American Rite of the Templar Order

2017-08-06T02:56:15Z

108.31.74.115: Grammar and spelling errors.

{{Era|AC3|ACRG|ACLD|Templars}}{{Revamp}}{{Dialogue|Ratonhnhaké:ton|What is it the Templars truly seek?|Haytham Kenway|Order. Purpose. Direction. No more than that.|Ratonhnhaké:ton and Haytham Kenway, discussing the Colonial Templars' goals, 1778.|Assassin's Creed III}}
{{Faction Infobox
|image = ACIII-BraddockExpedition 3.png
|founder = [[Haytham Kenway]]
|leader = [[Grand Master]]
|headquarters = [[Fort George]], [[New York City]]
|locations = [[United States|Thirteen Colonies]]
|related = [[Templars]]<br>[[British Empire]]<br>[[Assassins]] <small>(1777 – 1778)</small> <br>[[Confederate States]]<br>United States<br>[[Abstergo Industries]]
|religion =
|formed = 1755
|collapsed = 1782
|reorganized = c. 1790s
|notable = [[Shay Cormac]]<br>Haytham Kenway<br>[[Charles Lee]]<br>[[Cudgel Cormac|"Cudgel" Cormac]]<br>[[William M. Tweed]]<br>[[Henry Ford]]<br>[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]<br>[[Daniel Cross]]<br>[[Warren Vidic]]<br>[[American Grand Master]]}}
The '''Colonial Rite of the Templar Order''' was, prior to the [[American Revolutionary War]], one of a number of autonomous factions in operation during the mid-18th century that constituted the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. [[Haytham Kenway]] officially founded, and became the first [[Grand Master]] of the Colonial Rite in 1754, in order to find a suspected [[Grand Temple|Precursor storehouse]], on instruction of the Templar Grand Master of the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[British Rite of the Templar Order|Rite]], [[Reginald Birch]].

The Colonial Rite played a significant role in guiding the course of the American Revolution, with an aim to usurp control of the newly forming nation. However, the Templars' plans were ultimately disrupted by the reformed [[Colonial Brotherhood of Assassins|Colonial Assassins]], and in particular, the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ratonhnhaké:ton]].

Following the creation of the [[United States]], the Rite reorganized itself into the '''American Rite of the Templar Order'''. In 1794, it operated during the {{Wiki|Northwest Indian War}}. By 1863, the rite was led by Grand Master [[William M. Tweed]] and was trying to influence the outcome of the [[American Civil War]].

==History==
===Pre-formation===
====A New World====
In 1398, the Scottish Templar Knight, [[James Gunn]], was was said to have been part of {{Wiki|Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney|Henry Sinclair}}'s expedition to the New World. The expedition was believed to have reached {{Wiki|Nova Scotia}} and [[Massachusetts]]<ref name="ACRG">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref>

====Age of Discovery====

By 1503, the Templars started expanding their reach towards the New World.<ref name="Contracts">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' - [[Contracts (Project Legacy)|Contracts]]</ref>
In 1521, the [[Spanish Rite of the Templar Order|Spanish Templar]]-influenced explorer [[Juan Ponce de León]] journeyed to [[Florida]] to obtain the [[Fountain of Youth]]. However the Assassins in Florida stopped Ponce de León, by sending [[Miguel Ramón Carlo de Lugo]] to convince him to abandon his quest and turn back. When Ponce de León refused, the Assassins struck him with a poisoned arrow, ending the search and later resulted in his death.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Discover Your Legacy]]''</ref>

====Salem Witch Trials====
In 1692, once the Templars [[Samuel Parris]] and [[William Stoughton]] arrived in [[Salem]], there they started a [[Salem witch trials|witch hunt]] for a [[Pieces of Eden|precursor artifact]]. Having discovered that the [[Assassins]] [[Tom Stoddard]] and [[Jennifer Querry]] had come to Salem to hunt for the precursor artifact, Stoughton used Salem townsfolk to hunt and kill the Assassins, an idea that Parris objected. They eventually caught up to the Assassins in a swamp and Stoughton let the injured Querry go so that they could follow her to Stoddard and the seer [[Dorothy Osborne|Dorothy]]'s location. Stoddard, thinking that Jennifer was a traitor, attacked her. Stoughton took this opportunity to assault Stoddard and tied the trio up.<ref name="ACTbF">''[[Assassin's Creed (Titan Comics)|Assassin's Creed]] – [[Assassin's Creed Volume 1: Trial by Fire|Trial by Fire]]''</ref>

