I love the premise behind the National Treasure movies where members of the Gates family feel compelled to solve a series of historical clues to find a treasure that will ultimately save the family reputation. Unfortunately, there are always a few bad men along the way and some of the clues and found artifacts end up painting the Gates family in a bad light.
It must be difficult to have your family ridiculed and doubted because historians don’t believe your ancestor’s role in the American story. Luckily for the fictional Benjamin Gates he finds all the pieces of the historical puzzle and in the end, he finds the treasure, saves a few lives, and even gets the girl.
Not so for the real-life family of John Honeyman (1729-1822), a spy for Washington and little-known hero of the Battle of Trenton during Christmas, 1776. I’m not surprised if you have never heard of John Honeyman because most contemporary historians have relegated his story to the back burner and allowed the pot to simmer a bit because cold hard evidence is lacking.
I really can’t say I blame them because I like hard cold evidence, but the Honeyman tale, if it could be substantiated, makes for great history!
John Honeyman (1729-1822) first came to the British colonies as a soldier for Great Britain in 1758 to fight in the French and Indian War. It’s easy to assume that the French and Indian War was fought by colonists, but the war in the colonies was an offshoot of the Seven Years War in Europe. John Honeyman is an example of one of many British soldiers sent to the colonies to fight in the French and Indian War.
On the crossing from Britain to Canada, Honeyman met up with Major-General James Wolfe (1727-1759) and managed to be in the right place at the right time when he saved Wolfe from falling down a flight of steps. Wolfe was so appreciative he later made Honeyman his bodyguard and throughout the rest of the war Honeyman went everywhere Wolfe did. Wolfe was an accomplished British soldier, the son of General Edmund Wolfe (1685-1759), having fought during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Jacobite Rising of 1745.
Since he served as Wolfe’s bodyguard it would make sense that John Honeyman was present by Wolfe’s side during the Battle of Quebec also known as the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in September 1759. Tragically three musket balls tore into Wolfe’s body at the height of the battle taking his life a short time later. Though the British won the battle, Wolfe’s life was a great sacrifice and he became a national hero.
Wolfe’s tragic death was immortalized in this painting by Benjamin West in 1770 known as “The Death of General Wolfe.” The painting became famous worldwide due to the tragic death and since the battle had been pivotal. The capture of Quebec led to the capture of Montreal which ended French control in the colony.
I want to focus to the men on the right where the one being held and dying is Wolfe. Many believe Captain Hervey Smythe is pictured holding Wolfe’s right arm. Next to Wolfe, in the blue jacket, is Dr Thomas Hinde, who is attempting to stem the bleeding from Wolfe’s wounds. The general later died in the doctor’s hands. Notice the man with dark hair standing behind Wolfe. Many believe him to be John Honeyman. There is no substantiation of this. Honeyman would have been thirty at the time of the battle, so who is to say, but it could be Honeyman.
John Honeyman decided to stay in the colonies and settled in Pennsylvania following the French and Indian War working as a butcher and weaver but continued to keep his discharge papers and Wolfe’s letter requesting his services as a body guard.
Fast forward a bit to 1776 and at some point, so the story goes Honeyman meets up with General George Washington and the British paperwork Honeyman possesses is mentioned. Washington realizes the paperwork will be helpful to allow Honeyman access to British camps, so he asks Honeyman to pose as a Tory to gather intelligence for the Patriots.
The first instance regarding John Honeyman’s involvement in the Battle of Trenton was published in 1873 in an article titled An Unwritten Account of a Spy of Washington in Our Home magazine. The story was written by Judge John van Dyke (1807-1878), a grandson of John Honeyman, using oral accounts told to him by his Aunt Jane, the daughter of John Honeyman. The article has been made available in book form (13 pages) for purchase at Amazon here.
The article states Honeyman did pose as a Tory in Griggstown and Trenton and apparently, he was so believable in the role, he made many Patriot neighbors mad at him to the point they would attack his house. The only thing that saved the family was the fact John Honeyman had a letter of protection from General George Washington. The letter identified Honeyman as a Tory, but also requested safety for the family. The British trusted Honeyman so much that he was given the freedom to walk about the British garrison at Trenton.
The story continues that just prior to the Battle of Trenton Honeyman was captured by the Patriots which was part of his plan and he gave up his information he had gathered to Washington and his men. When a fire broke out close to where he was being held Honeyman escaped and made his way back to Trenton where he advised Colonel Johann Rall the Patriots wouldn’t attack even if they wanted to because they were demoralized and did not have the necessary equipment for an attack.
Honeyman knew better, however. His information was part of a great ruse since Washington was planning to attack during the Christmas holiday. The decision for the attack was easy for Washington since Christmas was not celebrated to the extent it is today. Some Americans did celebrate, but many more overlooked it considering it a British holiday.
Washington knew the British would celebrate, but knew the Hessians led by Captain Johann Rall, camped at Trenton would celebrate heartily with food, drink, and games as was the German custom. It would be the perfect time for a Patriot attack.
Washington planned Christmas surprise included taking 2,400 men across the Delaware River to attack the Hessians camped at Trenton. One thousand enemy soldiers were taken prisoner within an hour, and the much-needed victory spurred the Patriots on.
You may remember this famous painting titled Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze (1851). At the time the New York Mirror said the painting was “the grandest, most majestic, and most effective painting ever exhibited in America.”
So, did John Honeyman really serve as Washington’s spy? There is no hard evidence even though many historians in the past have referred to him. Everything boils down to family lore and the Honeyman/Van Dyke family have never produced the letter from George Washington giving the Honeyman protection. However, many in support of the story argue that Honeyman never left the colonies for Nova Scotia as most Tories did, and he was able to purchase three tracts of land following the American Revolution when most could not afford anything. Was this payment for his service?
This American Heritage article seems to support the Honeyman service while this article from the Central Intelligence Agency site does a fantastic job of negating the whole thing.
You can be the judge, but it is still a fascinating story either way.
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