Carleton Commission on the Great Fire of New York in 1776 (Dated 1783)
Page 78
"Lee Ashton
a Private Soldier in the 43rd Regt. was sworn and examined. And saith that on the night of the fire he was in the encampment with his Regt. near (Lispenard's) brewery about a mile from the City"
(On the left side of page 78, normally left blank except for annotations and side notes, is a testimony dated 10th. Nov. by a Mrs. Lynch. It appears as though it is ‘regular’ testimony recorded in the same hand and in the same style as all of the other pages. However, the entire testimony has several large marks extended through the page as though to cross out or otherwise disregard it. Since the testimony is still as legible as other testimony here it is transcribed below. However, on the left side of page 79 there is a long recapitulation by the Board that explains why they have chosen to disregard the testimony of Mrs. Lynch. So here is Mrs. Lynch and the recapitulation that follows.)
10th. Nov. (page 78 left hand side crossed out)
Mrs. Lynch
the woman refer'd to in Mr. Well's testimony, now Mrs. McDonald, was sworn and examined and saith the she arrived from Staten Island about 3 o’Clock in the afternoon preceeding the fire that she found in her house (at) was next door to Hilyard's Tavern two men and two women, who would not quit the house that she applied immediately to Gen Robertson to get them turned out, that Gen. Robertson sent down an orderly Sargeant immediately who turn'd these two men and two women out of her house that she does not know what became of them, nor who they were –
Q. Did these men appear to be soldiers and how were they dressed- and who did you suppose them to be -
A. They appeared to be Soldiers had no coats on and had Bayonets round their waists –
Q. Had they white Belts
A. I don't recollect
Q. Had these men and women or either of them anything with them to drink and were either of them drinking. –
A. Neither of them were drinking or had anything to drink and all of them appeared to be sober
Q. At what hour did they leave your house?
A. About half after two to the best of my recollection"
Page 79
"Mrs Lynch the Woman refer'd to in Mr. Well's testimony being summoned attended and was sworn,
And thereupon denied that she had ever had the conversation which Mr. Well’s referred to, upon a strict examination of more than two hours, it appeared to the board she was an ignorant forgetful incoherent woman in her account of the transactions at the time of the fire – Mr. Wells was again sent for and confronted with the woman, he appeared to be perfect in his recollection of the conversation he had with her at the time refer'd to in his testimony, and further saith that at that time she appeared to him to give an accurate relation of the circumstances mentioned in his testimony, which appeared to him (as) natural and true from all the observations he made himself at the time"
(page 79 right hand side…the continuation of Ashton's testimony above)
That he came into the City upon an alarm of fire with the Reg. which was ordered in to assist I extinguishing the fire
1. I don't know
2. The wind was very high
3. The Ch. was on fire when we got into the City
4. I did not
5. I did not
6. I saw a man in a short brown jacket just by the Oswego market in the broad way, standing in the (pnack) that was formed for handing the buckets – I saw this man with a knife in his hand cut the handles of the buckets as they were handed to him when returned empty I stood opposite to him handing the full buckets upon seeing this I took the knife from the man and informed an officer of the circumstance who ordered the man to the Provost
Page 80
"8 – I saw a man who appeared to be advanced in years of short stature near the Oswego market in the broad way, who had a bundle of matches slung upon his back secreted under a large brown outer Coat. – I seized this man and with another person who had blue facings push’d him into the flames whether he was burnt to death or escaped I do not know. –
The Board adjourned to Wednesday 12th: 11 oClock
Wednesday 12th. Nov. The Board met pursuant to adjournment
John (Grundy)
a Private in the 43rd Reg. (vid appendix p.19.) was sworn and examined and thereupon saith that at the time the time the fire broke out in NY in Sept. 1776 between 12 and 1 oClock as nearly as he can recollect"
Page 81
"He was Centry at the City hall, that he saw the fire break out near the Exchange to the right, that after he was relieved, between two and thrice o'C to the best of his recollection, he was sent with a man whom he took to be an Inhab't of the City to observe and detect any persons they might find setting fire to any part of the City*
*that he with an (Sheridan?) of the same Regt. and this person whom he supposed to be an inhabitant went accordingly and he heard a cry of Soldiers, Soldiers there is a man setting fire to the town, seize him, that upon this he rushed thro the Crowd
that near the Exchange he saw a man with a burning torch in his hand holding it up against the Roof of a shed that he immediately pressed forward to seize him when he fled towards the fly market, that the Deponent pursued him and found him near the fly market in a boat offering 2 Dollars for an Oar that he immediately seized him and found he had a wallett made of canvas in his hand with pewter in it as he supposes by the noise it made and (backing) the outside of the Wallett, that he immediately carried this man to the main Guard"
Page 82
"That about a fortnight afterwards he was ordered to go to the Provost and see if he could find this man there, that he accordingly went and saw the same whom he recollected perfectly That he attended several days at a General Court martial then sitting but was never called upon to give any evidence to the Court respecting him
Q. Are you positive that you saw the man in the very act of setting fire to the Shed
A. I am.
Q. Where did you apprehend this man
A. Below the fly market in a dock by the side of a Wharf
Q. Did you pursue this man closely?
A. Yes pretty close
Q. Why was he not sooner taken
A – I don't know.
Q. Are you certain the man you took in the..."
Page 83
"boat was the same setting fire to the shed.
A. I knew him to be the same by a white Cap which he had on
6 – I saw many buckets a day or two after the fire in the Guard house cut to pieces –
7. – Many combustibles were brought to the Guard house after the fire. –
Q. Did you yourself seize the man
A. I did,
Q. Did you hear the man offering money for an Oar
A. No – the crowd about the place, cried out that he was offering two Dollars for an Oar
Q. Was the pewter in a Wallett (Haversack) or a (blanket)
A. It was in a canvas Wallett
John Cochran
Private 43rd Reg. was sworn and ex.d
8 – I saw a man with a bunch"
Page 84
"Of matches under his arm during the fire near Gen. Robertson’s house in the broad way. I was sent by Cap. McLean to seize him which with other soldiers I did and carried him to the Provost
Q. Can you describe this man
A. He was a short old man with a brown (Justirit) Coat and a round hat and was a (Nirte Baiton)
Q. Did he attempt to escape
A – He did.
George Kerr
a private in the 43rd was sworn and examined
7. I saw a house in back of St Paul's Church five men and a woman – and in a cupboard in the same room a Kegg holding about 5 Gall with the ('reccd) on full of gun powder and a bundle of matches near it, I seized the men, when the woman cried and offered me money to let them..."
Page 85
"...go , I took the money and (carr) the 5 men the Powder and matches to the Provost
Q. Was there a fire or Candle in the same room
A – There were both fire and candl
Q. Did you make any enquiry about the Powder and Matches and what account was given of them
A. I did and was told it had been usual to have them there before the war."
Page 86
"Serjt. Norton
(Scy). 43rd.
11. I saw a small house in Chatham Row on fire in the Shingles upon the Roof after day light – I with others went into the house and into the Garret when I saw some matches – there was no appearance of fire inside the roof – the fire upon the outside was soon extinguished
The Board adjourned to 11 OClock to morrow"