others, a son James, whose son Jacob, born in 1692, was the father of
Samuel Townsend and grandfather of Robert Townsend, whose _alias_ was
Culper Junior. Robert’s father, Samuel, was born in 1717. He married
Sarah, the daughter of William and Mary (Hicks) Stoddard. Mary’s
parents were John and Deborah (Almy) Hicks.
When Robert’s father, Samuel Townsend, was in his twenty-fourth year,
he was appointed by George Clarke, then Lieutenant-Governor and
Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New York, Ensign in the Company
of Militia Foot in Queens County, Joseph Weeks then being Captain.
His commission is dated December 15, 1741, and bears the signature of
George Clarke, and also of the Deputy Secretary, George Moore.
[Illustration: HOUSES ONCE OCCUPIED BY WASHINGTON’S SPIES.
_See page xi._
]
Samuel Townsend is described in family documents as a fine old
gentleman, of regular features, straight nose, a large blue eye,
high forehead. A snuff-colored or gray suit, with silver knee- and
shoe-buckles, a white stock of cambric lawn gathered in five plaits,
fastened behind with a paste buckle, showing no collar, narrow ruffles
at the shirt-bosom, gold-headed cane, and cocked hat. An uncle used to
say he hated to see Sam and Sarah come into meeting, they looked so
tall and proud. He was said to be a member of Meeting by birthright,
his parents being strict Friends, and his wife, although baptized in
the Episcopal Church, preferred the Friends. They had sons, Solomon,
Samuel, Robert, William, and David, and daughters, Audrey Sarah and
Phebe.
Solomon was seven years older than his brother Robert. Much has already
been published about him. He married Anne daughter of Peter Townsend
of Orange County, New York, and they had eight children:(128) Hannah,
Anne, Mary, Phebe, Samuel, Jacob, Peter, and Solomon.
Robert Townsend, _alias_ Culper Junior, was born November 25, 1753, and
died at Oyster Bay, Long Island, March 7, 1838, aged eighty-four years,
three months, and ten days.
Robert Townsend’s father, Samuel, was always a successful merchant. He
conducted his business at Jericho, Long Island, until 1743, after which
he moved to the property now known as “Raynham Hall” at Oyster Bay,
which he had purchased in 1740. Himself a learned man, he was always
careful to see that the education of his children was not neglected.
Pride radiates in the handwriting still preserved on a page of his
ledger, where he records:
“Sarah Townsend went to school to Rebeccah Coles ye 27th of October,
1766. Rebecca Coles School ceased ye last of February, 1767. Sarah and
Phebe Townsend bagan school with John Townsend’s wife ye 16th March,
1767.”
The ages of the girls at that time were five and seven years. Ten
years earlier the tuition of Robert who became Culper Junior began
under the same teacher. Notes preserved by a nephew read: “My uncle
Robert Townsend went to her school when only three years old, so young
that Madam Townsend used to permit him and her little son Ephraim of
about the same age to play at the pond with the young ducks instead of
obliging them at their tender age to pour over to them unintelligable
school books.”
A sister-in-law of Madam Townsend was Zerviah Townsend who married
Dr. Matthew Parish, here mentioned because of her influence over the
destiny of Robert. It is recorded by a contemporary that “while the
British lay at Boston on the eve of the Revolution, she said to Solomon
Wooden, ‘The Lord has assured me and spoken to me and advised’ that the
Troops by Boston shall withdraw; likewise all the Men of War; and that
America shall be the Mother of Nations and feed them with bread.”
At the commencement of hostilities, Samuel Townsend was slow in
renouncing his allegiance to the King. A former experience was probably
responsible for this caution. When in 1758 he had attempted to get
justice for the neutral French and prisoners of war that had been
brought into Kings County in 1756, he was held in the custody of the
Sergeant-at-Arms of the General Assembly of New York for several days
and was then not released until they had passed a Resolve, that “the
said Samuel Townsend, for writing and sending the said Letter, is
guilty of a high misdemeanor and most daring Insult on the Honour,
Justice and Authority of this House,” and he was further required to
pay a heavy fine and promise that for the future he would be more
cautious to avoid every occasion of exposing himself to their censure
or reproof.
