John Jay Papers

Minutes of the Committee for Detecting Conspiracies, 23 December 1776

Minutes of the Committee for Detecting Conspiracies

[Fishkill, December 23rd, 1776]

[Present: Leonard Gansevoort Esqr. Chairman; John Jay, Zephaniah Platt, Nathaniel Sacket, Esqrs.]

. . . Resolved that Enoch Crosby assuming the Name of John  1 do forthwith do forthwith repair to Mount Ephraim and use his Utm and use his utmost Art to ^discover the^ designs, Places of Resort, and Route, of certain disaffected Persons in that Quarter, who have form’d a Design of Joining the Enemy—and that for that Purpose the said Enoch be made acquainted with all the Information received by this Committee concerning this Plott, and that he be furnishd with such Passes from the Commit as will enable him to pass there without interruption, and with such others as will enable him to pass as an Emissary of the Enemy amongst Persons disaffected to the American Cause—

Resolved that Enoch Crosby be furnish’d with an Horse, and the Sum of Thirty Dollars in order to enable him to execute the above Resolution—

Resolved that Mr. Nathl: Sacket be requested to furnish hi[m] with Ins give such Instructions to Enoch Crosby as ^he^ shall recommend ^think^ best calculated to defeat the Designs of the Persons above mention’d—

Ordered that the Treasurer pay Enoch Crosby Thirty Dollars for secret Services—

Ordered that the Treasurer pay Hugh Connir Three Pounds Ten shillings for a Saddle and a Bridle for the use of this Committee

Resolved that a Letter be written to Thaddeus A. Burr Esqr. of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut enclosing Copy of the Examination of John Haines concealing his Name—and requesting him to concert and execute such Plan for apprehending and securing the Persons therein mentioned—

Resolved that Nathaniel Sacket Esqr. be requested to furnish Mr. Enoch Crosby with such Cloathing as he may stand in Need of—

D, NHi (EJ: 3617).

1Blank space in manuscript.

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