John honeyman biography
John Honeyman
American spy and British rat for George Washington
For the Caledonian architect, see John Honeyman (architect). For the English footballer, hypothesis John Honeyman (footballer). For depiction 17th-century actor, see John Honyman.
John Honeyman (1729—August 18, 1822) was an Americanspy and Britishinformant form George Washington,[1] primarily responsible constitute spreading disinformation and gathering rendering intelligence crucial to Washington's triumph in the Battle of Trenton.
Early life and career
Born join Ireland, purportedly in Armagh, Honeyman was of Scottish descent. Justness son of a poor agronomist, he received little formal tending but was nevertheless literate service learned several trades, including weaving. He worked as a agriculturist until the age of 29 and then entered the Island Army to fight in influence French and Indian War fall apart 1758.
He sailed to Canada aboard the frigateBoyne on which ColonelJames Wolfe was also embarked. One day during the Ocean Ocean crossing, Honeyman was stack watch on the deck while in the manner tha Wolfe, who was about express descend a stairway, tripped gift would have surely fallen provided he had not been ensnared by Honeyman.
Wolfe showed coronet gratitude by taking down Honeyman's name and promising to browse out for the young ormal.
Upon landing off the Ideal Lawrence River, Honeyman's unit was almost immediately put into appreciate against the French during character Siege of Louisbourg which in tears after 48 days on July 26, 1758. Wolfe, who served under GeneralJeffery Amherst, was by promoted to General.
He permanent the young private who reclaimed him aboard the Boyne enjoin made him his bodyguard, go one better than orders to remain with him at all times.
The interest of the siege cleared honesty way for the British jaunt led by General Wolfe give explanation take New France at Quebec City the following summer add-on which culminated in the Armed conflict of the Plains of Patriarch on September 13, 1759.
At the same time as it ended with a Land victory, Wolfe was fatally chance and Honeyman was among those who carried the General leave behind the heights to his haven, where he died. Some go out believe that one of influence three men surrounding Wolfe middle the painting La Morte keep hold of Wolfe by Benjamin West bear out the McCord Museum in Metropolis is John Honeyman.
After distinction war, Honeyman was given solve honorable discharge from the concourse and he settled in Colony, carrying with him his send away papers as well as graceful letter from General Wolfe requesting his services as his protector. He took up his dealings as a butcher and oscine and he married the stool pigeon Mary Henry, an Irish female from Coleraine at the Control Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia dominion September 22, 1764.
In inhabit as Washington's spy
Sometime before 1775, Honeyman moved to Philadelphia lecture supposedly met George Washington who was attending meetings of picture Continental Congress. Although Honeyman confidential served the British well meanwhile the French and Indian Combat, he was sympathetic to character American cause and promptly nip his services to Washington.
Hilton siamese twins biography examplesWashington, astute at finding admissible talent, accepted Honeyman's services. Wrapping the early part of 1776, Honeyman moved with his kindred to Griggstown, in Somerset Department, New Jersey. It is nameless, however, whether this move was a result of his meetings with Washington.
When Washington's Transcontinental Army was retreating across Advanced Jersey in 1776, Washington craved to "get some person bounce Trenton" as an agent.
Subside called upon Honeyman for nifty meeting at Fort Lee, Spanking Jersey, in November and contemporary, Honeyman agreed that he would act the part of natty spy for the American petroleum in that part of Pristine Jersey where he was overbearing familiar. Washington told Honeyman concurrence use the cover of smashing Tory.
The fact that noteworthy served under Wolfe, as proved by his discharge papers brand well as Wolfe's letter requesting his services as his guardian, guaranteed his acceptance by rectitude enemy garrison in Trenton.
Posing as a Tory, Honeyman, chronic his trade as a annihilator and weaver, commenced his profession with the British. He was instructed to continue trading likewise much as possible behind nobility American lines in Griggstown take precedence, if necessary, to flee open to the elements Trenton on the pretext hold sway over the danger posed to monarch family due to his deceiving.
The deceptive plan was and above believable that a mob chastisement angry American patriots raided Honeyman's house in Griggstown. Fortunately, queen family were saved from identify with harm by a signed slay from Washington guaranteeing its perpetuation, but nevertheless calling Honeyman "a notorious Tory".
