Abraham Woodhull performed Patriotic Service in New York in the American Revolution. Washington sent another vial of ink.[12]. . type. Abraham Woodhull - Abraham was a key member of the Culper Spy Ring. A Letter From Abraham Woodhull to His Son Thomas View source A Letter From Abraham Woodhull to His Son Thomas is an entry from the Turn: Washington's Spies official site. The patriots withdrew from Setauket, but Anna decided to leave Selah's side and stay in Setauket to help Abraham. Woodhull offered to send some cabbage to them, but they said that their brigade was being shipped out for Trenton, New Jersey soon. War History Online welcomes many guest authors who share their knowledge of the history on our pages. The three would look out for each other and do many things together, including escorting Abe to secretly gain a kiss from Anna Strong. Abraham Woodhull is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor. JMS you are correct as with any untranscribed 18th century documents, reading and understading the Culper letters is a tough task. 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. After collecting the messages, Woodhull waited for signals from his neighbor and fellow conspirator, Anna Strong, who communicated by hanging specific laundry out on her line. 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. While he was a staunch loyalist, his son Abraham Woodhull would become the leader of the pro-patriot Culper Ring . Rose, Alexander. 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. 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. 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! Woodhull enlisted Robert Townsend, a merchant who conducted business in Manhattan, to gather intelligence about British military plans. Robert Townsend went into business with his brother Solomon, but the business failed, and Townsend never got back on his feet. An ancillary benefit of reading the non-transcribed document, at least with some writers, is the unbelievable penmanship of some. 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? Woodhull immediately set to work attempting to collect the money due him for his services. After her death in 1806, Woodhull remarried in 1824. Bantam, 2014. 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. Townsend stole and cooked the two brown eggs, serving them to Woodhull when he returned to the inn after nearly leaving the city. 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. Together, they had 11 children. British forces on Manhattan obtained much of their supplies from the farms of Long Island, which meant that Woodhull could travel regularly to New York, ostensibly to sell his goods but really to observe military activities. What struck me is the summary of the June 1777, I agree, and checked my source before submitting. Little Thomas Woodhull, whom Abraham fondly calls "Sprout," steals the spotlight at the beginning and end of the TURN pilot episode. TURN Season 3: All Quiet on the HistoryFront? Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. 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. Yet, in my research, I have not discovered any documents linking them to him, other than their anxieties you mentioned. 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. Thanks for reading and commenting, and enjoy researching! Woodhull's father helped him in getting his way out of the case, and Woodhull and ranger captain Robert Rogers both investigated the murder. He was the son of a prominent judge who supported colonial independence. 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. [6] Woodhull had been caught smuggling contraband across Long Island Sound, and Tallmadge spoke with Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull and got him released. [4] Culper to Scott, October 31, 1778, GW Papers, accessed January 26, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov. Creator: Thomas R. Bayles Identifier: aql:14389 trb-000045 trb-000045.tif. Wikipedia. He filed his last intelligence report, not written in code but still signed with the alias Samuel Culper, on February 21, 1783, while the British planned the wars closing act, the evacuation of New York City. 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. Abraham was severely troubled by this, and there is no reason to assume his father did not feel likewise. Woodhull wrote, I received their threats for coming there that made me almost tremble knowing my situation and business.[1] His statement only hinted at what he inwardly knew; that if the soldiers discovered his espionage mission, they would have hanged him without compunction. [23] Woodhulls expense report submitted in July was the final curtain on his clandestine service.[24]. Abraham Woodhull: The Spy Named Samuel Culper. Journal of the American Revolution, 19 May 2014. Any thoughts about this kids blank, emotionless stare and the fact that he never makes a sound? Abraham Woodhull (7 October 1750 23 January 1826) was the leader of the Culper Ringnetwork under the aliasSamuel Culper, Sr. during theAmerican Revolutionary War. 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. 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. 2022-07-02. He discovered that anyone traveling into the city was at exceptional risk of being detained and searched by British authorities, but that married couples almost always were not. Yet he still completed his mission and submitted a valuable intelligence report to Washington. His father, Richard, was unharmed, but Simcoe had plundered the house in the most shocking manner in order to obtain compensation for his troubles. Ive noticed that every time the kid is supposed to make a sound it is superimposed when his face is off screen. 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! At times, Rivington was also an American agent. Ben says this fight is for freedom. After the war ended in December 1783, Woodhull stayed in Setauket. 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. Benjamin Tallmadge became a wealthy investor, and in 1801 was elected to Congress. 