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Kings County in the Revolution
George CLINTON, the first Governor of New York State, is to me one of the most interesting characters our history presents; brave in trial and courageous on the field of battle, hopeful and valiant, but above all resourceful. He represents the noblest type of patriot. I consider him the greatest governor New York ever had, just as I consider Lincoln and Roosevelt the greatest presidents our nation ever had, and Washington and Grant the great-est generals America has produced. One of CLINTON's great services was in securing money for calling on the Revolution. This he did in a different manner from other financiers of the period. Continental currency was of little value, yet it was practically the only money in circulation within the American lines. To secure gold was the great task facing the authorities, and had they all been as successful as Governor CLINTON the war would have ended at an earlier date. The people of Long Island were within the British lines and were unable to aid the Americans to any great extent. Much false criticism has been made against the farmers of Kings County for failing to be of more assistance to the Continental troops in the beginning of the encounter. This is largely false. The facts are that the total population of King's County at the beginning of the Revolution was less than three thousand, about half of whom were slaves. This left some fifteen hundred men, women and children to be patriots and provide an army. The militia was composed of about two hundred and forty men and officers, exclusive of Tories. Many men from Kings County were with the Continental Army until the last. The Provincial Congress made a call for drafts to reinforce the Continental Army. The captains of various companies petitioned Congress that they might not be called upon to send one man out of every four, as it was harvest time and they must attend to their crops, but when it came to the landing of the British they would turn out their full companies to assist in defending the country. This Congress refused to do, and the draft was called. Colonel VAN BRUNT delivered the fifty-eight men required. A little later more men were needed, and Colonel COWENHOVEN, then acting in command, sent a special company of twenty men. In addition to this, the company of light horse was stationed as a look-out to watch the coming of the fleet, and it did such duty all summer. During the Battle of Long Island the militia did effective work. The light horse drove off the cattle into Queens County and burned the grain. Eighteen of this company left their horses on Long Island and crossed to Westchester, under command of Lieutenant Daniel RAPALJE, and joined the Continental Army. They were clad in summer clothes, and many of them became sick from exposure. In that condition, as well as being penniless, they were deserted by the Continental Army, which had to retreat into New Jersey, in Duchess County, New York, for the army could not carry their wounded with them, and being neighbors' sons and friends, those who were well stayed with the sick, and finally secured money and permission to return home. In the Battle of Flatbush the militia was badly cut up, and in the Battle of Long Island they were separated from the main body, but they knew the ground, and in a majority of cases were enabled to reach their homes in safety. A large number of the women and children had been sent to Queens County or to New Jersey, but after the seat of hostilities was removed to other parts they were brought back, and the attention of the British turned to making friends with the colonists. The next year the farms were tilled as usual. The British Army furnished a good market for their produce and prices were high, although not as high as during our own Civil War. The farmers, Tory and Whig alike, were becoming rich. Had the British known to what treasonable use their gold was being put by the Dutch farmers of Kings County, many a bough would have bent with the weight of a sturdy Dutchman suspended by his neck. The willingness of the Dutch of Kings County to become the financiers of the State was brought to the attention of Governor CLINTON. Lieutenant Samuel DODGE was captured in 1777, at Fort Montgomery. He was quartered at the residence of Barent JOHNSON, a well-known Whig and father of General Jeremiah JOHNSON, who was a founder of the St. Nicholas Society and its first President. On being exchanged, in December, 1777, he secured a loan of L700 from Mr JOHNSON for the State. Governor CLINTON paid several amounts in 1782 and 1783 to Hendrick WYCKOFF, Aspinwall CORNWALL, Thomas WICKS, Robert Morris, Nicholas COWENHOVEN, Colonel William ALLISON, and Colonel James Mc'CLAUGHRY for procuring money on Long Island. These payments, I believe, were in the nature of expenses incurred by them. The principal agent in these matters was the brave and intrepid Major Hendrick WYCKOFF, of New Lots. He was a relative and friend of many of the people of Kings County, and he would come under disguise through the lines at night and go to the house of some friend, and from there at night would go out among the people, and they would loan him all the gold they could gather on a simple blank receipt signed by Governor CLINTON and filled out by the Major. STRONG'S History of Flatbush gives a lucid account of how he operated. He also states that not far from $200,000 specie was loaned in this manner. I believe he underestimates. I append a list which, although. it is far from complete, gives an idea of the size of these loans. I believe it has been published only in a state publication. When Dr. STRONG'S History was written this list could not be found. It should be remembered that only those who collected their notes with interest when due are named in this list, and of those numerous ones who in the troubled times of the war lost or destroyed their notes there is no record. It will be seen, also, to contain the names of some Tories, who were evidently trying to ride to victory on both horses. I do not think we can blame a people for signing an address of loyalty under the same conditions as these people, who were compelled to do so or hang, as in some instances they were, or have their property confiscated and they themselves thrown into prison, and their wives and children thrown out upon the world as paupers. There was the case of my own great-great-grandfather, Nicholas VAN BRUNT, who refused to sign the oath of allegiance when he was captured, at the time of the Battle of Long Island, and who spent some time in the old provost for his pains. I think the most patriotic people would have done as most of the inhabitants did. It is all very well for historians to blame them, but they should take into consideration the fact that the addresses they signed were written by Royalists such as Colonel AXTELL, and have come down to us as published in GAINE'S Royal Gazette. This is the list of the financiers of the State so far as it has been discovered:

