After June 30, 1778, the oath was made the supreme test. 1 By an act of April I, 1778, affirmation by raising of hands, a concession to Quakers, was permissible. 2 But the Quakers piteously objected to the wording of the oath and petitioned the legislature for relief. 3 When the commissioners began their work in Albany, on April 13, 1778, they received a return of the prisoners who were confined in the city jail, and ordered letters to be written to the several district committees from whence these persons had been sent, and requested an account of the crimes for which they had been committed. The board found that local committees, for example in Saratoga district and Charlotte County, were exercising functions which belonged properly to commissioners for conspiracies, and stopped them. But when two military officers reported the names of certain persons who had joined Burgonyne's army, yet were believed likely to return to their allegiance to the State, the commissioners authorized these officers to examine

them and make out recognizances at Ballston. 1 Moreover, the board objected to the over-zealous action of certain whigs who, not authorized by law, attempted to order disaffected persons " to move off", and who threatened them in

case they procrastinated. The board adjudged that such Appendix I: Laws, June 30, 1778. * Laws of New York. Poughkeepsie: John Holt, 1782, p. 25. * Assembly Papers -- Miscellaneous, vol. 1, pp. 49-62. See also for Shakers, who refused to bear arms, July 7,11, 17, 24, 26; August 26; December 4, 1780. April 15, 1778.