John Honeyman
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John Honeyman (1729 - August 18, 1822) was an American spy for George Washington. He was primarily responsible for gathering the intelligence crucial to Washington's victory in the Battle of Trenton.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and career
Although he was born in Armagh, Ireland, Honeyman was of Scottish descent. The son of a poor farmer and having little formal education, he was nevertheless literate and learned several trades, including weaving. Until the age of 29, he worked as a farmer; afterwards, he was conscripted into the British Army to fight in the French and Indian War in 1758.
He sailed to Canada aboard the frigate Boyrie, where a colonel named James Wolfe was also embarked. One day during the Atlantic crossing, Honeyman was on watch on the deck, when Wolfe, who was about to descend down the stairway, tripped and would have surely fallen if he were not caught by Honeyman. Wolfe showed his gratitude by taking down his name and promised to look out for the young private.
Upon landing off the waters of the Saint Lawrence River, Honeyman's unit was almost immediately put into action against the French during the Siege of Louisbourg, which ended after 48 days on July 26, 1758. Wolfe, who served under General Jeffrey Amherst, was shortly promoted to general. He remembered the young private who saved him aboard the Boyrie and made him his bodyguard, to be with him at all times.
The success of the siege cleared the way for the British expedition to take New France at Quebec City the following summer, led by General Wolfe. This culminated in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham on September 13, 1759. While it ended with a British victory, Wolfe was fatally shot and Honeyman was among those who carried the general down the heights to his shelter, where he died.
After the end of the war, Honeyman was given an honorable discharge from the army and he settled in Pennsylvania, carrying with him his discharge papers as well as a letter from General Wolfe requesting his services as his bodyguard. He took up his trade as a butcher and weaver and he married the former Mary Henry, an Irish girl from Coleraine, on September 22, 1764 at First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.
[edit] In service as Washington's spy
Sometime before 1775, Honeyman moved to Philadelphia and met George Washington when the latter was attending meetings of the Continental Congress. Although he served the British well during the French and Indian War, Honeyman was sympathetic to the American cause, and promptly presented his services to Washington. Washington, an astute finder of talent, accepted. Thereafter, in the early part of 1776, he and his family moved to Griggstown, in Somerset County, New Jersey. However, whether this move was a result of his meetings with Washington is unknown.
When Washington's Continental Army was retreating across New Jersey in 1776, Washington wanted to "get some person in to Trenton" as an agent. He called on Honeyman for a meeting at Fort Lee, New Jersey, in November, and it was agreed upon that he would act the part of a spy for the American cause in that part of New Jersey where he was most familiar. Washington told Honeyman to use the cover of a Tory. The fact that he served under Wolfe (as proven by his discharge papers as well as Wolfe's letter) guaranteed his acceptance by the enemy garrison in Trenton.
Posing as a Tory, Honeyman, continuing his trade as a butcher and weaver, commenced his trade with the British. He was instructed to continue this as much as possible behind the American lines in Griggstown, and if necessary flee to Trenton on the pretext of the danger posed against his family due to his double-dealing. The deception plan was so believable that a mob of American patriots raided Honeyman's house in Griggstown. However, his family was saved from certain harm due a signed letter by Washington guaranteeing their safety, while calling Honeyman "a notorious Tory".
His bonafides as a Tory now well-established, he moved to Trenton and his trade enabled him to move freely within the town and gather intelligence about the garrison. Having amassed enough information, he arranged for himself to be captured by the Continental forces, who were ordered to watch for him and bring him straight to Washington unharmed.
Having given the information he gathered for Washington, the latter ordered the guards to feed the "Tory" and locked him up in a small hut used as a prison. Shortly thereafter a fire broke out in the vicinity, providing the opportunity for Honeyman to "escape". He made his way back to Trenton, and told the Hessian commander, Colonel Johann Rall of his capture and reported that the Continental Army was in such low state of morale that they would not attack Trenton.
His story was believed. Even though the Hessians were in a heightened state of alert for the past two weeks, they felt confident enough to relax security on Christmas. In the meantime, Honeyman made his way to New Brunswick, New Jersey.
On December 25, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania with 2,400 troops. The next day the Continental forces surprised the Hessians in a rout, giving the Americans a much-needed victory in the Battle of Trenton.
It was arranged between Washington and Honeyman that his mission was confined in New Jersey, and since the British were driven from the colony in 1777, his services were little needed, if at all. However, it was further agreed upon that Honeyman would continue to maintain his cover as a Tory to prevent any reprisals by the British against him and his family until the end of the war. As a consequence, he did not return to Griggstown until after hostilities ended four years later.
[edit] Later years
It was Washington who revealed Honeyman's true role in the war, and he was given a hero's welcome when he returned to Griggstown. By 1793, he removed to Bedminster Township, New Jersey, in the upper part of Somerset County and bought several parcels of land between 1793 to 1797. It was there that he spent the last thirty years of his life. He was named Captain General of the Army.
His wife Mary died on June 24, 1801, and three years later, John Honeyman married a widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Estel-Burrows. He died on August 18, 1822 at the age of 93.
