Hattie Lawton
Encyclopedia
Hattie Lawton, also known as Hattie H. Lawton, Hattie Lewis Lawton was an American
detective. She may have been born around 1837, although most details of her life before and after the Civil War are unknown. “[Hattie] Lawton was part of Pinkerton's Female Detective Bureau, formed in 1860 to ‘worm out secrets’ by means unavailable to male detectives."
during the Civil War
. She was part of the team that participated in the detection of the alleged 1861 Baltimore assassination plot
against President-elect
Abraham Lincoln
and, according to Pinkerton's account, in the early part of 1861 Hattie was stationed in Perrymansville, Maryland with Timothy Webster
, another Pinkerton agent.
After Pinkerton began his “Secret Service” for Gen. George B. McClellan
, Lawton and Webster were added to the payroll of the Pinkerton’s service in Washington on August 8, 1861. Lawton again posing as Timothy Webster
’s wife appeared in Richmond, Virginia
in the early part of 1862. The two were sent by Pinkerton to Richmond to gather intelligence about Confederate army movements.
Pinkerton sent two agents, Pryce Lewis and John Scully, to Richmond to find out what happened to Webster and Lawton. They found Webster and Lawton, but Lewis and Scully were recognized as Pinkerton agents, arrested and later released as part of a prisoner exchange on March 18, 1863. Various sources indicate that one or both of the men, either to save their own lives or after being tricked, revealed the identity of Webster. Webster and Lawton were arrested and after a quick trial both were found guilty.
Webster was sentenced to death and executed on April 29, 1862. Lawton was sentenced to one year in Castle Thunder prison
in Richmond, Virginia
. Hattie, carried on records as "Mrs. Timothy Webster", was one of a party of four Federals exchanged for Belle Boyd on December 13, 1862.
During her imprisonment, Richmond's most accomplished Union spy, Elizabeth Van Lew
, visited Lawton but it is not clear whether Van Lew was aware of the real identity of Mrs Timothy Webster. After her release from prison, nothing is known about Lawton.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
detective. She may have been born around 1837, although most details of her life before and after the Civil War are unknown. “[Hattie] Lawton was part of Pinkerton's Female Detective Bureau, formed in 1860 to ‘worm out secrets’ by means unavailable to male detectives."
Civil War
Lawton continued to work for the Pinkerton Detective AgencyPinkerton National Detective Agency
The Pinkerton National Detective Agency, usually shortened to the Pinkertons, is a private U.S. security guard and detective agency established by Allan Pinkerton in 1850. Pinkerton became famous when he claimed to have foiled a plot to assassinate president-elect Abraham Lincoln, who later hired...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. She was part of the team that participated in the detection of the alleged 1861 Baltimore assassination plot
Baltimore Plot
The Baltimore Plot was an alleged conspiracy in late February 1861 to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln en route to his inauguration. Allan Pinkerton, founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, played a key role by managing Lincoln's security throughout the journey...
against President-elect
President-elect
An -elect is a political candidate who has been elected to an office but who has not yet been sworn in or officially taken office. These may include an incoming president, senator, representative, governor and mayor.Analogously, the term "designate" An -elect is a political candidate who has been...
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and, according to Pinkerton's account, in the early part of 1861 Hattie was stationed in Perrymansville, Maryland with Timothy Webster
Timothy Webster
Timothy Webster , Pinkerton agent and Union spy, was the first spy in the American Civil War to be executed.-Early life:Webster came to America with his parents in August 1830 and settled in Princeton, New Jersey...
, another Pinkerton agent.
After Pinkerton began his “Secret Service” for Gen. George B. McClellan
George B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
, Lawton and Webster were added to the payroll of the Pinkerton’s service in Washington on August 8, 1861. Lawton again posing as Timothy Webster
Timothy Webster
Timothy Webster , Pinkerton agent and Union spy, was the first spy in the American Civil War to be executed.-Early life:Webster came to America with his parents in August 1830 and settled in Princeton, New Jersey...
’s wife appeared in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
in the early part of 1862. The two were sent by Pinkerton to Richmond to gather intelligence about Confederate army movements.
Arrest and Imprisonment
Lawton tended to Webster when he fell ill at the Monument Hotel in Richmond, Virginia and this prevented reports back to Pinkerton. John Scobell, an African-American Union spy, worked with the "twenty-five-year-old beauty" Hattie Lawton during this time posing as her servant.Pinkerton sent two agents, Pryce Lewis and John Scully, to Richmond to find out what happened to Webster and Lawton. They found Webster and Lawton, but Lewis and Scully were recognized as Pinkerton agents, arrested and later released as part of a prisoner exchange on March 18, 1863. Various sources indicate that one or both of the men, either to save their own lives or after being tricked, revealed the identity of Webster. Webster and Lawton were arrested and after a quick trial both were found guilty.
Castle Thunder (prison)
Castle Thunder, located in Richmond, Virginia, was a former tobacco warehouse located on Tobacco Row, converted into a prison used by the Confederacy to house civilian prisoners, including captured Union spies, political prisoners and those charged with treason during the American Civil War. A...
in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. Hattie, carried on records as "Mrs. Timothy Webster", was one of a party of four Federals exchanged for Belle Boyd on December 13, 1862.
During her imprisonment, Richmond's most accomplished Union spy, Elizabeth Van Lew
Elizabeth Van Lew
Elizabeth Van Lew was a well-born Richmond, Virginia resident who built and operated an extensive spy ring for the United States during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, visited Lawton but it is not clear whether Van Lew was aware of the real identity of Mrs Timothy Webster. After her release from prison, nothing is known about Lawton.