Abraham Woodhull/Parents That night, Abraham saw Anna at the fireplace burning his code book, and he got into a loud argument with her over his spying activities. and Mary Anna (Smith) Woodhull. Father of Richard Lawrence Woodhull and Fred Woodhull. [6] Woodhull had been caught smuggling contraband across Long Island Sound, and Tallmadge spoke with Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull and got him released. Suddenly the door to his room flung open and two people burst into his room. When you are that man, I want nothing more than a future for you where you are able to live, love and be free. As I write this letter you are upstairs in your mothers arms, sleeping peacefully. Woodhull, in turn, promptly involved Townsend, who reinforced his cover by writing pro-Tory articles for the Royal Gazette. Gen. Charles Scott, September 25, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 18, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov. Journal of the American Revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the American Revolution and Founding Era. Abraham Woodhull was a noted hero of the American Revolution. Theyre both economical and practical, especially for a large middle or working-class family. Cant find his name in the cast credits either odd. Does beard oil expire? In the encounter, Woodhull won a coin toss and was allowed to draw first blood, but his shot missed Simcoe. Who was Abraham Woodhall? Abraham Woodhull was a member of the Culper Spy Ring, which provided information to George Washington during the American Revolution. Now, he knew that 1,500 Hessian troops were going to be sent to Trenton, and he decided to pass this on to Caleb. In early 1779 it took about a week for Woodhulls letters to reach Washington, which was a substantial improvement to the pre-Culper Ring espionage efforts in New York City. He was the son of a prominent judge who supported colonial independence. 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. 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. Continental Army Major Benjamin Tallmadge began working with Abraham Woodhull in the summer of 1778 at the height of the Revolutionary War to provide Washington information on British Army operations in their headquarters in New York City. The correspondence between the general and Tallmadge shows that Washington often relied heavily on Culper Ring information during times of crisis. The task fell to his intelligence aide, Major Benjamin Tallmadge, to begin recruiting spies. The British had been aware of the planned French attack for over a month, thanks to the treason of the infamous General Benedict Arnold himself. [19], But on the heels of this victory came a threat to their security. His father was a judge, and he was a cousin of Nathaniel Woodhull, leader of a New York Patriot . Woodhull began spying for the Continental Army in late 1778, as part of the Culper Spy Ring. General Sir Henry Clinton, the commander of the British armies in Philadelphia, was ordered to leave the city and take his soldiers to New York to bolster defenses against a possible American and French attack. Immediate Family: Son of Capt. 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. Benedict Arnold. The intelligence provided by the Culper Ring prevented what might have been a terrible disaster, and was one of its most important triumphs. In 1781, Woodhull resigned from his duties. ; on back: Old Abraham Woodhull home Seatuket. 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. Abraham Woodhull, spy for General George Washington, nearly got himself hanged on one of his first missions. 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. 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. In July 1778 Woodhull paid for his daring when a Continental naval patrol intercepted his boat and Rebel authorities threw him into a Connecticut jail. Im sure you know that the value of intelligence is often intangible, and therefore not always apparant until viewed with the benefit of hindsight. In 1781, Woodhull married Mary Smith. 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. During the American Revolution, Abraham Woodhull became a member of the Culper Spy Ring, which provided intelligence to .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}George Washington to assist the Patriots war effort. You put your tiny little hand on my leg and tried to take your first shaky steps. He had an older brother, Thomas.In his youth, Abe made friends with Caleb Brewster and Benjamin Tallmadge. Shortly after, Richard Woodhull was shot in the chest as he boarded his wagon with Simcoe and Woodhull, with the man using a verse from the Book of Judges as wadding for his musketball. 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. 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. 