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He married Mary Townsend on December 6th, 1753 at St. Georges Church. [6] In March Woodhull sent intelligence on British plans to raid the port of New London, Connecticut. I saw an old friend today. Another of Tallmadges operatives was Caleb Brewster, a Continental artillery lieutenant and skilled mariner stationed on the Connecticut coast who previously supplied Washington with naval intelligence. 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. 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. Gen. Charles Scott, September 25, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 18, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov. A Letter From Abraham Woodhull to His Son Thomas - Turn Wiki Woodhull adopts the alias Samuel Culper, and begins his espionage, making trips to New York to scope out British military strength and eavesdrop on important conversations. Woodhull enlisted Robert Townsend, a merchant who conducted business in Manhattan, to gather intelligence about British military plans. [21], In 1781 British and Loyalist units still patrolled Long Island and though Woodhull continued reporting, he remained concerned about his safety. Their reports are believed to have uncovered Benedict Arnolds treason, and led to the capture of British Major John Andre, who was working with Arnold to undermine the Continental Army. 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. Is this just presumed to be legend or myth now? The incident struck fear into Townsends heart, as it demonstrated just how easy it was to be captured. Two of his children, Elizabeth and Jesse, married into the Brewster family. Adorable outfit hes wearing, right? 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. 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 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. Score: 4.9/5 (68 votes) . I find that magnifying the zoom to 200% makes the cursive far more intelligible. A number of close calls with British authorities had made both Woodhull and Robert Townsend jumpy. 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. Bakeless did not provide a primary source for Townsends employment as a journalist for Rivington so this part of Townsends role is unclear. 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. Except what he should be wearing at that tender age is a gown. He had three children with his wife Mary, lived prosperously as a Suffolk County judge, and died in 1826. Woodhull served as a lieutenant in the Suffolk County, New York, militia in the fall of 1775 but resigned after a few months. Abraham Woodhull (1750-1826) FamilySearch He had an older brother, Thomas.In his youth, Abe made friends with Caleb Brewster and Benjamin Tallmadge. . PDF Espionage During the Revolutionary War: Abraham Woodhull and the Culper He was killed by a Queen's Ranger during an exchange trading himself and Abe for Caleb Brewster. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Woodhull became involved in the revolution around the same time, with Anna convincing him that he should side with the patriots against the British. P.S. Abraham Woodhull was a member of the Culper Spy Ring, which provided information to George Washington during the American Revolution. 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/. From Brewster, the intelligence would be passed on to Major Tallmadge, then to General Washingtons desk. 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. 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. Students deserve to know about their hometown heroes. Woodhull told him to ask Major Hewlett, who would vouch for him, but he was unaware that Hewlett had been kidnapped by the patriots from his home after Simcoe framed him for the murder ot their captain. Now, he knew that 1,500 Hessian troops were going to be sent to Trenton, and he decided to pass this on to Caleb. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. Abraham Woodhull was born on October 7th 1750 in Setauket, New York, on Long Island. Woodhull began spying for the. An ancillary benefit of reading the non-transcribed document, at least with some writers, is the unbelievable penmanship of some. October 7, 1750Abraham Woodhull / Date of birth. [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. For boys, this was often a celebrated childhood milestone. Richard Woodhull (died 1780) was the father of Culper Ring spy and farmer Abraham Woodhull. Both of those can help give you the context to figure out words and phrases that seem unintelligable. Abraham Woodhull Courier route to and from General Washington's Headquarters Courier route across Long Island Sound Courier route from New York City to Setauket Route used by Culper Ring members to send intelligence from New York City to General Washington's headquarters in downstate New York and New Jersey. (LogOut/ [2] His parents were Judge Richard Woodhull and Mary Woodhull (ne Smith).[3]. 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. Woodhull privately conferred with Major Hewlett and told him that he wanted to enter King's College and spy on the Sons of Liberty for him, as his prior connection to them might allow him to bust suspected patriot sympathizers in the college. TURN in Real Life: Abraham Woodhull, Setauket, and - Warhistoryonline Tallmadges recruitment of Woodhull enabled them to put their plans into action. 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! 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. Brother of Mary (Woodhull) Arthur and . 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. Abraham was forced to fire, shooting him in the stomach. 72years (17401812)Anna Strong / Age at death. Vad beror finnar p olika stllen? 9. 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. 