The First Conspiracy

The First Conspiracy Plot Summary

Introduction

In the sweltering summer of 1776, as the American colonies teetered on the brink of declaring independence, a shadowy plot was unfolding in New York City that threatened to strangle the revolution in its cradle. At the center of this conspiracy was an audacious plan targeting one man whose death would have likely ended the American experiment before it truly began: George Washington. This remarkable episode reveals how close America came to losing its indispensable leader just days before the Declaration of Independence was signed, when members of Washington's own elite guard unit conspired with British loyalists to betray him. The story of this first conspiracy against Washington illuminates several crucial dimensions of the American Revolution that are often overlooked. First, it reveals the revolution as not merely a war against Britain but also a bitter civil conflict among Americans themselves, with loyalties divided even within Washington's inner circle. Second, it demonstrates how the founding of America required not just military victory but also effective counterintelligence operations to identify and neutralize internal threats. Finally, it shows how Washington's leadership in crisis helped establish precedents for American justice and security that would influence the nation for centuries to come. History enthusiasts, security professionals, and anyone interested in understanding the fragile beginnings of American democracy will find in this narrative a compelling reminder that the birth of the United States was anything but inevitable.

Chapter 1: Seeds of Betrayal: New York's Divided Loyalties (1775)

The year 1775 marked a pivotal moment in American history as tensions between the colonies and Great Britain reached a breaking point. Following the battles of Lexington and Concord in April, the Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia to address the growing crisis. On June 15, they appointed George Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the newly formed Continental Army. Washington, a Virginia planter and veteran of the French and Indian War, accepted this monumental responsibility with characteristic humility, telling Congress that he did not feel equal to the command with which he was honored. While Washington headed to Boston to take command of colonial forces besieging the British-occupied city, another significant figure was making his way to New York: William Tryon, the royal governor. Tryon had been absent in England but returned in June 1775 to reassert British authority. His arrival created a complex political situation in New York, which was deeply divided between Patriots and Loyalists. Unlike other colonies where revolutionary sentiment ran strong, New York had a substantial population loyal to the Crown, making it fertile ground for intrigue and conspiracy. By early 1776, after successfully forcing the British to evacuate Boston, Washington moved his army to New York City, anticipating it would be the next British target. The city's strategic location at the mouth of the Hudson River made it crucial for controlling the colonies. If the British could secure New York and the Hudson River valley, they could effectively split the colonies in two, isolating New England from the middle and southern colonies. Washington understood this strategic importance and began fortifying the city against the expected British assault. Meanwhile, Governor Tryon, forced to retreat to a British ship in New York Harbor called the Duchess of Gordon, began orchestrating a network of spies and loyalists throughout the region. From his floating headquarters, Tryon maintained communication with loyalists on shore, gathering intelligence about Patriot activities and plotting to undermine the revolutionary cause. He used his position and resources to recruit supporters, distribute British propaganda, and lay the groundwork for what would become a dangerous conspiracy against Washington and the Continental Army. The situation in New York during this period revealed the true nature of the American Revolution as not just a war against Britain but also a civil war among Americans themselves. Neighbors, friends, and even family members found themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. This internal division created opportunities for espionage, sabotage, and betrayal that would threaten the revolutionary cause from within. The brewing plots in New York demonstrated that the Patriots faced enemies not just across the ocean but also in their midst. As spring approached in 1776, the stage was set for a dramatic confrontation. Washington worked tirelessly to prepare his inexperienced army for battle against the world's most powerful military force, while Tryon and his loyalist network quietly laid the groundwork for a conspiracy that would target the very heart of the revolutionary leadership. The fate of the American cause hung in the balance, threatened not only by the approaching British fleet but also by treachery growing in the shadows of New York City.

