FOOTNOTES to “NOTES AND AMPLIFICATION”:
[66] Abraham Woodhull loaned money to the State, upon their request. See New York in the Revolution, vol. 2, p. 196.
[67] The east end of Long Island will always remember Ebenezer Dayton as the man who gave them the measles. He became known as a daring privateer during the early days of the Revolution, but, not satisfied to obey the rules of war, he made excursions on land that amounted to robbery. In retaliation the Tories crossed to his store in Connecticut and robbed him of £450 in gold and destroyed most of his effects. After the Revolution he became a peddler, and upon this particular occasion visited East Hampton with fancy goods for sale, arriving Saturday evening. On Sunday, although having symptoms of the measles, and against the advice of the hostess who had entertained him, he persisted in attending Church service, thereby notifying the public of his presence. News of his indiscretion was spread over the town and the indignation of the people was so obvious that he left in the early morning following. He was pursued by a few young men, overtaken, brought back to the village, ridden on a rail through the streets, ducked in the town pond, and submitted to other indignities. Nearly one hundred took the measles, and several died. Colonel Aaron Burr, then a young aspiring lawyer, advocated the suit of the peddler, and under his powerful presentation the jury rendered a verdict of one thousand dollars damages against the young men. Before the close of the war the men who robbed him in Connecticut were captured in Brookhaven, Long Island, and some of his effects recovered. One of the party was hanged and the others were severely punished.
[68] “The expenses already amount to the money sent.” All are familiar with the difficulties Washington had in obtaining money. However, he realized the importance of the Secret Service work and when they asked for it usually supplied small amounts. Woodhull seems to have feared Townsend would attribute this to lack of appreciation, and when sums came, forwarded all to Townsend, retaining nothing for himself. Townsend correctly considered himself an agent of General Washington, and expected him to meet the obligations it became necessary to incur, just as the General insisted upon being furnished promptly with sufficient to meet his own expenses. Like Washington, also, neither of the Culpers received money as a reward or hire for their personal services, and like him they were obliged to draw upon their personal funds. It may be roughly estimated that both men spent as much again as Washington sent them.
[69] Cullper instead of Culper it is written in Woodhull’s handwriting.
[70] A stone at the grave of Solomon Townsend, brother of Robert, is inscribed: “In Memory of Solomon Townsend, Member of the State Legislature from the City of New York, who departed this life on the 27th March, 1811, during the Session, aged 64 years 5 months and 2 days. The remains were transferred from Albany to this place Dec. 9th 1848.”
[71] Drowned Meadow is now called Port Jefferson, L. I.
[72] This letter says the captain was killed and only three or four of his 21 men wounded, while Coll. Tallmadge’s Memoirs, p. 75 says: “Nearly every man on board was either killed or wounded.” The fact that his memoirs were written fifty years after the event may account for this.
