When the commissioners entrusted funds to any of their own members or to military officers, they were likewise required to make an accounting. 2 Jacob Kidney was doorkeeper to the board. 3 He also served warrants upon recalcitrant citizens, apparently in the capacity of a constable. 4 Counterfeiters -- By an act of March 8, 1778, it was made a felony without benefit of clergy to counterfeit any true bill of credit issued by or thereafter to be issued by the authority of Congress, or by the authority of any provincial congress or any convention of the State of New York, before or since the Declaration of Independence, or by authority of the legislature of any other of the States since July 4, 1776, or to alter by raising the amount of any true bill of credit, or to attempt to pass such paper, or bring into the State any such paper, knowing the same to be counterfeit or altered. 5 The same substance was contained in the similar act of March 27, 1781. 6 By the act of November 20, 1781, counterfeiting French See May 23; June 18; July 29; August 6, 1778; June 28, 1780. 2 August 14; September 15; December 1, 1778. 8 February 15; June 30, 1779; June 28, 1780. January 29; July 10, 11; August 15, 1780. Laws of New York. Poughkeepsie: John Holt, 1782, p. 60. Ibid, p. 188.

38 State of New York

crowns or silver French crowns was likewise constituted a felony without benefit of clergy. 1 The offence was extended, by an act of April 1 1, 1782, to cover counterfeiting, raising or passing with knowledge notes of the Bank of North America. 2 In such cases the commissioners for conspiracies issued a warrant to the constable of the particular district for apprehending and committing the culprit, and the warrant also commanded the keeper of the jail to receive him into his custody. 3 When guards were placed over such prisoners, the commissioners paid them. 4 The discovery of counterfeit money upon the person of the accused prisoner led to an examination, which was reduced to writing, and was followed by close confinement.