Chapter 2: The Life Guards: Washington's Vulnerable Inner Circle

In March 1776, as Washington established his headquarters in New York City, he created an elite unit known as the Commander-in-Chief's Guard, commonly called the Life Guards. These men were specially selected from existing regiments for their character, loyalty, and physical attributes. They were tasked with protecting Washington, guarding headquarters, and carrying sensitive communications. The Life Guards were distinctive in their blue and buff uniforms with special insignia, and they took pride in their motto: "Conquer or Die." Washington placed enormous trust in these men, who had constant access to him and knowledge of his movements and plans. What Washington couldn't know was that this trusted inner circle would become compromised by a treasonous plot. Among the Life Guards were several men who would betray their commander and country, including Thomas Hickey, an Irish-born soldier who had previously served in the British army before deserting to join the colonial forces. Other guards implicated in the conspiracy included William Green, James Johnson, Michael Lynch, and John Barnes. These men, entrusted with Washington's safety, began frequenting taverns known to be loyalist gathering places, where they expressed discontent with the Continental Army and eventually made contact with British agents. The corruption of the Life Guards was orchestrated by a network centered around Governor Tryon on the Duchess of Gordon and facilitated by key figures in New York City. David Mathews, the loyalist Mayor of New York appointed by Tryon, served as a crucial link between the governor and conspirators on shore. Gilbert Forbes, a gunsmith with a shop on Broadway, became another central figure who recruited soldiers into the plot and distributed payments from Tryon's coffers. Through this network, the Life Guards were offered money, land, and protection if they would turn against Washington and the Continental Army when the British forces arrived. The motivations of the treasonous guards were complex. Some, like Hickey, may have never fully abandoned their loyalty to the Crown. Others were swayed by financial incentives at a time when Continental soldiers were poorly paid and often went without wages for months. The harsh conditions of military service—inadequate food, clothing, and shelter, combined with rampant disease in the army camps—created fertile ground for discontent. Additionally, many soldiers doubted the colonies could prevail against Britain's superior military might and sought to position themselves favorably for what they saw as an inevitable British victory. What made this betrayal particularly dangerous was the access these men had to Washington. The Life Guards slept near his quarters, accompanied him on journeys, and were present during sensitive meetings. They knew his schedule, his vulnerabilities, and the army's defensive preparations. If their treachery had succeeded, the consequences for the revolutionary cause would have been devastating. The death or capture of Washington would have deprived the Continental Army of its leader and symbol of unity at a critical moment when British forces were preparing to attack New York. The Life Guards betrayal represented more than just a military threat; it symbolized the fragility of the revolutionary enterprise itself. The new nation being born was vulnerable not just to external enemies but to internal divisions that could tear it apart from within. The conspiracy revealed that even those closest to Washington—men specifically chosen for their trustworthiness—could be turned against the cause of independence, highlighting the precarious nature of the American Revolution in its earliest days.