Stoughton tortured the Assassins for information and threatened to hurt the mute boy [[David (Salem)|David]], secretly Querry's son. Querry offered to give them information when [[Consus]] once again possessed Dorothy, Querry took upon the opportunity to kill a guard and free Stoddard when Stoughton shot her dead. Then Stoddard then tried to free Dorothy and David when Stoughton shot him in the arm. However, after Stoughton revealed that he was going to experiment on the captured women to replicate the precursor oracle, Dorothy killed herself. Then Stoughton threatened to kill Stoddard when Samuel Parris interfered and shot Stoughton in both shoulders. Parris turned his pistol on Stoddard, declaring that he'll leave no witnesses to this horror. However, the Assassin was able to convince him to stand down and asked that he honor Osborne's death. Parris then gave Stoddard the keys to the cells so he would take the accused women and the mute boy named David to freedom, and reminded that not all Templars should be judged the same while declaring to Stoughton that their mission in Salem done.<ref name="ACTbF" />

====Search for Isu Temples====
In 1738, Grand Master Reginald Birch named British Templar [[Lawrence Washington]] Master Templar of the British colonies in the New World, and tasked him with locating [[Temples|Precursor sites]] and other [[Isu|First Civilization]] relics. Once in the New World, Washington recruited a number of members into the Order, such as [[Samuel Smith]] and [[William Johnson]], and also made contact with the famed explorer [[Christopher Gist]].<ref name="ACRG">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref>

Around this time, Gist got acquainted with [[Jack Weeks]], a young [[Thieves|thief]] who was trying to pickpocket him. Gist was impressed by the kid's audacious attitude and hired him as an errand boy.<ref name="ACRG" />

In 1750, Birch sent the Templar agent [[George Monro]] to assist Washington in his search for the Temple. Additionally, Gist introduced Weeks to Monro, who agreed to hire him as his assistant. Eventually, seeing the skills of the man, Monro taught Weeks about the Templar Order and in 1751 he oficially [[Initiation into the Templar Order|inducted]] him and Gist.<ref name="ACRG" />

[[File: By Invitation Only 6.png|thumb|left|250px|Templar reunion at Mount Vernon]] That same year, after the [[1751 Port-au-Prince earthquake|earthquake]] of [[Port-au-Prince]], the Templars took two relics from the [[Haitian Assassins]], a [[Precursor boxes|Precursor box]] and the [[Voynich manuscript]]. In 1752, in his plantation at [[Mount Vernon]], Washington passed the two artifacts to Samuel Smith and [[James Wardrop]], before being killed by the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Shay Cormac]].<ref name="ACRG" />

Afterwards, Wardrop took over as the ''de facto'' head of the Templars in the colonies, while Smith traveled to [[Europe]] in order to find a scientist who could make the box work. In 1754, following his return to America, Smith was killed by Shay Cormac, who claimed the box for the Assassins. That same year, during the [[Albany Congress]], the Templar William Johnson came in contact with [[Benjamin Franklin]] to see if the scientist could make the artifacts work, however, Shay Cormac killed Wardrop before he could pass the manuscript over to Johnson and recovered the artifact.<ref name="ACRG" />

===Founding===
[[File: ACIII-WtB 1.png|thumb|right|250px|Haytham Kenway, founder of the Colonial Rite, meeting Charles Lee]] In April 1754, British Templar Haytham Kenway acquired a [[Grand Temple Key|mysterious key]] when killing [[Miko]], the leader of the [[British Brotherhood of Assassins|British Assassins]]. After further examination, the Templars concluded it was the key to a [[Grand Temple|Precursor site]] and Reginald Birch sent Haytham to the colonies to find the site. In August, Haytham arrived in [[Boston]], and was greeted by [[Charles Lee]], a hopeful man wishing to join the Templar Order. With Charles' help, Haytham sought to gather four Templars that Reginald Birch had arranged for Haytham to recruit to his quest: William Johnson, [[Thomas Hickey]], surgeon [[Benjamin Church]], and the British captain [[John Pitcairn]].<ref name="AC3" />

