He was the only surviving son of aging parents, and he stayed on the family farm to attend to his family and their property.[4]. [22] Culper to Tallmadge, June 4, 1781, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Tuskegee Airman Clarence D. Lester Broke Barriers, Biography: You Need to Know: Rick Thornton. Behind the Scenes But Tallmadge secured Woodhulls continued service and gave him a new tool for his trade a vial of disappearing ink, which would lessen the chance of their letters, if ever confiscated, being identified as intelligence reports. 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. Robert Rogers, (born Nov. 7, 1731, Methuen, Mass. your tumblr account link is wrong. Woodhull had a problem to face, however, as he had to give Major Hewlett a final report on New York. In October of 1777, Woodhull announced to his father, Major Hewlett, his wife, Anna Strong, and other guests at a party commemorating Hewlett that he would be resuming his old studies at King's College to get a law degree, having regained an interest in law after the loss of his farm and his prosecution of the alleged patriots. [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. Members of the Spy . However, the British quickly suspected him of spying; they even went to Setauket to arrest him in June 1779, although he avoided trouble since he wasn't at home. The 100 Best American Revolution Books of All Time, Perspectives on the Ten Crucial Days of the Revolution, This Week on Dispatches: Gene Procknow on Ethan Allen and Revolutionary-Era Newspapers. [19], But on the heels of this victory came a threat to their security. Abraham Woodhull was a noted hero of the American Revolution. Little Thomas Woodhull, whom Abraham fondly calls "Sprout," steals the spotlight at the beginning and end of the TURN pilot episode. (LogOut/ 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. It was later decided by Tallmadge and Washington that Woodhull would be given the alias Samuel Culper, and the Culper spy ring was born. The court case fell apart, leading to uproar. For boys, this was often a celebrated childhood milestone. 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. In order to spy against the British, Woodhull needed to enter New York City with Anna, whom he would claim was his wife. Abraham Woodhull - Abraham was a key member of the Culper Spy Ring. Benjamin Tallmadge, Setaukets highest-ranking military officer, was appointed the master of ceremonies.. Townsend then decided he was through with espionage. Change). Turn: Washington's Spies. He filed his last intelligence report, not written in code but still signed with the alias Samuel Culper, on February 21, 1783, while the British planned the wars closing act, the evacuation of New York City. He used the alias "Samuel Culper" (later "Samuel Culper Sr."), which was a play on Culpeper County, Virginia, and was suggested by George Washington . Historians believe that he and his co-conspirators probably uncovered Benedict Arnolds treason, and the information that led to arrest of British Major John Andre. Thanks for reading and commenting, and enjoy researching! Townsend may have dabbled in journalism himself, which gave him a perfect excuse to spend long hours picking up information. 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. In addition, Abrahams cousin, Nathaniel Woodhull, a general in the Continental Army, had perished in the Battle of Long Island in 1776. In late July the agents reported that the British knew about the expected fleet and were moving naval forces to counter a planned French attack on Rhode Island. His father, Richard, was unharmed, but Simcoe had plundered the house in the most shocking manner in order to obtain compensation for his troubles. The TV show TURN took plenty of historical liberties; for instance, there is no evidence of a love affair between Abraham Woodhull and Anna Strong. In 1781, Woodhull married Mary Smith. [15] Tallmadge assigned Townsend the alias Samuel Culper Junior.. [17] Washington to Tallmadge, September 22 1779, Writings of George Washington, Vol. Accessed 18 May 2016. https://spycurious.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/lieutenant-colonel-richard-hewlett-the-loyal-est-loyalist/, Long Island Surnames: Abraham Woodhull. Longislandsurnames.com, accessed 15 May 2016. http://www.longislandsurnames.com/getperson.php?personID=I0519&tree=Woodhull, Markle, Donald E. The Fox and the Hound: The Birth of American Spying. Also, if you havent seen the preview for next Sundays episode yet, you can view it here. Gen. Charles Scott, October 31, 1778, George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress (hereafter, GW Papers), accessed January 26, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov. Unfortunately, several British officers decided to billet at Woodhulls farm at the same time and a violent storm prevented Brewster from retrieving Tallmadge. In the encounter, Woodhull won a coin toss and was allowed to draw first blood, but his shot missed Simcoe. How did the Culper Spy Ring work? These agents reported on British activity from their homes in New York City, on Long Island, New York, and in Connecticut. He died two years later, on 23 January 1826. Did Abraham Woodhull have a son named Thomas? [7] Tallmadge added two couriers to the operation to speed the reports from New York City to Setauket. Before he left Connecticut, Woodhull was probably stunned when he received a visit from Benjamin Tallmadge, who he knew as a fellow Setauket native. When the Continentals were busy pushing people into the tavern, Selah Strong made his presence known when he shot at the sign saying "DeJong Tavern", formerly "Strong Tavern", and Abraham was shocked to see him. 