A journal of the proceedings in the detection of the conspiracy formed by some white people, in conjunction with Negro and other slaves, for burning the city of New-York in America, and murdering the inhabitants. ... Containing, I. A narrative of the trials, condemnations, executions, and behaviour of the several criminals, at the gallows and stake, with their speeches and confessions; with notes, observations and reflections occasionally interspersed throughout the whole. II. An appendix, wherein is set forth some additional evidence concerning the said conspiracy and conspirators, which has come to light since their trials and executions. III. Lists of the several persons (whites and blacks) committed on account of the conspiracy; and of the several criminals executed; and of those transported, with the places whereto. / By the Recorder of the City of New-York. ; [One line in Latin from Virgil]

Supreme Court: THURSDAY, 25th JUNE.

PRESENT The Second and Third Justices.

The KING, against Jamaica, a Negro, and Sarah Hughson.

ORDERED, That the Execution of these two Criminals be respited 'til To-morrow Seven-night.

The KING, against

Negroes.

• Emanuel, WENDOVER's
• Patrick, ENGLISH's
• Br••sh, JAY's
• Jack, BREASTED's
• Will, alias Bill, VAARCK's
• Will, LUSH's

THE Prisoners having been indicted for conspiring, &c. to burn the whole Town and City of New-York, and to kill and destroy the Inhabitants thereof, were arraigned, and pleaded Not Guilty.

The KING against

Negroes.

• York, PECK's.
• Prince, DUANE's
• Scipio, VAN BORSOM's
• Tony, LATHAM's
• Low, PROVOOST.
• Will, WARD's

THE Prisoners having been arraigned on the same Indictment, York, Scipio and Will pleaded Guilty, and Prince, Low and Tony pleaded Not Guilty.

The Court adjourned 'til To morrow Morning Nine o'Clock.

DEPOSITION of MARY BURTON, Taken before one of the Judges.

NUMB. IV

MARY BURTON being duly Sworn, deposed,

1. That the Person Yesterday shewn to her in Prison, lately taken into Custody on Suspicion of being a Roman Catholick Priest, is the same Person she has often seen at the House of John Hughson: That to the best of her Remembrance she saw him there first, some time about Christmass last; and that then for a Fortnight together he used to come there almost every Night, and sometimes used to lie there, but was always gone in the Morning before she the Deponent got up; but she well remembers he used to go by different Names, but whether by the Name of JURY or URY, or DOYLE, she cannot now depose positively; but to the best of her Remem|brance, some of his Names consisted only of one Syllable, and believes she has heard him called by all the said three Names.

2. That after the said Fortnight, she believes the said Person did not come to Hughson's for about a Week; that then he used to come again frequently almost every Night, until the Time of the Stealing of Hogg's Goods: He used to strip himself and go to Bed, as if he was to lie there all Night; but was always gone in the Morning when this Deponent got out of Bed.

3. That when he came to Hughson's, he always went up Stairs in the Company of Hughson, his Wife and Daughter, and Peggy, with whom the Negroes used to be at the same Time consulting about the Plot; and that she has often heard Hughson, the rest of the white People, and the Negroes, talk in the Presence of the said Jury, about setting fire to the Houses, and killing the white People of this City; and has often, when such Conversation was going on, seen the said Jury, alias Ury, whispering to Hughson, his Wife, &c. and the Negroes, which she understood to be joining in the Conspiracy with them; she thought it looked very like it; tho' she cannot say she ever heard him speak out; but said, she esteemed his Actions and Behaviour to signify his Approbation and Consent to what was carrying on by the Company, touching this Conspiracy; and this not one Time in particular, but a great many.

4. That the Conspirators before mentioned generally went into a Room above Stairs to hold their Consulta|tions, and the Deponent (being a Servant in the House) used often to go into that Room to carry such Things as they wanted; and often came in upon them at such Seasons, when (as she believes) they would rather have excused her Appearance; for she has observed, that her coming in has sometimes made Jury uneasy; that they used generally to call up Mary Hughson the Daughter, to bring what they wanted; but when she was out of the Way, the Deponent used to go up: She believes

the said Mary was likewise in their Secrets: Never heard her say any Thing of the Plot, but has heard the rest talk of it often before her the said Mary.