Chapter 3: Governor Tryon's Web: Orchestrating Treason from Afar

By spring 1776, Governor William Tryon had transformed the Duchess of Gordon into a floating command center for Loyalist operations. Anchored in New York Harbor within sight of Manhattan, the ship hosted a rotating cast of prominent Loyalists including New York's attorney general John Tabor Kempe, New Jersey's attorney general Cortlandt Skinner, and Tryon's secretary Edmund Fanning. From this maritime headquarters, Tryon orchestrated what would become one of the most dangerous threats to the American Revolution. Tryon was no amateur at suppressing rebellion. During his previous posting as Governor of North Carolina, he had brutally crushed the Regulator Movement, hanging its leaders as traitors. Now in New York, he employed more sophisticated methods, developing a comprehensive strategy to undermine the revolutionary cause from within. His plan had multiple dimensions: gathering intelligence about Patriot activities, spreading propaganda to discourage support for independence, recruiting Loyalists into military service, and most dangerously, subverting Washington's army itself. The centerpiece of Tryon's strategy was a systematic effort to recruit colonists to the British side through bribery. According to multiple accounts, Tryon offered substantial rewards—"five guineas bounty and two hundred acres of land for each man, one hundred for his wife, and fifty for each child"—to anyone who would pledge allegiance to the Crown and agree to fight against the Continental forces when the British fleet arrived. These incentives were particularly appealing at a time when economic hardship was widespread and the Continental currency was rapidly depreciating in value. Tryon's conspiracy extended far beyond New York City. His agents traveled throughout the region, targeting areas like Goshen, New York and parts of New Jersey where Loyalist sentiment was strong. They established a network of safe houses, meeting points, and communication channels to coordinate activities across a wide geographic area. This regional approach reflected Tryon's understanding that the revolution was vulnerable not just to military defeat but to fragmentation along existing colonial boundaries and local interests. The most dangerous aspect of Tryon's plot was its penetration of Washington's army. Rather than simply fighting the Continental forces directly, Tryon sought to turn soldiers against their officers and each other, creating chaos from within. His agents approached disgruntled soldiers, particularly those frustrated by poor conditions, delayed pay, or the seemingly hopeless odds against Britain's military might. The Governor's strategy was simple but effective: why fight the Continental army when you could turn its own soldiers against it? The timing of Tryon's conspiracy was deliberately synchronized with the anticipated arrival of the British fleet. He knew that a massive force under General William Howe was sailing toward New York, and his plot was designed to activate at the moment of their arrival. Some recruits would destroy bridges and block supply routes, others would create diversions or sabotage defenses, while still others—most dangerously, the corrupted Life Guards—would turn their weapons on Washington and other officers during the confusion of battle. This coordination between internal sabotage and external attack represented a sophisticated approach to warfare that threatened to destroy the revolutionary cause at its most vulnerable moment. Tryon's web of conspiracy demonstrates how the American Revolution was contested not just on battlefields but in the shadows—through espionage, subversion, and psychological warfare. The battle for American independence was fought not only against redcoats but against neighbors, colleagues, and even comrades-in-arms who remained loyal to the Crown or were turned by bribes and promises. This dimension of the conflict reveals the revolution as a complex civil war that divided communities and even families, making the eventual achievement of independence all the more remarkable.

Chapter 4: Unraveling the Plot: Jay's Committee and Counterintelligence

By May 1776, alarming reports of loyalist activities and potential plots against the Continental Army prompted the New York Provincial Congress to take decisive action. On May 18, they established a secret committee initially called the "Committee on Intestine Enemies," later renamed the "Committee on Conspiracies." This groundbreaking intelligence body was tasked with investigating and neutralizing internal threats to the revolutionary cause. Three particularly influential members emerged as leaders of this committee: Philip Livingston, a respected elder statesman from one of New York's most prominent families; Gouverneur Morris, a brilliant young lawyer; and John Jay, a thirty-year-old legal mind who would later become the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The committee operated with unprecedented powers and secrecy. Members were sworn to absolute confidentiality, and their proceedings were kept separate from regular congressional records. They could issue arrest warrants, conduct interrogations, detain suspects, and request military assistance from Washington's army to apprehend dangerous individuals. They compiled a "List of Suspected Persons" throughout New York colony, with Governor Tryon and Mayor Mathews prominently featured. This methodical approach to counterintelligence represented something entirely new in American governance—a systematic effort to identify and neutralize internal enemies during wartime. The committee's work accelerated dramatically in mid-June when Isaac Ketcham, a prisoner in the city jail on counterfeiting charges, requested an audience with the Provincial Congress. On June 17, Ketcham revealed that two Continental soldiers sharing his cell—Thomas Hickey and Michael Lynch, both members of Washington's Life Guards—had disclosed details of a vast conspiracy against the Continental Army. According to Ketcham, the plot involved destroying King's Bridge (a critical supply route), blowing up magazines of gunpowder, and potentially assassinating key officers when the British fleet arrived. Most alarmingly, Hickey claimed that eight of Washington's Life Guards were involved in the plot. Following Ketcham's revelations, Jay, Livingston, and Morris formed a special subcommittee to investigate this specific threat. They conducted a series of secret examinations of key witnesses and suspects. William Leary, a foreman from an ironworks in Goshen, New York, testified about loyalist recruitment efforts in the countryside. James Mason, a mill worker turned loyalist recruit, provided crucial details about how Gilbert Forbes was enlisting soldiers and administering payments from funds provided by Mayor Mathews. These testimonies confirmed that the conspiracy extended far beyond a few disgruntled soldiers and revealed a sophisticated network connecting Governor Tryon to conspirators throughout the region. The committee's investigation culminated in a series of dramatic arrests. On the night of June 21-22, Continental soldiers under General Nathanael Greene's command conducted a midnight raid on Mayor Mathews's home in Flatbush, Long Island, seizing him from his bed. Gilbert Forbes was apprehended at his gunsmith shop on Broadway. The suspected Life Guards—including Hickey, Green, Lynch, Johnson, and Barnes—were also taken into custody. Even Washington's housekeeper, Mary Smith, was implicated and suddenly removed from her position, suggesting the conspiracy had reached the very household where the Commander-in-Chief slept. The Committee on Conspiracies represented America's first organized counterintelligence operation. Its methods—secret examinations, confidential informants, targeted arrests, and coordinated military action—established patterns that would influence American intelligence work for centuries to come. Indeed, the Central Intelligence Agency today acknowledges John Jay as "America's first counterintelligence chief" and recognizes his committee as a foundational moment in American intelligence history. The committee's swift and effective response to the conspiracy demonstrated that the revolutionary leadership could defend itself not just against external military threats but also against the insidious danger of internal betrayal.

