Macdonald's Research Notes

That there were 5 or 6 persons who went off *from the guns. - & * it was daylight by the time they returned to John Gedney's at New Rochelle all the cannon at Williams's were spiked by Gedney & Haines - That the last time he saw Govr. Tryon was after New Year: That the first time he saw Govr Tryon was on board of Sutton's Sloop - That he went to see Sutton & the Govr came there - That in January when he came down with cattle, he went on board the Governor's ship to see how things were. & saw the Attorney General there: &c." / Jany 29 1776. Joshua Gedney examd. before the Committee &c. says . .

That he lives at the hither end of Rye Neck - That the first person he ever heard speak of rendering the cannon useless was William Lounsberry. & afterwards, Josiah Burrell who lives at Rye Neck, + Wm Sutton, + other people also: - That Burrell went on board a ship, & spoke to the Govr who said it must be done to render those cannon useless: - Lounsberry afterwards told him the same, & he believed spoke to the Govr also: - That Isaac Gedney as well as Lounsberry & Wm Sutton spoke to him about having the cannon destroyed: That Esqr Sutton seemed to be fond of it: - That it was soon after Godfrey Haines came home from on board of the man of war, that Lounsberry first proposed disabling the cannon with sledges: - That Burrell told him he had conversed with the Govr & yt he advised disabling the cannon: - That he heard Lounsberry had been on board the Governer's Ship abt a week before this affair happened: - That Isaac Gedney informed him of this, & yet the Govr advised him to destroy the cannon, &said it wd save the City and prevent its being burnt down - That Burrell & Lounsberry told him if it was done, they wd be well paid for it. - That Wm Lounsberry had the direction & management of the cannon spiking par- -ty & was called their General - That the party consisted of 6 persons, vizt.