5. That Hughson, his Wife, Daughter Sarah, and Peggy, and the said Ury, when this Deponent has come into the Room amongst them to bring what they wanted, have several Times turned out all the Negroes present, and then have all joined in tempting this Deponent to take an Oath; but upon her asking them for what? they would not tell her; but said, she must swear first, and then they would tell her; but this she absolutely denied over and over; at which Refusal they were angry, and turned her out of the Room; and Ury said to her, had not you better swear and go fine, than go as she did; for they all (the Hughsons, Peggy and Jury, had when they proposed to her to swear) offered her Silks, and a deal of fine Things, if she would comply with their Requests; and Peggy said she was a great Fool if she did not.

6. That about a Fortnight or three Weeks before Hogg's Goods were stolen, she has observed Campbell (with whom she has heard Jury used to keep School) come to Hughson's of a Sunday, sometimes one Garr••t Van Emborough with him; and that Campbell used to go into the Room below with the Hughsons, Peggy, and Caesar, Prince and Cuffee, (Negroes) and when these were met, the Hughsons used to turn the Deponent up Stairs: But she can't say she ever heard them talking of the Plot before Campbell, but she strongly suspected that he knew of it, from his keeping Company with the Hughsons, and the said three Negroes, whom she looked upon to be the principal Heads of the Negroes in the Conspiracy.

7. That during the Time there was Snow upon the Ground, all last Winter, she has often known Hughson to go out of Town a-Days, upon the Pretence of fetch|ing Firewood from the Commons, with his Sleigh; and that he has not returned Home 'til Eight, Nine, Ten or Eleven o'Clock at Night, at different Times, and has brought Negroes to Town to his House; and that he has carried them back again in his Sleigh after Midnight, One, Two or Three o'Clock, and has not returned Home again sometimes till Seven or Eight o'Clock in the Morning.

8. That she has several Times seen Mr. Peter De Lancey's Spanish Negro Antonio at Hughson's, when he (Hughson) has come Home late out of the Wood••; and that she has seen him many Times get into Hughson's Sleigh late in the Night; and that Hughson has not returned Home '••il Six, Seven or Eight the next Morning: But at that Time this Deponent did not know where the said Spanish Negro lived, whether in Town or Country.

9. That one Day at Hughson's, some of the Negroes had behaved rudely towards her, and being in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 she was provoked to swear at them in the Presence of Jury, alias Ury, above mentioned, and upon recollecting herself she said, God forgive me: whereupon the said Ury answered her, That was a small Matter; be could forgive her a great deal more Sins than that; that was Nothing.

10. That at another Time when the Negroes had provoked her, she wished those black ••oads at the Devil; Oh, says Jury, let them be black, or what they will, the Devil has nothing to do with them; I can forgive them their Sins, and you yours too.

Confession of London, a Spanish Indian (Wynkoop's) Before one of the Judges.

1. HE said,

That last Whitsontide was Twelve-Months, on the Monday Afternoon, he went out and met in the Street, Peter Low's Sam, Obadiah Hunt's Warwick, Mrs. Ellison's Billy; That they asked him to go and drink Beer at a House; and Billy said he would carry him to a House that belonged to his Mistress, and that he carried them all to Hughson's: That they called for Beer and Cyder; that Hughson himself brought it; that himself and two 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had but three Pence a|piece about them; that Billy told them he would make up the rest: They had four ••luggs; that the Prisoner was almost drunk; that he had drank Rum at a House before he came there; that Hughson sat down and drank with them, and talked for some time; and that he went out for a Book which he brought; that he told them they must keep secret that he sold Liquor to Negroes; that they must not tell any Thing they saw or heard at his House; that if they would swear to keep secret his Proposal, they should always have Liquor at his House; that they had better suffer Death than tell any Body: That they all agreed to what Hughson said, and did swear and kissed the Book; that Hughson had a List on which he set their Names; that Hughson was to provide Guns, Swords and Knives: That he told them, the Fort should burn first; and that when they saw that, all the Negroes should set fire to their Master's Houses; and that as fast as the People run out, they should stab the first they met wi••h, and kill as many as they could.

