Background
William Heron was born on 1742 at Cork, Ireland. Little is known of him until he settled on Redding Ridge, Connecticut, a few years before the Revolution.
William Heron was born on 1742 at Cork, Ireland. Little is known of him until he settled on Redding Ridge, Connecticut, a few years before the Revolution.
William graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, but his name is not to be found in the register of graduates.
His first years in America William Heron spent as a school teacher and surveyor. During the Revolution he openly sided with the colonies. Besides holding a succession of important town appointments, he represented Redding for four sessions, between 1778 and 1782, in the Connecticut Assembly and was friendly with officers of the Continental Army. According to his next-door neighbor, Maj. -Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons he was also a volunteer who “in every trial proved himself a man of bravery. ” From September 1780 to March 1782, however, this “consistent national whig” was engaged, as “Hiram the Spy, ” in a secret correspondence with Maj. Oliver De Lancey, head of the British secret service. His communications, usually in cipher and in a skilfully disguised hand, contained such items as the strength and location of the French and American troops, minutes of the Connecticut Assembly, and plans of campaign.
At the same time Heron was endeavoring, if his word is to be accepted, to “improve” the “soul” of General Parsons to the advantage of the Royal cause. Such was his success that he was able by July 1781 to inclose a letter of intelligence in Parsons’ own writing. The letter was addressed to Heron, but this, he announced, was in accordance with the plan concerted between them. It is doubtful, however, whether the general ever knew the destination of his letter or received the hundred guineas paid for it. Meanwhile, Heron’s chief concern was yet another scheme for the benefit of the mother country and, incidentally, of himself. In the first conversation with De Lancey he had suggested that with a British passport for one of his vessels he might ship goods to Ireland. He aroused suspicion among his neighbors by frequent trips to New York to expedite this business, which nevertheless met with one delay after another.
When nearest success in July 1781, Heron, as a “rebel, ” was captured with his boat by a band of Loyalists, and to save appearances at home, was, at his own request, locked up for a while in the British provost. In all this, Heron seems to have served the British more from self-interest than from zeal for his King. This is further evidenced by the fact that Parsons recommended him to Washington as a spy who had given him most accurate accounts of the numbers of the enemy and best descriptions of their posts. That he was not suspected of his treasonable correspondence is indicated by the fact that he was again elected to the Connecticut Assembly after the war, serving several terms between 1784 and 1796.
Connecticut Assembly
Heron was a man of very large knowledge, and a great share of natural sagacity, united with a sound judgment, but of unmeaning a countenance. In personal appearance he was short, portly, florid, with a deep bass voice and a countenance well calculated to disguise the true sentiments of the owner.
Quotes from others about the person
“He has frequently brought me the most accurate Descriptions of the Posts occupied by the Enemy & more rational Accounts of their Numbers, Strength & Designs than I have been able to obtain in any other Way. ” - Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons
William Heron was married to Mary Heron, who borne him eight children.