Leger had raised the siege of Fort Schuyler ; Burgoyne had surrendered ; the Indians, who had hitherto protected their Minister, had abandoned their homes, & with Brant were laying waste the country between the Susquehanna and the Mohawk rivers. Mr. Stuart's connexion with the Johnson family and his relations to the Indians rendered him particularly obnoxious to the Whigs. His house was attacked, his property plundered and every indignity offered his person. His church was also plundered, then turned into a tavern and in ridicule and contempt a barrel of ram was placed on the reading desk, It was afterwards used as a stable, and finally served as a fort. He became thus necessitated to remove, and in June 1778, the Board appointed for detecting Conspiracies were advised of his residence in Schenectady.

It was represented to them that " Mr. Stuart would have it in his power to convey Intelligence from that Place to the Indians, and 'as he had always been a declared Enemy to the Liberties of America, it would be necessary to Order him down the Country." This information was received on the 11" June and on the 25th Mr Stuart was ordered to "repair with his family forthwith to the State of Connecticut until his exchange could be procured, and that he sett off in four Days after this Resolution is delivered to him, and on his failure to comply herewith it is ordered that he be put into close confinement."

Mr. Stuart appeared before the Commissioners two days after the above order, and "declared his readiness to convince them that he had not corresponded with the enemy, and that he was ready and willing to enter into any engagement for the faithful