There was another Samuel Townsend in Oyster Bay active for the
Crown as early as December, 1774, “who proposed to convince the
world that his Majesty is not without friends here who will support
his government.” Later he joined the American army and if British
Headquarters confused the two men, they did no more than some of the
biographers have done. Upon capture he was severely punished by the
British in the Provost, New York, while for Samuel of Raynham Hall most
of them had great respect.[25]
Samuel Townsend began active service in the Provincial Congress on May
24, 1775, and usually was present in the sessions to July 1st. Toward
the end of July, he again took his seat and toward the close of May,
1776, he became active. He was with them at White Plains from July
9th to August, and during August attended the Provincial Convention
and was also one of the Committee of Safety. But he did not follow
them to Fishkill, where they began meeting on September 5, 1776. He,
therefore, although elected a member of the committee to draft the
first State Constitution, was not able actively to participate in their
deliberations, and choosing to remain at home was obliged to subscribe
to the Oath of Allegiance to the King.[26]
His appointment on committees to advise with and assist
Brigadier-General Woodhull in protecting the stock was an important
service, as the letters still preserved show. One, dated July 12, 1776,
emphasizes this:[27]
The Provincial Convention on August 24th unanimously resolved,
that Robert Townsend be a commissary to supply General
Woodhull’s Brigade with provisions till such time as General
Washington shall give further orders for that purpose, and
that Mr. William Smith and Mr. Samuel Townsend be a committee
to wait on General Washington with a copy of these resolutions
and submit the expediency and necessity of the same to his
consideration and advice; also that they submit to His
Excellency’s consideration the propriety of ordering Colonel
Smith’s and Colonel Remsen’s regiments of militia to join the
said brigade.
On the 26th of August, Samuel Townsend and William Smith reported in
the following words:
“Your committee, ordered to wait on General Washington with
a request from this Convention that he would be pleased to
order Col. Smith and Remsen’s regiments, that are now in
General Greene’s lines at Brookland, into the western part of
Queens county, to join General Woodhull, with that part of his
brigade that has been lately ordered out from the western part
of Suffolk and Queens counties by this Convention.... That
according to order they waited on His Excellency, and conferred
with him on the subject above mentioned, and that he seemed
well pleased, but he said he was afraid it was too late....
General Washington appeared well satisfied with the proceedings
of the Convention, and said that he should at all times, when
he had it in his power, be ready to give them any assistance
consistent with the public good; and that he would immediately
give orders that Col. Smith’s and Remsen’s regiments should
march into Queens county to join General Woodhull....”
The Convention, upon receipt of the above report, addressed General
Woodhull as follows:
“_Sir_--Yours of yesterday is just come to hand in answer to
which we would inform you that Robert Townsend, the son of
Samuel Townsend, Esqr. is appointed commissary for the troops
under your command, of which we beg you will give him the
earliest notice, and that we have made application to Genl.
Washington for the regiments under the command of Cols. Smith
and Remsen to join you; he assured our committee that he would
issue out orders immediately for that purpose, and we expect
that they are upon the spot by this time....”
General Woodhull replied to this in a letter addressed to the
Honourable the Convention of the State of New York, at Harlem, which is
as follows:
“JAMAICA, August, 27, 1776.
“_Gentlemen_, I am now at Jamaica with less than one hundred
men; having brought all the cattle from the westward southward
of the hills, and have sent them off with the troops of horse,
with orders to take all the rest eastward of this place to
and eastward of Hempstead plains, and to put them into the
fields, and set a guard over them. The enemy I am informed are
intrenching from the heights near Howard’s, southward. I have
now received yours, with several resolutions, which I wish was
in my power to put in execution; but, unless Cols. Smith and
Remsen, mentioned in yours, join me with their regiments, or
some other assistance, immediately, I shall not be able; for
the people are all moving east, and I cannot get any assistance
from them. I shall continue here as long as I can, in hopes
of a reinforcement; but if none comes soon, I shall retreat,
and drive the stock before me, into the woods. Cols. Smith and
Remsen I think can not join me. Unless you can send me some
other assistance, I fear I shall soon be obliged to quit this
place. I hope soon to hear from you. I am, gentlemen, Your most
obedient humble servt.
