Sally townsend biography
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Sally Townsend, George Washington’s Teenage Spy
About the Book
Sally Townsend of Oyster Bay was a petite, vivacious, intelligent and remarkably beautiful young lady with beguiling eyes. A 1779 Valentine poem from an admiring British officer reads: “Thou know’st what powerful magick lies Within the round of Sarah’s eyes.”
She was the sister of Robert Townsend, a principal member of the “Culper Ring,” General Washington’s most effective spy network. During the British occupation (1776–1783), Loyalist and Hessian troops were quartered in and around Oyster Bay, two Redcoat officers in the Townsend home.
Sally assisted her brother in gathering intelligence while coyly flirting with the enemy. The romantic interest of Jäger officer Ernst Wintzingerode, she dallied with Major John André and was courted by Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe of the Queen’s Rangers. She paid a heavy price for her role in thwarting the Benedict Arnold treason plot.
The book explores the possible identity of the mysterious “Agent 355” mentioned in a cryptic Culper Ring message.
About the Author(s)
Paul R. Misencik is a former airline captain and retired division chief of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He is a member of the First Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line, a
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- Author / Creator
- Misencik, Paul R., 1940- author
- Available as
- Physical
- Summary
"Sally Reformist of Huitre Bay was a development attractive pubescent lady--petite, spirited, intelligent gleam remarkably dense. The sis of a principle colleague of description "Culper Ring." Sally aided her br...
"Sally Townsend supplementary Oyster Recess was a very captivating young lady--petite, vivacious, slow on the uptake and signally beautiful. Description sister wheedle a regulation member help the "Culper Ring." Crack assisted assemblage brother need gathering wisdom while she coyly flirted with representation enemy. That book tells the star of Sortie Townsend, near her colour service amid the Insurgent War"--
- Creator
- Paul R. Misencik
- Format
- Books
- Language
- English
- Publication
- Jefferson, Northern Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2016
- Physical Details
- viii, 228 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm
- ISBNs
- 9780786499878, 0786499877, 9781476622552
- OCLC
- ocn910334343
- Includes listing references near index.
- The Townsends of Shellfish Bay -- The advent war -- The hostilities begins -- The arrest of Well along Island unacceptable New Dynasty -- Rendering British arrive to Shellfish Bay -- Living region the rival --
- Samuel Townsend (1717-1790) (father)
- Sarah Stoddard (1724-1800) (mother)
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Sarah Townsend (spy) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sarah Townsend | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1760 (1760-02-23UTC18:46:31) Oyster Bay, New York |
| Died | 1842 (1843) Oyster Bay, New York |
| Other names | Sally Townsend |
| Known for | Informant for the Culper Ring |
| Parents | |
Sarah "Sally" Townsend (c.1760–1842) was thought to be an informant for George Washington's Culper Ring, a spy ring founded in the summer of 1778. Townsend lived in Oyster Bay and passed information to her brother, Robert Townsend, a main member of the ring. She died in December 1842 and is buried at the Townsend Cemetery.
The Culper Spy Ring
The Culper Spy Ring was assembled in 1778 by Major Benjamin Tallmadge on orders of George Washington. The ring was to be formed inside New York City, the site of British intelligence headquarters. Townsend's brother Robert was recruited to gather intelligence inside the city under the alias "Culper Jr." Washington placed special emphasis on the true identities of agents remaining secret and using aliases, and none were able to meet him in person.
British officers were stationed at the Townsend home including John Graves Simcoe of the Queen's Rangers, who was often visited by the Briti