To the Editor:

As the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution approaches, the public is invited to a compelling historical presentation that sheds light on a little-known chapter of local history.

Local historian Jeff O’Connor will present “On Penalty of Death,” an engaging lecture examining Loyalist recruitment efforts on New York’s western frontier during the spring of 1776. 

O’Connor’s talk will explore how agents of Sir John Johnson quietly sought to enlist supporters for the King’s Royal Regiment of New York in New Dorlach (modern-day Sharon).

The program will also detail how the Tryon County Committee of Safety uncovered a covert network of Loyalists bound by secrecy under threat of death.

This fascinating presentation brings to life the tensions, risks, and divided loyalties that defined the Revolutionary era in the Schoharie region. 

The event will take place at the Badgley Annex at 148 Fort Road in Schoharie on Saturday, April 11, at 2 p.m. Admission is open to the public, with a suggested donation of $5 per person to support programming. The lecture is generously supported by the Old Stone Fort Museum Complex’s 2026 Lecture Sponsor, Fenimore Asset Management. 

Join us for this unique opportunity to step into the story of 1776 and uncover a hidden chapter of Revolutionary history.

Kristen Edwards

Assistant Curator

Schoharie County Historical Society