From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 4 November 1780
To Joseph Reed
Head Quarters Prekaness 4th Novemr 1780
Dear Sir
I have received information from New York that a person who is called George1 Fustner, and who is Brother in law to Rankin formerly of York County, comes frequently out as a Spy by way of Shark River thro’ Jersey2 and from thence to Lancaster.3 He left New York the 27th ulto and is probably at this time upon that Business. Your Excellency may perhaps, from the foregoing Clue, have him intercepted upon some of his Visits.
There is also another person who goes by the feigned name of John Staria or the Irish Dutchman, because he speaks both languages, who goes constantly between New York and Lancaster, accompanied by a lusty old Man called John Smith, who serves as a guide to him. They lately carried 12 or 14 Recruits from Lancaster.4
I shall be happy should the above descriptions be sufficient to lead to the discovery of anoth⟨er⟩ of the many Engines of this sort, which the enemy have at work against us. I have the honor to be with great Regard Dear Sir Yr most obt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. It is likely that GW never sent this letter to Reed.
1. GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton wrote “Andrew” above “George” on the LS.
2. Shark River flows for just under twelve miles through eastern Monmouth County, N.J., before emptying into an inlet that enters the Atlantic Ocean.
3. Andrew (Andreas) Forshner (Fürstner), born in Germany, settled in Pennsylvania and acted as a courier and spy for the British between 1777 and 1781. He received pay as an ensign and lieutenant but lacked a commission (see , 123; see also , 128–30). For Forshner’s brother-in-law William Rankin, who escaped from jail in York County, Pa., in March 1781, see James Potter to GW, 11 Nov. 1777 (second letter), and , 284; see also , 12:710–11.
4. John Staria, also known as Roving John, was implicated in January 1781 in an effort to ferry Continental army deserters through British lines (see , 131). The John Smith who reputedly assisted Staria has not been identified.