New York's Governor
Governor Tryon was made the Royal Governor of New York in 1771. Tryon came from North Carolina, where he used harsh methods to quash the 
Gov. William TryonRegulator movement, a group of men looking for redress of their grievances. When those grievances went unresolved, they began withholding taxes, reclaiming confiscated property, and disrupting the courts. Tryon called upon the militia to suppress them. This led to the Battle of Alamance, May 16, 1771. Tryon was moved to New York shortly after that battle.
After being moved to New York, Tryon was facing the same issues. He was facing a growing anger amongst the colonists, especially the Sons of Liberty. The Sons of Liberty was a Patriot group that, by 1775, moved from protest to armed defiance. They intimidated Loyalists, seized British arms, and stopped the importation of British goods. They also provided logistical support for the Continental Army. Due to this environment, Tryon returned to England in 1774 to retreat from the anger of the Sons of Liberty. He returned to New York in October of 1775, where he was forced out of New York and sought protection aboard a British ship.
The Lieutenant Governor Cadwallader Colden of New York had his home in Orange County, near Newburgh. He was born in
Cadwallader Colden Scottland in 1688 and immigrated to the Colonies at 29. He studied medicine and was friends with Benjamin Franklin. He was adopted by the Mohawk nation and admired the ways of the indigenous people. He became New York’s Lieutenant Governor and sided with the crown. Once news of Lexington and Concord reached New York, and with the rising of the Sons of Liberty, Cadwallader Colden retreated to Long Island. Rioters in New York burned him in effigy, and his prized coach was set on fire. He passed away that same year at the age of 88.
Cadwallader Colden's Carriage Attacked
Check out our April Newsletter for Part 4 - 1775-1776: New York City, a vital port, saw its population dwindle as Loyalists fled, fearing Patriot rule and the looming conflict.
