John Honeyman (1729 Ireland – August 18, 1822 NJ) was an American spy for George Washington, primarily responsible for gathering the intelligence crucial to Washington's victory in the Battle of Trenton.
John Honeyman and George Washington
In service as Washington's spy
Sometime before 1775, Honeyman moved to Philadelphia and met George Washington who was attending meetings of the Continental Congress. Although Honeyman had served the British well during the French and Indian War, he was sympathetic to the American cause and promptly presented his services to Washington. Washington, astute at finding good talent, accepted Honeyman’s services. In the early part of 1776, Honeyman moved with his family to Griggstown, in Somerset County, New Jersey. It is unknown, however, whether this move was a result of his meetings with Washington.
When Washington's Continental Army was retreating across New Jersey in 1776, Washington wanted to "get some person in to Trenton" as an agent. He called upon Honeyman for a meeting at Fort Lee, New Jersey in November and there Honeyman agreed that he would act the part of a spy for the American cause in that part of New Jersey where he was most familiar. Washington told Honeyman to use the cover of a Tory. The fact that he served under Wolfe, as proven by his discharge papers as well as Wolfe's letter requesting his services as his bodyguard, guaranteed his acceptance by the enemy garrison in Trenton.
Posing as a Tory, Honeyman, continuing his trade as a butcher and weaver, commenced his trade with the British. He was instructed to continue trading as much as possible behind the American lines in Griggstown and, if necessary, flee to Trenton on the pretext of the danger posed to his family due to his double-dealing. This deceptive plan was so believable that a mob of angry American patriots raided Honeyman's house in Griggstown. Fortunately his family were saved from certain harm by a signed letter from Washington guaranteeing their safety, while nevertheless calling Honeyman "a notorious Tory".
His credibility as a Tory now well-established, he moved to Trenton where his trade enabled him to move freely within the town and gather intelligence about the garrison. Having amassed enough information, he arranged to be captured by the Continental forces, who had been ordered to watch for him and bring him straight to Washington unharmed.
After receiving the information Honeyman had gathered, Washington ordered the guards to feed the "Tory" and lock him up in a small hut used as a prison. Shortly afterward, a fire broke out in the vicinity providing an opportunity for Honeyman to "escape". Making his way back to Trenton, he told the Hessian commander, Colonel Johann Rall, of his capture and reported that the Continental Army was in such a low state of morale that they would not attack Trenton.
Even though the Hessians had been on heightened alert for the past two weeks, they believed Honeyman’s story and so felt confident enough to relax security on December 26. In the meantime, Honeyman made his way to New Brunswick, New Jersey.
On the night of December 25–26, 1776, with 2,400 troops, Washington made the famous crossing of the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey north of Trenton. The next morning, the Continental forces surprised the Hessians in a rout, giving the Americans a much-needed victory in the Battle of Trenton.
With Washington, Honeyman had arranged that his mission be confined in New Jersey and since the British were driven from the colony in 1777 his services were little needed, if at all. It had further been agreed upon, however, that Honeyman would continue to maintain his cover as a Tory to prevent any reprisals by the British against him and his family until the end of the war. As a consequence, he did not return to Griggstown until after hostilities ended four years later.
It was Washington who revealed Honeyman's true role in the war and he was given a hero's welcome when he returned to Griggstown. By 1793, he removed to Bedminster Township, New Jersey, in upper Somerset County, bought several parcels of land between 1793 and 1797 and spent the last thirty years of his life there. He subsequently was named Captain General of the Army for the role he played as a spy in the Revolution. (Note: No source is given for what appears to be a bizarre assertion. If the rank of "captain-general" was ever used in the U.S., which itself is doubtful, Honeyman would have outranked Gen. Washington, and Honeyman would have been a major historical figure.)
Burial: Lamington Presbyterian Church Cemetery Lamington, Somerset County, New Jersey
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