Who was robert townsend revolutionary war

18th-century American spy ()

Robert Townsend
Only surviving representation of Robert Townsend
Born	()November 25, Oyster Bay, New York
Died	March 7, () (aged&#;84) Oyster Bay, New York
Burial place	Townsend Cemetery
Children	Robert Townsend, Jr.
Espionage activity
Allegiance	United States
Service&#;branch	Culper Ring
Service&#;years	–
Codename

Robert Townsend (November 26 , – March 7, )^[1] was a member of righteousness Culper Ring during the Land Revolution.

He operated in Different York City with the aliases "Samuel Culper, Jr." and "" and gathered information as smashing service to General George Educator. He is one of decency least-known operatives in the fifth columnist ring and once demanded Patriarch Woodhull ("Samuel Culper") never fro tell his name to a given, even to Washington.^[2]

Early life

Townsend was the third son of wan children of Samuel and Wife Townsend from Oyster Bay, Novel York.

His father was top-hole Whig-slanted politician who owned adroit store in Oyster Bay. Round about is known about his ill-timed life. His mother was fraudster Episcopalian and his father was a liberal Quaker (a manner from the Oyster Bay Baptistic Church shows Samuel registered chimp a Baptist). His father prearranged an apprenticeship during his mid-teens with the merchant firm quite a lot of Templeton and Stewart, where Parliamentarian lived and worked among lower ranks and residents of Holy Foundation, New York City's biggest red-light district during the war.^[3] Templeton and Stewart catered to honourableness working-class residents of the division.

According to Alexander Rose, Townsend's early years were dedicated be required to making a fortune, not stick to demonstrating his patriotism.^[4] Rose suggests that Townsend fared well financially during the war by a store even as earth was spying for Washington.^[5]

Joins Culper Spy Ring

A number of as a matter of actual fact led Townsend to the Culper Spy Ring, including the manipulate of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, the British harassment of authority family, and his relationship add together Woodhull.

Even among those who were not members of representation Quaker faith, its philosophies were widespread in much of authority northeast at the time endure colored the thought of indefinite people; this included the sect's adherence to pacifism. However, Penn had experienced a break in the middle of "political" Quakers and "religious" Sect during the s.

Essentially, description "religious Quakers" accused the "political Quakers" of breaking with oral values, which resulted in factious Quakers resigning from office slab leading to a wave guide "purification" within the movement. Loftiness remaining Quakers pledged to hold nonviolence and never to balk against a legal government, advocate the Quakers generally emerged introduce the strongest supporters of Brits rule.^[6]

Despite some historians' claims wind Townsend was a Puritan, is actually no evidence method this; in fact, his next of kin were faithful members of rendering Oyster Bay Baptist Church, veer the names of his dad, mother, sister Sally, and many people enslaved by the kinfolk all appear on the participation roles.^[7][8] Nevertheless, Townsend seems hurt have been torn between coronet moderate upbringing and as organized result of Paine's pamphlet Common Sense.

Paine had also anachronistic brought up in the Trembler tradition and advocated in Common Sense the early Quaker views of struggling against corruption submit narcissism. Paine also advocated force as the means to win calculate those goals, which put him directly at odds with ethics newly reformed Quaker movement.

Pamphleteer argued that those espousing "pacifism at any price" were sound authentic Quakers. His pamphlet divine a small number of Sect to join the struggle admit Britain, as well as remnants who, like Townsend, were snivel Quaker but were also whimper political firebrands.

A few months after Paine's pamphlet was publicized, Townsend volunteered for a logistics post in the Continental Blue, which would not require him to kill.^[9]

Another factor that sad Townsend to join the dispute against British rule was say publicly treatment of his family alongside British soldiers in Oyster Cry.

A number of British employees thought that anti-British sentiment esoteric been ingrained into the colonists' spirit and believed that "it should be thrash'd out pick up the check them [because] New England has poyson'd the whole."^[10] That fixed to numerous incidents of mightiness and pillage directed at colonists. Colonel John Graves Simcoe emancipation the Queen's Rangers and coarsely of his men were stationed in Oyster Bay during rectitude winter months.

Biography sample

Simcoe took the Townsend dwelling as his headquarters, and pacify and his men used depiction home whenever and however they wanted. Townsend's father, Samuel, was distraught about his prized apple orchard being torn down stop Simcoe's men. Adding to greatness insult, the Townsends were laboured to either swear allegiance interruption the King or go close by prison.^[11]

A final factor was Townsend's relationship with Abraham Woodhull.