Chapter 5: Swift Justice: Hickey's Execution and Revolutionary Resolve

On June 26, 1776, a military court-martial convened at Continental Army headquarters in New York City to try Thomas Hickey, a member of Washington's Life Guards, on charges of "mutiny and sedition" and "treasonable correspondence with the enemy." The tribunal consisted of thirteen officers, including a colonel, a lieutenant colonel, a major, and ten captains. Four witnesses testified against Hickey: William Green (another Life Guard implicated in the conspiracy), Gilbert Forbes (the gunsmith who had recruited soldiers into the plot), Isaac Ketcham (the prisoner who had first exposed the conspiracy), and William Welch (a civilian who claimed Hickey had tried to recruit him). The testimony painted a damning picture of Hickey's involvement in the conspiracy. Green admitted that he had enlisted Hickey and other Life Guards into the plot, claiming they initially intended to "cheat the Tories" by taking their money. Forbes testified that Hickey had received payment for joining the scheme. Ketcham recounted how Hickey had boasted in jail about being part of a band that would "turn against the American Army when the King's troops should arrive." When given the opportunity to defend himself, Hickey offered only a weak explanation that he had joined the plot either to cheat the loyalists or to protect himself if the British won. The court unanimously found him guilty and sentenced him to death by hanging. Washington and his generals moved with remarkable speed to carry out the sentence. The next morning, June 27, Washington convened a council of war with six senior officers, who unanimously advised confirming the death sentence and executing Hickey the following day. Washington issued orders that the execution would take place at eleven o'clock on June 28, and that all officers and soldiers not on duty should attend. This public spectacle was clearly intended to send a message about the consequences of treason at a moment when the British fleet was expected to arrive any day. On the morning of June 28, 1776, nearly twenty thousand people—soldiers and civilians alike—gathered in a field north of New York City (near present-day Grand and Chrystie Streets) to witness Hickey's execution. The enormous crowd, representing almost the entire population of the city plus the army, stood in solemn attention as Hickey was marched to the gallows under guard. According to an eyewitness account by army surgeon William Eustis, Hickey maintained a defiant demeanor until the final moments, when "a torrent of tears flowed over his face" as the chaplain bid him farewell. At precisely eleven o'clock, the platform dropped, and Thomas Hickey became the first soldier executed for treason in the American Revolution. The execution of Thomas Hickey represented a pivotal moment in the early history of the United States. It demonstrated that the revolutionary leadership would deal harshly with internal enemies, even those from within Washington's trusted circle. The public nature of the punishment—making it the largest public execution in North American history at that time—underscored the seriousness with which treason was viewed. In his general orders that day, Washington described Hickey's fate as a "warning to every soldier in the army to avoid those crimes and all others so disgraceful to the character of a soldier and pernicious to his country." Ironically, on the very day of Hickey's execution, momentous events were unfolding elsewhere that would transform the nature of the conflict. In Philadelphia, the Continental Congress was debating the final wording of the Declaration of Independence, which would be approved just days later on July 4. And that same afternoon, a colonial sloop spotted the vanguard of the British fleet approaching New York Harbor, signaling that the long-anticipated battle for New York was about to begin. The execution of Thomas Hickey thus occurred at the precise intersection of these transformative events—the birth of a new nation and the arrival of the military force sent to crush it—making it a symbolic moment when America confronted both external threat and internal betrayal at the threshold of independence.