“NATHL. WOODHULL.”
The next mention of Samuel Townsend will be found in the minutes of the
Committee of Safety, dated
HARLEM, Augt. 29, 1776.
The Committee of Safety met.
Colo. Phenehas Fanning waited on the Committee with a letter
from Colo. Josiah Smith, colonel of the drafts of the militia
of Suffolk, Queens and Kings counties, stationed at Brookland,
in Kings county, informing the Committee that his regiment
is ordered by Genl. Washington to withdraw from Long Island,
and wait the further orders of the Convention of this State.
Thereupon it was
Ordered, That Colo. Josiah Smith do, with all possible
despatch, march his regiment to Horn’s Hook, there to receive
further orders from Mr. Samuel Townsend and Major Lawrence
and that he apply to the Commissary-General for five day’s
provisions, and to the Quarter-Master-General for baggage
wagons, it being of the utmost consequence that his regiment
should march without delay. And
Resolved, That Mr. Samuel Townsend and Major Lawrence be
requested and authorized to attend the regiment commanded
by Colo. Smith, in order to supply the said regiment with
provisions, and to devise the most safe and expeditious means
of transporting the said regiment from Long island; and that
they be authorized and impowered to impress horses, wagons,
boats, vessels, &c. for that purpose, for the payment of which,
and every other necessary expense, this Committee pledge the
public faith.
Ordered, That the Treasurer of this State pay to Mr. Samuel
Townsend and Major Lawrence the sum of one hundred pounds, to
be by them accounted for to the Convention of this State. [p.
601]
James Townsend, uncle of Robert Townsend, who with John Sloss Hobart
attempted to make a stand at Huntington, addressed a letter from there
to the Provincial Congress on August 30th, which in part reads:
“_Gentlemen_--To our unspeakable mortification, we found when
we arrived in Queens county, that the militia had dispersed,
and General Woodhull had fallen into the hands of the enemy. We
then proceeded with all despatch to this town as the only place
where we could have any prospect of making an effectual stand,
as the enemy were in full possession of the western parts of
that county as far as Jamaica, and the disaffected from the
east were gone in to them. Though we were not authorized for
the purpose by Convention, we have taken upon ourselves to
order out the militia of the county to rendezvous here, and
have wrote to Col. Mulford at East Hampton, to come up and take
the command, as he is now the senior officer in the brigade....
We shall direct the commissary to furnish the militia with
provisions....”
Only a few more days on Long Island remained for the faithful followers
of Washington and the army. On September 16th, a lone individual passed
the spot where Townsend and Hobart had attempted to make a stand only
seventeen days before. It was Nathan Hale on his way to a glorified
martyrdom.
FOOTNOTES to “TOWNSEND’S PERSONALITY”:
[25] There is but a single recorded instance when Samuel was treated
roughly by the British. It was written for posterity in 1876 by Solomon
Townsend, his grandson, who was a nephew of Robert Townsend, and is as
follows:
“I am induced to pen these lines that the record of the arrest of
Saml. Townsend may be transmitted to another centennial as faithfully
as is possible under the light of the testimony of those who were eye
witnesses of the scene--and from whose lips the narrator heard it.
“On a bright September afternoon in the year 1776, a troop of horse
whose helmets were just before seen reflected in the sun’s rays as they
galloped down South Street wheeled up in front of the house of Jacob
Townsend--whose daughter Thomas Buchanan had wedded--and enquired for
Saml. Townsend. They were directed to the next house, upon the piazza
of which that gentleman was seated.
“He had been 30 years a Magistrate, and then a Member of the Colonial
Assembly and was then one of the Provincial Congress, Committee of
Safety, and of the Convention that was deliberating upon the first
Constitution of this State--that of 1777--wherein the mind of John
Jay, and other distinguished Statesmen, was said to have outlined the
Constitution of the United States as inaugurated at Philadelphia a
dozen years later.
“The subaltern in command--asked whether ‘Sam’ Townsend was home and
the reply being ‘I am the man,’ with great discourtesy--accompanied
with an oath, directed him to get himself ready to accompany them to
the Provost (the Prison Ships, &c.) at New York. Mr. T. hoped they
would wait till he had time to send a servant to an outlot for a saddle
horse, a request that was rudely yielded with another blasphemous
expression.
