Place of Burial: Setauket, Suffolk, New York. [6] Woodhull had been caught smuggling contraband across Long Island Sound, and Tallmadge spoke with Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull and got him released. Abraham Woodhull (1750 - 1826), a key figure of the Culper Ring, was born into a prosperous family in Setauket, a small agricultural community on the north shore of Long Island, New York. Woodhull never spoke of his spying activities to anyone. I want you to live in a world where you can make your own choices. While in the city, he was able to observe naval strength, troop numbers, and glean potentially important information by eavesdropping on the conversations of British soldiers. 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. Woodhull told Brewster about the plans, and Brewster passed the information on to Tallmadge, leading to Tallmadge, Brewster, and other Continental troops ambushing and killing 19 of the 20 British troops, capturing a wounded Simcoe. The officer was angered by this, and he told Abraham that he should leave. Best Known For: Abraham Woodhull was a member of the Culper Spy Ring, which provided information to George Washington during the American Revolution. The couple had three children. Woodhull was a descendant of Richard Lawrence Woodhull, a wealthy settler of Setauket, and was also related to New York militia Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull. It's possible it was incorrectly annotated. 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. His fears were eased when Woodhull sent him a report in November 1778 that provided almost exact figures of British troop strength in New York. [4] In November he reported how Loyalist units were scouring local farms for wood and livestock. with his son William Tallmadge. Posted on April 8, 2014 Updated on April 9, 2014. Robert Rogers, (born Nov. 7, 1731, Methuen, Mass. In fact, in 1790, Benjamin Tallmadges own son was wearing them at the tender age of three. I have a family photo of my grandmother and her siblings in the early 20th century, and her youngest brother is in a gown. Biography Richard Woodhull was born in 1712 in Setauket, New York. The patriots withdrew from Setauket, but Anna decided to leave Selah's side and stay in Setauket to help Abraham. Abraham Woodhull, spy for General George Washington, nearly got himself hanged on one of his first missions. You put your tiny little hand on my leg and tried to take your first shaky steps. As depicted in the show, Abraham Woodhull was a cabbage farmer. Richard Woodhull The show also portrays Richard Woodhull as a devoted Tory, who grows ever suspicious of his sons behavior, but in reality, he was more supportive of the Patriots, and circumstantial evidence supports this. One example is from October 1779, when the Americans anticipated the arrival of a French fleet. But there can be no doubt of Woodhulls dedication. Woodhull also recruited other spies into the ring; one such spy was Robert Townsend, who worked in a New York boardinghouse which was frequented by British soldiers. 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. Once they were several years old, boys and girls would then make the transition to outfits that were miniature versions of mens and womens adult clothing. 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]. 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 used the alias "Samuel Culper" (later "Samuel Culper Sr."), which was a play on Culpeper County, Virginia, and was suggested by George Washington. Did Abraham Woodhull have a son named Thomas? Unfortunately, several British officers decided to billet at Woodhulls farm at the same time and a violent storm prevented Brewster from retrieving Tallmadge. The British knew the exact strength of the French fleet, and were going to wait for them to make harbor and ambush them. [11], He died in Setauket on January 23, 1826, and is buried in the Setauket Presbyterian Church and Burial Ground. 72years (17401812)Anna Strong / Age at death. Turn: Washington's Spies. Upon hearing of Woodhulls rumored espionage, Simcoe marched his Rangers into Setauket and proceeded to raid the Woodhull household. Later, petition signer Moses Paine decided to turn in the petition, saying that he was drunk when he signed it, giving Hewlett a list of patriots; he proceeded to have those men rounded up and arrested along with Paine himself. [22] In the same letter he finally bowed out of the spy business. He died in 1835. His role in the ambush led to him being involved in the revolutioanry cause, although he only did it because Simcoe had been harassing Anna Strong while was quartered at her house. They likely discussed Woodhulls activities trading with the British. Still, the fact is that little hipster Sprouts outfit IS several years ahead of his time, according to the historical record. 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 1781, Woodhull married Mary Smith. Your email address will not be published. Woodhull returned to Anna and told him of this, and Anna told him that Selah had died of dysentery on the Jersey two months earlier; however, Robert Rogers had bribed the captain of the ship to say that Selah had died and that Samuel Tallmadge, Benjamin Tallmadge's deceased brother, was the one who survived. [3], Woodhull returned to Setauket and began his spying in October. I find that magnifying the zoom to 200% makes the cursive far more intelligible. Abraham Woodhull, Esq. 