The Culper Spy Ring: Who was number 355?

The Northport Historical Society has partnered with Three Village Historical Society for Culper Weekend, featuring back-to-back events in Setauket and Northport Village next weekend, September 9 and 10. The following article, written by Northport Historical Society Education Coordinator Carol Taylor, provides the interesting backstory of the Culper Spy Ring, and highlights the beginning of the society’s brand new monthly lecture series.

Local Long Island Revolutionary War lore excites us with tales of the Culper Spy Ring. When the British won control of New York City and Long Island in 1776, General George Washington realized he needed regional spies to help him navigate the war. Washington may have recruited local hero Nathan Hale, who famously said, “I regret having but one life to give for my country,” as a spy on Long Island in 1776. However, Hale was caught and hanged at the age of 21, marking Washington’s first unsuccessful attempt at espionage.

Young officer Benjamin Tallmadge of Setauket was enlisted by Washington in 1777 along with NYC merchant Nathaniel Sackett of Fishkill, New York and Major John Clark of Pennsylvania, to actively gather intelligence for much of that year. By October 1778, the famous Culper Spy Ring of Setauket was forged with Tallmadge, his local friend Abraham Woodhull (“chief” spy and cabbage farmer), Caleb Brewster (boat captain who delivered messages across the Long Island Sound to Washington’s headquarters), and Robert Townsend (merchant) of Oyster Bay. Washington is believed to have named the network Culper – it’s thought that the name stemmed from Washington’s previous surveying work in Culpeper County, Virginia.

The Culper spies employed various ingenious techniques to secrete and share information. One technique was the use of code names and or numbers. George Washington was number 711. Benjamin Tallmadge’s alias was John Bolton, number 721. Abraham Woodhull’s alias was Samual Culper Senior, number 722. Caleb Brewster was number 725. Robert Townsend’s alias Samual Culper Junior, number 723.

Surviving documents reference another individual, person 355, as a woman who helped Abraham Woodhull during a trip to New York City. A coded letter from Abraham Woodhull to Washington dated August 15, 1779 – a little over a month after Robert Townsend took over as chief spy in Manhattan from Woodhull – includes this sentence: “I intend to visit 727 [New York] before long and think by the assistance of a 355 [lady] of my acquaintance, shall be able to outwit them all.” Her identity has been debated for years.

Historian Claire Bellerjeau found evidence of a woman called Liss who was enslaved by the Townsend family of Oyster Bay during the time of the British Long Island Occupation, while researching the Culper Spy Ring. During 1778, the Townsend home was used as British Headquarters, begging the question, was Liss number 355?

Bellerjeau’s book, Remember Liss: The Remarkable True Story of One Woman’s Enslavement and Freedom in New York, follows Liss’ long and complex journey toward freedom and offers a new perspective to America’s founding, from the point of view of an enslaved Black woman seeking personal liberty in a country fighting for its own.

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Learn more about the history of the Culper Spy Ring and hear the captivating story of Liss with author and historian Claire Bellerjeau, hosted by the Northport Historical Society, on Sunday, September 10 at 2pm. Bellerjeau will speak about the book, answer questions from the audience, and sign copies of Remember Liss.

The event is part of Culper Weekend, presented in partnership with Three Village Historical Society in Setauket. On Saturday, September 9, participants will experience the amazing history behind George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring at the 9th Annual Culper Spy Day. Visit the places where history was made and learn about the patriots who risked their lives with self-guided and docent-led tours of historic homes and sites. There will be Revolutionary War encampments, colonial cooking demonstrations, musical performances, mobile exhibits, and re-enactors on the rebel and loyalist sides! Learn more at www.tvhs.org.

Remember Liss kicks off Northport Historical Society’s new monthly lecture series at the museum. The series is open to all ages and offers monthly talks by authors, speakers, and guest lecturers. Topics include the Culper Spy Ring, National Coming Out Day, the indigenous people of Long Island, and more. Visit www.northporthistorical.org for more information.