Woodhull enlisted Robert Townsend, a merchant who conducted business in Manhattan, to gather intelligence about British military plans. Did Abraham Woodhull have a son named Thomas? Behind the Scenes The British responded to this by disarming all of the citizens, and when Benjamin Tallmadge's father Benjamin Tallmadge, Sr. greeted the British as a hostile person when turning in his gun, he was suspected. They were immigrants from the Ukraine. 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. 2022-07-02. 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. 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. I saw an old friend today. [16] Washington to Tallmadge, October 6 1779, Writings of George Washington, Vol. 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 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. Does Dragoncrest ring work on miracles? Ive noticed that every time the kid is supposed to make a sound it is superimposed when his face is off screen. Ben says this fight is for freedom. Poster: Abraham Lincoln, With His Son Tad (Thomas) Leaning On A Table (Hes not even a year old and hes already turning Setauket into the Brooklyn of the 18th century!). 'Turn': Have we seen the death of Abraham Woodhull? | EW.com 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). 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. Certainly they had an emotional reunion and talked about the rebellion. S1 E6. In the encounter, Woodhull won a coin toss and was allowed to draw first blood, but his shot missed Simcoe. Abraham Woodhull | Wiki | TUR Amino 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. 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. 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. Highwaymen on the road near the town of Huntington robbed him of all of his money in early April 1779, and Woodhull told Tallmadge that he felt a life of anxiety to be within . Before he left Connecticut, Woodhull was probably stunned when he received a visit from Benjamin Tallmadge, who he knew as a fellow Setauket native. 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. But the event convinced the spy of his constant danger and he curtailed operations. 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. Townsend also owned a share of a coffee house popular with British officers operated by James Rivington, printer of the Loyalist Royal Gazette. Washington sent Caleb Brewster out to Setauket to notify Woodhull of the situation. 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. He used the alias "Samuel Culper" (later "Samuel Culper Sr."), which was a play on Culpeper County, Virginia, and was suggested by George Washington. Accessed 18 May 2016. https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/05/abraham-woodhull-the-spy-named-samuel-culper/. I knew I had to do this for you. 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. The correspondence between the general and Tallmadge shows that Washington often relied heavily on Culper Ring information during times of crisis. 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. Lucy was the daughter of Abraham Somes, one of the. (His very appearance is a bit of a chronological anomaly, but well discuss that later.) But while their passion is thick, their numbers are overshadowed by the fastest and largest navy in the world. 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. Schellhammer, Michael. Background. Little "Sprout" Woodhull's curious clothing TURN to a historian One example is from October 1779, when the Americans anticipated the arrival of a French fleet. He traveled regularly from Setauket to Manhattan, ostensibly to visit his sister. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. 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. She then passed on the information to American soldiers. As the British departed the colonies, a celebration was thrown in Setauket. Abraham Woodhull (1750-1826) - Find a Grave Memorial 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The Culper Ring was probably Washingtons most successful spy operation. In 1778, he was caught making his way into New York to sell some of his farms yield, and was jailed by the Rebels for selling goods to the enemy.. 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. See Todd Andrliks James Rivington: Kings Printer and Patriot Spy? 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. Capt. Abraham Woodhull, Esq. (1750 - 1826) - Genealogy On a somewhat more practical level I also adjust the contrast on the images, which makes the handwriting more clear. Aliased Samuel Culper, Jr., Townsend gave Woodhull a reliable source within the city itself, and made his job much easier. His parents were Judge Richard Woodhull and Mary Woodhull (ne Smith). Thomas Woodhull | Turn Wiki | Fandom 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. Tallmadge then sent the information to General George Washington. What struck me is the summary of the June 1777, I agree, and checked my source before submitting. With Jamie Bell, Seth Numrich, Daniel Henshall, Meegan Warner. Was Abraham Woodhulls father a loyalist? 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. Abraham Woodhull performed Patriotic Service in New York in the American Revolution. The Culper intelligence allowed Washington to arrange countermoves, and the episode was one of the Rings greatest successes. [10] Tallmadge to Washington, November 19, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014, via http://memory.loc.gov. 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. 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. 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. Students deserve to know about their hometown heroes. [4] In November he reported how Loyalist units were scouring local farms for wood and livestock. A Letter From Abraham Woodhull to His Son Thomas - Turn Wiki 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. 