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. Yes, a gown, as in a dress. Sometimes boys even wore stays, too. The house was burned to the ground, and the family moved into Whitehall. [23] Woodhulls expense report submitted in July was the final curtain on his clandestine service.[24]. Captain Thomas Woodhull (1746 - 1773) was a British Army officer who served in the King's Militia, the son of Richard Woodhull and Rebecca Woodhull and the brother of Abraham Woodhull.He was killed while putting down a riot at King's College. Despite his success, the espionage business wore Woodhull out physically as well as mentally. The Culper Ring was a successful operation that provided Washington with valuable information on the British Army headquartered in New York from October 1778 to the end of the war. In return, Tallmadge proposed to Woodhull that he start spying for the Continental Army; Woodhull agreed, and Tallmadge received approval from Washington. 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. Moments later he realized that the intruders were his nieces, playing a game to surprise their uncle, and successfully so. His wife Mary died in 1806, and in 1824, he remarried. It was later decided by Tallmadge and Washington that Woodhull would be given the alias Samuel Culper, and the Culper spy ring was born. Score: 4.9/5 (68 votes) . Woodhull became one of Washingtons best spies, knowing all the while that he was one step away from a noose. Linda Baumgarten of Colonial Williamsburg writes: The time when a little boy went from skirts to pants, which was called, breeching, occurred anytime from age three to seven and was symbolic of his first step toward becoming a little man.'. Woodhull turned out to be a very effective spy, and his reports were uncannily accurate. [13] Culper to John Bolton, June 5, 1779, GW Papers, accessed March 29, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov; Rose, Washingtons Spies, 129. Application of another solution developed the ink to reappear. 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. 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. [4] Culper to Scott, October 31, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov. Aliased Samuel Culper, Jr., Townsend gave Woodhull a reliable source within the city itself, and made his job much easier. Woodhull was in New York City when the Loyalist troops came to his house, but he later reported how his 66 year-old father was home, and that Simcoe plundered him in a most shocking manner. Woodhull escaped Simcoes wrath by arranging for a prominent local Loyalist to vouch for his character. [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. Normally Woodhull was a farmer in the town of Setauket on Long Islands north shore where he cared for his elderly parents. He was killed while putting down a riot at King's College. [15][16] Other people from Woodhull's life are portrayed in the show as well. 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. 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. Rogers followed Woodhull to his secret hideout in the basement of his burnt-down farm, and Woodhull was told that he had to work with Rogers to get revenge on Andre before Rogers would kill him. 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. Was Abraham Woodhulls father a loyalist? These agents reported on British activity from their homes in New York City, on Long Island, New York, and in Connecticut. http://allthingsliberty.com/2014/03/james-rivington-kings-printer-patriot-spy/. http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-monmouth.htm, https://spycurious.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/lieutenant-colonel-richard-hewlett-the-loyal-est-loyalist/, http://www.longislandsurnames.com/getperson.php?personID=I0519&tree=Woodhull, https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/05/abraham-woodhull-the-spy-named-samuel-culper/. Fueled by a strong desire to avenge his cousins allegedly brutal murder, Woodhull threw himself into his new job with a passion. At one point he neared an encampment of Loyalist soldiers commanded by General William Tryon. Abraham Woodhull performed Patriotic Service in New York in the American Revolution. While he was a staunch loyalist, his son Abraham Woodhull would become the leader of the pro-patriot Culper Ring . When Abraham returned, it took the help of a friend of the Woodhulls, a generals adjutant, to assure Simcoe that Abraham was a proper Loyalist. 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. But the 27 year-old, unmarried Woodhull was also something of a risk-taker. 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. In 1779, Simcoe found out that Abraham Woodhull was a spy and he travelled to Setauket to find him; . Is this just presumed to be legend or myth now? The ink was a solution developed by John Jays brother, Sir James Jay. Are there transcriptions at any other accessible digital websites? He operated under the alias, Samuel Culper and his identity was not learned until the early 20th century. Woodhull was beaten, and Cyrus offered to let Woodhull leave if he fought him. The Battle of Monmouth 1778. Britishbattles.com, accessed 15 May 2016. http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-monmouth.htm, Braisted, Todd W. Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hewlett: The Loyal-est Loyalist. TURN to a Historian, 27 April 2015. Abraham, however, was nowhere to be found- he had left for New York the previous day. When they returned to their room, they had passionate sex. Townsend also owned a share of a coffee house popular with British officers operated by James Rivington, printer of the Loyalist Royal Gazette. 