[Pharmboy]

NYC, then as now, was a complicated place in colnial and pre-RevWar times. As a matter of fact, from 1765 through 1770, it was NYC rather than Boston that was the center of ant-British activity (Stamp Act Congress; Son of Liberty; Battle of Golden Hill ).

But yes--you are right to imply that a good percentage of Loyalists came from NYC. The patriots fled when the brits occupied the city, many of them going to Philadelphia.

[ruoflaw]

I once read that there were still many of dutch ancestory in NYC and they thought the British would win so they backed the Loyalists.