Tryon County Committee of Safety
Encyclopedia
Prior to the American Revolution the colonies formed Committees of Safety
to represent the interests of their respective communities. They determined civil cases, officered and organized the militia, arrested and tried suspicious persons, some of whom they fined, and others they imprisoned. Ordered that no person should come into or go out of the county without a pass from some acknowledged public body.
The Tryon County, New York
Committee of Safety was formed on August 27, 1774 and was an extralegal body which was the de facto
government of Tryon County until 1778. Its first chairman was Christopher Yates. In August, 1774 they drafted a document protesting the British naval blockade of Boston harbor. They held 16 of their 31 meetings in the home of Goshen Van Alstyne in Canajoharie, New York.
The New York Provincial Congress
convened in May, 1775 and on June 11, 1775 Christopher Yates, John Marlett and John Moore were appointed deputies for Tryon County.
In January, 1776 Isaac Paris Chairman of the Committee of Safety sent a letter to General Schulyer that six or seven hundred Loyalists had gathered and were under arms at Johnstown. In May 1776, the committee instructed its representatives in the New York Provincial Congress
to vote for independence.
At the Battle of Oriskany
, Samuel Billington, John Dygert, and Jacob Snell, members of the Tryon County Committee of Safety were killed. After this battle, radicals led by Moses Younglove and Isaac Paris controlled the committee. The radicals continued to imprison suspected Loyalists. They imprisoned Peter Bellinger and other Patriots who refused to sell wheat to the committee at a price below market value. They encouraged Oneida Indians to attack and burn suspected Loyalists. In March 1778, General Schuyler warned the committee to stop, but by then most of the Loyalists had fled.
The authority of the Tryon County, New York
Committee of Safety
was superseded by the New York
state legislature on February 7, 1778. In March 1778, Isaac Paris was elected to the New York Assembly. In the spring, the state legislature abolished all committees in New York in favor of "Commissioners of Conspiracy" appointed by the governor. The committee of safety last met on April 21, 1778.
Committee of Safety (American Revolution)
Many Committees of Safety were established throughout Colonial America at the start of the American Revolution. These committees started to appear in the 1760s as means to discuss the concerns of the time, and often consisted of every male adult in the community...
to represent the interests of their respective communities. They determined civil cases, officered and organized the militia, arrested and tried suspicious persons, some of whom they fined, and others they imprisoned. Ordered that no person should come into or go out of the county without a pass from some acknowledged public body.
The Tryon County, New York
Tryon County, New York
Tryon County, New York was a county in the colonial Province of New York in the British American colonies. It was created from Albany County on March 24, 1772. It was named for William Tryon, the last provincial governor of New York. Its boundaries extended far further than any current county...
Committee of Safety was formed on August 27, 1774 and was an extralegal body which was the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
government of Tryon County until 1778. Its first chairman was Christopher Yates. In August, 1774 they drafted a document protesting the British naval blockade of Boston harbor. They held 16 of their 31 meetings in the home of Goshen Van Alstyne in Canajoharie, New York.
The New York Provincial Congress
New York Provincial Congress
The New York Provincial Congress was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred.A Provincial Convention assembled in New York...
convened in May, 1775 and on June 11, 1775 Christopher Yates, John Marlett and John Moore were appointed deputies for Tryon County.
In January, 1776 Isaac Paris Chairman of the Committee of Safety sent a letter to General Schulyer that six or seven hundred Loyalists had gathered and were under arms at Johnstown. In May 1776, the committee instructed its representatives in the New York Provincial Congress
New York Provincial Congress
The New York Provincial Congress was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred.A Provincial Convention assembled in New York...
to vote for independence.
At the Battle of Oriskany
Battle of Oriskany
The Battle of Oriskany, fought on August 6, 1777, was one of the bloodiest battles in the North American theater of the American Revolutionary War and a significant engagement of the Saratoga campaign...
, Samuel Billington, John Dygert, and Jacob Snell, members of the Tryon County Committee of Safety were killed. After this battle, radicals led by Moses Younglove and Isaac Paris controlled the committee. The radicals continued to imprison suspected Loyalists. They imprisoned Peter Bellinger and other Patriots who refused to sell wheat to the committee at a price below market value. They encouraged Oneida Indians to attack and burn suspected Loyalists. In March 1778, General Schuyler warned the committee to stop, but by then most of the Loyalists had fled.
The authority of the Tryon County, New York
Tryon County, New York
Tryon County, New York was a county in the colonial Province of New York in the British American colonies. It was created from Albany County on March 24, 1772. It was named for William Tryon, the last provincial governor of New York. Its boundaries extended far further than any current county...
Committee of Safety
Committee of Safety
Committee of Safety may refer to:*English Committee of Safety, the parliamentary body in England that oversaw the English Civil War*Committee of Safety , established throughout the Thirteen Colonies at the start of the American Revolution...
was superseded by the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state legislature on February 7, 1778. In March 1778, Isaac Paris was elected to the New York Assembly. In the spring, the state legislature abolished all committees in New York in favor of "Commissioners of Conspiracy" appointed by the governor. The committee of safety last met on April 21, 1778.