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. A French fleet was sailing into Rhode Island to attack British forces there, and Washington wanted information that could make the job of the French easier. Posted on April 8, 2014 Updated on April 9, 2014. So interesting. Who was Abraham Woodhall? Documents answer this question positively without doubt. He rushed to the dying Baker and cried, having killed his first man. . Abraham Woodhull - Wife, Death & Son - Biography If I am caught, I could be hanged as a traitor and a spy. Little "Sprout" Woodhull's curious clothing TURN to a historian [19], But on the heels of this victory came a threat to their security. I was quietly longing for the days when there was no fighting when something unexpected happened. Abraham Woodhull - the 'Culper' of the Culper Ring. 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. . In 1778, he was . 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. He also never had a son named Thomas; Mary would give birth to two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, and a son named Jesse. In the ensuing encounter, Woodhull was rescued by the redcoats, who killed Cyrus. 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. 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. Robert Townsend went into business with his brother Solomon, but the business failed, and Townsend never got back on his feet. Sensing the volatile mental state of both his top operatives, General Washington decided to halt the operations of the Culper Ring. Even after resigning he sent seven more letters about British activities. 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. A farmer and the son of a local Patriot judge, Abraham Woodhull joined the Culper ring in November of 1778. 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. He had recently married Mary Smith, and was afraid of putting his family at undue risk. 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. 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.'. Lydia Darragh - Lydia spied on British officers who met in her home to discuss battle plans. 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. He will inform me what new works are erected on Long Island besides those at Brooklyn, and where, and of what nature. He died in 1835. 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. Possibly after testing his old friends allegiance, Tallmadge probably dropped his bomb; it was he who secured his early release from Governor Trumbull, and would Woodhull be willing to spy for the American cause? He died a lonely man in 1838. In return, Tallmadge proposed to Woodhull that he start spying for the Continental Army; Woodhull agreed, and Tallmadge received approval from Washington. The Rebels considered the practice trading with the enemy and those caught in the act faced a jail sentence. They likely discussed Woodhulls activities trading with the British. TV Show. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Woodhull held several important local positions in his later years, including magistrate of Setauket, judge of the Court of Common Pleas and first judge of Suffolk County. Granted, this particular anachronism is a small detail that is (like little Thomas baby couture) not hugely integral to the larger storyline of TURN. 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]. And dont forget to join the fun over at TURN to a Historians Facebook Page and tumblr account. His parents were Judge Richard Woodhull and Mary Woodhull (ne Smith). Suddenly the door to his room flung open and two people burst into his room. What struck me is the summary of the June 1777, I agree, and checked my source before submitting. So, perhaps there are some parts of the Culper Ring, we will never know, Your email address will not be published. More on the way soon! 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. Woodhull refused to give any names to the Congress, and he found out that his interrogator was Benjamin Tallmadge, another childhood friend who had joined a regiment of Connecticut dragoons in the Continental Army. Upon hearing of Woodhulls rumored espionage, Simcoe marched his Rangers into Setauket and proceeded to raid the Woodhull household. Crazy Facts About George Washington's Long Island Spies Robert Rogers, (born Nov. 7, 1731, Methuen, Mass. [9][10], Woodhull married his friend Mary Smith in 1781 and had three children with her. 2022-07-02. TURN: Washington's Spies: Created by Craig Silverstein. Any thoughts about this kids blank, emotionless stare and the fact that he never makes a sound? Benjamin Tallmadge, Setaukets highest-ranking military officer, was appointed the master of ceremonies.. Biography Richard Woodhull was born in 1712 in Setauket, New York. Introducing the Topic Index page (Just in time for the Season 3Premiere! He thus enlisted the aid of Anna Strong, the wife of Selah Strong, a tavern keeper who was jailed aboard a British prison ship when the Culper Ring was formed. Bantam, 2014. But Im a bit surprised by the []. Old Abraham Woodhull Home, Seatuket - Queens Public Library Abraham Woodhull is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor. Abraham Woodhull | Wiki | TUR Amino Thanks for pointing this out!! As I write this letter you are upstairs in your mothers arms, sleeping peacefully. However, his rowboat was pulled in by a ship at night while he was headed for New York, and he was told that he was being arrested by the Continental Congress for smuggling. [7] Tallmadge then set up a spy network in New York, with Woodhull as the lead agent. The Culper Ring was probably Washingtons most successful spy operation. I concur great article. 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). 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. The house was burned to the ground, and the family moved into Whitehall. 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. 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. Also, if you havent seen the preview for next Sundays episode yet, you can view it here. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. This is a 1790 portrait by American painter Ralph Earl . [] and visually busy spectacle. 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. Richard Woodhull [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. 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." Abraham copied down the writing in his book before Cook had him leave, but not before the officers gave him a drinking challenge: they asked him who he would kill if he would not be retaliated against.