“During this brief delay--the young upstart strutted over the Hall,
taking from one of the mantels a fowling piece and shattering it,
denying the right of a rebel to have in possession even such a weapon.
In the parlor the Portrait of Capt. Solomon Townsend--taken in
Portugal in 1772--when in command of one of Mr. Buchanan’s ships--the
Glasgow--attracted the young martinet’s attention, and he expressed
his regret that it was not in his power to wreak the vengeance of his
superiors upon him also.
“Whilst these scenes were enacting within doors, and Mr. Townsend’s
wife and his young daughters--Sarah and Phebe, were almost frantic at
the rudeness exhibited towards the venerated husband and parent--the
neighbors collected in front and when the agony of the family was
witnessed, their sympathy even to tears was excited, Tories as most
of them were in their political affiliations. My authority--outside
the family for this incident (Miss Elizabeth Wooden, deceased some 20
years), and whose family took the Tory side--said that altho’ among the
crowd of neighbors were some of the instigators of the arrest--they
claimed that Mr. Townsend was not regarding his pledged word to remain
neutral--when they witnessed their really loved and respected neighbor
torn from his family under such painful circumstances, openly regretted
that their political animosity had contributed to produce so sad a
scene.
“Provided with only a change of clothing, Mr. T. was soon taken by
the Troop on their way to the superior officer whose quarters were
then in the vicinity of Jericho. On ascending the hill at the southern
terminus of ‘Pine-hollow’--then and long afterwards known as the ‘Great
Hill,’ Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan in their Phaeton and Miss Audrey, Mr.
Townsend’s eldest daughter met them--Mr. Buchanan at once enquired
into the surprising circumstances, and taking the saddle horse of Miss
Townsend--sent the ladies home, whilst he accompanied the cavalcade
on the route. Arrived at the quarters of the superior officer he
became responsible to the extent of several thousand pounds, that the
prisoners should be produced upon a notice of six hours.
“The two gentlemen then returned to their homes reaching the village at
a late hour of the evening and thus allaying the alarm and distress of
their families.
“To illustrate how even the gentler members of the family were made
to feel the rudeness, or as Colonel Simcoe afterwards wrote in his
Valentine to one of them, ‘the Iron Spear of War,’ when the Troopers
noticed that Miss Townsend rode a fine animal--they insultingly
enquired of her how she dared to appear thus, without the Tory badge
or escutcheon upon its ear--she replied, she preferred riding her own
petted filly as it was.
“The kindness of Mr. Buchanan was returned to him by the continuance of
business prosperity, and finally when a boat lay at the foot of Wall
St. with all his moveable worldly goods ready to take his family to
Nova Scotia--and the property of those of his own political associates
was being daily confiscated or attached by the New York Legislature,
then in session at the head of Wall St., none rose to move the seizure
of that of the noble hearted merchant, Thomas Buchanan, Tory, as he
might be called.”
[26] After the date below Samuel Townsend carried an Oath of
Allegiance, in form as follows:
_Certificate from Judge Hicks_
This is to certify that Samuel Townsend hath submitted to government
and taken the oath of allegiance to his Majesty King George this 10th
Sept. 1776 before me.
WHITEHEAD HICKS,
One of the Judges of the Supr. Court.
[27]
NEW YORK, July 12, 1776.
_Gentlemen_:--We have conferred with the General concerning the removal
of stock back again to the pastures from whence they were driven; he
was much chagrinned at the proposal and absolutely refused to consent,
mentioning the unhappy consequences of not seasonably removing the
stock from Staten Island. He is of opinion that all means should be
used with the utmost expedition to remove the stock from Long Island,
for which he promises to give all necessary assistance. We are of the
same opinion, and hope your House will not lose a moment in giving
peremptory orders concerning a matter of such vast importance. We
are just informed by General Putnam, that one of Lord Howe’s fleet
arrived yesterday: the utmost dispatch is necessary. We need use no
arguments: the affairs at Staten Island being fresh in your minds. We
are gentlemen, your humble servants,
ABRM. KETALTAS,
SAML. TOWNSEND,
JOHN BROOM.
