Tryon County Committee of Safety facts for kids
Committees of Safety were special groups formed by American colonists before the American Revolution. Their main job was to look after the interests of their local communities. These committees helped make decisions about local legal issues, organized local volunteer soldiers (called militias), and dealt with people suspected of working against the colonies.
New York's Committees of Safety
In Tryon County, New York, a Committee of Safety was formed on August 27, 1774. This group acted like the real government of the county until 1778, even though it wasn't officially recognized by the British. Its first leader was Christopher Yates.
The committee made important rules. For example, they required people to have a special pass to enter or leave the county. They could also arrest people they thought were "suspicious." Some of these people had to pay fines, while others were put in jail.
In August 1774, the committee wrote a protest against the British navy blocking the harbor in Boston. Many of their meetings happened at Goshen Van Alstyne's home in Canajoharie (village), New York, New York.
The New York Provincial Congress started meeting in May 1775. On June 11, 1775, Christopher Yates, John Marlett, and John Moore were chosen to represent Tryon County in this congress.
Wartime Actions of the Committee
In January 1776, Isaac Paris, who was the chairman of the Committee of Safety, sent a letter to General Schuyler. He reported that about 600 or 700 Loyalists (people who supported the British) had gathered with weapons in Johnstown (city), New York. In May 1776, the committee told its representatives in the New York Provincial Congress to vote for American independence.
During the Battle of Oriskany, three members of the committee – Samuel Billington, John Dygert, and Jacob Snell – were killed. After this battle, a group of strong supporters of independence, led by Isaac Paris and Moses Younglove, took control of the committee.
This group continued to imprison people they suspected of being Loyalists. They also imprisoned some Patriots who refused to sell wheat to the committee at a price lower than the market value. The committee also worked with some Oneida Native Americans to take action against suspected Loyalists. Another important member of the committee at this time was Colonel Sampson Sammons.
In March 1778, General Schuyler warned the committee to stop its actions. By then, most of the Loyalists had already left the area. The power of the Committee of Safety was officially taken over by the New York state legislature on February 7, 1778.
In March 1778, Isaac Paris was elected to the New York Assembly. In the spring, the state legislature ended all committees in New York. They were replaced by "Commissioners of Conspiracy," who were chosen by the governor. The Tryon County Committee of Safety met for the last time on April 21, 1778.
North Carolina's Committee of Safety
Tryon County, North Carolina, played a very important part in the American Revolution.
After the Battle of Lexington in Massachusetts, 49 people from Tryon County gathered at the courthouse. They wrote the Tryon Resolves. This was a declaration showing their resistance to the strong actions taken by the British Empire against its colonies in North America. On August 14, 1775, the people who signed "The Resolves" were all members of the Tryon County, North Carolina Committee of Safety. They then formed the Tryon County, North Carolina militia. This was done to prepare for any British response to the growing American resistance.
