RELICS COMMEMORATING THE CAPTURE OF MAJOR JOHN ANDRE ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1780 The silver watch bearing the inscription on the outer case "John Andre 1768" has recently become the property of the So-* ciety, through the kindness of Mr. Samuel V. Hoffman, who presented it. The history of the watch relates that it was presented to Isaac Van Wart, one of the captors, and in 1878 his son sold it. In 1887 it appeared in an auction sale of W. Elliott Woodward's when it was sold to the person who recently disposed of the watch to Mr. Hoffman. Accounts of Major Andre's capture and the motives of the captors differ greatly and it is necessary to relate the varying accounts in connection with this relic. John Paulding petitioned Congress for an increase of the pension allowed him in consequence of his service in the capture of Andre. On January 13, 1817 the petition was reported unfavorably and an interesting debate arose on the question. Those in favor of the increased pension argued the importance of the services of John Paulding and his companions, the magnitude of the virtue they displayed and the depreciation of money since the amount of the pension was established. Those opposing the increased pension argued the injustice of legislating on a single case of pension for services which were in fact, though important, but the common duty of every citizen, and in which no disability was incurred; whilst there were many survivors of the Revolution, whom the favor of the government had not distinguished, and who were languishing in obscurity and want, and to whom no relief had been or would be extended. Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, of Connecticut, then a member of Congress, took part in the debate. At the time of Andre's capture he was commanding an advance guard in Westchester County and the day following, September 24th, took Andre to Salem and from there to West Point, thence down the Hudson to Haverstraw /filO^ to Headquarters at Tappan, N. Y. Colonel Tallmadge stated on the declaration of Major Andre made to him, that if Andre could have given to these men the amount they demanded for his re- 39