Meeting Johnson in the [[Green Dragon Tavern]], Haytham learned that the Assassin had stolen Johnson's research on the native tribes. With Charles and Thomas Hickey, Johnson's assistant and Templar, Haytham reclaimed the chest with Johnson's research. Now with his papers, Johnson concluded that the symbols on the Grand Temple key were from a tribe known as the [[Kanien'kehá:ka]], and that they would need their aid to find the Temple. Haytham and Charles searched for Benjamin Church, but discovered that he had been abducted by [[Silas Thatcher]], a cruel British officer who demanded protection money. Fortunately, Haytham and Charles managed to save him from Silas' assistant, [[Cutter]].<ref name="AC3" />

Later, Haytham and Charles tried to recruit John Pitcairn, but British General [[Edward Braddock]], a former Templar and brother-in-arms of Haytham, refused to let Pitcairn leave the [[British Army]], believing he was a desertor. Some time after, Haytham and Charles attacked the guards who were escorting Pitcairn and freed him. Learning that Thatcher had a group of Kanien'kehá:ka slaves, Haytham and his brothers decided to infiltrate [[Southgate Fort]] as British soldiers and free the natives in exchange for the location of the Grand Temple.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

[[File: ACIII-InfiltratingSouthgate 5.png|thumb|left|250px|The Templars infiltrating the Southgate's fort]] The Templars stole a slave carriage where a native woman, [[Kaniehtí:io]], was prisoner. Arriving in the fort, the young woman fled the carriage to free the natives. The Templars and Kaniehtí:io succeded in liberating the slaves, which created a fight between the guards and the prisoners. During the battle, Church shot Thatcher in the head. When the natives left the fort, Kaniehtí:io smiled to Haytham as sign of gratitude.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

In 1755, Haytham and Charles searched for Kaniehtí:io in the [[Frontier]]. When they found her, the woman tried to ran away but Haytham managed to caught her. The Templar explained her why he needed her help but Kaniehtí:io refused, before Haytham tried to prove that he could be trust. Haytham promised to help the natives stop the British expeditions into their territory. During their investigation, they discoverd that with the outbreak of the [[French and Indian War]], the British Government had arranged for Edward Braddock to lead an [[Braddock Expedition|expedition]] to the French-controlled [[Fort Duquesne]].

In July, the combined assault of Haytham's Rite and the Kanien'kehá:ka tribes, together with a timely assault by the [[French Army]], led to the destruction of the expedition, and the presumed death of Edward Braddock at Haytham's hands. True to her word, Kaniehtí:io led Haytham to the Precursor site, though the latter was disappointed to find little more than a cave.<ref name="AC3" />

[[File: ACIII-BraddockExpedition 18.png|thumb|right|250px|Charles Lee officially joins the Templar Order]] Later, Haytham returned to the Green Dragon, and explained to his brothers that the Kanien'kehá:ka cave had led to nothing. He decided to officially establish the Colonial Rite of Templar Order with him as the Grand Master, and inducted Charles Lee into their ranks. The Templars would continue to search the Temple and helped the unification of the Colonies by aiding the British Crown against the French.<ref name="AC3" />

===Purge of the Colonial Assassins===
In 1756, Monro's men saved Shay Cormac, who was left for dead after he betrayed the Assassin Brotherhood. On Shay, Monro found the Voynich manuscript. Understanding his allegiance, Monro sent the Assassin to [[Barry Finnegan|Barry]] and [[Cassidy Finnegan]], a couple who had a son in the Templar Order, to recover from his wounds. Later, the Finnegans where attacked by an Assassin-allied [[Gangs|gang]]. Monro wanted to attack their headquarter but Shay, who had recovered, arrived first and killed their leader.