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. Thomas "Sprout" Woodhull (died August 24, 1814) was the son of Culper Ring spy and farmer Abraham Woodhull . I have a family photo of my grandmother and her siblings in the early 20th century, and her youngest brother is in a gown. Astrological Sign: Libra, Death Year: 1826, Death date: January 23, 1826, Death State: New York, Death City: Setauket, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Abraham Woodhull Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figure/abraham-woodhull, Publisher: A&E Television Networks, Last Updated: July 7, 2020, Original Published Date: May 18, 2015. He was later buried is Setauket, next to his wife, Rebecca and his son, Thomas . Abraham Woodhull was born on October 7th 1750 in Setauket, New York, on Long Island. On a somewhat more practical level I also adjust the contrast on the images, which makes the handwriting more clear. Abraham pulled his gun and asked Baker not to arrest him, but Baker said that he would not be a traitor like Abraham. As depicted in the show, Abraham Woodhull was a cabbage farmer. More on the way soon! Washington had enjoyed an effective spy network operating in Philadelphia, but with the British gone from there and New York crawling with redcoats, his focus now shifted towards starting an effective intelligence network around the British headquarters. In the spring of 1777, Woodhull trysted with Anna at her barn, and he told her that he could not stay there long. March 30, 1844 (48) Setauket, Suffolk, New York. . His efforts as a spy were some of the most successful efforts in American History. [11] He held a few minor political appointments, including magistrate in Suffolk County, New York, from 1799 to 1810. [7] Culper to Tallmadge, March 17, 1779, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014, via http://memory.loc.gov. He had recently married Mary Smith, and was afraid of putting his family at undue risk. From Brewster, the intelligence would be passed on to Major Tallmadge, then to General Washingtons desk. I saw an old friend today. This is a 1790 portrait by American painter Ralph Earl . Gen. Charles Scott, September 25, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 18, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov. They likely discussed Woodhulls activities trading with the British. [23] Culper to Tallmadge, February 21, 1783, GW Papers, accessed April 27 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov. Lydia Darragh - Lydia spied on British officers who met in her home to discuss battle plans. Washingtons Spies: The Story of Americas First Spy Ring. We live in daily fear of death and destruction, this added to my usual anxiety hath almost unmanned me, Woodhull wrote to Tallmadge in June. 16, accessed April 19 2014 via http://etext.virginia.edu. The job was not without its risks, though, and Woodhull cut it close on many occasions. Abraham was forced to fire, shooting him in the stomach. 2022-07-02. Abraham was severely troubled by this, and there is no reason to assume his father did not feel likewise. Richard Woodhull Woodhull wrote, I received their threats for coming there that made me almost tremble knowing my situation and business.[1] His statement only hinted at what he inwardly knew; that if the soldiers discovered his espionage mission, they would have hanged him without compunction. S1 E6. Woodhull became one of Washingtons best spies, knowing all the while that he was one step away from a noose. Ben says this fight is for freedom. 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. Tallmadges recruitment of Woodhull enabled them to put their plans into action. Look at the above painting and take a guess as to how much airtime would be needed to explain that boys outfit to a modern-day viewer.) In June, the British had been forced to evacuate Philadelphia after the city became untenable due to vulnerability and stretched supply lines. Continental Army Major Benjamin Tallmadge was Woodhull's neighbor in Setauket and approached Woodhull in August 1778 about gathering intelligence for the Patriot cause during the American Revolutionary War. 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. (LogOut/ The task fell to his intelligence aide, Major Benjamin Tallmadge, to begin recruiting spies. In 1781, Woodhull resigned from his duties. At the inn, he helped a Spanish man win at a game of checkers, and the man told him that some sailors were building ships at the west wharf, making life hard for merchants; Woodhull decided to investigate. Unfortunately, Ensign Baker entered the room with his musket, and he heard the whole conversation. A Long Island farmer bands together a group of childhood friends to form an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America's fight for independence. 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. Makes me feel resentful, though, at our Long Island schools. 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. Woodhull told Hewlett that Tallmadge would withdraw if the 8 prisoners were exchanged for the captured redcoats, and he eventually negotiated the release of all of the prisoners unconditionally after a rebellious Simcoe killed one of the hostages in an attempt to provoke an attack on the church. [20] Tallmadge to Washington, October 11, 1780, GW Papers, accessed April 24, 2014 via. In the spring of 1780 the strain of spying was wearing on both Woodhull and Townsend, and Tallmadge told Washington that Townsend had become less active, and even Culper Senior grows timid and thinks that intercourse had better be dropped for the present.[18] Washington agreed to shut the Culper Ring down, only to reactivate it in July to gain information that would support operations of another French fleet expected later that summer. Additionally, you can browse through a slideshow of primary source images concerning children and babies over at the 18th Century Material Culture Resource Center. The correspondence between the general and Tallmadge shows that Washington often relied heavily on Culper Ring information during times of crisis. (Hes not even a year old and hes already turning Setauket into the Brooklyn of the 18th century!). The formed an unlikely alliance, and Rogers helped Abraham in covering up Eastin's murder. Poor quality print. However, I have come across letters that have the sympathetic stain across entire pages. Abraham Woodhull is the American's lone productive spy in 1777 New York, but did we see a glimpse of his bloody fate? So, perhaps there are some parts of the Culper Ring, we will never know, Your email address will not be published. [1] Samuel Culper to Brig. I know not exactly a hugely significant issue in the greater storyline of TURN (and definitely not as big of a sartorial gaffe as, say, the bizarre garb that the Queens Rangers are wearing), but I thought readers might enjoy a small and pleasant domestic diversion while I finish making sense of the premiere episodes Swiss-cheese timeline. Tallmadge wrote Washington on October 11, 1780 that Arnold knew not a single link in the chain of my correspondence, but that the Culper operatives were too apprehensive of danger to give their immediate usual intelligence.[20] Woodhull and Townsend laid low but returned to providing information.