"Mutiny"

After George Washington and the Continental Army moved from Boston to New York in April 1776, a plot developed that has been billed as an attempt to either kidnap or assassinate the general and wreck havoc on patriot defenses in the city. The scheme developed when Tories in New York attempted to bribe American soldiers to switch sides. It was an eventful time in the Revolution; the British were regrouping in Halifax before sailing to New York, the invasion of Canada was in the process of falling apart, and independence was about to be declared. Fortunately, the affair was discovered and quickly snuffed out, ending on June 28, 1776 with the hanging of Thomas Hickey, a member of Washington’s personal guards. The plot was never close to reaching its lofty goals, but it did point toward disaffection in the Continental Army, and this letter from David Mason, second lieutenant-colonel of artillery, to his commanding officer Henry Knox, provides a fuller picture to the extent of the discontent.

The plot began with the Tory Governor of New York, William Tyron, who was running the colony from a British warship in New York Harbor. Tyron was bribing British sympathizers in New York City and the Continental Army with cash, provisions, and promises of land if they supported the Crown when the British fleet arrived to deal with Washington and his army. He received at least nominal assistance from New York City Mayor David Matthews, whom he met while trying to arrange safe passage for the peace commissioner Lord Drummond. It is unknown how many people were truly committed to the plot, but one conspirator claimed there was a “corps” of 700 men ready to take up arms for the British, amounting to about 10 percent of the Continental forces in New York. That number is more than likely inflated, but it is known there were conspirators in Washington’s personal guards.

Through a series of coincidences the leaders of the Continental Army discovered the scheme when Isaac Ketchum, a soldier jailed on charges of attempted counterfeiting, informed the authorities that two of his fellow prisoners, Thomas Hickey and Michael Lynch, stated they belonged to a group that was receiving money from the British to rise up when the fleet arrived. After Ketchum’s information made its way through the ranks, the plot collapsed on itself. Many of those caught told all they knew to save themselves from punishment, as it seems Private Fraga did from Mason’s letter. The letter states that a certain Lara Fraga, a private in Washington’s personal guards, “now under Confinemt Says there is a Number of men in Capt Hamilton Compy who have inlisted in the minesterall Troops which he will point out if he can see the Company.” The letter corroborates the testimony of Mayor Matthews given after he was arrested for his part in the plot. In a hearing before a committee of the Provisional Congress of New York, Matthews said part of the plan included seizing a battery of artillery when the British fleet attacked. Could the conspirators have been planning on seizing Hamilton’s battery? Ultimately no batteries were seized and George Washington was never in any danger. The affair proved to be badly planned, ill-conceived and awkwardly executed. The most intractable of those caught was Hickey, and he was court-martialed and hung as an example in front of 20,000 spectators. Washington said, “I am hopeful this experience will produce many salutary consequences and deter others from entering into like traitorous practices.”

David Mason to Henry Knox
New York, NY, 22 June 1776. 1 page.

New York 6 Clock P.M. June 22

Sr--
I just Recd Intelligence from a Gent in the City that one Lara Fraga Privat in the Genll Guard now under Confinemt Says that there is a Number of men in Capt Hamilton Compy who have inlisted in the minesterall Troops which men he will point out if he Can see the Compy which I thought Proper to Inform you I should have gone to the Genll but had no horse therfore I am with Respect Yr David Mason GLC02437.00344

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