David Farnsworth facts for kids

David Farnsworth was a Colonial-era supporter of Great Britain (called a Loyalist) who worked as a secret agent for the British. He was involved in a plan to hurt the American economy by putting fake money into circulation.

Farnsworth lived during a very exciting and challenging time in history: the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). This was when the thirteen American colonies were fighting for their independence from Great Britain. People living in the colonies had to choose sides – some supported independence (called Patriots), and others wanted to remain loyal to the British King (called Loyalists). David Farnsworth was a Loyalist. He is primarily known for his activities as a British agent during the war, specifically for his involvement in a plan that used counterfeit money.

Joining the War Effort

David Farnsworth didn't start out as a British agent. When the war first began in 1775, he was just 15 years old. At that young age, he actually joined the Patriot forces in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He served as a drummer, which was an important role in the army, helping to keep rhythm for marching and signaling commands during battles. He even participated in one of the early major battles of the war, the Battle of Bunker Hill. This shows that he was involved in the conflict from its early days, though his allegiance would later change.

Counterfeit Money

Using fake money as a weapon in war might sound strange, but it's a strategy that has been used for hundreds of years! The main idea is to flood the enemy's country with counterfeit (fake) money. If there's too much fake money mixed in with the real money, people start to lose trust in the currency. The value of the real money goes down, making it harder for the enemy government to pay its soldiers, buy supplies, and keep its economy running. This can weaken their ability to fight the war.

During the American Revolutionary War, the American colonies, which were just starting to form their own government under the Continental Congress, needed a way to pay for the war. They decided to create their own currency, called the Continental currency. Famous figures like Paul Revere were among the people asked to help print this new money.

Seeing this, the British decided to use the counterfeit money strategy against the Americans. They hired teams of people to create fake Continental currency and travel throughout the American colonies, secretly putting the fake money into circulation. These people were sometimes called "shovers" because they would "shove" or push the fake money into everyday use, like buying things in markets or paying for services.

Role as a British Agent

David Farnsworth became one of these British agents involved in the counterfeiting operation. He worked with a partner named John Blair. Their job was to take the fake Continental money they received from the British and spread it throughout the American colonies. The goal was to make the Continental currency worthless, hoping this would cripple the American war effort.

Farnsworth and Blair were quite active in this operation. They were eventually caught with a very large amount of fake Continental dollars in their possession – over $10,000 worth. This was a significant amount of money at the time and showed the scale of their operation.

Capture and Trial

Being a spy or an enemy agent during wartime was very risky. If caught, the consequences were severe. David Farnsworth and John Blair were apprehended by the American forces.

On October 8, 1778, a military trial, called a court-martial, was held for Farnsworth and Blair in Danbury, Connecticut. The trial was ordered by high-ranking American officers, including General Horatio Gates and Brigadier General John Paterson.

Farnsworth and Blair were tried for serious charges related to their activities. The court found them guilty of "being found about the Encampment of the Armies of The United-States as Spies and having a large sum of counterfeit Money about them which they brought from New-York". This meant they were convicted of being enemy spies operating near American military camps and possessing a large amount of fake money they had brought from British-controlled New York City.

After being found guilty, the court had to decide on a punishment. By a vote of two-thirds of the officers on the court, the sentence prescribed was execution.

Approval and Execution

The decision of the court-martial had to be approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington. On October 23, 1778, from his headquarters in Fredericksburg, New York, General Washington reviewed the case and approved the sentence. He ordered that Farnsworth and Blair be executed immediately upon their arrival at General Gates' division.

Following General Washington's order, David Farnsworth and John Blair were executed on November 10, 1778. This took place in Rocky Hill, which is in Hartford County, Connecticut.

In Popular Culture

Sometimes, historical figures appear in books, movies, or TV shows, often with some creative changes to their story. David Farnsworth has appeared in popular culture.

For example, in an episode of the animated science fiction comedy show Futurama called "All The Presidents' Heads," a character named Professor Hubert Farnsworth is shown to have an ancestor named David Farnsworth. In the show, this historical David Farnsworth is presented as a counterfeiter and a British agent, similar to the real historical figure. However, the episode features an alternate timeline where Great Britain won the American Revolution.