[15] Rose, Washingtons Spies, 146-151; John Bakeless, Turncoats, Traitors & heroes: Espionage in the American Revolution (New York; J.B. Lippincot, 1959, reprint, Da Capo Press, 1998), 228. He died two years later, on 23 January 1826. Abraham Woodhull is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor. Not two months had passed, however, when Washington needed their services again. Abraham Woodhull/Parents While he was a staunch loyalist, his son Abraham Woodhull would become the leader of the pro-patriot Culper Ring . 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. After the war ended in December 1783, Woodhull stayed in Setauket. ), 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). Now that York City is dark to the rebel army, they need a man who can get inside and gather information. Im no expert on deciphering such documents, but have found that understanding the language of the time and subject matter is helpful. Both of those can help give you the context to figure out words and phrases that seem unintelligable. I fight this fight for you. Husband of Anna Maria Brewster; Hannah Skidmore and Charity A. Smith. He was killed by a Queen's Ranger during an exchange trading himself and Abe for Caleb Brewster. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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. Then he wrote down his observations and hid them at a secluded cove near Setauket. and Mary Anna (Smith) Woodhull. Woodhull passed on information that he had learned from his father's meeting with Major Edmund Hewlett to discuss the exoneration of Abraham from his role as a murder suspect; he had found a letter with a coded message that stated that the British under John Graves Simcoe would raid a patriot safehouse in Meigs Harbor, Connecticut. Where you can stand on your own two feet. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Whatever tactic the major used, Woodhull accepted the offer. [17] Washington to Tallmadge, September 22 1779, Writings of George Washington, Vol. If so, how did this myth get created? 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. And dont forget to join the fun over at TURN to a Historians Facebook Page and tumblr account. [8] His plan was to travel to Manhattan, ostensibly to visit his married sister, Mary Underhill, and her husband, Amos, at their boarding house. They continued their march across the Sound, spilling over onto Long Island and into Setauket. Abraham Woodhull: The Spy Named Samuel Culper. Journal of the American Revolution, 19 May 2014. So interesting. [12] Tallmadge to Washington, April 21, 1779, GW Papers, accessed March 29, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov; Rose, Washingtons Spies, 128. From Brewster, the intelligence would be passed on to Major Tallmadge, then to General Washingtons desk. As I write this letter you are upstairs in your mothers arms, sleeping peacefully. 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. Letter Dear Thomas , As I write this letter you are upstairs in your mother 's arms, sleeping peacefully. In 1781, Woodhull married Mary Smith. 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. Moments later he realized that the intruders were his nieces, playing a game to surprise their uncle, and successfully so. Except what he should be wearing at that tender age is a gown. The job was not without its risks, though, and Woodhull cut it close on many occasions. He married Mary Smith on 24 November 1781, in New York County, New York, United States. Tallmadge wrote Washington on October 11, 1780 that Arnold knew not a single link in the chain of my correspondence, but that the Culper operatives were too apprehensive of danger to give their immediate usual intelligence.[20] Woodhull and Townsend laid low but returned to providing information. Washingtons Spies: The Story of Americas First Spy Ring. He will inform me what new works are erected on Long Island besides those at Brooklyn, and where, and of what nature. For five days Tallmadge hid in the woods while Woodhull sneaked him food. At times, Rivington was also an American agent. He had an older brother, Thomas.In his youth, Abe made friends with Caleb Brewster and Benjamin Tallmadge. Posted on April 8, 2014 Updated on April 9, 2014. . Woodhull and Tallmadge deserve to be honored and taught. 9. In this case, I could understand the rationale behind breeching little Thomas several years early in TURN. Abraham's 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. Woodhull was thereby able to locate and relay messages to whale boat captain Caleb Brewster, who then delivered them to Tallmadge. Sensing the volatile mental state of both his top operatives, General Washington decided to halt the operations of the Culper Ring. Woodhull had a problem to face, however, as he had to give Major Hewlett a final report on New York. I concur great article. 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. 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. While there, he had a conversation with two Hessians making sauerkraut at their campfire, and they let him try their food. . 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. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Where your own reasoning forges your path rather than blindly following others. 