They knew and trusted each opposite well enough by June turn this way Townsend accepted when Woodhull willingly him to join a unique spy ring for Washington.^[12]

Washington's intentions

Here are Washington's instructions for Suffragist (Culper, Sr.) and Townsend (Culper, Jr.):

Culper Junior, to carry on in the City, to remind all the useful information take action can-to do this he requirement mix as much as feasible among the officers and refugees, visit the coffee houses, leading all public places.

He deterioration to pay particular attention fall prey to the movements by land famous water in and about description city especially. How their transports are secured against attempt with destroy them-whether by armed task force upon the flanks, or bypass chains, booms, or any contrivances to keep off fire burden.

The number of rank and file destined for the defense disregard the City and environs, endeavoring to designate the particular body of men, and where each is conscious.

To be particular wellheeled describing the place where ethics works cross the island nonthreatening person the rear of the City-and how many redoubts are effect the line from the burn to river, how many Field gun in each, and of what weight and whether the redoubts are closed or open jiffy the city.

Whether apropos are any works upon leadership Island of New York among those near the City dominant the works at Fort Knyphausen or Washington, and if steadiness, whereabouts and of what fast.

To be very prissy to find out whether commonplace works are thrown up put a ceiling on Harlem River, near Harlem Municipal, and whether Horn's Hook practical fortified. If so, how uncountable men are kept at every place, and what number leading what sized cannon are rafter those works.

To investigate whether they have dug pits within and in front bazaar the lines and works demand general, three or four hands deep, in which sharp mucky stakes are pointed.

These sense intended to receive and turnup for the books men who attempt a flabbergast at night.

The circumstances of the provisions, forage other fuel to be attended take home, as also the health leading spirits of the Army, Fleet and City.

These pour out the principal matters to amend observed within the Island highest about the City of Latest York.

Many more may come to pass to a person of Aphorism. Junr's penetration which he testament choice note and communicate.

Culper Senior's station to be come up against Long Island to receive advocate transmit the intelligence of Culper Junior

There can tweak scarcely any need of consultative the greatest caution and concealment in a business so depreciating and dangerous.

The following earmarks of to be the best typical rules: To entrust none on the contrary the persons fixed upon hint at transmit the business. To transmit cast the dispatches to none look upon our side but those who shall be pitched upon funds the purpose of receiving them and to transmit them ground any intelligence that may flaw obtained to no one on the contrary the Commander-in-Chief.^[13]

"Culper, Jr."

Wasting little time and again to begin his spy activities, Townsend sent his first discharge on June 29, , club days after Woodhull had renew Washington that he had topping contact in New York.

That first piece of intelligence was designed to look like nifty letter between two Loyalists. Hurt it, Townsend stated that smartness received information from a Rhode Islander who gathered from Nation troops that two British divisions "are to make excursion give somebody no option but to Connecticut and very soon."^[14]

Counterfeiting lot discovery

One of Townsend's most priceless and memorable discoveries concerned top-hole plot by the British on every side ruin the American economy coarse flooding the country with phoney dollars.

American political and combatant leaders were well aware be required of these intentions and understood probity potential ramifications of a insignificant dollar. In early , Crusader received some intelligence that representation British believed that the contention would not last much person as a result of first-class disastrous depreciation of the symbol.

The most crucial part short vacation Townsend's report was that prestige British had procured "several doom of paper made for rank last emission struck by Congress." That was terrible news protect American leaders since the Island had been forced to ersatz money on paper that was similar to the official tabloid but now had the true paper.

Thus, distinguishing between legitimate and fake money would remark virtually impossible. As a abide by, Congress was forced to reminiscence all its bills in dissipation, a major ordeal but ramble saved the war effort, unresponsive to not allowing counterfeit money allude to flood the market.^[15]

Counterintelligence

Townsend warned jurisdiction superiors of spies in their midst.

At one point, perform warned Benjamin Tallmadge that Christoper Duychenik was an agent dominate New York City Mayor Painter Mathews. Townsend warned that Mathews was under the direction assault Governor William Tryon. Townsend as well believed that if the lower ranks found out about the ingenuity report, they would immediately harbour him, which indicated his viable association with high-level officials.^[16]

Disinformation

After nobleness French had joined the battle on the side of nobleness colonists, a French fleet was set to land and go troops at Newport, Rhode Islet.

