Robert Townsend is born in Oyster Bay.

Collection of the Town of Oyster Bay

Estimated year of Elizabeth's birth in Oyster Bay

Room interpreted as slaves quarters at Raynham Hall Museum

Richard Palmes begins an apothecary business in Boston

The Boston Newsletter, May 16, 1765

Alexander Robertson is blacklisted for selling banned goods.

Richard Palmes listed as member of the "Sons of Liberty"

Massachusetts Historical Society

The Boston Massacre. Richard Palmes is an active participant, weilding a cudgel against the British soldiers.

"Death of Crispus Attucks at the Boston Massacre" by James Wells Champney

At age 22 Robert begins working in New York City for the auction house of Templeton and Stewart. He witnesses the sales of African American slaves, some of which are children.

New York Gazette, Feb. 6, 1775

Samuel Townsend serves in the Provincial Congress of New York, readying for war. He takes an Oath of Secrecy to never reveal their plans.

Samuel is present in White Plains for the first reading and ratification of the Declaration of Independence in New York.

Robert is appointed Commisary for General Nathanial Woodhull.

Samuel carries Woodhull's urgent letters to Washington in New York City requesting two regiments of soldiers to engage the British forces

The Battle of Long Island is lost - Long Island is now occupied by the British.

After being arrested and then freed, thanks to a large bribe offered by his wealthy in-law, Samuel signs an Oath of Allegience to King George.

Nathan Hale comes to Huntington, New York from Connecticut to operate as a spy for Washington.

After only five days, Hale is captured by the British and admits to being an American spy.

Nathan Hale is executed by hanging in New York City for being a spy.

American spy David Maltbie arrives in Oyster Bay from Connecticut. He is captured in Oyster Bay but escapes.

Colonel John Graves Simcoe takes command of the Queen's Rangers

Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge recruits Abraham Woodhull as a spy for Washington. Robert Townsend is likely his key informant in New York City.

Library of Congress

Solomon Townsend is sworn as a patriot of America by Benjamin Franklin in Paris. At the same time, Richard Palmes is serving as a bodyguard to John Adams in Paris.

The Queens Rangers occupy Oyster Bay and Col. Simcoe lives in the Townsend home.

Simcoe's room at Raynham Hall Museum

Simcoe writes a Valentine's Day poem to Robert's sister Sally

"Sally's Valentine" by Mort Kunstler

John André stays at the Townsend home, visiting his friend Simcoe. He writes to Sir Henry Clinton and hints about "a certain event" about to happen

Collection of Yale University Art Gallery

Peggy Shippen marries Benedict Arnold

Robert becomes business partners with Henry Oakman and they operate a shop on Hanover Square. Having a partner allows him more time to collect intelligence

Royal Gazette, May 3, 1780

Simcoe and his troops leave Oyster Bay and Liss escapes with them

Robert writes to his father Samuel about Liss' escape

Collection of the Friends of Raynham Hall Museum

Robert, age 26, writes his first spy letter to Washington as "Culper, Jr."

Elizabeth is enslaved by a British officer in New York City

Abraham Woodhull aka "Culper, Sr." writes about a 355 - the code for lady - "think by the assistance of a 355 of my aquaintance, shall be able to outwit them all."

Robert warns Washington of a British counterfeiting scheme

Washington agrees to give Arnold command at West Point

The Culper spies warn of British knowledge of the French fleet’s arrival

André and Arnold plan to hand over West Point fort to the British

Simcoe meets André and Sir Henry Clinton in Southampton. They tell Simcoe about the plot to take West Point and he agrees to participate with his regiment

Simcoe arrives in Oyster Bay, after a long hot march from the East End. They stay for one month

John André is captured by American militiamen

John André is executed by hanging for being a spy

Benedict Arnold rounds up over 40 suspected spies in New York City. Robert flees the city and goes into hiding for several months

Robert signs a lease for new shop and apartment in Peck Slip

Collection of Mystic Seaport Archives

Entry in Robert's account book for the purchase of "hourhound for tea for Elizabeth"