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. Caleb escaped, and Abraham decided to continue passing information to the patriots. What General Washington, the ultimate consumer of Culper Ring intelligence, thought of the operation is unclear. Lydia Darragh - Lydia spied on British officers who met in her home to discuss battle plans. Before he left Connecticut, Woodhull was probably stunned when he received a visit from Benjamin Tallmadge, who he knew as a fellow Setauket native. 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. His father, Richard, was unharmed, but Simcoe had plundered the house in the most shocking manner in order to obtain compensation for his troubles. Aliased Samuel Culper, Jr., Townsend gave Woodhull a reliable source within the city itself, and made his job much easier. That may be true, but deep down inside it is you, Thomas, who fuels my passion. 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. [8], Yet for all of his success, the pressure of spying and leading a double life severely strained Woodhull. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Abraham Woodhull was a main spy in the Culper Spy Ring. Abraham was severely troubled by this, and there is no reason to assume his father did not feel likewise. type. [20] Tallmadge to Washington, October 11, 1780, GW Papers, accessed April 24, 2014 via. [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. Cant find his name in the cast credits either odd. He rushed to the dying Baker and cried, having killed his first man. 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. 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. 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. But Im a bit surprised by the []. While Anna objected to either plot, Abraham stole his father's pistol and ambushed Eastin as he rode down a road, shooting him off of his horse. Historica Wiki is a FANDOM Games Community. Abraham mentions that his son is "almost a year old" as he eggs him on to start walking on his own. Even if they decide to spare my life and send me to a prison ship, I would still leave you, your mother, my father, and our entire family disgraced. Failure was not an option. It is a choice that comes at a heavy price. He hardly ever spoke of his work as a spy. [7] Tallmadge then set up a spy network in New York, with Woodhull as the lead agent. 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. [11] He held a few minor political appointments, including magistrate in Suffolk County, New York, from 1799 to 1810. 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/. [11] Culper to Tallmadge, April 101779, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014, via http://memory.loc.gov. Benjamin Tallmadge became a wealthy investor, and in 1801 was elected to Congress. Yes, a gown, as in a dress. Sometimes boys even wore stays, too. Does beard oil expire? But how do you read the non-transcribed Samuel Culper John Bolton GW Papers via http://memory.loc.gov? Abe married Mary, and soon had a son named Thomas. 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. In the encounter, Woodhull won a coin toss and was allowed to draw first blood, but his shot missed Simcoe. Did Abraham Woodhull have a son named Thomas? Anna found out about the duel from Simcoe and warned Richard Woodhull, and the two headed to stop the duel. Biography Richard Woodhull was born in 1712 in Setauket, New York. (His very appearance is a bit of a chronological anomaly, but well discuss that later.) Abraham had Baker reload his gun, but he was convinced to leave the duel with honor. 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. His cousin, General Nathaniel Woodhull, 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. However, because his friend Selah Strong was imprisoned after getting into a fight with British officer Charles Joyce with Woodhull in attendance, Woodhull was one of the suspects in Joyce's murder when he turned up dead with his throat slit in Lewis Field, as was Anna Strong, Selah's wife and Woodhull's former fiancee. A farmer and the son of a local Patriot judge, Abraham Woodhull joined the Culper ring in November of 1778. It was later decided by Tallmadge and Washington that Woodhull would be given the alias Samuel Culper, and the Culper spy ring was born. He said the man who placed the Phrygian cap on the Liberty Pole at King's College back in 1773 (referring to himself), as his actions lead to his brother's death; this was his way of telling Anna about what happened that led to their engagement being broken. Thomas "Sprout" Woodhull (died August 24, 1814) was the son of Culper Ring spy and farmer Abraham Woodhull . If you are interested in working with us or have a great story, please get in touch. I knew I had to do this for our family. 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. It was in October 1778, when Woodhull toured British-held New York City and its environs, observing Crown military activities. [19] Culper to John Bolton, July 20, 1780, GW Papers, accessed April 20 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov; Rose, Washingtons Spies, 189-192. The intelligence would then be retrieved by a certain boatman named Caleb Brewster, who was a lieutenant in the Continental Army. 