Abraham Woodhull: The Spy Named Samuel Culper. Journal of the American Revolution, 19 May 2014. When they returned to their room, they had passionate sex. He had three children with his wife Mary, lived prosperously as a Suffolk County judge, and died in 1826. I understand why they didnt opt for historical accuracy on this one, but boys wearing gowns as children is one of my favorite Colonial oddities and I wished they had included it. Washington was annoyed; Woodhull had always made a fuss about payment during the war, but Washington saw fit to reward him for his invaluable service. Abraham pulled his gun and asked Baker not to arrest him, but Baker said that he would not be a traitor like Abraham. Before Simcoe could fire back, Woodhull and Anna Strong arrived and ended the fight, with Anna telling Simcoe that the men were fighting for their honor, not hers, and telling them that they could both leave. Your email address will not be published. Application of another solution developed the ink to reappear. (His very appearance is a bit of a chronological anomaly, but well discuss that later.) and Mary Anna (Smith) Woodhull. Caleb escaped, and Abraham decided to continue passing information to the patriots. Still dedicated to his mission, in June Woodhull expanded the operation by recruiting 25 year-old Robert Townsend, a former lodger at the Underhill boarding house, as an additional agent. (Dont believe me? Washington sent another vial of ink.[12]. He used the alias Samuel Culper when sending messages and working as a spy. Eventually operating from Underhills boarding house, Woodhull so successfully played the part of a loyal but inquisitive farmer that he gained all of the information he needed, and more. Theyre both economical and practical, especially for a large middle or working-class family. Simcoe arrested him after he gave a pro-patriot sermon to people at a tavern, and he was accused of being the shooter. In June, the British had been forced to evacuate Philadelphia after the city became untenable due to vulnerability and stretched supply lines. [13] Culper to John Bolton, June 5, 1779, GW Papers, accessed March 29, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov; Rose, Washingtons Spies, 129. Woodhull decided to have Baker as his second for the duel, and he met Simcoe on a small patch of land at a creek. However, I have come across letters that have the sympathetic stain across entire pages. Selah and Anna Strong lived out the rest of their lives quietly in Setauket. Townsend, in fact, had somewhat foolishly recruited his cousin James into the ring, who ended up being arrested by the Continental Army for allegedly being a British spy! He was herded into the tavern with the other people, and Tallamdge and Brewster took him aside from the crowd to tell him that he was going to negotiate the release of the prisoners. Tallmadge and his commander, Brig. Abraham decided to help Caleb in escaping New York after their meeting, and Caleb was able to escape on a rowboat as Abraham and Anna distracted British guards by offering them some beer from the Strong tavern. Woodhull was beaten, and Cyrus offered to let Woodhull leave if he fought him. [14] Like Woodhull, Townsend played the part of a devoted Loyalist but he was a secret Patriot who had served briefly as a commissary to General Nathaniel Woodhull, Abrahams cousin. Woodhull was tortured, being thrown in a cage with patriots; he did not disclose his true loyalties, and he was beaten and hated by the imprisoned patriots. Even after resigning he sent seven more letters about British activities. The war finally ended in 1783, with the Continental Army victorious thanks to assistance from the French. Though, they must have been pre-made, as by the time they would have been finished, Sprout would have sprouted some more. Gen. Charles Scott, added their own comments and couriers then sped the messages to Washington at Continental Army headquarters in New Jersey. [11] He held a few minor political appointments, including magistrate in Suffolk County, New York, from 1799 to 1810. The incident struck fear into Townsends heart, as it demonstrated just how easy it was to be captured. In Manhattan, he collected information from various sources, including British officers staying at the Underhill boarding house and then return to Setauket, where he passed the information to the Continental Army lieutenant and whaleboat operator Caleb Brewster to take across Long Island Sound to Tallmadge. Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Death 2 Behind the Scenes 2.1 Appearances Biography Death Thomas Woodhull died in the Battle of Bladensburg during the War of 1812 on August 24, 1814, felled by an British musket. The patriots withdrew from Setauket, but Anna decided to leave Selah's side and stay in Setauket to help Abraham. His name is Benjamin Tallmadge, and he has asked me to do something dangerous. But how do you read the non-transcribed Samuel Culper John Bolton GW Papers via http://memory.loc.gov? Woodhull never spoke of his spying activities to anyone. [7] Tallmadge then set up a spy network in New York, with Woodhull as the lead agent. Woodhull and Strong must accomplish this right underneath the noses of the British soldiers occupying their hometown, as well as Woodhulls Loyalist father. Abraham Woodhull performed Patriotic Service in New York in the American Revolution. Townsend then decided he was through with espionage. Where you can stand on your own two feet. His cousin, General Nathaniel Woodhull, Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. memorial page for Abraham Woodhull (7 Oct 1750-23 Jan 1826), Find a Grave . I dont have any little ones of my own, but it seems to me that infant gowns would make life as a busy parent a whole lot easier. His position as a merchant in New York City put him in an excellent position to learn British plans from his Crown business contacts. The three would look out for each other and do many things together, including escorting Abe to secretly gain a kiss from Anna Strong. While Hewlett acknowledged Woodhull's excuse that he