Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.
Arthur McKinney
As January turned to February 250 years ago, the colonies were still frozen in one of the coldest winters in years. But some tempers were burning hot.
The New York newspapers of this day were filled with long diatribes against the recent acts of Parliament. (For example, the New York Journal of Saturday February 6, 1768) The Stamp-Act had been repealed, but a series of vindictive acts replaced them. They became known as the Townshend Acts. Their purpose "...was to raise revenue in the colonies to pay the salaries of governors and judges so that they would remain loyal to Great Britain, to create a more effective means of enforcing compliance with trade regulations, to punish the province of New York for failing to comply with the 1765 Quartering Act, and to establish the precedent that the British Parliament had the right to tax the colonies...The Townshend Acts placed an indirect tax on glass, lead, paints, paper and tea." (Wikipedia)
The colonial resistance to these acts led to the British occupation of Boston later in the year. The flicker of revolution was finding kindling.
This article is one in a series of a daily accountings of Colden Store transactions. Be sure you read the first installment for more of an introduction to the store. You should also read this article which appeared in the Journal of the Orange County Historical Society.
Today the son of Arthur McKinney [or McKenney] picked up three items and charged them to his father's account. He probably would have never imagined that less than ten years from now his father would be sentenced to death for treason.
Purchases on Arthur McKinney account:
In 1777, the British occupied New York City and were threatening to move up the Hudson River towards the communities that at one time had spent time and money in the Store at Coldengham. The citizens were organizing their militias, but the British were also recruiting using spies who wandered the country side. The story of Arthur McKinney is told in my recent book, Yeoman of the Revolution.
"April 30, 1777 - ... The British were actively recruiting loyalists in Ulster county and beyond. Just a few days ago a band of Ulster recruits were marching through Hanover on their way to join the British in New York [City]. They moved quietly through this unfriendly territory. The band included about ten young men, their leader, Captain Rose, and several recruiters. Tired from their night’s travels and eager to conceal themselves during the day, they sought shelter at two nearby farms. Those farms just happened to belong to Alexander Campbell and Arthur McKinny.
... Alexander led the party of Tories to a brush fence where they lay safe for a day. His wife brought them rum at two different times and “a pail of Butter Milch Popp.”[an alcoholic beverage] Unfortunately for Alexander, the Tories had been spotted and before evening the militia of New Windsor had arrested all of them. The prisoners were loaded on a sloop and taken to Fort Montgomery.
On this date, April 30th, a court martial was held at the fort presided over by General George Clinton. The charge against most of the recruiters was “levying War against the State of New York with being adherent to the King of Great Britain & with being an enlisted Soldier in the Service of the King of Great Britain when owing Allegiance to the State of New York.” McKinney’s charge was “holding Correspondence with the Enemies of the American States giving them Intelligence & adhering to and giving them Aid & Comfort & Secreting them.” Fourteen, including Arthur McKinney and his neighbor Alexander Campbell, were sentenced to death.
May 1, 1777 - Something must have been said during [the] ... court martial of Arthur McKinny that implicated Cadwallader Colden Jr. After the proceedings, General George Clinton instructed Major Samuel Logan of New Windsor to return to Hanover and arrest the stubborn fifty-five-year-old. By the time Logan’s men reached the Colden’s stone mansion in Hanover, it was late at night. Lieutenants Schoonmaker and DuBois, with several of the New Windsor militia, knocked on the doors to awaken him and place him under arrest. The New Windsor militia escorted him to New Windsor with his wife, Elizabeth. From there he was transported by sloop to Fort Montgomery for his own court martial. His charge was similar to that brought against his neighbors Alexander Campbell and Arthur McKinny, “aiding and abetting one Rose and a party of men on their way to the enemy.” When Colden pleaded his innocence to his neighbor and President of the Court, General George Clinton, the old friend told Colden that he would be safer if he proceeded to Kingston with the rest of the prisoners rather than returning to his hostile neighborhood."
The prisoners were shipped up the Hudson River to Kingston where the acting government decided their fate. On May 3, 1777 the ruling body approved of the convictions and sentences except for Alexander Campbell whose sentence was 'reversed.' Rose was hanged ten days later. Colden and McKinney were put on prison ships in the Roundout River. On July 21st, many of Colden's cellmates escaped. It is not known if Arthur McKinney was in that group, but in December of 1779, his name is found on the Tax Assessment for Hanover. Had he somehow been pardoned and allowed back in the community while the war carried on? Colden eventually found refuge in British-occupied New York City where he stayed until the war ended. He eventually was allowed back to his family and farm at Coldengham in 1784.
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