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. 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. 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. After her death in 1806, Woodhull remarried in 1824. Woodhull was a descendant of Richard Lawrence Woodhull, a wealthy settler of Setauket, and was also related to New York militia Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull. A number of close calls with British authorities had made both Woodhull and Robert Townsend jumpy. Creator: Thomas R. Bayles Identifier: aql:14389 trb-000045 trb-000045.tif. 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. Ben says this fight is for freedom. Later that day, 22 August 1777, Benjamin Tallmadge raided Setauket to free his father and the other accused townspeople, taking over the town. Caleb succeeded in doing this while Abraham was away, as Robert witnessed Simcoe's rangers beat up his father and burn down his stables when he asked for money in exchange for giving his cavalry to the rangers. Woodhull began spying in October 1778 and sent his first "Samuel Culper" letter on October 29, 1778, after he had sworn an oath of loyalty to the Crown as cover. memorial page for Abraham Woodhull (7 Oct 1750-23 Jan 1826), Find a Grave . Documents answer this question positively without doubt. Woodhull was mildly supportive of the American cause but before 1778 the closest he came to the rebellion was an uneventful two-month stint in his county militia. The evacuating British were forced to make the trip to New York by land due to the threat of French naval attack, giving General Washington an opportunity to strike a crippling blow. Brewster told Woodhull that his encounter with him in Connecticut was the first part of the test to see if Woodhull was fit to join the patriots, and Tallmadge's interrogation was the second part of the test. He was killed by a Queen's Ranger during an exchange trading himself and Abe for Caleb Brewster. Thankfully, no actual spies were arrested, and the Ring was able to continue its work, although Woodhull and Townsend were again understandably anxious. Sensing the volatile mental state of both his top operatives, General Washington decided to halt the operations of the Culper Ring. 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. Whatever tactic the major used, Woodhull accepted the offer. Woodhull was forced to work by himself, and he attempted to plant evidence for Major Hewlett so that it would appear as if he had made a discovery of some of the Sons of Liberty's activities. [12] Tallmadge to Washington, April 21, 1779, GW Papers, accessed March 29, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov; Rose, Washingtons Spies, 128. 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. Startled, Woodhull sprang to his feet and snatched up his writing paper, breaking the vial of special ink on the floor. 16, accessed April 19 2014 via http://etext.virginia.edu. Unfortunately, Ensign Baker entered the room with his musket, and he heard the whole conversation. That is why I am doing this, Sprout. Woodhull immediately set to work attempting to collect the money due him for his services. At one point he neared an encampment of Loyalist soldiers commanded by General William Tryon. 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. 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. See Todd Andrliks James Rivington: Kings Printer and Patriot Spy? Hewlett allowed him to do so, so the British guard would have to keep a distance from him in order for him to carry out his act. So interesting. [2] His parents were Judge Richard Woodhull and Mary Woodhull (ne Smith).[3]. Throughout history once the conflict is over, the perceived value of infantrymen and intelligence agents are always called into question. A recovering Judge Woodhull accepted Abraham's offer to prosecute the accused in his stead, as Abraham wanted to lose on purpose; this would show the townspeople that Simcoe was the man responible. Major Edmund Hewlett was in fact named Richard Hewlett, and he was actually married during the entirety of the war, and he and his wife had eleven children; there is no evidence of a relationship between him and Anna Strong either. [7] Tallmadge then set up a spy network in New York, with Woodhull as the lead agent. By the end of October he recruited his brother-in-law Amos Underhill, owner of a Manhattan boarding house, to gather information from his British Army lodgers. 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. Can beard oil clog pores? [15] Tallmadge assigned Townsend the alias Samuel Culper Junior.. These heroes get no mention whatsoever in our history books or lessons. The three would look out for each other and do many things together, including escorting Abe to secretly gain a kiss from Anna Strong. It is easy to see why AMC would choose such a spy ring as the subject of a television show. Under the system that Tallmadge designed, Woodhull travelled to New York every few weeks on business, mixed with Crown soldiers, listened for news, and observed activities. In the summer of 1778, the need arose for a Rebel spy network in New York City, the site of the British Armys continental headquarters. In late August, Woodhull received an unexpectedly early release from jail by order of Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull. I saw an old friend today. [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. A Loyalist named John Wolsey returned to Long Island after a stint in a Connecticut prison for privateering and reported a rumor that Woodhull was working for the Rebels.