was in prison, he told Woodhull that he would send the report to Major John Andre in Philadelphia. Required fields are marked *. Does beard oil expire? Our work has been featured by the New York Times, TIME magazine, History Channel, Discovery Channel, Smithsonian, Mental Floss, NPR, and more. This ruined Woodhull's plan to spy in New York, so he decided to inform his guard that he could wait outside of the city when he entered Manhattan for his studies. Woodhull was portrayed from 2014 to 2017 by Jamie Bell in AMC's spy thriller and historical drama series Turn: Washington's Spies, which was based on Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring (2007) by Alexander Rose. Woodhulls marriage to Mary Smith in November may have reinforced his decision; as a family man, he had more to lose than his own life. Senaste mnen. If you are interested in working with us or have a great story, please get in touch. with his son William Tallmadge. Anna left with him, ostensibly to petition for Selah Strong's release from the HMS Jersey; Abraham would supposedly sell some cauliflower to the British. For the first few years of the Revolution, Continental Army leaders preferred to sneak operatives into British territory where they skulked around for a few days, acquired information, and then slipped back out through the lines to report to American commanders. Woodhull served as a lieutenant in the Suffolk County, New York, militia in the fall of 1775 but resigned after a few months. John Graves Simcoe, (born February 25, 1752, Cotterstock, Northamptonshire, Englanddied October 26, 1806, Exeter, Devonshire), British soldier and statesman who became the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada (present-day Ontario). Was is from Morton Pennypacker? Anna found out about the duel from Simcoe and warned Richard Woodhull, and the two headed to stop the duel. Change). I wish also to know where their shipping lies, and if they appear to be taking measures and what measures for their security in case of a French fleets entering the harbor.[16] However as a commander who needed timely and accurate intelligence, Washington sometimes found Woodhulls skittishness irritating, as he wrote to Tallmadge in September 1779, I have been expecting for some time past a communication from Culper. Later in their encounter, Simcoe challenged him to a duel, and Woodhull decided to accept before Ensign Baker arrived and rescued him from Simcoe and his men. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! (LogOut/ See Todd Andrliks James Rivington: Kings Printer and Patriot Spy? Abraham socialized with Andre and the British officers before he snuck into an officer's room where Anna was about to lay with the officer and steal his book (which contained coded messages). [8] His plan was to travel to Manhattan, ostensibly to visit his married sister, Mary Underhill, and her husband, Amos, at their boarding house. Rose, Alexander. Best Known For: Abraham Woodhull was a member of the Culper Spy Ring, which provided information to George Washington during the American Revolution. Suddenly the door to his room flung open and two people burst into his room. Following the directions of Benjamin Tallmadge, his childhood friend and General George Washingtons director of military intelligence, Woodhull operated under the code name "Samuel Culper." However, he was arrested by British troops and thrown in prison by Inspector-General Joseph Innes, who believed that he was spying for the rebels. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Caleb Brewster joined what is today the Coast Guard in 1793, retired in 1816, and died in 1827. [1] Samuel Culper to Brig. If I am caught, I could be hanged as a traitor and a spy. Excellent sketch of the Culper Rings two Principal Agents Mike. Immediate Family: Son of Capt. Anna Strong (Heather Lind) We know she lived in Setauket until her death at age 72 on Aug. 12, 1812 (coincidentally exactly 205 years before the Turn series finale). [4] He was motivated by the murder of his cousin Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull of the New York militia, who was wounded by sword and bayonet cuts after he had been captured on August 29, 1776. The two of them spent a moment together before Abraham found out that Major Hewlett's horse Bucephalus had been poisoned through his apples, and Captain Simcoe blamed the poisoning on rebel sympathizers. While there, he had a conversation with two Hessians making sauerkraut at their campfire, and they let him try their food. Abraham negotiated that his father could sell his hogs for 7 pounds each, saying that Cook could make an extra profit by giving the quartermaster the required 20 hogs and some more hogs to other merchants, which would benefit Cook. There is nothing I love more than watching you in your crib, but tonight I am wide awake, alone with my thoughts, unable to rest as dark intentions keep my mind preoccupied. Abraham had in fact joined the county militia in 1775 with no apparent objection from his father, but became disenchanted and quit after two months. The British knew the exact strength of the French fleet, and were going to wait for them to make harbor and ambush them. This week I was reviewing Muster, Payrolls and List of Effectives for Capt Gross Scruggs company of the Fifth Virginia. This entry was posted in clothing, material culture and tagged 18th century clothing, 18th century gowns, Abraham Woodhull, amc turn, historical costuming, Linda Baumgarten, material culture, sprout, Thomas Woodhull, TURN, turn amc, TURN premiere. The house was built in 1660 and was destroyed by fire in 1931. Introducing the Topic Index page (Just in time for the Season 3Premiere! After the United States gained independence, Woodhull served as a magistrate, as had his father before him, and served as a judge in Suffolk County, New York. A Letter From Abraham Woodhull to His Son Thomas is an entry from the Turn: Washington's Spies official site. To appear as a devoted subject of King George III he publically took an oath of loyalty in Setauket. He was the son of Richard Woodhull, a