Enoch Crosby
Encyclopedia
Enoch Crosby was an American soldier and spy during the Revolutionary War
. His life may have been the basis for the character Harvey Birch in James Fenimore Cooper
's novel The Spy.
on January 4, 1750, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Crosby. His family moved to what is now Putnam County, New York
when Crosby was only an infant. The family was poor, and by 1766, Crosby set out from home to find a career. He became an apprentice shoemaker in Kent, New York
, and continued in the apprenticeship until it was completed in 1771 on his 21st birthday. When the Revolutionary War began, he was in Danbury, Connecticut
, and he immediately enlisted as a soldier.
by the Continental Army
in 1775. Following the capture of Montreal
, his enlistment expired and he returned to Danbury to continue his career as a shoemaker.
At this time, nearby Westchester County, New York
was a 'neutral ground' between the British forces controlling New York City in the south and colonial forces in the north. In addition to regular armies, the county was host to vigilante gangs that claimed to support each side in the conflict in order to justify pillage.
By September, 1776, Crosby had left behind his shoemaking to return to the Continental Army, and made his way to the camp at White Plains
in Westchester County. On the way, as a result of misunderstanding, Crosby was invited to join a meeting of loyalist
locals who were intending to support the British efforts in the area. He was able to deliver the information he learned to John Jay
, a member of the local Committee of Safety
, and at Jay and Crosby's direction the group of loyalists was arrested.
He was recruited to spy full time by Jay, and in order to gain entry into loyalist and British circles he adopted the identity of a spy employed by the British General Howe
. By doing this, he became an object of hatred for many of his friends and family. Crosby requested that if he died, the Committee of Safety would clear his name of supporting the British, and they also gave him a special pass to be used in an emergency if he was captured by American forces.
Crosby served as a spy in Westchester County, further north near Lake Champlain
, and in other areas. He followed the same pattern of infiltration, capture, and escape at least four times. The intelligence he provided was used both to capture loyalists and undermine local support for the British, and on at least one occasion proved useful to the Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington
. He was repeatedly captured by Americans who believed him to be a loyalist, and consequently repeatedly escaped.
Following the War, Crosby and his brother purchased a farm, and he lived on that land until his death.
. Cooper may have heard of Crosby's story from John Jay, although Jay apparently did not reveal Crosby's name, fearing retribution from the spy's enemies.
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. His life may have been the basis for the character Harvey Birch in James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
's novel The Spy.
Early life
Crosby was born in Harwich, MassachusettsHarwich, Massachusetts
Harwich is a New England town on Cape Cod, in Barnstable County in the state of Massachusetts in the United States. Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The town is a popular vacation spot, located near the Cape Cod National Seashore. Harwich's beaches are on "the Sound side" of Cape...
on January 4, 1750, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Crosby. His family moved to what is now Putnam County, New York
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
when Crosby was only an infant. The family was poor, and by 1766, Crosby set out from home to find a career. He became an apprentice shoemaker in Kent, New York
Kent, New York
Kent is a town in Putnam County, New York, United States. The population was 14,009 at the 2000 census. The name is that of an early settler family. The town is the north-central part of the Putnam County. Many of the lakes are reservoirs for New York City....
, and continued in the apprenticeship until it was completed in 1771 on his 21st birthday. When the Revolutionary War began, he was in Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
, and he immediately enlisted as a soldier.
Revolutionary War
Crosby enlisted with a Connecticut regiment in the first weeks of the war. His unit became part of the invasion of CanadaInvasion of Canada (1775)
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
by the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
in 1775. Following the capture of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, his enlistment expired and he returned to Danbury to continue his career as a shoemaker.
At this time, nearby Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
was a 'neutral ground' between the British forces controlling New York City in the south and colonial forces in the north. In addition to regular armies, the county was host to vigilante gangs that claimed to support each side in the conflict in order to justify pillage.
By September, 1776, Crosby had left behind his shoemaking to return to the Continental Army, and made his way to the camp at White Plains
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
in Westchester County. On the way, as a result of misunderstanding, Crosby was invited to join a meeting of loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
locals who were intending to support the British efforts in the area. He was able to deliver the information he learned to John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
, a member of the local Committee of Safety
Committee of Safety (American Revolution)
Many Committees of Safety were established throughout Colonial America at the start of the American Revolution. These committees started to appear in the 1760s as means to discuss the concerns of the time, and often consisted of every male adult in the community...
, and at Jay and Crosby's direction the group of loyalists was arrested.
He was recruited to spy full time by Jay, and in order to gain entry into loyalist and British circles he adopted the identity of a spy employed by the British General Howe
William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe
William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, KB, PC was a British army officer who rose to become Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the American War of Independence...
. By doing this, he became an object of hatred for many of his friends and family. Crosby requested that if he died, the Committee of Safety would clear his name of supporting the British, and they also gave him a special pass to be used in an emergency if he was captured by American forces.
Crosby served as a spy in Westchester County, further north near Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
, and in other areas. He followed the same pattern of infiltration, capture, and escape at least four times. The intelligence he provided was used both to capture loyalists and undermine local support for the British, and on at least one occasion proved useful to the Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. He was repeatedly captured by Americans who believed him to be a loyalist, and consequently repeatedly escaped.
Following the War, Crosby and his brother purchased a farm, and he lived on that land until his death.
Legacy
Crosby's life may be the basis for the character Harvey Birch in The Spy, a novel published in 1821 and authored by the American writer James Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
. Cooper may have heard of Crosby's story from John Jay, although Jay apparently did not reveal Crosby's name, fearing retribution from the spy's enemies.