Phoebe the Spy

In 1775, the 13 British colonies in America rebelled against the British crown to establish their own independent, self-governing country. Their new government, the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence in August of 1776. Rather than negotiate, Britain responded with force, sending its navy and hired German soldiers to America to stop the rebellion and retain control over the colonies. Led by General George Washington, the colonies’ forces, called the Continental Army, faced tens of thousands of these professional British and German soldiers in battles across the country—including New York.

In the novel, author Judith Berry Griffin offers a historically accurate picture of New York City and General Washington’s movements during the spring of 1776. As in the story, Washington really did live at Mortier House from April 1776 until August 1776, making it his headquarters as he prepared his army for conflict with Great Britain. During this time, character Sam Fraunces notices the influx of soldiers in New York, lamenting that many see fighting as simply a job and are not really dedicated to the cause of independence. This detail reflects the fact that not everyone in the colonies was committed to independence; “Loyalists” would have preferred to remain British subjects, while others were simply apathetic. This conflict created an atmosphere of tension and suspicion, as some soldiers enlisted simply to make ends meet while others fought out of passion. Sam tells Phoebe, “‘New York is full of soldiers […] Some are only out for money. To them it makes no difference what side they’re on. They’d even take money from the enemy and do anything they’d ask’” (11).

Phoebe also notices the increase in tension and activity in the city. She observes the Continental Army in the streets, preparing for battle: “Everywhere, it seemed, men were pushing carts. They rattled over the cobblestones, loaded with guns and ammunition. Soldiers were everywhere, shouting orders. War was in the air” (16). That summer, such soldiers had to flee the city and the incoming British. In August 1776, Washington and his troops retreated from New York City after losing a battle, and the city remained occupied by the British until the war’s end in 1783. During this time, many Loyalists from the colonies moved into the city, while Patriots left to avoid persecution by the British occupiers. Throughout the war, people in New York City faced numerous hardships, from a devastating fire to increasing rent costs, skyrocketing food prices, and violence from both British troops and Patriots living on the outskirts of the city. This left regular people like Phoebe and Sam in difficult circumstances, with everyday life testing both one’s loyalties and one’s will to survive.

In her conclusion, Judith Berry Griffin reconnects her tale to its historical origins. In her final words to the reader, the author confirms the historical truth of some of the novel’s events: Sam Fraunces really did own a tavern called The Queen’s Head, and after the war, he was rewarded for his loyalty to the Patriot cause, even being hired to work for the president. However, while the real Sam had many children, none of them were named Phoebe, and there is no proof that anyone saved Washington from this sort of assassination attempt. This invented part of the story draws on an old legend that has long been connected to Sam Fraunces but is lacking in historical evidence.