Chapter 6: Legacy: Birth of American Intelligence at Independence's Dawn

The conspiracy against George Washington and the Continental Army in the summer of 1776 left an enduring legacy that extended far beyond the immediate threat it posed. Most significantly, it catalyzed the development of American counterintelligence capabilities that would influence the nation's approach to internal security for generations to come. The Committee on Conspiracies, led by John Jay, established precedents and methods that would serve as a foundation for future intelligence work, earning Jay recognition from the modern CIA as "America's first counterintelligence chief." In October 1776, after the British occupied New York City, Jay expanded his intelligence operations by forming a more robust organization called the "Committee for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies." This enhanced body operated throughout New York State, investigating loyalist activities, conducting interrogations, making arrests, and coordinating with military authorities. The committee maintained a network of informants, conducted covert operations, and developed sophisticated methods for identifying and neutralizing internal threats. These techniques—including the use of double agents, coded communications, and targeted surveillance—established patterns that would influence American intelligence practices for centuries. Washington himself drew important lessons from the conspiracy. Having witnessed the vulnerability of his command to infiltration and betrayal, he developed a more sophisticated approach to intelligence gathering and security. By September 1776, he began sending spies behind British lines, including the young officer Nathan Hale, who was captured and executed in New York City. Later in the war, Washington established the Culper Ring, a sophisticated spy network operating in British-occupied New York. He instituted code names, invisible ink, and elaborate security protocols to protect his intelligence operations. These innovations demonstrated how quickly Washington adapted to the realities of intelligence warfare after the shock of the Life Guards' betrayal. The conspiracy also highlighted the civil war dimensions of the American Revolution, revealing deep divisions within colonial society that would persist throughout the conflict. The network of loyalists who supported Tryon's plot—from prominent officials like Mayor Mathews to ordinary citizens and soldiers—demonstrated that the revolutionary cause faced opposition not just from across the ocean but from within American communities. These internal divisions would continue to shape the war, as loyalists provided intelligence to British forces, joined provincial regiments fighting alongside British regulars, and engaged in guerrilla warfare against their patriot neighbors. Perhaps most importantly, the conspiracy and its aftermath revealed the fragility of the revolutionary enterprise at its inception. The new nation being born was vulnerable not just to military defeat but to subversion from within. The plot against Washington occurred at a pivotal moment when the fate of the Revolution hung in the balance—just before the Declaration of Independence and the arrival of the British fleet. Had it succeeded in killing or capturing Washington, or in sowing chaos within the Continental Army on the eve of battle, the consequences for American independence might have been catastrophic. The conspiracy thus stands as a reminder of how contingent the birth of the United States was on specific events and individual actions during those precarious early months of the war. The legacy of the plot extended into the constitutional era as well. When the founders gathered in Philadelphia in 1787 to draft a new constitution, their experiences during the Revolution—including the dangers of internal subversion—informed their thinking about government powers and limitations. The Constitution's provisions regarding treason—the only crime specifically defined in the document—reflected their understanding of its unique threat to the republic. Similarly, the balance they sought between security and liberty was shaped by their firsthand experience with both British oppression and the internal dangers that had threatened the revolutionary cause from within.

