The men, who from time to time had been empowered to exercise the judicial function as commissioners for conspiracies in the several boards of this inquisitorial body, were persons fitted by former service for the new tasks. Several of them had already gained experience as members of committees or other bodies organized earlier in the war for the suppression of disaffection. Among their number were judges of various courts, and those who were, or had been, recorders, court clerks, coroners, surrogates and county, city or town clerks. It was not unusual to find the same individual engaged in several of the civil offices coterminously, whilst holding as well a commission in the militia, or representing a constituency in the legislature. For example, Egbert Benson was a member of the assembly and attorney, solicitor and advocate-general of the State. In the preceding chapter the legal status of the commissioners for conspiracies has been traced. Their selection was distributive among the seven counties of the State under

36 State of New York

patriot control, and they sat generally as boards in the counties of which they were residents; but the authority of each commissioner extended over the entire State, and he might sit with any board whenever he happened to be present in any county. Moreover, there was considerable intercourse between the boards, and especially was this true of those of contiguous counties. Each quorum or board was required by law to keep exact minutes of its proceedings. So far as is now known, no regular minutes are extant, save only those of the Albany County board, and they extend to August 30, 1 78 1, end abruptly and, manifestly, are incomplete. The meetings of this board were held mainly in the city of Albany; yet, on occasion, the central board or some of its members as sub-boards, met in the Helderbergs, at Stillwater, at Saratoga and elsewhere in the county.