Abraham was severely troubled by this, and there is no reason to assume his father did not feel likewise. [13] The respite was ill-timed; Woodhull missed most of the signs that the British were beginning an offensive to seize control of the Hudson River, and the campaign of 1779 began with Washington unaware of Clintons plans. It's possible it was incorrectly annotated. Abraham went as a guest of Cook, and Anna later infiltrated the party while disguised as a prostitute. 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. . [5] Culper to Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge, November 23, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014, via http://memory.loc.gov. [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. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Woodhull was essentially the leader of the Culper Spy Ring, deciding what information was transmitted throughout the group, which would eventually make its way to George Washington. the lines of a cruel and mistrustful enemy.[11] Tallmadge had Brewster sail him to Setauket an exceptionally dangerous move itself so he could meet with Woodhull and allay his spys concerns. 2022-07-02. Abraham enlisted in a Suffolk County militia in the fall of 1775, but he resigned after a few months; his cousin Brigadier-General Nathaniel Woodhull was killed by the British while in their prison on 20 September 1776, when he was killed with bayonets. It was an extraordinary and risky offer both men knew that spying could be a short path to a hanging. [13] Culper to John Bolton, June 5, 1779, GW Papers, accessed March 29, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov; Rose, Washingtons Spies, 129. 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. His name is Benjamin Tallmadge, and he has asked me to do something dangerous. On a somewhat more practical level I also adjust the contrast on the images, which makes the handwriting more clear. 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. Anna decided to cover up the whole event by burning down the house, saying that Baker had been killed by retreating patriots while defending the house as they looted it, and that the family would move into Whitehall with Judge Woodhull like they should have long before. The redcoats informed Woodhull that single persons could no longer travel to New York, stepping up security against patriot infiltrators. But the 27 year-old, unmarried Woodhull was also something of a risk-taker. Arnold had defected to the British side after he became increasingly ticked off at the Patriots for not properly recognizing his achievements on the battlefield. In fact, in 1790, Benjamin Tallmadges own son was wearing them at the tender age of three. Bakeless did not provide a primary source for Townsends employment as a journalist for Rivington so this part of Townsends role is unclear. Woodhull enlisted Robert Townsend, a merchant who conducted business in Manhattan, to gather intelligence about British military plans. Washington and his rebel army are fighting back and Ben is a part of that resistance, battling the Royal Army alongside thousands of other brave men. 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. [7] Tallmadge added two couriers to the operation to speed the reports from New York City to Setauket. So interesting. 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. His wife knew that he was only saying this so that he could continue spying in New York, so she decided to intervene, and Major Hewlett settled the argument by granting Woodhull an armed escort into the city at all times. Woodhull planted a false letter from John Andre on him, saying that Andre had no interest in a farmer's services, but he was garroted by Robert Rogers, who told him that he was going to work for him. Abraham, however, was nowhere to be found- he had left for New York the previous day. [22] Culper to Tallmadge, June 4, 1781, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov. 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. Schellhammer, Michael. Woodhull was a descendant of Richard Lawrence Woodhull, a wealthy settler of Setauket,[1] and was also related to New York militia Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull. He used the alias Samuel Culper when sending messages and working as a spy. . Breeches and a linen shirt, like the little colonial man he is! 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. 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. It was in October 1778, when Woodhull toured British-held New York City and its environs, observing Crown military activities. Introducing the Topic Index page (Just in time for the Season 3Premiere! The couple had three children. The three would look out for each other and do many things together, including escorting Abe to secretly gain a kiss from Anna Strong. Perhaps Sprouts wealthy grandfather has servants churning out breeches for his grandchildren! The exact circumstances of Nathaniels death remain elusive but stories popular at the time held that he was wounded in action, captured, maltreated, and died miserably. I find that magnifying the zoom to 200% makes the cursive far more intelligible. Richard Woodhull (died 1780) was the father of Culper Ring spy and farmer Abraham Woodhull. 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. Im sure you know that the value of intelligence is often intangible, and therefore not always apparant until viewed with the benefit of hindsight. He returned to Setauket to care for his parents and sister. A number of close calls with British authorities had made both Woodhull and Robert Townsend jumpy. His father, Richard, was unharmed, but Simcoe had plundered the house in the most shocking manner in order to obtain compensation for his troubles. Woodhull, the son of the loyalist magistrate Richard Woodhull, decided to volunteer his services to the Continental Army as the leader of a spy ring in New York City after 1777, assisting George Washington in collecting information on the British Army's activities. Ken, I absolutely agree with your outlook. We work with various museums, historical societies and media outlets around the world. Benjamin Tallmadge became a wealthy investor, and in 1801 was elected to Congress. [11][13], Warren Walker suggested in 1956 that James Fenimore Cooper's character Harvey Birch had been based upon the work of "Samuel Culper" as a spy. Now that York City is dark to the rebel army, they need a man who can get inside and gather information. In the spring of 1777, Woodhull trysted with Anna at her barn, and he told her that he could not stay there long. [7] Tallmadge then set up a spy network in New York, with Woodhull as the lead agent. Other writers and researchers associated with the JAR no doubt have other, and better, techniques. 