To John Jay from Beverly Robinson, 4 March 1777
From Beverly Robinson
Highlands March 4th 1777.
Dr. Sir
The Information you gave me when I was before the Committee of the Resolution of the Convention, that every person without Exception, must take an Oath of Allegiance to the States of America, or go with their families to the King’s Army: has given me the greatest concern,1 I cannot as yet think of forfeiting my Allegiance to the King, & I am as unwilling to remove myself or family, from this place, or at least out of this Country, under my Anxiety & the perplexity of mind that I am in at present, I am determ[in]ed to take a Step, that I may be condemned for by Warm & unthinking persons, but I hope you & every reasonable man will put a more favourable construction on my Conduct.
I have come to the resolution of going down to Col. Philip’s in Order to have an opportunity of Conferring with my Friends on the unhappy & distracted State of my poor Bleeding Country and if I am Convinced that a Reconciliation cannot be had upon Just and reasonable Terms, I will return, & content myself to share the same fate with my Country: for you may be assured, that nothing shall ever tempt or force me to do any thing, that I think or have the least reason to believe will be prejudicial to my Country, I may Err for want of better judgmt but never will knowingly or designedly; And now Sir as I have wrote so freely to you, I must build my ^some^ hopes upon our former acquaintance & friendship, as well as on your known good & humane disposition, and desire you will use your Influence, that Mrs. Robinson & the Children may be used with Humanity & tenderness, they would be glad to continue here, but if it should finally be determined that they must be removed, let me intreat that Mrs. Robinson may be allowed to take her necessary furniture & provisions for the family and to go by Water: The man who engages in any part from cool Consideration & weighs Matters well without Pique or prejudice, and Acts from a real belief that he is doing his Duty to his Country & posterity is an honest Man; and if such a Man should be in the wrong is more to be pitied than Blamed, but if he Acts ever so much from conviction that he is right in the part he takes, I can see no reason why he should be divested of all humanity or the Duties of a Christian; A Cause that obliges him People to banish those Virtues can never prosper nor succeed. I can’t say at present when or whether I shall return or not, as it is uncertain, but the Concern & Anxious Care I have for my dear family makes me write so freely to you about them, I will only further Ask the favour of you to come here to see Mrs: Robinson, she will give you a true Accot. of what Personable Estate will be left behind us, that it may be taken proper Care of. I am, Dr: Sir, Your most huml. Servt
Bev. Robinson
We both desire to be remembered to Mrs. Jay.
C, NNC (EJ: 7077). Addressed: “Directed— To / John Jay Esqr. one of / the Conventn: for the State of New York / at Fish Kill—”. Endorsed: “Copy of Bev. Robinson’s Letter / 4 March 1777 to JJ.” Marked: “Copy.”
1. This “information” anticipated the action of the New York Convention three days after Robinson wrote JJ. On 7 Mar. the convention resolved that those of the disaffected who had “been sent into some or one of the neighbouring States, or confined within this State by parol or otherwise” would be required to take an oath of allegiance to the state of New York and pledge to reveal any plots or conspiracies discovered. Upon refusal to take this oath, the detainee would “receive a pass and be directed to repair, with their families, apparel and household furniture, to the city of New-York, or some other place in the possession of the enemy.” Failure to depart would result in confinement in close jail and treatment as an open enemy of the state. , 1: 827; for the oath presented to Robinson on 22 Feb. 1777, see , 2: 427–28.