On the same day application was made for a party of continental troops as an additional guard, to be under the direction of Captain Ryley, and for a bateau for the guard. Two hundred dollars were ordered to be paid to Ryley on account, on June 18. The board applied to the assemblymen from Albany County', on June 20, "to endeavour to procure an Act for the Purpose of raising another Company of Rangers", to be under their command. On June 22, Captain Ryley presented a pay'-roll to date of £283 19s., which was allowed, minus the amount paid before on account. When Ryley was sent to ferret out tories in the Helderbergs and at Oniskethau, he was told that he might apply to the militia officers for rein-

Introduction 49

forcements, in case his own contingent was insufficient. The board, having received a letter from the commissioners at Poughkeepsie, on July 18, ordered that Ryley's rangers be discharged, and that he be served with a copy of the resolution. On the 20th Ryley was ordered to appear immediately before them, and he, presenting himself, received his discharge with his company. On August 12, Ryley was granted fifty pounds for his men, to be deducted from his pay-roll. Mathew Aerson, ferryman, was granted £8 17s q.d., for services in ferrying Ryley's company across the Hudson River at various times. The full pay-roll was presented by Ryley on September 18, and amounted, "from the Time of their Inlistment being the 11V 1 May 1778 till 2o9 Day of July now last past," to £460 1 8s. 4d., part of which, as already shown, was paid before on account. He was also paid a gratuity for apprehending a person who committed a robbery. 1