SPIES AND SPIES
As Culper Junior, the spy, the most trying period in the career
of Robert Townsend was now approaching. British officers had been
quartered at his parents’ home at Oyster Bay for the past four years.
His sisters made life agreeable for all,[28] and saved their none too
complacent parent from the wrath of many a would-be enemy. Hannah, his
first cousin and neighbor, had already married Major Joseph Green, of
the British Army. His sister Sarah had received from Colonel Simcoe a
Valentine and other tokens of esteem.[29] Sir William Erskine had been
entertained at Simcoe’s headquarters in their home, and Major André had
upon several occasions visited Colonel Simcoe there and was treated
almost as one of the family. Sarah had frequently furnished her brother
with important information, but now she must have sensed that something
unusual was about to happen. Inquiries were being made about the shores
of the Hudson in the vicinity of West Point, and, thinking himself
unobserved, a supposed Whig from that section had entered the house
and concealed in a little-used cupboard a letter. Sarah examined it
as soon as he had slipped out. It seemed to be only a business letter
addressed to James Anderson, but she determined to watch its fate.
Later Major André entered the room. He searched through the closets and
when he came to the letter hastily concealed it upon his person without
examining it, and, taking a dish of doughnuts that were still hot from
the fire, he hid them as an excuse for entering the forbidden precincts
of the kitchen. Later, Sarah, by listening to a whispered conversation
in Colonel Simcoe’s room,[30] could distinguish the words West Point,
repeated several times.
[Illustration]
A note to her brother Robert was hastily written. Captain Daniel
Youngs, of the British Army, a lifelong friend, was sent for. He
was told they were out of a certain kind of tea she would need for
her party the following evening. It was to be had at her brother’s
store in New York and a messenger must be sent for it at once. Always
accommodating, even though he had to wait nearly three years before he
received on April 1, 1783, £200, and July 16, £200, in all over $1000
in hard money for his services, a horse and rider was furnished and
before night closed, Robert Townsend was in possession of his sister’s
information. It was on its way to Setauket the next morning,[31]
crossed the Sound between midnight and daylight, and soon Benjamin
Tallmadge had the puzzling message. He had been impatiently waiting for
it, having returned from special service for the purpose of keeping an
engagement with Brewster.
In the absence of Major Tallmadge others had opened a letter addressed
to him from Benedict Arnold. It accompanied supplies they were sadly
in need of, the receipt of which made them feel under particular
obligation to him. Tallmadge’s anxiety for the messengers who were
crossing the Sound gave him little opportunity to examine Arnold’s
letter and he had almost forgotten about it when Brewster and his
companions arrived. It seemed so probable that the stain letters
contained vital information that Tallmadge fortunately decided to
translate them as he had the preceding ones. In them he read that
British officers at Oyster Bay were talking about West Point, and had
received under suspicious circumstances a letter from there addressed
to Mr. John Anderson.
Major Tallmadge was still working on a mysterious series of letters
that was passing between Rhode Island and DeLancey in New York. General
Washington had written saying “I applaud your zeal and attention” and
added “I am sufficiently apprized of the circumstances to prevent his
doing any injury.... Keep the matter to yourself as far as practicable.”
* * * * *
Until Major Tallmadge found an opportunity to read General Arnold’s
letter there was little significance in the intelligence from Culper
Junior that British officers were talking about West Point and
receiving letters addressed to a Mr. Anderson, but when he read the
paragraph in the letter from our General at West Point
“If Mr. James Anderson,[32] a person I expect from New York
should come to your quarters, I have to request that you will
give him an escort of two Horse to bring him on his way to
this place, and send an express to me that I may meet him.
If your business will permit I wish you to come with him. B.
ARNOLD.”[33]
the suspicious circumstances at once impressed him. However, perhaps
because of General Washington’s advice he betrayed no hint of this
in his reply to Arnold. In fact he agreed to conduct Mr. Anderson to
West Point. Had he later insisted upon Jameson permitting him to do so
Arnold might have been captured as well as André. Extracts from Major
Tallmadge’s letter to Arnold read:
LOWER SALEM, Septr. 21, 1780.