[[File: Keep Your Friends Close 7.png|thumb|left|250px|Christopher Gist and George Monro with the former Assassin Shay Cormac]] Seeing the potential of Shay, Monro convinced him to work for him without revealing he was a Templar. Shay agreed to help the colonel to rebuild the [[New York City|city]]. Later, Gist was captured by the same gang who attacked the Finnegans. Monro send Shay to save Gist in [[Fort Arsenal]]. Gist safe, Shay reclaimed the fort but also the [[Morrigan]], his ship when he was an Assassin and made Gist his quartermaster. Afterward, Shay, Gist and Monro navigated through the [[River Valley]] to attack a French fort who disrupting the colonel operation. Shay infiltrated the fort and met [[Le Chasseur]], an Assassin ally, who was surprised to see Shay still alive. For prevent le Chasseur to reveal it, Shay was forced to kill him. In his last moment, le Chasseur revealed that the Assassins planned to poison the officials of New York City. Shay returned to the city to stop his former allies. With Monro, he planned to destroy the gas factory of the Assassin. After the explosion, Shay was joined by Monro, Gist, William Johnson, and Jack Weeks. Surprised, Shay understood he had help his former enemies, but kept his thoughts to himself.<ref name="ACRG" />

In 1757, George Monro was assigned to [[Fort William Henry]] which was threatened by the French. So, Monro send the Voynich manuscript to Shay to keep it safe and revealed his allegiance. Shay decided to save the colonel with Gist and Weeks. After the Siege of Fort William Henry, the British troops were authorized by [[Louis-Joseph de Montcalm]] to leave the fort but were attacked by the [[Abenaki]] led by the Assassin [[Kesegowaase]]. Shay arrived to save Monro but was recognized by Kesegowaase. During their escape, Shay wounded the Assassin with an explosion which let scars on his face.

[[File: Scars 10.png|thumb|right|250px|Monro giving his ring to Shay]] Later, Monro learned that Kesegowaase prepared an attack on [[Albany]]. The colonel decided to prepare the defense of the city and send Shay helped the [[Oneida]], a native tribe allied to the British troops, who were attacked by Kesegowaase's men. On November, Shay arrived to Albany when the Assassins attacked the city. In the fort, Shay gave the Voynich manuscript to Monro. Kesegowaase arrived but was kill by Shay with a [[Puckle gun]]. At the same time Monro was mortally wounded by the Assassin and Shay's former best friend [[Liam O'Brien]] who took the manuscript. Shay arrived in the burning house to save the colonel but it was too late. With his last breath, Monro passed his [[Templar ring]] to Shay, trusting him to continue his work.<ref name="ACRG" />

In 1758, Shay was officially inducted in the Templar Order by Haytham Kenway who was returned from Europe. Learning of Assassins activities near Louisbourg, Shay, Gist and Haytham joined the captain [[James Cook]] on the [[HMS Pembroke]]. The captain informed them that a British fleet would attack the fort. Concerned about the defense of the fort, the Templars decided to help the British, with Shay commanding the Pembroke. During the [[Siege of Louisbourg|battle]], the [[Experto Crede]], the ship of [[Adéwalé]], a [[West Indies Brotherhood of Assassins|Caribbean Assassin]], helped the French Navy. The Assassin ship fled the battle but the Templars decided to destroy the fireships and were later joined by the British Navy. With the British victory, the Templars could focus on the Colonial Assassins. Later, Shay, Gist and Haytham found Adéwalé and after a battleship between the Morrigan and the Experto Crede, the Assassin beached his ship to escape from his ennemies. Haytham decided to serve as a diversion thereby Shay could kill Adéwalé. With the death of Adéwalé, the Assassins lost their moral.<ref name="ACRG" />

By 1759, the Assassin [[Mentor]] [[Achilles Davenport]], Liam O'Brien, [[Hope Jensen]] and le [[Louis-Joseph Gaultier, Chevalier de la Vérendrye|Chevalier de la Vérendrye]] met in New York to use the Voynich manuscript and the Precursor box to find another Temple. Shay eavesdropped their conversation and informed Haytham and Weeks about the Assassins plan. With the help of Weeks, Shay impersonated gang member and turned the British guards against the Assassins which led to the attack of [[Hope Jensen's mansion]]. On the roof, Shay saw Liam leave with the box and the manuscript but Hope shot on the window where Shay was spying. With Shay on the ground, Hope tried to poison him with gases but the Templar left the mansion. Hope, seeing that, threw a poison knife on Shay and Shay was forced to kill her to take the antidote. In her last moment she gave the information that Chevalier had the artifacts.<ref name="ACRG" />

In 1760, with the help of James Cook, Shay found the location of de la Vérendrye in the North Atlantic and aborded his ship, the [[Gerfaut]]. After a duel, Shay defeated Chevalier but discovered that the Assassin served as a diversion to give enough time to Achilles and Liam to reach the Temple. In his anger, Shay threw the Assassin in the cold water.