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. Members of the Spy . . Tallmadge then sent the information to General George Washington. Woodhull decided to attend Andre's ball for his officers, and Anna told him that she would go there as well to help him, although Abraham told Anna that she should not go in her sad condition, as she would reveal her purpose. Abrahams own family is also quite fictionalized in the show; he was unmarried during most of the war, and did not wed Mary Smith until 1781. Throughout history once the conflict is over, the perceived value of infantrymen and intelligence agents are always called into question. Upon hearing of Woodhulls rumored espionage, Simcoe marched his Rangers into Setauket and proceeded to raid the Woodhull household. Abraham's wife Mary convinced him that he had to shoot the courier, Corporal Eastin (the man who had been sent to escort Woodhull to New York previously), and not kill Hewlett as he had planned to do. I saw an old friend today. Woodhull later returned to his home, only to find his wife confronting him after she found out about his spy involvement. Nor had the Americans uniformly mastered the techniques of successfully moving in and out of enemy territory. You put your tiny little hand on my leg and tried to take your first shaky steps. I have a family photo of my grandmother and her siblings in the early 20th century, and her youngest brother is in a gown. JMS you are correct as with any untranscribed 18th century documents, reading and understading the Culper letters is a tough task. Abraham Woodhull was a main spy in the Culper Spy Ring. Now there are redcoats everywhere, swathed in every nook of our hometown. [23] Culper to Tallmadge, February 21, 1783, GW Papers, accessed April 27 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. But Im a bit surprised by the []. He is most notable for leading the British side in the Battle of Setauket. [22] In the same letter he finally bowed out of the spy business. It is a choice that comes at a heavy price. [16] Washington to Tallmadge, October 6 1779, Writings of George Washington, Vol. 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. And if you werent sure what I was talking about when I mentioned stays earlier, dont forget to check out Baumgartners very helpful glossary of clothing terms, too. Basing his operation in his British-occupied hometown of Setauket, New York, Woodhull enlists the aid of local tavern keeper Anna Strong to ferry crucial intelligence to their friends in the Continental Army, Caleb Brewster and Benjamin Tallmadge, who in turn bring the intelligence to General George Washington himself. [9] Culper to Scott, October 31, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014, via http://memory.loc.gov. If I am caught, I could be hanged as a traitor and a spy. 16, accessed April 19 2014 via http://etext.virginia.edu. Excellent sketch of the Culper Rings two Principal Agents Mike. Little Sprout Woodhulls curiousclothing, Linda Baumgartens primer on colonial childrens clothing, the 18th Century Material Culture Resource Center, Vexatious Vexillology TURN to a historian, TURN Historical Timeline updated for Season 4 (PartOne), TURN Historical Timeline updated for Season3. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Though, they must have been pre-made, as by the time they would have been finished, Sprout would have sprouted some more. Woodhull was mildly supportive of the American cause, and the closest he came to the rebellion was an uneventful two months in his county militia. It was then that I knew I could no longer remain idle in this war. After her death in 1806, Woodhull remarried in 1824. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Startled, Woodhull sprang to his feet and snatched up his writing paper, breaking the vial of special ink on the floor. The killer was discovered to be loyalist John Robeson, and Rogers decided to use a dead redcoat as a scapegoat while employing Robeson as his eyes and ears in Setauket. Captain Simcoe, a gruff and raucous character, had taken over the same outfit of Rangers once commanded by legendary tracker Robert Rogers. As you know, after the war Washington actually questioned whether the funds used for this operation had been worth the results. [23] Woodhulls expense report submitted in July was the final curtain on his clandestine service.[24]. network. Since Woodhull was ill at the time, another spy named Austin Roe was sent to New York to get information from Robert Townsend, who sent a report back to Woodhull for forwarding to Washington. He was the son of a prominent judge who supported colonial independence. The British knew the exact strength of the French fleet, and were going to wait for them to make harbor and ambush them. 16, accessed April 19 2014 via http://etext.virginia.edu. The intelligence would then be retrieved by a certain boatman named Caleb Brewster, who was a lieutenant in the Continental Army. Normally Woodhull was a farmer in the town of Setauket on Long Islands north shore where he cared for his elderly parents. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. How do you stay on task while doing homework? 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. Sometimes historians give the Culper Ring credit for discovering Benedict Arnold was a traitor. Unfortunately, Ensign Baker entered the room with his musket, and he heard the whole conversation. Ben has asked me to assist in balancing the scales. 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. Letter Dear Thomas , As I write this letter you are upstairs in your mother 's arms, sleeping peacefully. [1] Samuel Culper to Brig. 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. Woodhull turned out to be a very effective spy, and his reports were uncannily accurate. 