Summary

The conspiracy against George Washington in 1776 represents a critical but often overlooked moment when America's founding hung in the balance. This plot, orchestrated by British Governor William Tryon from his floating headquarters in New York Harbor and executed through a network of loyalists including Mayor David Mathews and gunsmith Gilbert Forbes, penetrated Washington's inner circle of Life Guards—the very men entrusted with his protection. The betrayal revealed the Revolution's dual nature as both a war against Britain and a civil conflict among Americans with competing visions for their future. What makes this conspiracy particularly significant is its timing: occurring on the eve of both American independence and the massive British military campaign to capture New York, it threatened to decapitate the revolutionary leadership at its most vulnerable moment. The thwarting of this conspiracy offers enduring lessons about leadership, security, and national resilience. Washington's response—swift justice combined with institutional innovation—demonstrated how effective leadership can transform crisis into opportunity. The Committee on Conspiracies established by John Jay created America's first counterintelligence capability, developing methods and approaches that would influence national security practices for centuries to come. Perhaps most importantly, this episode reminds us that democracy has always been fragile and contested, requiring vigilance against threats both external and internal. The American experiment survived this early test not through inevitability but through the determination and adaptability of its founders, who recognized that creating a new nation demanded not just military victory but also the ability to identify and neutralize the enemy within. Their success in meeting this challenge allowed the Revolution to continue and the Declaration's principles to take root, shaping the nation that would emerge from the crucible of war.

About Author

Loading...

Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer is the Emmy-nominated, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod, The Escape Artist, and eleven other bestselling thrillers. He also writes non-fiction books like The JFK Conspiracy, about a secret plot to kill JFK before he was sworn in – and the Ordinary People Change the World kids book series, which he does with Chris Eliopoulos and inspired the PBS KIDS TV show, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. His newest kids books are We are the Beatles, We are the Beatles, and I am Simone Biles. His newest inspirational book is Make Magic, based on his viral commencement address.In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (The Nazi Conspiracy), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, and is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Meltzer unveiled the flag at the 9/11 Museum in New York, where it is now on display. See the video here. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors.He also recently delivered the commencement address at the University of Michigan, in front of 70,000 people, including his graduating son. Entitled Make Magic and called “one of the best commencement addresses of all time,” it’s been shared millions of times across social media. Do yourself a favor, watch it here and buy the book here.For sure, it’s tough to find anyone being so successful in so many different mediums of the popular culture. But why does Brad thrive in all these different professions? His belief that ordinary people change the world. It is that core belief that runs through every one of his projects.His newest thriller, The Lightning Rod, brings back characters Nola and Zig in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: What's the one secret no one knows about you? It's about to come out. Nearly 2,000 five-star reviews. Raves by everyone from the Wall Street Journal, to James Patterson, to Brad's mother-in-law. Plus that twist at the end! And yes, the new Zig & Nola thriller is coming soon!His newest non-fiction book, The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy -- and Why It Failed, which he wrote with Josh Mensch, is a true story about a secret assassination plot to kill JFK at the start of his Presidency and, if successful, would’ve changed history. His illustrated children’s books I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln, which he does with artist Chris Eliopoulos, were written for his own children, to give them better heroes to look up to. Try them. You won’t believe how inspired you and your family will be. Some of our favorites in the series are I am Mister Rogers and I am Dolly Parton.His other non-fiction books, Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter, are collections of heroes – from Jim Henson to Sally Ride — that he’s been working on since the day his kids were born and is on sale now, as well as History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time.He’s also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby.Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all thirteen of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who

Read more

Related Books by Brad Meltzer

Loading...

The Nazi Conspiracy

Brad Meltzer

The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill

★★★★☆4.2