[[File:Non_Nobis_Domine_9.png|thumb|left|250px|Shay and Haytham confronting Achilles and Liam in the Arctic Temple]] Tracking the remaining two Assassins to a First Civilization [[Temples|Temple]] in the [[Arctic Temple|Arctic]], Shay and Haytham infiltrated the Assassins camp and arrived in the artefact room at the same time as Achilles and Liam. Achilles understood that Shay was right about the the Seismic Temples and forbid Liam to touch the object. Shay and Liam argued and Liam tried to shoot Shay, but Achilles interrupted him which cause the fall of the artifact and the collapse of the Temple. During their escape Liam revealed he had the manuscript but that Chevalier hid the box. Shay managed to reach his Liam to fight him but the ice platform collapsed and the two former friends fell in a waterfall. Shay survived but Liam died from the height. Recovering the manuscript, Shay joined Haytham who had follow Achilles and bested the Mentor in a sword fight. While Haytham wanted to execute him Shay demanded to spare his life to let the Assassins knew the Precursor sites are dangerous. Achilles agreed, but as a mean of insurance, Haytham crippled him with a shot to the leg. Later on the Morrigan, Haytham tasked Shay to find the Precursor box while the other Templars eradicated the last Assassins.<ref name="ACRG" />

[[File: ACIII-HideandSeek 7.png|thumb|right|250px|Lee strangling the future Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton]]
In November 1760, a group of Templars led by Lee assaulted a young Kanien'kehá:ka boy named Ratonhnhaké:ton, who unbeknownst to them was the son of Haytham and Kaniehtí:io. They asked him for the location of his village, so that they could speak to the natives about the Grand Temple; stubbornly, the boy told them nothing, and was knocked out. Although the village was burned down by [[George Washington]], Ratonhnhaké:ton believed Lee and his cohorts were responsible.<ref name="AC3" />

Finally giving up their search for the Grand Temple, the Templars focused on strengthening their influence in the colonies. In 1763, the Colonial Rite launched an attack on the [[Davenport Homestead]], which served as a base of operations for the remaining Colonial Assassins. Killing those who remained, the Templars once again spared Achilles' life when he agreed to cease all Assassin activities in the colonies.<ref name="AC3" />

===Revolutionary War===
After the end of the French Indian War, Britain was in debt and directly taxed the [[United States|Thirteen Colonies]]. But with the accumulation of the taxes and the lack of representation in Parliament, a revolutionary fever begun to grip the British Colonies. The Templars attempted to influence both sides, in order to achieve a less violent independence of the Colonies and to create a Templar state. Johnson traded with the natives to protect them. Pitcairn, who became Major, was known as a peace keeper and was respected by Boston citizens. Church joined the [[Sons of Liberty]], a [[Patriots|Patriot]] group that collected information, but he also betrayed them and the Templars by communicating with the British forces. Unknown to the Templars, however, the Colonial Assassins had begun to rebuild; Ratonhnhaké:ton, the illegitimate son of Haytham Kenway, had begun his training with Achilles Davenport.

[[File: ACIII-TriptoBoston 13.png|thumb|left|250px|Lee triggering the Boston Massacre]] Then on 5 March 1770, in Boston, after the Private Hugh White wounded Edward Garrick, a crowd mobbed around the [[Old State House]] to reclaim justice. Haytham sent one of his associates to shoot on the soldiers and cause an outbreak of fighting, but Ratonhnhaké:ton killed him before he could complete his mission. As a back up plan, Charles Lee shot into the air. The British soldiers, believing it was the crowd, opened fire on the mob, killing five people and leaving many wounded. This [[Boston Massacre|event]] increased the anger of the people against the British Crown. Six months later, Church inducted in the Templar Order a junior officer of the British Navy: [[Nicholas Biddle]].<ref name="AC3" />