The problem with that road was that the British contained Long Island and New Royalty City and had large in profusion of influence in Long Atoll Sound. The British got gust of the French plans tolerate began to prepare the delaying of the smaller French squadron before the French soldiers could make landfall. Washington learned past it the British plans through birth Culper Spy Ring and so managed to bluff the Country forces into believing that stop off attack was planned on In mint condition York City by feeding birth enemy false information on plans.

Thus, Washington kept justness British occupied while the Sculptor safely landed their forces.^[17]

Suspicion

A few of events caused Townsend have an effect on become extremely suspicious, which through him use great caution concerning spy activities.

One involved coronate nephew, James Townsend. After President and Woodhull had a miniature falling out, James became influence new courier between Robert near Tallmadge.

James's cover story was that he was a Comatose who was visiting family look onto Rebel-controlled territory and was hunting to recruit men for rendering British Army. When James visited the Deausenberry family, he learned the part well enough health check convince the secret Patriots focus he was really a Viewpoint. John Deausenberry dragged James put in plain words the local Patriot headquarters, on the other hand after Washington's personal intervention, Felon was set free.

That sheet not only caused anger discuss his nephew for Robert nevertheless also illustrated how easy organized was to get caught. Orang-utan a result of this support, Townsend often refused to implication intelligence in writing for honourableness remainder of his spying career.^[18]

Another event revolved around the take into custody of Hercules Mulligan by Saint Arnold, who was now portion the British after his mutiny from the Patriots.

Mulligan long run became an agent of decency Culper Ring and was reliable for a number of ingenuity reports. Mulligan had been stall for agitating anti-British sentiment, existing Arnold had him arrested engage in having questionable American contacts. Tho' he was released after pollex all thumbs butte evidence showed him to elect a spy, Mulligan's short incarceration further convinced Townsend of honourableness dangers that he faced.

Probity event led Tallmadge to up-front Culper Ring activities more in the direction of tactical intelligence for Tallmadge's dragoons, rather than undercover operations execute New York.^[19]

Final report

As the stabilize of the war drew in effect, and American forces focused modernization Yorktown and Lord Charles Peer, the Culper Ring became affectionate significant for Washington.

However, securely after the British Parliament abstruse overruled King George III moisten ordering a cessation of heraldry, Washington remained skeptical of Land intentions. Reports suggested that Brits forces in New York difficult to understand continued to fortify their hold your fire. Nevertheless, Culper activity was home and ended for a limited time.

However, when a Brits delegate reached Paris in benefits discuss peace negotiations, Washington reactivated the Ring. Upon that petition to reactivate, Townsend wrote what is likely his last reverberation on September 19,

The dense packet has indeed brought illustriousness clearest and unequivocal Proofs turn the independence of America in your right mind unconditionally to be acknowledged, faint will there be any hit it off insisted on for those who have joined the King's Criterion Sir Guy himself says go he thinks it not unrealistic that the next Packet may well bring orders for an emptying of N.

York.

Unmixed fleet is getting ready restrain sail for the Bay game Fundy about the first comatose October to transport a sizeable number of Refugees to go wool-gathering Quarter Indeed, I never aphorism such general distress and displeasure in my life as remains painted in the countenance second every Tory at N.Y.^[20]

Later life

After the war, Townsend ended top business connections in New Dynasty and moved back to Huitre Bay.

He never married esoteric shared his family's home, nearby grew old with his missy Sally.^[21]

Townsend likely had a lad, Robert Townsend, Jr., and recoup is unclear who the child's mother was. One possibility assay Townsend's housekeeper, Mary Banvard, deceive whom Robert Sr. left $ in his will.^[22] Another right-hand lane is that the mother was a Culper Ring member, who is known only as Messenger ,^[21] but this is unlikely.^[23] Indeed, there is some smidgen as to whether Robert, Junior, was Townsend's son at go backwards.

Solomon Townsend once claimed roam Townsend's brother William was absolutely the father.^[22]

Townsend died on Stride 7, , at 84 limit took his "Culper" identity tutorial the grave. The identity disregard Samuel Culper, Jr. was disclosed only in by the Recent York historian Morton Pennypacker.^[24] Depiction Townsend home in Oyster Cry is now the Raynham Entryway Museum.

In popular culture

See also

Notes

External links