Allison, William (Col.)

Hix, Charles

Smith, Philetus

Antonides, Peter

Horten, Nathan

Smith, Timothy

Arenlanias, Philip

Johnson, Anne

Snyder, William

Barcalo, Harmanus

Johnson, Barent

Sperry, Jacob

Bennet, James

Kerchow, Jacob

Stillwell, Richard

Bennet, John

Kitcham, Zebulon

Suydam, Hendrick

Bennet, Wynant

Kissam, Daniel W.

Suydam, Jacob

BERGEN, Johannes

Lattin, William

Suydam, Lambert

BERGEN, Michael

Lefferts, Barent

Thompson, Isaac

Boerum. Jacob

Lefferts, Jacob

Thorne, John

Brosh, John

Lefferts, James

Thorne, Richard (Maj.)

Burtis, Abraham

Lefferts, Peter

Tillotson, Thomas

Burtis, John

Lequier, Abraham

Titus, Charles

Butler, John

Livingston, Henry

Titus, Francis

Carll, John

Lott, Hendrick

Titus, John

Carll, Phineas

Lott, Jannetje

TOWNSEND, James

Carll, Platt

Lott, Johannes E.

TOWNSEND, Pryor

Carll, Timothy

Lott, Stephen

TOWNSEND, Sylvanus

Clopper (Miss)

Luyster, John

Valentine, Philip

Cock, Daniel

Martense, Adrian

Van Brunt, Adrian

Cock, William

Martense, George

Van Brunt, Albert

Coles, Nathaniel

Martense, Gerrit

Van Brunt, Nah.

Colyer, Peter

Mc'Claughry, James (Col.)

Van Brunt, R.

Cornwall, Aspinwall

McGraw, Alexander

Van Buren, James N. (Dr.)

Cornwall, Obadiah

Mesherol, John

Van Buren, John II. (Dr.)

Cortelyou, Isaac

Money, Samuel

Van Cortland, Philip

Cortelyou, Jaques

Monfort, Peter

Vanderbilt, Jeremiah

Cortelyou, Simon

Morris, Robert

Vanderbilt, John

Cowenhoven, Nicholas

Nostrand, Cornelius

Vanderbilt, John T.

Cowenhoven, Rem

Nostrand, John

Vanderveer, Cornelius

Ditmars, Abraham

Oakley, Samuel

Vanderveer, Hendrick

Duryee, Abraham

Onderdonk, Andrew

Vanderveer, John

Duryee, Jacob

Payne, Lewis

Van Duyne, Cornelius

Duryee, Johannes

Polhemus, Jacob

Van Pelt, Wynant

Duryee, Joost

Powers, George

Van Schaick, Goose (Col.)

Duryee, Peter

Rapalje, Tunis

Van Sideren, Ulplianus

Dusenbury, Denton

REMSEN, John

Van Sideren, Femmetje

Eldert, Catharine

REMSEN, Rem A.

Van Varch, John

Ebert, Hendrick

Rogers, John

Van Voorheis, Adrian

Ellison. Gabriel

Sands, John (Col.)

Van Vorst, Cornelius

Elsworth, Thomas

Schenck, John

Voorheis. Abraham

Everit, Benjamin

Schenck, Martin

Wickes, John

Gansevoort, Peter (Col.)

Schenck, Peter

Wickes, Thomas

Harper, Alexander

Schultz, Christopher

Williamson, Rem

Hegeman, Elbert

Searing, Coe

Wright. John J.

Hegeman. Rem

Searing, Gilbert

Wyckoff. Cornelius

Hegeman, Sytie

Skilman, Thomas

Wyckoff, Hendrick

Hendrickson, Isaac

Skilman, William

Hendrickson, John

Smith, John

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