Agent 355

"I intend to visit 727 (New York) before long and think, by the assistance of a 355 (lady) of my aquaintence, shall be able to outwit them all..."

Abraham Woodhull, missive to Gen. Washington 1778

Fragonard, The Reader

Career

Agent 355 is purported to be a member of the Revolutionary Culper Ring. The only direct reference to her in any of the Culper's missives was from Abraham Woodhull, Samuel Culper Sr., to Gen Washington in 1778. Little is known for sure about this mysterious lady, but speculation abounds. What is known is that she was located in New York and at some point had contact with Major John Andre and Benedict Arnold. It is believed that 355 was a member of a prominent loyalist family, and within easy reach of British commanders. When Andre in particular, was in New York the Culper's information came fast and furious, but when Andre was in the southern colonies with Sir 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. 355 would later give birth to that child, a son, in the squalled conditions of the prison hulk. The child was reputed to be the product of a common-law marriage between 355 and Robert Townsend, Samuel Culper Jr. This was later on discredited by the fact that while indeed Townsend did have an illegitimate child, it was by Mary Banvard, an immigrant from Nova Scotia, who was Townsend's housekeeper in his New York apartment. 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.

The prison hulk, Success, at Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

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 is Betty Floyd, a cousin of the Townsend family. Others say that she did not really exist, that 355 is 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, with a membership in a DC comic book series, and a starring role in Shadow Patriots by Lucia St. Clair Robson

Bibliography

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/intelligence/pers.html

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.