The Revolutionary Committees of Safety

Submitted by John Osinski

The October 29, 1774, the Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the Articles of Association.

Article 11 provided  “That a committee be chosen in every county, city, and town, by those who are qualified to vote for representatives in the legislature, whose business it shall be attentively to observe the conduct of all persons touching this association”….further. when found that any person  has violated this association,  they should be identified and universally contemned as the enemies of American liberty, and break off all dealings with them.

Committees of Safety were common throughout the Colonies, but with the Articles of Association they took on a political role.

When adopted, Boston was under British Military Control and commerce through the harbor embargoed.  A major premise of the Articles was to strike back at the British stranglehold over the American economy.  After shots were fired at Lexington Green on April 19, 1775, a stronger sense of urgency evolved very quickly.

In New York, the Palatine District of Tryon County (now much of Montgomery County) organized its own Committee of Safety in August, 1774,  Political tensions were very high there, being the home of Sir William Johnson, his heir Sir John, and nephew Guy, strong, loyal servants of the Crown.

Albany County was slower to respond.  In May, 1775, the Schenectady District formed its own Committee.  The Schenectady Committee is important, since its records are the only ones that have survived to the present day,  and provide a fairly complete record of the actions that they took.  They served as local government, organized and procured supplies for the Militia, and enforced the Articles of Association, and sanctions against those who opposed the American cau

According to Hagen (War in Schohary 1777-1783),  the Schohary District formed its Committee in June, 1776.  Johannes Ball was elected Chairman; other names from the Committee include Vrooman, Becker, Borst, Warner, Deitz, Swart, and Zimmer. all common in Schoharie to this day.   

We often refer to the Revolutionary War on the New York frontier as a civil war, and in support of this know that Schohary Chairman Ball’s brother was a Loyalist combatant, fighting for the Crown against the “rebellion”.

Although Committees served throughout the Revolution, many of their functions were assumed by the State after Independence was declared.

The Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution is now well underway.  Even though outright warfare in the region is about two years off, political warfare is gearing up rapidly.

On May 17, the Montgomery County 250th Commission will be commemorating the raising of a Liberty Pole at Kateri Shrine.

On May 20, the Schenectady 250th Committee will be commemorating the creation of the Schenectady Committee of Safety at the Stockade Inn.

On May 31, Revolutionary Schohary 250 will be assisting the Schoharie Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution with the dedication of their 250th Monument and Patriots Walkway at Lasell Hall in Schoharie.

Show your patriotism and support these efforts to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the American War for Independence… its just getting started and there’s a lot more to come.

John Osinski

Revolutionary Schohary 250.org