Collection of East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection

Entry in Robert's account book for purchasing a thimble and thread for "Lis"

Collection of East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection

Elizabeth asks Robert to repurchase her, so that she does not have to evacuate with her British enslaver. She is now 3 months pregnant

Collection of East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection

Robert pays his father 70 pounds to "for a Negro wench"

Collection of East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection

Samuel records the payment of 70 pounds for "Liss" from Robert's personal account

Collection of East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection

Robert writes his last spy letter to Washington, and hand delivers it to Benjamin Tallmadge in Westchester

David Maltbie is arrested in New York City for being a spy but is never tried

Elizabeth gives birth to Harry at Robert's apartment on Peck Slip. Harry is later described as "mulatto", or mixed race

Richard Sharwin dies at age 46

Royal American Gazette, July 31, 1783

Evacuation Day. The defeated British Army departs New York City

Robert sells Elizabeth and Harry to widow Ann Sharwin, with a verbal agreement that he will take her back if Ann wants to leave New York

Ann Sharwin marries Alexander Robertson

Independent Journal, Dec. 25., 1784

Elizabeth causes a "derangement" and "separation" in the new marriage of Ann and Alexander Robertson

Collection of the Alexander Robertson School

Elizabeth leaves New York City on board Capt. Tinker's Packet, the Lucretia, bound for Charleston, with Elisha Hopkins of the firm Hopkins & McLane, who brokered her sale

South Carolina Gazette, Jan. 25, 1785

Elizabeth arrives in Charleston aboard the Lucretia

The first meeting of the New York Manumission Society is held in New York City

Elizabeth is sold to Capt. Richard Palmes in Charleston

Robert joins the New York Manumission Society (NYMS)

Richard Lushington writes to John Jay about the kidnapping of George Morris, and the letter is reprinted in the papers

A warning to free Blacks in New York City about Captain Tinker's kidnappings

New York Packet, March 16, 1786

After discovering Elizabeth's fate, Robert confronted Alexander Robertson and took Harry (then aged 4) from him

Richard Palmes' house listed for rent outside Charleston describes where Liss lived for two years

Columbian Herald, January 4, 1787

Robert and Solomon write the first letter to Richard Lushington and John Kirk asking them to buy Elizabeth and send her back to New York

Collection of East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection

Solomon writes business letter to Adam Gilchrist, and mentions the pending repurchase of Elizabeth

Collection of Gibbs Museum of Art

Robert and Solomon write second letter to Lushington & Kirk, acknowledging their their refusal on moral grounds, and let them know they will ask Adam Gilchrist to repurchase Elizabeth

Collection of East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection

Robert and Solomon write to Adam Gilchrist and ask him to buy Elizabeth and send her back to New York

Collection of East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection

In Adam Gichrist's relpy letter he agrees to buy Elizabeth from Palmes

New York Historical Society, Townsend Family Papers

Robert's name is listed as a current member of the NYMS

New York Morning Post, May 21, 1787

Samuel, Sarah, Sally Townsend and "Elizabeth, a black woman" appear in Baptist Church record in Oyster Bay

Collection of the Town of Oyster Bay

George Washington's five-day visit to Long Island, including a visit to Oyster Bay

Samuel Townsend dies at home in Oyster Bay, age 73. Now Robert is the administrator of the estate, which includes twelve enslaved persons

The first Federal Census records "Free Elizabeth" living at David Richard Floyd-Jones mansion, "Fort Neck House"

Robert helps Edward (Jupiter Hammon's nephew) obtain his legal freedom

The Townsend Slave Bible records names and information about some of those enslaved by Samuel Townsend

Collection of Friends of Raynham Hall Museum

Robert sells off the bulk of the estate's land and possesions at auction

Richard Palmes dies at sea

Norwich Courier, June 16, 1802

Robert sells Harry to Jotham Weeks, on the condition that Harry is freed when he turns 24

Robert's nephew, Dr. Peter Townsend, draws a small sketch of Robert, the only know image of him during his life

Collection of Friends of Raynham Hall Museum

Legal slavery ends in New York

Robert dies in Oyster Bay