

ORANGE COUNTY. — Colonel A˙ Hawkes Hay, Henry Wisner, Esquire, John Herring, Esquire, Mr˙ Peter Clowes,, and Mr˙ Israel Seely.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY. — Colonel Lewis Morris, John Thomas, Junior, Esquire, Robert, Graham, Esquire, Major Philip Van Cortlandt, Samuel Drake, Esquire, and Mr˙ Stephen Ward.

DUTCHESS COUNTY. — Colonel Morris Graham, Major Robert R˙ Livingston, Junior, and Egbert Benson, Esquire.

KING' S COUNTY. — Simon Boerum, Theodorus Polhemus, Esquires, and Mr˙ John Vanderbilt.

SUFFOLK COUNTY. — Colonel William Floyd, Colonel Nathaniel Woodhull, John Sloss Hobart, Esquire, Thomas Tredwell, Esquire, and Colonel Phineas Fanning.

FLUSHING AND JAMAICA, IN QUEEN' S COUNTY. — Mr˙ John Talman and Mr˙ Joseph Robinson.

The Deputies for Orange County produced here several Credentials from the respective Towns and Precincts in that County, in substance as follows, to wit: A Certificate signed by Gilbert Cooper, Clerk, setting forth that at a Town-Meeting of the Precinct of Haverstraw, in the said County of Orange,, held at the New-City, on Tuesday, the fourth day of April, instant, it was —

Resolved, 1st. That that meeting did highly approve of a Convention of Deputies from the different Counties, to meet at the City of New-York, on this day, for the purpose of choosing Delegates for the next Continental Congress, to be held at Philadelphia in the month of May next, as the most effectual means to promote the honour and happiness of the Colony, and to unite the Colony in the common cause, for the preservation of our rights and liberties; and,

2dly. That it was then and there resolved that Colonel A˙ Hawkes Hay should be, and was thereby appointed a Deputy to represent that Precinct at such Provincial

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Secondly. The same gentlemen, Deputies for Orange County, produced a Certificate signed by Daniel Everett, Precinct Clerk of the Precinct of Goshen, in the said County, certifying, that at an annual Town-Meeting held at Goshen, in and for the Precinct of Goshen, on Tuesday, the fourth day of April instant, it was moved, and unanimously voted in the affirmative, that Henry Wisner and Peter Clowes, Esquire' s, be appointed Deputies for the said Precinct of Goshen, to meet such other Deputies as should be appointed by other parts of the Colony, in a Provincial Convention, to be held in the City of New-York on this day, for the purpose of electing Delegates for the next Continental Congress, to be held at Philadelphia on the tenth day of May next.

Thirdly. The said Deputies for Orange County produced a Certificate subscribed by Thomas Outwater, Town Clerk, setting forth that a meeting of the Freeholders of the Town of Orange, in Orange County, was held at the house of Jost Mabee, in the said Town, on the 17th day of April instant, agreeable to notice given, and request made by publick advertisements for that purpose. That the freeholders then and there assembled, took into consideration the necessity of their being duly and properly represented in the Provincial Convention, to be held at the City of New-York on this twentieth day of April, for the purpose of electing and appointing Delegates to represent this Colony of New-York in the next Continental Congress, to be held in the City of Philadelphia on the tenth day of May next. That the question was put, Whether the Freeholders there assembled should send a Deputy to represent the said Town of Orange at this Convention? And that the same was carried in the affirmative. And therein also setting forth and certifying, that it was thereupon voted and ordered, that John Herring, Esquire, should be a Deputy for the said Town of Orange, to represent the said Town in this Convention; and that he act and vote on behalf of the inhabitants thereof, in all such matters and things as should, by the said Convention, be taken into consideration.

Lastly. The said Deputies from Orange County produced a Certificate signed by Jesse Woodhull, Esquire, setting forth, that at an annual meeting of the Freeholders and inhabitants of the Precinct of Cornwall, in the said County, held at the house of John Brewster, in Bloominggrove, on the fourth day of April instant, the said Jesse Woodhull, Esquire, was chosen Moderator. That the said Freeholders then proceeded to take into consideration a Letter from the Committee of the City and County of New-York, signed by Isaac Low, their Chairman, recommending the choosing of Deputies for the several Counties in this Colony, to meet in Provincial Convention at the City of New-York, on this twentieth day of April, for the solo purpose of choosing Delegates to represent this Colony in the next Continental Congress, to be held at Philadelphia on the tenth day of May next ensuing. That it was then proposed to the said Freeholders, whether the subject-matter of the said Letter should be taken into consideration immediately, or postponed to another day; and that debates arising thereon, and the question being put, it was voted by a large majority, that the subject-matter of the said Letter should be considered immediately. That it was then proposed to the said Freeholders, whether a Deputy should be sent from that Precinct to this Convention, or not? And that debates arising thereon, and the question being put, it was carried in the affirmative by a large majority.

And the said Certificate sets forth and certifies, that Mr˙ Israel Seely was then and there chosen as one of the Deputies of that County for the purposes aforesaid.

And all the said Credentials and Certificates produced by the said Deputies for Orange County being read and approved of, and accepted by this Convention, are filed with the Secretary.

