The New York Conspiracy: A History of the Negro Plot. Daniel Horsmanden

should be issued by the government, promising proper rewards to such person and persons as should make such discovery of the incendiaries, their confederates and accomplices, as that they should be convicted thereof; yet it was well known that the governor and council had not the liberty of drawing upon the colony treasury for any sum of money whatsoever, upon any emergency— and it could not be reasonably expected the governor should subject himself to pay such rewards out of his own pocket, for the use and necessities of the public; that as the safety of the city, so immediately concerned, seemed absolutely to require such a measure to be taken; so the public, who were also interested in the preservation of it, would reap the benefit in common with them, by the corporation's laudable resolution, should they determine to engage to pay proper rewards, and request the governor to issue a proclamation agreeable thereto; which, he was persuaded, the governor was well inclined to do, and the gentlemen of the council to advise thereto: he therefore moved, “that the board should come to a resolution to pay such rewards as should by them be thought a proper and sufficient temptation to induce any party or parties concerned to make such discovery.”

      Upon consideration whereof, it was “ ordered, That this board request his honour the lieutenant governor to issue a proclamation, offering a reward to any white person that should discover any person or persons lately concerned in setting fire to any dwellinghouse or storehouse in this city (so that such person or persons be convicted thereof,) the sum of one hundred pounds, current money of this province; and that such person shall be pardoned, if concerned therein. And any slave that should make discovery, to be manumitted, or made free; and the master of such slave to receive twenty-five pounds therefor; and the slave to receive, besides his freedom, the sum of twenty pounds, and to be pardoned; and if a free negro, mulatto, or Indian, to receive forty-five pounds, and also to be pardoned, if concerned therein. And that this board wilt issue their warrant to the chamberlain, or treasurer of this corporation for the payment of such sum as any person, by virtue of such proclamation, shall be entitled unto. And that the mayor and recorder wait on his honour the lieutenant governor, and acquaint him with the resolution of this board.”

      The mayor and recorder waited on his honour accordingly, and a copy of the order was also delivered to him.

      Many persons in the neighbourhood of the several fires before mentioned, thought it necessary to remove their household goods for safety; and in their consternation, as was natural, suffered any body who offered their assistance, to take them away; by which means, some villains had the cruelty to make prey of them; for there were great complaints of losses upon those occasions, which the magistrates took this day into their consideration: and it being much suspected that there were some strangers lurking about the city, who had been the wicked instruments and occasion of these fires; but upon the supposition only, that by those means, they might have opportunities of pilfering and plundering. A scheme was proposed, that there should be a general search of all houses throughout the town, whereby it was thought probable discoveries might be made, not only of stolen goods, but likewise of lodgers, that were strangers, and suspicious persons. The proposal was approved of, and each alderman and his common council-man, with constables attending them, undertook to search his respective ward on the south side of the fresh water pond; and the Monday following was the day fixed upon for making the experiment.

      The scheme was communicated to the governor, and his honour thought fit to order the militia out that day in aid of the magistrates, who were to be dispersed through the city, and sentries of them posted at the ends of the streets to guard all avenues, with orders to stop all suspected persons that should be observed carrying bags or bundles, or removing goods from house to house, in order for their examination; and all this was to be kept very secret till the project was putting in execution.

      Monday, April 13.

      Pursuant to the scheme concerted on Saturday last, the general search was made; but there were not any goods discovered which were said to have been lost, nor was there any strange lodger or suspicious persons detected. But some things were found in the custody of Robin, Mr. Chamber's negro, and Cuba his wife, which the alderman thought improper for, and unbecoming the condition of slaves, which made him suspect they were not come honestly by; and therefore ordered the constable to take them in possession, to be reserved for further inquiry: and these two negroes were committed.

      Friday, April 17.

      The lieutenant governor, by and with the advice of his majesty's council, issued a proclamation, therein reciting the before mentioned order and resolution of the common council, promising the rewards agreeable thereto.

      In the mean while, between the sixth and seventeenth instant, a great deal of time had been spent by the magistrates in the examination of the negroes in custody, upon account of these fires, but nothing could be got out of them.

      Cuff(Philipse's) was closely interrogated, but he absolutely denied knowing any thing of the matter. He said he had been at home all that afternoon, from the time he returned from Hilton's fire, where he had been to assist and carry buckets. That he was at home when the bell rung for the fire at Col. Philipse's storehouse. It appeared, upon inquiry and examination of witnesses, that he, according to his master's orders, had been sawing wood that afternoon with a white boy; and that when his master came home from dinner, he took him off from that work, and set him to sew on a vane upon a board for his sloop; the white boy testified, “that he stood by him to see him sew it, and that he left him but a little before the bell rung for the fire.” And when the alarm of the fire was, and that it was supposed to be at his master's storehouse, it was said, Cuff was asked whether he would go out with the buckets, and that he should answer, he had enough of being out, in the morning. Some of the neighbours also declared, that they had seen him looking over his master's door but a little before the bell rung; but an old man who had known Cuffee for several years, deposed, that he had seen him at the fire at the storehouse, and that he stood next him: there seemed to be some objection against the man's evidence; it was thought he might be mistaken, being very near sighted. Upon examination, it was found he could distinguish colours, and he described the clothes he had on, and moreover declared, he spoke to him, and asked him, why he did not hand the buckets; and that thereupon he answered him, and did hand water, and that he knew his voice.

      There was very strong proof that he was the negro that leaped out of the window of one of the storehouses as the fire was extinguished, and most of the people drawn away upon the new alarm of a fire; that he was seen to leap over several garden fences, and to run home in great haste.

      Upon the whole, it was thought proper Cuff should remain in confinement, to await further discovery.