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. The Rebels considered the practice trading with the enemy and those caught in the act faced a jail sentence. Neither man recorded the details of their meeting but we can make some inferences by the result. The rumor fell upon the ears of a certain Queens Rangers captain by the name of John Graves Simcoe. 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. Woodhull returned to New York, defeated. A young man who I have known since I was only a few years older than you are now. 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. Woodhull encountered his childhood friend Caleb Brewster when he arrived in Connecticut, selling him his cabbage in exchange for some money and some silk. Son of Richard W. & Margaret Smith. Suddenly the door to his room flung open and two people burst into his room. Abraham Woodhull was a member of the Culper Spy Ring, which provided information to George Washington during the American Revolution. (Hes not even a year old and hes already turning Setauket into the Brooklyn of the 18th century!). The officer was angered by this, and he told Abraham that he should leave. But he probably never forgot that day in 1778 when he came very close to being hanged. Unfortunately, several British officers decided to billet at Woodhulls farm at the same time and a violent storm prevented Brewster from retrieving Tallmadge. However, Woodhull sent him to persuade Townsend to join the rebel cause, as Woodhull had previously met with his father Samuel Townsend in attempts to persuade Robert to join the patriots. He found out of a petition to the provincial congress, and he intended to hunt down the people responsible. They were immigrants from the Ukraine. Woodhull, in turn, promptly involved Townsend, who reinforced his cover by writing pro-Tory articles for the Royal Gazette. I knew I had to do this for you. Over time, he began to fear for his safety, and Benjamin Tallmadges reports to Washington reflect Woodhulls growing timidity. Rose, Alexander. Woodhull enlisted Robert Townsend, a merchant who conducted business in Manhattan, to gather intelligence about British military plans. 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. There is much more to the story of the Culper Ring and intelligence activities in and around New York City. He also never had a son named Thomas; Mary would give birth to two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, and a son named Jesse. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. with his son William Tallmadge. A Long Island farmer bands together a group of childhood friends to form an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America's fight for independence. [9][10], Woodhull married his friend Mary Smith in 1781 and had three children with her. Woodhull prefaced the information with the admonishment that the intelligence contained news of the greatest consequence perhaps that ever happened to your country.. Ive noticed that every time the kid is supposed to make a sound it is superimposed when his face is off screen. Interestingly enough, Woodhull, Strong, Brewster and Tallmadge existed in real life, as did almost all of the other main characters of the show. In AMCs drama TURN: Washingtons Spies, we follow Abraham Woodhull and company as they play a cunning game of deceit and trickery to gather intelligence for the Continental Army in the American War for Independence. 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. Great article. Is this just presumed to be legend or myth now? Still, the fact is that little hipster Sprouts outfit IS several years ahead of his time, according to the historical record. 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]. 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. ae 53 years and 1 day Abraham Thomas was the son of Nicholas Thomas (1753-1838) and his first wife, Lucy Somes (1759-1792). He had recently married Mary Smith, and was afraid of putting his family at undue risk. 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. His wife Mary died in 1806, and in 1824, he remarried. 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. What better way to get back at the enemy, Tallmadge might have said, than by spying on the British under their own noses and helping the American cause? 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. Woodhull became one of Washingtons best spies, knowing all the while that he was one step away from a noose. Creator: Thomas R. Bayles Identifier: aql:14389 trb-000045 trb-000045.tif. Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Death 2 Characters met So little Thomas Sprout Woodhull appears to be quite the little hipster baby wearing breeches before they were cool. The near-miss left him shaken, but he was compelled to find another way to continue spying. 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. Accessed 18 May 2016. https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/05/abraham-woodhull-the-spy-named-samuel-culper/. In fact, in 1790, Benjamin Tallmadges own son was wearing them at the tender age of three. The incident struck fear into Townsends heart, as it demonstrated just how easy it was to be captured. While I am caught in the middle of a war I hope will be over soon, I can only hope we are on the side of right and good. 