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. Abraham Woodhull was a noted hero of the American Revolution. I had to help win this fight. Abraham Woodhull performed Patriotic Service in New York in the American Revolution. I was quietly longing for the days when there was no fighting when something unexpected happened. Abraham Woodhull followed his fathers footsteps and became a magistrate, and was appointed First Judge of Suffolk County in 1799. Nevertheless, he continued to send letters to Washington, informing of anything of importance he came across. Abraham "Abe" Woodhull, known also by his spy alias of Samuel Culpeper and Samuel Culper, his chosen version of the alias, is a New York farmer that went on to become a spy for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Devoutly religious, he founded a missionary school in 1817, and was known to be sharply critical of the institution of slavery. Selah and Anna Strong lived out the rest of their lives quietly in Setauket. ; on back: Old Abraham Woodhull home Seatuket. Where you can stand on your own two feet. The rumor fell upon the ears of a certain Queens Rangers captain by the name of John Graves Simcoe. 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]. Setauket Presbyterian Church and Burial Ground, Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring, Intelligence operations in the American Revolutionary War, "Grave Stones and Epitaphs from the Churchyard", "TCA: AMC Picks Up 'Halt & Catch Fire' & 'Turn' To Series", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abraham_Woodhull&oldid=1135483720, Jesse Smith Woodhull, Mary Woodhull, Elizabeth Woodhull, "Samuel Culper" and then "Samuel Culper Sr.", This page was last edited on 24 January 2023, at 23:13. He operated under the alias, Samuel Culper and his identity was not learned until the early 20th century. Abraham Woodhull was born on October 7th 1750 in Setauket, New York, on Long Island. Where your own reasoning forges your path rather than blindly following others. 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. Abraham Woodhull (7 October 1750 - 23 January 1826) was the leader of the Culper Ring network under the alias Samuel Culper, Sr. during the American Revolutionary War. Even after resigning he sent seven more letters about British activities. In October 1778, he began making trips to New York every few weeks with the excuse that he was on business or visiting his sister. One day, Woodhull was kidnapped by a desperate patriot named Cyrus who wanted to return to Washington's army in Morristown, as Cyrus believed that Woodhull was a Tory like his father and knew where Washington was; he did not listen to Woodhull's revelation that he was a spy. Hewlett decided to send the accused to HMS Jersey in lieu of hanging, although this was effectively a death sentence due to the poor conditions there. He died a lonely man in 1838. The Culper Ring had not seen the last of Benedict Arnold, though. Not two months had passed, however, when Washington needed their services again. I concur great article. . It was Brewsters job to sail across the Sound, retrieve Woodhulls communications from their hiding spot, and return the missives to Tallmadge in Rebel-held Connecticut. [15] Tallmadge assigned Townsend the alias Samuel Culper Junior.. [17] Washington to Tallmadge, September 22 1779, Writings of George Washington, Vol. His first intelligence in October addressed British troop strengths and their shortages in provisions. While Im working on a longer post concerning the convoluted chronology of TURNs pilot episode, I thought Id write a short post concerning a (literally) tiny realm of 18th century material culture seen in the show thus far: babies! He discovered that anyone traveling into the city was at exceptional risk of being detained and searched by British authorities, but that married couples almost always were not. Brother of Mary (Woodhull) Arthur and . 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). Best Known For: Abraham Woodhull was a member of the Culper Spy Ring, which provided information to George Washington during the American Revolution. [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. It was later decided by Tallmadge and Washington that Woodhull would be given the alias Samuel Culper, and the Culper spy ring was born. In the court case, Simcoe had trouble loading the musketball that hit Richard Woodhull into Tallmadge's gun, as it was a Pennsylvania rifle; only a Brown Bess British musket could use that type of ball. [8] His plan was to travel to Manhattan, ostensibly to visit his married sister, Mary Underhill, and her husband, Amos, at their boarding house. Gen. Charles Scott, September 25, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 18, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov. He faced a long sentence, but was freed unexpectedly by Major Tallmadge, a fellow Setauket native and childhood friend who had successfully managed to argue for his release. Woodhull gave reports to the Continentals from inside the city, noting that Howe's flagship HMSEagle and other Royal Navy ships remained in the harbor as British troop numbers decreased, and when he entered Robert Townsend's boarding inn for some breakfast, Woodhull took note of the people feeling on edge, saying that an assault by 5,000 men could probably take the city. I fight this fight for you. He delivered messages via dead drop, burying them in a box in a pasture that he rented on Woodhull's property. Abraham Woodhull was born on 7 October 1750 in Setauket, New York, the son of Judge Richard Woodhull and Mary Smith. This led to Abraham being disappointed with his father, whose loyalist sympathies set the two of them apart. Bantam, 2014. Abraham Woodhull: The Spy Named Samuel Culper. Journal of the American Revolution, 19 May 2014. Son: Thomas 'Sprout' Woodhull: General Information. Woodhull immediately set to work attempting to collect the money due him for his services. [19], But on the heels of this victory came a threat to their security. Abraham was severely troubled by this, and there is no reason to assume his father did not feel likewise. For more information, I highly recommend reading Linda Baumgartens primer on colonial childrens clothing (the source of the above quote). A Letter From Abraham Woodhull to His Son Thomas is an entry from the Turn: Washington's Spies official site.

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