wealthy judge, and Margaret Smith Woodhull, who did not die when Abraham was young as portrayed in the show, but in fact died in 1803, fifteen years after Richard. Abraham Woodhull/Parents Failure was not an option. Ben has asked me to assist in balancing the scales. [5] In February 1779 he sent information on troop movements, supply problems, naval matters, the total strength of enemy forces around New York, the possibility of reinforcements, and other military plans; the report was seven pages long. Townsend told him never to show up at his inn again, warning him that he knew about his messages and told him that he could have given them to a British officer instead. In addition, Abrahams cousin, Nathaniel Woodhull, a general in the Continental Army, had perished in the Battle of Long Island in 1776. Thanks for pointing this out!! I saw an old friend today. To protect their identities Tallmadge assigned aliases for their correspondence; Tallmadge went by John Bolton and Woodhull used the name Samuel Culper. It was the beginning of what became known as the Culper Ring., Woodhull was good at the espionage business. [9] Culper to Scott, October 31, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014, via http://memory.loc.gov. Sensing the volatile mental state of both his top operatives, General Washington decided to halt the operations of the Culper Ring. Eventually, Rogers lured out the killer by playing the retreat signal on the drums, which is what the killer used to signal Joyce to have a tryst with them, as revealed in a letter that Anna Strong had found in Joyce's belongings in his room in her house. Washington planned a naval attack on New York City and pressed Tallmadge for Woodhull to at all times keep his attention on changes of situation, or the new positions which may be taken by the enemy. Later in 1776, Richard Woodhull asked his son to come with him to test his bartering skills for a deal with Colonel Jonathan Cook, the head of the commissary in New York City. Despite its inaccuracies, TURN: Washingtons Spies is an entertaining yet fitting tribute to the brave operatives of the Culper Ring, and shows just how dangerous and critically important their jobs were. He was a Presbyterian, occupying a "Pew of Authority" in the old church and doing much toward the building of the new church. [11] Culper to Tallmadge, April 101779, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014, via http://memory.loc.gov. It is a choice that comes at a heavy price. Benjamin Tallmadge became a wealthy investor, and in 1801 was elected to Congress. Abraham mentions that his son is almost a year old as he eggs him on to start walking on his own. Description: The old Abraham Woodhull House at Setauket. He returned to Setauket to care for his parents and sister. A Letter From Abraham Woodhull to His Son Thomas View source A Letter From Abraham Woodhull to His Son Thomas is an entry from the Turn: Washington's Spies official site. Abraham told Anna that he was fighting for freedom and confronted her about their true beliefs, and she told him that she wanted her husband. Over time, he began to fear for his safety, and Benjamin Tallmadges reports to Washington reflect Woodhulls growing timidity. October 7, 1750Abraham Woodhull / Date of birth. Townsend stole and cooked the two brown eggs, serving them to Woodhull when he returned to the inn after nearly leaving the city. The couple had three children. Margaret Smith Abraham Woodhull - Abraham was a key member of the Culper Spy Ring. 2022-07-02. He married Mary Townsend on December 6th, 1753 at St. Georges Church. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and well-written narratives from expert writers. The two often went to New York together masquerading as husband and wife, and the trick was effective, despite Strong being ten years older than Woodhull. Woodhull somehow successfully answered the soldiers questions but the encounter still shook him to his bones. ae 53 years and 1 day Abraham Thomas was the son of Nicholas Thomas (1753-1838) and his first wife, Lucy Somes (1759-1792). [5] According to some reports, he had been deprived of medical care and food and suffered an agonizing death on September 20, 1776,[2] and Abraham Woodhull was inflamed against the British by that event. He also never had a son named Thomas; Mary would give birth to two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, and a son named Jesse. The Culper intelligence allowed Washington to arrange countermoves, and the episode was one of the Rings greatest successes. His father was a judge, and he was a cousin of Nathaniel Woodhull, leader of a New York Patriot . . Woodhull and the Culper Ring continued spying until the war's official end in 1783, although it appears they did not gather much useful intelligence during their final years. Soon after Benedict Arnold defected to the British, he directed the arrest of people in New York and Long Island that he suspected as American spies, based on his knowledge of Continental Army intelligence. Local orchard owner Lucas Brewster was blamed for the poisoning, and he was arrested. He did not immediately take up arms or begin spying, however, and was more placid than some of his friends, who joined the Continental Army at the outset of the war. TURN: Washington's Spies: Created by Craig Silverstein. I was quietly longing for the days when there was no fighting when something unexpected happened. Working together, Woodhull and Townsend warned Washington about British activities as the 1779 campaign developed and they discovered British plans to wreck American finances by counterfeiting Continental currency. What General Washington, the ultimate consumer of Culper Ring intelligence, thought of the operation is unclear. It was then that I knew I could no longer remain idle in this war. He was later buried is Setauket, next to his wife, Rebecca and his son, Thomas . The loss of his cousin deeply affected Woodhull, who was a somewhat introspective, sensitive character, and he secretly hated the British for what he believed was his cousins unnecessarily brutal demise.