We watched the AMC series "Turn"; finally the 4th and last season ended. In order to plug the "show-hole grief" that always happens after the completion of a beloved series, I read the history book on which the show was based.
The book is written in modern style, yet completely referenced with sources.
For a commander to hire civilian informants to spy on the enemy on a regular basis was considered low; but even so Washington needed to know what the British were up to in New York during the American Revolution. So the link between Ben Tallmadge and his Long Island connections was formed; it functioned quietly for several years.
A lighlight was the early realization of the defection of Benedict Arnold.
After reading the book, I was better able to understand the connections our family shares with this time in history.
We have long known of the Silliman's in Fairfield CT. Researched by my husband's Grandmother, his 5th Great-Grandfather had been a corporal in the CT militia during the Revolution. This man's uncle was General Gold Selleck Silliman, in charge of defence of CT coast line.
Many families have interesting heritage, either in the US or in countries of their origin; if only people had the interest to use the records to discover it.
We had known that General Silliman was kidnapped and held by the British for months; but from the book we learned that: "On arriving at (Lloyd's Neck) they (the kidnappers and hostage) were hailed by Col. (John Graves) Simcoe (the essence of evil in the TV series). "Have you got him?" asked Simcoe. "Yes" was the answer. "Have you lost any men? asked Simcoe. "No". And Simcoe says "That's well, Your Sillimans and your Washingtons are not worth a man."
Goodness.
Another family connection is one with Selah Strong: both descended from the immigrant John Strong (well researched family tree). And Caleb Brewster would certainly have know General Silliman.
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