In 1773, Templar ships began to attack the [[Nantucket]]'s coasts as British ships to made the region unstable. The same year, William Johnson sought to purchase land from the [[Iroquois]] to protect them if the colonists wanted take their territory. To finance his project, Johnson smuggled tea in Boston, which was more expensive after the [[Tea Act]] and also extorted the citizens of Boston with tax collectors. But Ratonhnhaké:ton, with the help of [[Stephane Chapheau]] and the Sons of Liberty, foiled his plan and threw his tea in Boston Harbor during the [[Boston Tea Party|Tea Party]]. Six months later, Johnson gathered the money to purchase the Iroquois land but during the meeting with natives, Ratonhnhaké:ton killed him.<ref name="AC3" />

In 1775, the former slave and [[Louisiana Rite of the Templar Order|Louisiana Templar]] [[George Davidson]] abandoned the Patriot cause to serve in [[John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore|Lord Dunmore]]'s {{Wiki|Ethiopian Regiment}} and reunited with {{Wiki|Colonel Tye|Titus Cornelius}} to fight together against their former masters once he was informed that Lord John Murray Dunmore, Governor of [[Virginia (state)|Virginia]], had issued a proclamation offering freedom to any slave who would join the Loyalist forces.<ref name="AC3L">[[Assassin's Creed III: Liberation]]</ref>

In April 1775, John Pitcairn hoped to end the budding Revolutionary War before it truly begun. With a British Army, the Templar went to [[Lexington]] to arrest [[Samuel Adams]] and [[John Hancock]] and negociated with them. But the meeting of the British Army and the Patriots turned in a [[Battles of Lexington and Concord|armed conflict]]. In Concord, Pitcairn retreated after his troops suffered heavy lost by the milita commanded by Ratonhnhaké:ton. With the began of the Siege of Boston by the Patriots, the war was declared.<ref name="AC3" />

With the creation of the [[Continental Army]], Templars placed many men in the rebel side. Charles Lee, who wanted to become the Commander-in-Chief, was made the second-in-command as George Washington was elected as the Commander of the Continental Army. Church became the Surgeon General, Hickey a private guard of Washington and Biddle a captain of the [[Continental Navy]]. During the [[Battle of Bunker Hill]], Pitcairn tried to negociated the peace but was killed by Ratonhnhaké:ton who believed he wanted to assassinate Adams and Hancock. At the end of the year, Church was arrested for intelligence with the British and expulsed from the Templar Order.<ref name="AC3" />

[[File: ACIII-Publicexecution 7.png|thumb|right|250px|Lee about to execute Ratonhnhaké:ton]] The Templars wanted to kill Washington thereby Lee could take his charge. Haytham tasked Thomas Hickey to accomplice the mission. In June 1776, Ratonhnhaké:ton tried to kill him in New York but was arrested with his target for forgery, as Hichey trafficked false money in the city. Send in [[Bridewell Prison]], Hickey and Lee managed to charge the prison director's murder on Ratonhnhaké:ton and also the conspiration of assassinated Washington. The next day, Lee put the Assassin on scaffold but Haytham, who had understood Ratonhnhaké:ton was his son, threw a knife on the rope. With the panic, Hickey tried to kill Washington but was assassinated by Ratonhnhaké:ton.<ref name="AC3" />

During the year, the Templars continued to attack the Nantucket with British ships to force the [[Continental Congress]] to give more ships to Biddle. With his ship the [[USS Randolph]], Biddle was tasked to escort [[La Belladonna]] to supply the Continental Army but he send Templar ships attacked La Belladonna. Ratonhnhaké:ton defended the ship with the Aquila and killed the Templar Admiral. At the end of the year, Lee was captured by the British Army and gave information on the Continental Army to weak Washington's position as commander. During the suprise attack of Trenton, the German colonel and Templar Johann Rall was killed by Assassins.<ref name="AC3" />