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Colonel Lewis Morris, Mr˙ Stephen Ward, Samuel Drake, Esquire, John Thomas, Junior, Esquire, Robert Graham, Esquire, and Major Philip Van Cortlandt, the Deputies from Westchester County, produced Credentials bearing date at the White-Plains, in Westchester County, on the eleventh day of April instant, signed by Lewis Morris, Chairman, therein reciting and setting forth, that on the twenty-eighth day of March last past, a number of gentlemen therein particularly named, from different Districts in the County of Westchester, having received Letters from the Chairman of the Committee of the City and County of New-York relative to the appointment of Deputies for the County of Westchester, to this Convention, met at the White-Plains aforesaid, for the purpose of devising means to take the sense of the people of the County upon the subject. That they had sent Letters of Notification to the principal Freeholders in the different Towns and Districts in the County, acquainting them that they had then met to consider of the most proper method to obtain the sense of the Freeholders of the County upon the expediency of choosing Deputies to meet the Deputies of the other Counties, for the purpose of electing Delegates to represent this Colony in the Continental Congress, to be held at Philadelphia on the tenth day of May next; and therein recommending a general meeting of the Freeholders of the said County, to be held at the White Plains, on Tuesday, the eleventh day of April instant, at ten of the clock in the forenoon, at the Court-House; and therein and thereby requesting each such principal Freeholder to give notice of the said meeting to all the Freeholders in his District, without exception, as those who did not appear and vote on that day, would be presumed to acquiesce in the sentiments of the majority of those who should vote. And therein also further setting forth and certifying, that such notices as aforesaid had been generally given and distributed; and that a very numerous body of the Freeholders of the County had assembled at the Court-House at the White-Plains, on the said eleventh day of April instant, in pursuance thereof, and chose Colonel Lewis Morris for their Chairman. That an inconsiderable number of persons, (among whom were many tenants not entitled to a vote,) with Isaac Wilkins, Esquire, and Colonel Philipse at their head, then appeared; and Mr˙ Wilkins, in their behalf, as he said, declared that they would not join in the business of the day, or have any thing to do with Deputies or Congresses; but that they came there for the sole purpose of protesting against such illegal and unconstitutional proceedings; after which they departed.

That the following question was then put to the Freeholders by the Chairman, viz: Whether they would appoint Deputies for the County of Westchester, to meet the Deputies of the other Counties at the City of New-York, on the twentieth day of April then instant, for the purpose of electing Delegates to represent this Colony in the General Congress to be held at Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next? That the Freeholders then there met unanimously answered in the affirmative; and thereupon appointed the said Colonel Lewis Morris, Mr˙ Stephen Ward, Samuel Drake, Esquire, John Thomas, Junior, Esquire, Robert Graham, Esquire, and Major Philip Van Cortlandt, together with Colonel James Holmes and Jonathan Platt, Esquire, or the majority of them, to be the Deputies of the said County of Westchester, for the purposes aforesaid.

The same Credentials being read and heard, and accepted by this Convention, are now filed with the Secretary.

The Deputies for King' s County produced here proceedings of a meeting of the several Committees chosen by the Freeholders of the Townships of Flatbush, Brookland, Bushwick, New-Utrecht, and Gravesend, held at the County Hall, in Flatbush, in King' s County, on the fifteenth day of April instant, for the purpose of choosing Deputies to meet with the Deputies from the other Counties, at New-York, on the twentieth day of April instant, to choose Delegates to attend the Continental Congress, to be held at Philadelphia on the tenth day of May next. The said proceedings, certified by Abraham Van Ranst, Clerk to the said several large and respectable Committees

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And the same certified proceedings being now read and heard and accepted, and approved of by this Convention, are filed with the Secretary.

The Deputies for Suffolk County produced a Certificate, signed by Robert Hempsted, Chairman, at a meeting of the Committees from the different Towns in the County of Suffolk, held at the County Hall, on the sixth day of April instant, certifying that it was then and there unanimously voted and agreed, that Colonel William Floyd, Colonel Nathaniel Woodhull. Colonel Phineas Fanning, Thomas Tredwell, and John Sloss Hobart, Esquires, all now present, together with Thomas Wickham, Esquire, were then and there appointed Deputies, on the part and behalf of that County, to meet the Deputies of New-York and the other Counties within this Colony in a Provincial Convention at the City of New-York, on the 20th day of April instant, (as recommended in a Letter from the Chairman of the Committee in the said City,) there to unite with the other Deputies in appointing Delegates to attend the Continental Congress at Philadelphia or elsewhere, in May next. And thereby also farther certifying that the said Deputies were thereby empowered to unite with the other Deputies in Provincial Convention in entering into such Resolves, and giving such Instructions to the Delegates that shall be there chosen, as in their judgment shall tend to the preservation of the rights and liberties of America, and to restore harmony between Great Britain and the Colonies.

And the said certified proceedings and appointments being read and heard, and accepted by this Convention, are now filed with the Secretary.

The Convention then proceeded to make an Order, in the words following, to wit;

It having been reported that Mr˙ Isaac Low, who appears to have been elected one of the Deputies for the City and County of New-York, and has not attended, does not intend to act in that capacity; and as the Convention are restrained in the appointment of Delegates to the persons of whom it is composed,

Ordered, That the Secretary wait upon Mr˙ Low, and request the favour of him to inform the Convention whether they are to consider him as one of their Members.

The Convention then adjourned to ten o' clock to-morrow morning.