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). Abraham Woodhull is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor. In the spring of 1777, Woodhull trysted with Anna at her barn, and he told her that he could not stay there long. Now there are redcoats everywhere, swathed in every nook of our hometown. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! [1] Samuel Culper to Brig. 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 . The two often went to New York together masquerading as husband and wife, and the trick was effective, despite Strong being ten years older than Woodhull. Astrological Sign: Libra, Death Year: 1826, Death date: January 23, 1826, Death State: New York, Death City: Setauket, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Abraham Woodhull Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figure/abraham-woodhull, Publisher: A&E Television Networks, Last Updated: July 7, 2020, Original Published Date: May 18, 2015. Schellhammer, Michael. Ben has asked me to assist in balancing the scales. 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. 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. [U.S.]died May 18, 1795, London, Eng. Click on the title of a post to view the comments and join the conversation! Score: 4.9/5 (68 votes) . network. 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. 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. Any thoughts about this kids blank, emotionless stare and the fact that he never makes a sound? 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). We feature smart, groundbreaking research and well-written narratives from expert writers. 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. Nevertheless, he continued to send letters to Washington, informing of anything of importance he came across. The couple had three children. Benedict Arnold. Also, if you havent seen the preview for next Sundays episode yet, you can view it here. The court case fell apart, leading to uproar. [4] In November he reported how Loyalist units were scouring local farms for wood and livestock. 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. 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. Woodhull was portrayed from 2014 to 2017 by Jamie Bell in AMC's spy thriller and historical drama series Turn: Washington's Spies, which was based on Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring (2007) by Alexander Rose. Washington planned a naval attack on New York City and pressed Tallmadge for Woodhull to at all times keep his attention on changes of situation, or the new positions which may be taken by the enemy. They have taken over everything, using brute force and the heels of their boots to make their presence known. When they returned to their room, they had passionate sex. JMS you are correct as with any untranscribed 18th century documents, reading and understading the Culper letters is a tough task. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Also, his cousin, Continental Brigadier-General Nathaniel Woodhull, died at the battle of Long Island in 1776. Brother of Mary (Woodhull) Arthur and . 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. Best Known For: Abraham Woodhull was a member of the Culper Spy Ring, which provided information to George Washington during the American Revolution. Despite its inaccuracies, TURN: Washingtons Spies is an entertaining yet fitting tribute to the brave operatives of the Culper Ring, and shows just how dangerous and critically important their jobs were. It was believed that Nathaniel Woodhull had been captured and brutalized by the British, and died a miserable death. But the event convinced the spy of his constant danger and he curtailed operations. The Culper Spy Ring was an organized network of agents working on behalf of the Continental Army that operated behind and just beyond enemy lines. 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. Nor had the Americans uniformly mastered the techniques of successfully moving in and out of enemy territory. Makes me feel resentful, though, at our Long Island schools. Abraham mentions that his son is almost a year old as he eggs him on to start walking on his own. 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. Additionally, you can browse through a slideshow of primary source images concerning children and babies over at the 18th Century Material Culture Resource Center. 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. Students deserve to know about their hometown heroes. He began providing information to the British in 1779, and started a correspondence with Major John Andre, the head of British intelligence. But there can be no doubt of Woodhulls dedication. At one point he neared an encampment of Loyalist soldiers commanded by General William Tryon. Abraham Woodhull was born on October 7th 1750 in Setauket, New York, on Long Island. He used the alias "Samuel Culper" (later "Samuel Culper Sr."), which was a play on Culpeper County, Virginia, and was suggested by George Washington . Benjamin Tallmadge, Setaukets highest-ranking military officer, was appointed the master of ceremonies.. Sometimes historians give the Culper Ring credit for discovering Benedict Arnold was a traitor. These heroes get no mention whatsoever in our history books or lessons. Captain Simcoe, a gruff and raucous character, had taken over the same outfit of Rangers once commanded by legendary tracker Robert Rogers.