Information having been exhibited to this Board that a Number of Deserters [82] from Burgoyne's Army who are residing atSchodack lately made an Attempt to go off & join the Enemy ordered in Consequence of the said Information that Col'. John H. Beekman be requested to send to us without Delay the said Persons. Silas Morey who by a Warrant directed to him was ordered to apprehend & bring before us James Bruce, Zachariah Butler, Zopher Brotherton, John Brotherton and Micajah Brotherton appeared before the Board with the said Persons ordered that they be severally examined. The said James Bruce, Zopher Brotherton, John Brotherton & Micajah Brotherton having been examined ordered that Zopher Brotherton one of the said Persons have Permission to go to Stephen Town the Place of his Abode to endeavour to procure Bail for himself and the other Persons that were taken with him. Barent Whitaker having the other Day been confined by order of this Board for disaffection to the American Cause

Minutes of Commissioners for Conspiracies 377

was brought before us ordered that he he liberated from 1779 July 2 .

Confinement on entering into a Recognizance for his future good Behaviour & Appearance before any one of the Commissioners of Conspiracies & also for his Personal Appearance on the Last Day of every Month before the Captain of the Company in which he is involved & under whom he performs Militia Duty.

Barent Whitaker on Recognizance in. £100 :o :o Jasuias Minklaer his Bail in. £100 :o :o From the frequent Robberies committed at the Hellebergh Paesenk & Places adjoining and the Cruelties excersised on the Peaceable and defenceless Inhabitants residing in those parts by a Number of Robbers and Tories it appears to this Board highly necessary that a Company of Rangers should be raised as soon as possible to protect the Inhabitants and secure the said Robbers and as Lieu?