2. That some time after the Prisoner was at Comfort's, Jack asked him, whether he knew not what some Negroes were going to do? Yes, Yes, says the Prisoner, I know well enough. Jack told him he must be sure not to tell any Body, nor make any Talk about it; for, said he, they know it as well as we. The Prisoner has talked with Sam and Warwick about it in the Street sometimes when ••he met them. The Prisoner was to burn his Master's House, and to shoot or stab his Master before he came out. Hughson was to find Guns, Powder, Balls, Knives, and every Thing they wanted: Hughson told them he was to be Governor.

Evidev•••• affecting this Negro.

Caesar (Pintard's) Confession,	§ 4.	22d June.
Cato (Col. Moore's) Confession,	§7.	22d June.
Dick (Ten Eyck's) Confession,		30th June.
Warwick (Hunt's) Confession,		1st July.

Confession of Brash, Mr. PETER JAY's Negro, Taken before one of the Judges.

He said,

1. THAT about this time Twelve Months, he and his old Master's Negro (Ben) had been down at the North River, hawling up Timber from the Water|side, in order to be carried to his Master's Garden there; and John Hughson had been helping them a little; and when he and Ben came to the Garden, Ben told him, that Hughson had bid him ask him (Brash) to come to his House and drink.

2. That they went to Hughson's; and when they came there they were both carried up Stairs, and there Hugh|son told them, that about three Days afterwards he was to have a large Company of Negroes, and would give them a Supper; that they were going to rise against the Town, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 burn the Houses and to kill the People; and Hughson asked them if they would be concerned with them? And, after having drank, they both consented: Then Hughson brought a Book, and told them they must both swear that they would set their Master's Houses on fire, and murder their Masters and Mistresses; to which they both con|sented; put their Hands on the Book and kissed it: Hughson told them they must not tell it to any Body but those that were concerned, who were to be there at Night; that they were all to begin together; and Hugh|son said he would tell Ben, and Ben was to tell him; but he told Hughson he could not come to Supper; nor did he go.

3. That a Day or two after this, he and Mr. Murray's Jack went for Tea-Water to Comfort's, and he (Brash) carried Jack to Hughson's, and Hughson carried Jack up Stairs, and swore him of this Plot, who laid his Hand upon the Book and kissed it; and Jack agreed to burn his Master's Stable, his House, and to murder his Master and Mistress.

4. That he was at the great Meeting at Comfort's on Sunday about three Weeks before the Fort burnt, and was in the Shop, where he saw Marschalk's two Negroes London and York, and many others; and Toby be|longing to Breasted the Cooper, next Door to Kortrecht's.

5. That Hughson told him, if he could get any Ne|groes to come in, he should bring them down to him; and that besides what before named, that he carried thither Fortune belonging to Mr. David Clarkson, Jack(p) 3.1 young Negro of Capt. R. Livingston, Cajoe belonging to Mordecai Gomez, and Tom belonging to Hyer the Cooper in Stone Street, and he saw them sworn.

6. That when Ben and he (Brash) were sworn at Hughson's, Hughson gave Ben a Pistol to be carried to the Gunsmith's to be mended, and told him, if any should ask whose it was, he should tell them it was his Master's.

7. That Hughson told him and Ben, that they should get what Guns, Swords and Pistols they could from their Master's, and bring them to his House; but if they could not get any, that he could furnish them with them himself.

8. Confesses that he had a Knife from Comfort's Cook; but he took it upon Account of Ben, instead of Pennies due from Cook to him, which Ben desired him to ask for.

Evidence affecting this Negro.

Peggy's Examination,	No. ••I.		9th May.
Sandy's Examination,	III.	§8.	1st June.
Sarah (Burk's) Examination,	III		5th June.
Jack (Comfort's) Examination,		§31.	8th June.
Pompey (De Lancey's) Examination,		§5.	22d June.

This Day the following Negroes were apprehended and committed as Confederates in the Conspiracy, viz.

• Billy, Ellison's.
• Fortune, Mr. Clarkson's.
• Jack, Mr. Murray's.
• Scipio, Abrahamse's.
• Toby, Breasted's.
• Warwick, Hunt's.
• Windsor, Meyers Cohen's.

Notes

• (p) 3.1

  Mistake for Tom.