- Agent 355
Agent 355 was the
code name of aspy during theAmerican Revolution , thought to be part of theCulper Ring ; her real identity is unknown.Career
The only direct reference to Agent 355 in any of the Culper's missives was from
Abraham Woodhull ,Samuel Culper Sr. , to GeneralGeorge Washington in 1778. Little is known for sure about this mysterious lady, but speculation abounds. What is known is that she was located inNew York and at some point had contact with MajorJohn Andre andBenedict Arnold . It is believed that 355 was a member of a prominent loyalist family, and within easy reach of British commanders. [ [https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/intelligence/pers.html Intelligence in the War of Independence > Personalities] .Central Intelligence Agency . Retrieved on2008-04-17 .] When Andre in particular, was in New York the Culper's information came fast and furious, but when Andre was in the southern colonies withSir Henry Clinton , the information slowed considerably. At this point Gen. Washington complained that the Culpers were a waste of money. This leads historians to believe that 355 was one of the flock of females that surrounded Major Andre.Capture
After the capture of Andre and the escape of
Benedict Arnold to New York, 355 was arrested, supposedly on the information of Arnold, and imprisoned on the HMS Jersey. A pregnant 355 was questioned and refused to reveal any information on her activities or the father of her child. She would later give birth to that child, a son, in the squalid conditions of the prison hulk. The child was reputed to be the product of a common-law marriage between 355 andRobert Townsend , Samuel Culper Jr. This was later discredited by the fact that while indeed Townsend did have an illegitimate child, it was by Mary Banvard, an immigrant fromNova Scotia , who was Townsend's housekeeper in his New York apartment [David W. Jacobs: Who Was Agent 355? (Am Rev) Broadside, the Newsletter of the American Revolution Round Table (11-21-06)] . Unfortunately, 355 died aboard the Jersey after giving birth to her child.Some historians discredit the idea that 355 was imprisoned on The "Jersey", believing that women were not held on the prison hulks. This was refuted by
John Burke who found several female names among the 14,000 names in the British manifests of those ships.Legacy
The identity of the woman known solely as 355, has yet to be discovered. However, several theories have been developed. One such theory is that 355 was Betty Floyd, a cousin of the Townsend family. Others say that she did not really exist, that 355 was simply just a lady of acquaintance to Abraham Woodhull that was mentioned in passing and really no help to the Culpers at all. But if the story is to be believed 355 was a great asset to the American bid for independence.
Agent 355 has become a part of popular fiction, being cited in "" from
DC Comics as an inspiration for a modern spy also called 355, and a starring role in "Shadow Patriots " byLucia St. Clair Robson .Footnotes
Bibliography
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/intelligence/pers.html Intelligence in the War of Independence > Personalities] .
Central Intelligence Agency . Retrieved on2008-04-17 .
*David W. Jacobs: Who Was Agent 355? (Am Rev) Broadside, the Newsletter of the American Revolution Round Table (11-21-06)
*Rose, Alexander. "Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring". New York: Bantam, 2006.
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