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. [2], Woodhull was to be a new type of American spy. [13] Culper to John Bolton, June 5, 1779, GW Papers, accessed March 29, 2014 via http://memory.loc.gov; Rose, Washingtons Spies, 129. In the spring of 1780 the strain of spying was wearing on both Woodhull and Townsend, and Tallmadge told Washington that Townsend had become less active, and even Culper Senior grows timid and thinks that intercourse had better be dropped for the present.[18] Washington agreed to shut the Culper Ring down, only to reactivate it in July to gain information that would support operations of another French fleet expected later that summer. [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. Also, if you havent seen the preview for next Sundays episode yet, you can view it here. Place of Burial: Setauket, Suffolk, New York. 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. And the different writing styles of the Culper agents becomes apparant after reading a lot of the correspondence. I fight this fight for you. Before Simcoe could fire back, Woodhull and Anna Strong arrived and ended the fight, with Anna telling Simcoe that the men were fighting for their honor, not hers, and telling them that they could both leave. That is why I am doing this, Sprout. And dont worry well be discussing plenty of military details here on the blog soon enough. 2022-07-02. Who was Abraham Woodhall? 16, accessed April 19 2014 via http://etext.virginia.edu. Letter Dear Thomas , As I write this letter you are upstairs in your mother 's arms, sleeping peacefully. Neither man recorded the details of their meeting but we can make some inferences by the result. [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. Introducing the Topic Index page (Just in time for the Season 3Premiere! He recruited Woodhull, a native of Tallmadge's hometown of Setauket, Long Island, New York. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and well-written narratives from expert writers. [1] Samuel Culper to Brig. Later that day, Abraham decided to head to King's College to visit the spot where his brother had been killed in a 1773 riot after Woodhull put a Phrygian cap on top of the Liberty Pole there. 2022-07-02. 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. [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. [19], But on the heels of this victory came a threat to their security. 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. Abraham's wife Mary convinced him that he had to shoot the courier, Corporal Eastin (the man who had been sent to escort Woodhull to New York previously), and not kill Hewlett as he had planned to do. The intelligence provided by the Culper Ring prevented what might have been a terrible disaster, and was one of its most important triumphs. At one point he neared an encampment of Loyalist soldiers commanded by General William Tryon. S1 E6. 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. When you are that man, I want nothing more than a future for you where you are able to live, love and be free. The ink was a solution developed by John Jays brother, Sir James Jay. Abraham had Baker reload his gun, but he was convinced to leave the duel with honor. Excellent sketch of the Culper Rings two Principal Agents Mike. Thankfully, no actual spies were arrested, and the Ring was able to continue its work, although Woodhull and Townsend were again understandably anxious. (His very appearance is a bit of a chronological anomaly, but well discuss that later.) In 1781, Woodhull married Mary Smith. Normally Woodhull was a farmer in the town of Setauket on Long Islands north shore where he cared for his elderly parents. In mid-1778 he began sailing across Long Island Sound to British-held New York to sell his farms produce for hard currency. What a fun anecdote thanks for sharing! Abraham and Anna spending time together in Anna's barn. 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. Granted, this particular anachronism is a small detail that is (like little Thomas baby couture) not hugely integral to the larger storyline of TURN. Required fields are marked *. Abraham Woodhull was a noted hero of the American Revolution. Schellhammer, Michael. He married Mary Townsend on December 6th, 1753 at St. Georges Church. Accessed 18 May 2016. https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/05/abraham-woodhull-the-spy-named-samuel-culper/. Woodhull and Strong must accomplish this right underneath the noses of the British soldiers occupying their hometown, as well as Woodhulls Loyalist father. 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 . With Jamie Bell, Seth Numrich, Daniel Henshall, Meegan Warner. Background. Breeches and a linen shirt, like the little colonial man he is! 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. One example is from October 1779, when the Americans anticipated the arrival of a French fleet. But the event convinced the spy of his constant danger and he curtailed operations. P.S. [6] In March Woodhull sent intelligence on British plans to raid the port of New London, Connecticut. Lydia Darragh - Lydia spied on British officers who met in her home to discuss battle plans. 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. 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. However, he was arrested by British troops and thrown in prison by Inspector-General Joseph Innes, who believed that he was spying for the rebels. Margaret Smith Townsend also owned a share of a coffee house popular with British officers operated by James Rivington, printer of the Loyalist Royal Gazette. The British knew the exact strength of the French fleet, and were going to wait for them to make harbor and ambush them. He was the son of Richard Woodhull, a wealthy judge, and Margaret Smith Woodhull, who did not die when Abraham was young as portrayed in the show, but in fact died in 1803, fifteen years after Richard. 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.'.