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. [8], Yet for all of his success, the pressure of spying and leading a double life severely strained Woodhull. Im sure you know that the value of intelligence is often intangible, and therefore not always apparant until viewed with the benefit of hindsight. So, perhaps there are some parts of the Culper Ring, we will never know, Your email address will not be published. Though, they must have been pre-made, as by the time they would have been finished, Sprout would have sprouted some more. Colonel John Graves Simcoe, commander of the Loyalist Queens American Rangers, promptly launched a raid to grab the spy. Washington sent another vial of ink.[12]. 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. [6] In March Woodhull sent intelligence on British plans to raid the port of New London, Connecticut. But he probably never forgot that day in 1778 when he came very close to being hanged. 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.'. Journal of the American Revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the American Revolution and Founding Era. Then he wrote down his observations and hid them at a secluded cove near Setauket. Culper Spy Ring | American intelligence organization | Britannica The incident struck fear into Townsends heart, as it demonstrated just how easy it was to be captured. [21] Carl Van Doren, Secret History of the American Revolution: An Account of the Conspiracies of Benedict Arnold and Numerous Others, Drawn from the Secret Service Papers of the British Headquarters in North America, now for the First Time Examined and Made Public (Garden City, NY, Garden City Publishing, 1941), 380. Woodhull later returned to his home, only to find his wife confronting him after she found out about his spy involvement. Abraham Woodhull's letter to his son thomas - YouTube Your email address will not be published. Abraham Woodhull was a noted hero of the American Revolution. One of the facts he provided was that a spy ring was operating on Long Island, and before long suspected spies were being arrested throughout the area. Together, they had 11 children. Townsend may have dabbled in journalism himself, which gave him a perfect excuse to spend long hours picking up information. 16, accessed April 19 2014 via http://etext.virginia.edu. 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! I hope that one day, the Lord willing, you will grow up to be a man. It was in October 1778, when Woodhull toured British-held New York City and its environs, observing Crown military activities. 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. And dont worry well be discussing plenty of military details here on the blog soon enough. I concur great article. He had recently married Mary Smith, and was afraid of putting his family at undue risk. The intelligence would then be retrieved by a certain boatman named Caleb Brewster, who was a lieutenant in the Continental Army. He hardly ever spoke of his work as a spy. [3] Washington to Brig. [5] Culper to Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge, November 23, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014, via http://memory.loc.gov. Capt Abraham Thomas (1785-1838) - Memorial Find a Grave In this case, I could understand the rationale behind breeching little Thomas several years early in TURN. The rumor fell upon the ears of a certain Queens Rangers captain by the name of John Graves Simcoe. 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. 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. Benjamin Tallmadge became a wealthy investor, and in 1801 was elected to Congress. 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. Place of Burial: Setauket, Suffolk, New York. (His very appearance is a bit of a chronological anomaly, but we'll discuss that later.) Fueled by a strong desire to avenge his cousins allegedly brutal murder, Woodhull threw himself into his new job with a passion. 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. Among the attendees were the Woodhull, Tallmadge and Strong families, along with Caleb Brewster and Austin Roes family. The officer was angered by this, and he told Abraham that he should leave. His efforts as a spy were some of the most successful efforts in American History. This entry was posted in clothing, material culture and tagged 18th century clothing, 18th century gowns, Abraham Woodhull, amc turn, historical costuming, Linda Baumgarten, material culture, sprout, Thomas Woodhull, TURN, turn amc, TURN premiere. The Culper spy ring proved to be a vital part of General Washingtons intelligence network, keeping him informed of the British Armys intentions and operations throughout the Colonies. Where you can stand on your own two feet. The house was built in 1660 and was destroyed by fire in 1931. War History Online welcomes many guest authors who share their knowledge of the history on our pages. 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. He died a lonely man in 1838. It is easy to see why AMC would choose such a spy ring as the subject of a television show. He was a Presbyterian, occupying a "Pew of Authority" in the old church and doing much toward the building of the new church. Ironically, Woodhulls exploits could not be recognized after the war so its information like that presented in Mikes article that puts the things to right. 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. As depicted in the show, Abraham Woodhull was a cabbage farmer. 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. (LogOut/ 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. He rushed to the dying Baker and cried, having killed his first man. 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. 