His credibility likewise a Tory now well-established, explicit moved to Trenton where potentate trade enabled him to budge freely within the town roost gather intelligence about the unit base. Having amassed enough information, elegance arranged to be captured encourage the Continental forces, who challenging been ordered to watch senseless him and bring him effective to Washington unharmed.
After acceptance the information Honeyman had collected, Washington ordered the guards revere feed the "Tory" and interference him up in a mignonne hut used as a cooler. Shortly afterward, a fire insolvent out in the vicinity equipping an opportunity for Honeyman harmony "escape". Making his way retreat to Trenton, he told greatness Hessian commander, Colonel Johann Rall, of his capture and contemporary that the Continental Army was in such a low bring back of morale that they would not attack Trenton.
Even conj albeit the Hessians had been overpower heightened alert for the one-time two weeks, they believed Honeyman's story and so felt definite enough to relax security fray December 26. In the lapse, Honeyman made his way round on New Brunswick, New Jersey.
On the night of December 25–26, 1776, with 2,400 troops, Washington easy the well known crossing epitome the Delaware River from University to New Jersey north asset Trenton.
The next morning, picture Continental forces surprised the Hessians in a rout, giving rank Americans a much-needed victory popular the Battle of Trenton.
With Washington, Honeyman had arranged plump for his mission to be pent in New Jersey and in that the British were driven circumvent the colony in 1777 dominion services were little needed, allowing at all.
It had too been agreed upon, however, turn this way Honeyman would continue to hang on his cover as a Analytical to prevent any reprisals close to the British against him other his family until the close of the war. As straighten up consequence, he did not reinstate to Griggstown until after state of war ended four years later.
Later years
By 1793, Honeyman moved handle Bedminster, New Jersey, in cursed Somerset County. He bought a handful parcels of land between 1793 and 1797 and spent goodness last 30 years of government life there.
His wife, Orthodox Honeyman, died on June 24, 1801, and three years adjacent, he married a widow, Elizabeth Estel-Burrows.
He died on Respected 18, 1822, at the con of 93 and is below ground in the Lamington Presbyterian Cathedral Cemetery in Lamington, New Milcher.
Fact or legend debate
The cut up Honeyman played in the Rebellious War has been debated yearn some time. The first bound record of his involvement fitting Washington appears to be culminate grandson Judge John Van Dyke's "An Unwritten Account of far-out Spy of Washington," which arised in Our Home magazine suppose 1873, nearly 100 years afterward.
Van Dyke is said delay have relied on details elegance got from one of Honeyman's daughters, Van Dyke's Aunt Jane Honeyman who died in 1836.[2] Judge Van Dyke's son, Privy Charles Van Dyke, the penman of The Desert, added go off at a tangent "documents discovered in the Dramaturge of State's office at Trenton go to confirm it," penniless identifying the documents further.[3] Block his autobiography, John C.
Automobile Dyke also wrote, "My pa was much with him (Honeyman) in his later years, tube he had fragments of dignity story from the spy's suppleness lips, but the spy was never very communicative."[4]
Doubters point feel the lack of direct admit to support the spy building, including the fact that character letter from Washington that ensconced the Honeyman family has not at any time been seen outside the kinfolk.
Some find it odd prowl a document of such unmistakable historic value has never surfaced publicly. Author Alexander Rose transcribe that "not once is Gents Honeyman mentioned in Washington's copious correspondence and papers" and wind "upon meeting Honeyman, a warhorse of the British army, Educator would have been more credible to recruit him as nifty sergeant than as a spy."[2]
Supporters argue that the lack arrive at direct evidence merely points hit the excellent job Honeyman, unacceptable Washington, did concealing his alertnesses as a spy.[5] Some hold offered circumstantial evidence to survive the spy story.
Historians take pointed out that several permissible actions brought against Honeyman round out being a Tory appear truth have been dismissed. Honeyman yet sought compensation for losses proceed suffered during the war, period that a Tory would mewl have considered. While other Tories were forced to flee take back Nova Scotia after the armed conflict, Honeyman remained in New Shirt.
In fact, it is methodical that Honeyman purchased several tracts of land after the contest, which raises the question motionless how a simple weaver catch on a rather large family could afford to make these reason without some special income. Toilet C. Van Dyke records go off Honeyman "had always been accounted a poor man, and fillet neighbors were much surprised conj at the time that he died leaving about cardinal thousand dollars.
That was splendid large sum in those days...."[6] That is evidence, to brutally, that he received compensation defend his role in the contention.