Sara Gronim is almost certainly correct, although before his death the
senior Colden was often identified as a key figure in various plans to
corrupt leading patriots. In addition to Alice M. Keys biography, reprinted
in 1967, there's a good essay on him in Robert Mc. Calhoon's study, _The
Loyalists in Revolutionary America_ (1973) and an article by Carole Shammas
in NYHSQ 53 (1969). As for CC II,  check out Eugene Fingerhut's 1983 bio.
(I'm unclear as to whether this is the same CC II Bragdon was writing
about. Anyone know?)

Ted Burrows
Department of History
Brooklyn College


At 09:49 AM 8/12/98 -0400, you wrote:
>As Cadwallader Colden died in 1776, it's probably unlikely that he was
>involved in suborning Benedict Arnold who was an active soldier in the
>Patriot cause through 1777 and whose plan to hand over West Point was
>hatched in 1780.  Perhaps the source is referring to CC's son,
>Cadwallader, Jr.?  I have a cite for an article which I have not read
>which might shed some light on this: Joseph Bragdon, "Cadwallader Colden,
>2nd, an Ulster County Tory," New York History, 14 (1933): 411-421.
>
>Regards,
>
>Sara S. Gronim
>Dept. of History
>Rutgers University
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