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. When Woodhull and Anna were finally able to go to New York, Woodhull and Anna shared a room together, and Woodhull and Anna had an argument about the cancellation of their engagement, with Abraham refusing to tell her about his brother's death. 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. 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. I fight this fight for you. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and well-written narratives from expert writers. [U.S.]died May 18, 1795, London, Eng. Not two months had passed, however, when Washington needed their services again. 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. Failure was not an option. [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. Woodhull returned to New York, defeated. Now, he knew that 1,500 Hessian troops were going to be sent to Trenton, and he decided to pass this on to Caleb. His parents were Judge Richard Woodhull and Mary Woodhull (ne Smith). Washingtons Spies: The Story of Americas First Spy Ring. 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. Anna found out about the duel from Simcoe and warned Richard Woodhull, and the two headed to stop the duel. Woodhull served as a lieutenant in the Suffolk County militia for a short period of time in the fall of 1775 but resigned after a few months. Abraham Woodfull Facts - The Revolutions Great Spy He was later buried is Setauket, next to his wife, Rebecca and his son, Thomas . The war is raging now, and General Washington has been driven out of York City and the Royal Army has taken over there. Woodhull headed to meet with Colonel Cook afterwards and made a good deal to sell Selah Strong's cauliflower to him, and Cook invited him to Major John Andre's dinner party in order to sell some more of his goods. She found out when their son Thomas had moved a floorboard, revealing a book of words and code-numbers used to represent them, a book which Caleb had given to Abraham in order to communicate without the British knowing; Caleb also told Woodhull that his alias would be "Samuel Culpeper", with Woodhull shortening it to "Culper". ae 53 years and 1 day Abraham Thomas was the son of Nicholas Thomas (1753-1838) and his first wife, Lucy Somes (1759-1792). Benedict Arnold. The two of them spent a moment together before Abraham found out that Major Hewlett's horse Bucephalus had been poisoned through his apples, and Captain Simcoe blamed the poisoning on rebel sympathizers. Simcoe arrested him after he gave a pro-patriot sermon to people at a tavern, and he was accused of being the shooter. If Woodhull and Townsend were exhausted they remained dedicated and efficient. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! Score: 4.9/5 (68 votes) . So interesting. Woodhull prefaced the information with the admonishment that the intelligence contained news of the greatest consequence perhaps that ever happened to your country.. Woodhull served as a lieutenant in the Suffolk County, New York, militia in the fall of 1775 but resigned after a few months. This week I was reviewing Muster, Payrolls and List of Effectives for Capt Gross Scruggs company of the Fifth Virginia. 16, accessed April 19 2014 via http://etext.virginia.edu. (LogOut/ After the war ended in December 1783, Woodhull stayed in Setauket. After the United States gained independence, Woodhull served as a magistrate, as had his father before him, and served as a judge in Suffolk County, New York. Abraham had Baker reload his gun, but he was convinced to leave the duel with honor. In the spring of 1777, Woodhull trysted with Anna at her barn, and he told her that he could not stay there long. 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. The intelligence provided by the Culper Ring prevented what might have been a terrible disaster, and was one of its most important triumphs. Breeches and a linen shirt, like the little colonial man he is! 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.) [7] Tallmadge then set up a spy network in New York, with Woodhull as the lead agent. TURN in Real Life: Abraham Woodhull, Setauket, and - Warhistoryonline 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. For the first few years of a childs life in the late 18th century, regardless of gender, he or she would wear a gown, a loose-fitting garment that could be tied, pinned, or buttoned shut. The ink was a solution developed by John Jays brother, Sir James Jay. A number of close calls with British authorities had made both Woodhull and Robert Townsend jumpy. 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. [5] In February 1779 he sent information on troop movements, supply problems, naval matters, the total strength of enemy forces around New York, the possibility of reinforcements, and other military plans; the report was seven pages long. 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. 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. Both of those can help give you the context to figure out words and phrases that seem unintelligable. TV Show. Woodhull was tortured, being thrown in a cage with patriots; he did not disclose his true loyalties, and he was beaten and hated by the imprisoned patriots. I knew I had to do this for our family. In addition, the Culper Ring likely helped prevent a British attack against French forces that had arrived in Rhode Island to assist the colonists. Adding to these problems was the threat of an attack on New York City by the Rebels and their new allies, the French. He had three children with his wife Mary, lived prosperously as a Suffolk County judge, and died in 1826. 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/. Can beard oil clog pores? While this piece underscores some of the glaring inaccuracies of the TV series TURN, it also highlights the intrigue and anxiety spies like Woodhull must have experienced day to day. 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.