Description:

Townsend Robert

Robert Townsend hand written ledger, spy for Washington and the Revolution

 

Soft wrap accounting ledger of Robert Townsend, dated 1782, 4.5" x 6.25", with 13 leaves (26 pages penned recto and verso). Hand stitched and bound in with linen cord. Front wrap neatly penned with the words "Cash Book". All pages heavily documenting disbursements and purchases. Wraps lightly creased with small stains. Interior pages boast strong, contrasting ink. Near fine.

 

Robert Townsend was a successful 18th century New York merchant, and a key player in the George Washington “Culper Spy Ring.” Known as Culper Jr., Robert Townsend had the perfect cover as a Manhattan merchant, which gave him the freedom to inspect incoming goods at dockside for purchases for his shop. He would also have the opportunity to observe the number of war ships, estimate the newly arrived British troops and record war materials that came to port. This information would be forwarded to Washington via the Culper spy network.

 

Contents of his ledger include several names who repeatedly show throughout the booklet with "Contra" entries of:

"Robert Townsend, John Townsend, Hannah Cockle, Wm Townsend"

With most cash entries focusing on receipts from the sales of:

"Rum, Sugar, Pepper and Tea"

Additional "Contra" entries appear as personal expenses of "biscuit, market, bread, sugar, fish, butter, Robertson's gazette, and Lewis's gazette"

 

Although little is known of Robert Townsend, we do know that around 1782 he had just split off from his partner, and established himself having rented a store on Peck's slip from Hannah Cockle (whose name appears repeatedly in the ledger as an expense).

Robert Townsend owned and successfully operated a general store in New York City when New York was occupied by British forces during the American Revolution.  Townsend's clandestine life began shortly after this ledger when he joined The Culper Spy Ring', established in 1778 by Benjamin Tallmadge under the orders of General George Washington.  The spies were to gather information about the British. This infamous ring consisted of Robert Townsend, Abraham Woodhull, Austin Roe, Caleb Brewster, James Rivington, and Agent 355 (unknown female).  Considered the most valuable member of the Culper Spy Ring, Robert Townsend provided information about the British to General George Washington under the alias “Samuel Culper, Jr.” and "723."  Robert who continued to operate as a merchant shipping firm in Manhattan used his work as a merchant as cover.  

 

Robert later passed away with this secret, and it wasn’t until almost 100 years later that researchers discovered "Culper Junior" was in fact Robert Townsend of Oyster Bay, Long island (New York).

 

An incredible hand written ledger by this Legend whose ties to both the Revolution and George Washington were instrumental in providing important intel on the British.


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