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. This week I was reviewing Muster, Payrolls and List of Effectives for Capt Gross Scruggs company of the Fifth Virginia. Abraham pulled his gun and asked Baker not to arrest him, but Baker said that he would not be a traitor like Abraham. To overcome these problems Washington and Tallmadge envisioned a permanent network of spies that lived behind British lines and communicated their information through coded messages. He also noted that Howe left New York with most of his army, but he left 200 Hessians in the city, while the city was defended by a dozen 24-pounders and 6 16-pounders at Canal Street. (LogOut/ [10] Tallmadge to Washington, November 19, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014, via http://memory.loc.gov. ), Spy Chat in Fairfield: Revolutionary Spies in CT (Featuring Caleb Brewster and the WhaleboatWars), New Scholarly Roundtable on Historical Accuracy vs. Truth inTURN. [] and visually busy spectacle. After collecting the messages, Woodhull waited for signals from his neighbor and fellow conspirator, Anna Strong, who communicated by hanging specific laundry out on her line. [19] Culper to John Bolton, July 20, 1780, GW Papers, accessed April 20 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov; Rose, Washingtons Spies, 189-192. I fight this fight for you. How did the Culper Spy Ring work? Poor quality print. Benjamin Tallmadge became a wealthy investor, and in 1801 was elected to Congress. [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. 9. He was killed by a Queen's Ranger during an exchange trading himself and Abe for Caleb Brewster. So yes, if you were to time-travel back to the era of the American Revolution, you might very well see a young six-year-old boy wearing stays and a gown. Abraham had Baker reload his gun, but he was convinced to leave the duel with honor. Failure was not an option. Woodhull was probably preparing to make careful mental notes of Tryons camp when he unluckily stumbled upon a group of soldiers who immediately detained him and demanded to know why he was wandering around. 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. Woodhull began spying for the. Documents answer this question positively without doubt. 16, accessed April 19 2014 via http://etext.virginia.edu. The Life Summary of Abraham When Abraham Woodhull was born on 7 October 1750, in Setauket, Suffolk, New York Colony, British Colonial America, his father, Hon Richard Woodhull IV, was 38 and his mother, Margaret Smith, was 36. Fifth generation from Richard Woodhull, the original grantee of a large portion of Brookhaven Town. As the British departed the colonies, a celebration was thrown in Setauket. Ken, I absolutely agree with your outlook. 2022-07-02. 2022-07-02. [1] Samuel Culper to Brig. It was then that I knew I could no longer remain idle in this war. Abraham was severely troubled by this, and there is no reason to assume his father did not feel likewise. 72years (17401812)Anna Strong / Age at death. What a fun anecdote thanks for sharing! Among the attendees were the Woodhull, Tallmadge and Strong families, along with Caleb Brewster and Austin Roes family. These negotiations made Woodhull proud of his son, but Abraham was disappointed when his father and Colonel Cook began to discuss dividing Selah Strong's lands while he was in prison, with Colonel Cook being promised some cauliflower by Woodhull. Woodhull returned to New York, defeated. [11] He held a few minor political appointments, including magistrate in Suffolk County, New York, from 1799 to 1810. Little Thomas Woodhull, whom Abraham fondly calls "Sprout," steals the spotlight at the beginning and end of the TURN pilot episode. When Baker left, an angry Simcoe had him tell him about the affair, and Simcoe beat up Woodhull in the woods at night after coming onto him with a few regulars, saying that he retracted an apology that he was going to give him for accusing him of Captain Joyce's murder. Woodhull was unable to talk him out of it, and it took a meeting with Benjamin Tallmadge to convince him to continue spying, with the provision that he would only deliver information to Woodhull verbally. 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. network. That is why I am doing this, Sprout. Woodhull continued to report on the location of British ships and troops, but Townsend eventually took note of the fact that Woodhull was writing secret messages on the brown eggs and not white ones. I was quietly longing for the days when there was no fighting when something unexpected happened. http://allthingsliberty.com/2014/03/james-rivington-kings-printer-patriot-spy/. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Interestingly enough, Woodhull, Strong, Brewster and Tallmadge existed in real life, as did almost all of the other main characters of the show. That he has gone so far beyond his promise makes me rather uneasy on his account.[17] And the ever-frugal general often testily reminded his spies not to waste the expensive disappearing ink and to find ways to communicate their intelligence faster. Other writers and researchers associated with the JAR no doubt have other, and better, techniques. He attempted to stay out of the war, and he smuggled cabbage for his family after their harvest in the autumn of 1776 proved to be insufficient due to maggots eating up his crops. Woodhull's tip from the fellow boarder led him to the west wharf on 17 October 1777, where he spotted 32-gun frigateAlarm and 28-gun frigateSybilmoored at Peck's Slip along with the 18-gun sloopTobago. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Unfortunately, several British officers decided to billet at Woodhulls farm at the same time and a violent storm prevented Brewster from retrieving Tallmadge. Under the alias "Samuel Culper Jr.," Townsend sent information by courier to Woodhulls farm in Setauket. In 1778, he was . For five days Tallmadge hid in the woods while Woodhull sneaked him food. Does Dragoncrest ring work on miracles? Over time, he began to fear for his safety, and Benjamin Tallmadges reports to Washington reflect Woodhulls growing timidity. He operated under the alias, Samuel Culper and his identity was not learned until the early 20th century. Woodhull refused his father's offer of releasing him from prison if he would stop spying, and he also refused to escape with Caleb Brewster, who had infiltrated New York in David Bushnell's Turtle and disguised himself as a British officer. Sometimes historians give the Culper Ring credit for discovering Benedict Arnold was a traitor. Woodhull offered to send some cabbage to them, but they said that their brigade was being shipped out for Trenton, New Jersey soon. 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 Woodhull/Parents Background. European history isnt my area of expertise, but I wonder if there are still areas of Europe where gowns for toddlers (and beyond) are still common today. But he probably never forgot that day in 1778 when he came very close to being hanged. War History Online welcomes many guest authors who share their knowledge of the history on our pages. Yet he still completed his mission and submitted a valuable intelligence report to Washington. Abraham Woodhull (October 7, 1750 - January 23, 1826) was a leading member of the Culper Spy Ring in New York City and Setauket, New York, during the American Revolutionary War. Abraham went as a guest of Cook, and Anna later infiltrated the party while disguised as a prostitute. Woodhull and Strong must accomplish this right underneath the noses of the British soldiers occupying their hometown, as well as Woodhulls Loyalist father. With the new spy permanently in place in New York City, Woodhull assumed the role of the leader of the operation, passing on instructions from Tallmadge and occasionally meeting Townsend in New York. 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. In the ensuing encounter, Woodhull was rescued by the redcoats, who killed Cyrus. ae 53 years and 1 day Abraham Thomas was the son of Nicholas Thomas (1753-1838) and his first wife, Lucy Somes (1759-1792). Though, they must have been pre-made, as by the time they would have been finished, Sprout would have sprouted some more. When they returned to their room, they had passionate sex. I had to help win this fight. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); "TURN to a Historian" is an independent blog for people searching for historically-accurate information and analysis about "TURN: Washington's Spies", AMC's fictionalized television drama about Revolutionary War spies. 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. [7] Culper to Tallmadge, March 17, 1779, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014, via http://memory.loc.gov. Is this just presumed to be legend or myth now? Journal of the American Revolution also produces annual hardcover volumes, a branded book series, and the podcast, Dispatches. 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. With all due respect to Mary Woodhull, . 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. His parents were Judge Richard Woodhull and Mary Woodhull (ne Smith). What General Washington, the ultimate consumer of Culper Ring intelligence, thought of the operation is unclear. (Hes not even a year old and hes already turning Setauket into the Brooklyn of the 18th century!). Free shipping for many products! Woodhull would copy what information he could gather onto paper, and on his way back home to Setauket, he would hide the information in a prearranged location, a hidden cove on Long Island Sound. [22] Culper to Tallmadge, June 4, 1781, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov. Those knickers were adorable, I want the sewing pattern for them anyone have any ideas where / how I can get one? ), American frontier soldier who raised and commanded a militia force, known as Rogerss Rangers, which won wide repute during the French and Indian War (175463). And dont forget to join the fun over at TURN to a Historians Facebook Page and tumblr account. The incident struck fear into Townsends heart, as it demonstrated just how easy it was to be captured. This trend lasted way beyond that period, too. Throughout history once the conflict is over, the perceived value of infantrymen and intelligence agents are always called into question. One night Woodhull was drafting a report with the new ink while British officers were still in his house and Tallmadge hid in the woods. Devoutly religious, he founded a missionary school in 1817, and was known to be sharply critical of the institution of slavery. P.S. Woodhull and Cyrus fought, but Cyrus later heard British troops approaching him after they found out that Woodhull had been ambushed. Washingtons Spies: The Story of Americas First Spy Ring. 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.
