Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-10-17
General
Washington's
Spy
i Story Of the British DC.
cupancy Of New York.
y T. A. mitchell

What b now known as the Bowery,
In New York, was originally garden
belonging to Petrus Stuyvesant, the
last Of the Dutch governors Of the prov
ince Of New Amsterdam. At the time
the English came ashore and took the
town away from the Dutch the name
New Amsterdam was changed to New
York. BY the time the American war
for independence came the Bowery had
become street, and St Marks place.
where Governor Stuyvesant's manor
house stood, had begun to be occupied
by dwellings
Recently some workmen engaged In
pulling down one Of these dwellings
came upon space closed by an iron
door within which was body, or,
rather, a skeleton Of a man. There was
enough Of the clothing left to Indicate
that 1t was soldiers uniform, and,
the coat being or having been Of a red
color, there was no doubt that the
man had been In the British army.
Judging by the trimmings and buttons
and side arms. he must have been an
officer In his pockets were found
number Of letters, some Of which were
signed Katherice, some Kate. some X
and some Katheeine Ten Brock.
The find was turned over to certain
persons who we're interested in the
early history Of New York. and through
the letters Ffory came to light that
had been buried in oblivion for more
than hundred years.
During tbs Revolutionary war the
mansion in question was occupied by
family Of Tories named Throckmorton.
The British occupied New York, their
outposts extending TO Westchester
county, where they confronted the
American forces--a chin line-under
Colonel Aaron Burr.
There was time wfen Washington
made his headquarters at DObbs Ferry,
a settlement some twenty miles from
New York. While there he used what
ever means within his power to gain
informstion Of what was going ON In
General Howe's army In the city. There
was . family Of Ten Brooks living near
the house occupied by the general, and
one day, when he was sitting in the
room he used for an office, his orderly
announced to him that girl was with
out who desired to give him certain In
formation of the enemy. Washington
directed that she be admitted.
She gave her name as Katherine Ten
Brock and said that she had been to
New York and while there had kept
hnr eyes open to the extent and srTna-
ment Of the British forces occupying
the city. Washington asked her q
great many questions. and her replies
showed such Intelligent observation
that the general proposed to her that
she make another trip with . view to
bringing him ether Information which
be very much desired. She consented.
and he asked her to discover n possi-
bic whether General Howe wins medi-
Eating q move southwark through New
Jersey and Pennsylvania. There were
two methods of obtaining this iafoema-
ton, the one by noticing the sccumula-
ton Of supplies and means Of trans
portation, the other By learning from
some person who knew what was to
be done.
There was no dflnculty IN getting
into New Fork. for Washingtcn could
give q pass for the purpose. Az to re
turning. that was ahother matter.
General Howe at this time had inten-
Hons that he did not Wish disclosed to
his enemy and was loatA to permit any
one going to the American lines.
Armed with Washington's pass.
Katherine Ten Brock rode from
Dobbs Ferry to poiEt not far south
Of Yonkers, where stln found Colonel
Rurr's regiment Heee she left her
conveyance and proceeded on foot to
The north gtde Of the Harlem rivse.
where she found the Bfitish pickets.
Mistress Ten Brock. who, rs her
name Indicated. had descended from
the Dutch settlers Of New York. had q
pair Of mild blue eyes, abundant locks,
extremely Hight IN color, and com
plexion Of pink and white. When she
came to the British pjekets she asked
the ofacer Of the picfet post to pass
her through. saying that she wished to
20 to New York to do some shoppins.
II can. pass you through our lines,
aid the o6icer. noticing her mildness
which appeared not only In her
physique. but in her voice. ''but my Or
ders are to pass no one going north
II you 90 In you will have to stay in
You can't get back home again"
Katherine feigned to hesitate at thia
She looked much disappointed. 6hs
told the c6lcer that there was to be I
dance In Yonkers and she had nothinf
to wear, II she could not 90 to tn
city she must remain away from II,
dance. She looked % innocent and
was 20 pretty that the oficer took pity
on her and. taking from his pocket [
letter. tore on part free from ink
wrote something on It and handed 4
to her. It was request to an once
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