In the winter of 1777, Officer George Davidson operated in a [[Forts|fort]] located in the [[New York]] [[Frontier]]. However his collaboration with the "[[Madeleine de L'Isle|Company Man]]" attracted the attention of Assassin [[Aveline de Grandpré]], and the Assassin [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]] who helped her seeking a Templar called "Officer Davidson". While Davidson and a few of his men was in the watchtower of the fort, Aveline infiltrated the fort and Connor created distractions against Davidson's reinforcements.<ref name="AC3L" />

When confronted by Aveline, who questioned Davidson's allegiances. Davidson replied that his freedom had been guaranteed by the Loyalists in return for his service. They subsequently engaged Aveline in battle until an sudden explosion set off by Connor could be heard. Following this, Davidson to locked Aveline inside the watchtower and attempted to escape the fort in a [[Wagon|gunpowder carriage]] until fired at one of the barrels inside Davidson's carriage as he rode by, mortally wounding the Templar in the process. Davidson revealed her step-mother, Madeleine de L'Isle, was the "Company Man" before passing away.<ref name="AC3L" />

[[File: Missing Supplies 3.png|thumb|left|250px|Family reunion]] In 1778, Benjamin Church was liberated and stole Continental Army supplies. Ratonhnhaké:ton was charged by Washington to find the stock and met his father, who wanted to kill Church for his treason. After an argument where Haytham exposed the true goals of the Templars to his son, the two decided to ally their force to kill Church. The two went to New York but it was only a trap. Church had flown to the [[Martinique]]. With the Aquila, Ratonhnhaké:ton and Haytham aboard the [[Welcome]] and killed Church. Later, Ratonhnhaké:ton aboarded the Randolph and defeated Biddle. He let the captain sank with his ship.<ref name="AC3" />

Continuing their alliance, Haytham and Ratonhnhaké:ton learned that the British would attack from New York. Haytham wanted to informed Lee but his son decided to reveal this information to Washington. Arrived in [[Valley Forge]], to show Washington's true face, Haytham revealed that Washington burned Ratonhnhaké:ton's village eighteen years before. Washington also ordered a new attack on Kanatahséton, due to his suspicions of them allying with the British. Ratonhnhaké:ton understood that his father hid this information for a long time, then he decided to cut his ties with Haytham and Washington. Lee informed Kanatahséton of the attack and convinced them to join the British. He also persuaded Ratonhnhaké:ton's friend, [[Kanen'tó:kon]] that the Assassin betrayed his people.<ref name="AC3" />

During the [[Battle of Monmouth]], Lee sabotaged the preparation of the Continental Army but Ratonhnhaké:ton helped the soldier to retreat. Afterward Lee was judged as a traitor and was suspended from duty.<ref name="AC3" />

In July 1778, during the Battle of Wyoming, the Continental officer and Templar [[George Dorrance]] who displaced several iroquois village was killed by the Assassins.<ref name="AC3" />

In August 1780, the major general and Templar [[Johann de Kalb]] was kill by the Assassins during the Battle of Cadmen.<ref name="AC3" />

[[File: ACIII-Laststand 18.png|thumb|226x226px|The Grand Master being killed by his own son]] In September 1781, Ratonhnhaké:ton, seeking out Charles Lee, who was in [[Fort George]] in [[New York]]. The Assassin infiltrated the Fort during the bombing raid by French ships but was hurted by an explosion. Ratonhnhaké:ton confronted his father, who let Lee flew with the Grand Temple Key. After a brutal fight, the Templar Grand Master forced his son to kill him, and Charles Lee rose to hold the position in his stead.<ref name="AC3" />

At least three months later, in 1782, a funeral was held for Kenway and presided over by Charles Lee, but it was interrupted with the arrival of Ratonhnhaké:ton. Charles had the Assassin detained, before making preparations to travel to Boston. Eventually, the Assassin caught up with Lee once more, and after a rugged pursuit, tracked the man down, killed him at the [[Last Drink]] Inn in [[Monmouth]], and took the Grand Temple Key. Lee's death marked the collapse of the Colonial Rite, and the end of Templar influence in [[North America]], for a time.<ref name="AC3" />

At some point [[Edmund Judge]] joined the Templar Order. By 1784, Edmund had left his Templar mores, living and working by his own rules to the day he was killed by Aveline de Grandpré with the help of [[Patience Gibbs]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – ''[[Aveline (DLC)|Aveline]]''</ref>

In August 1785, the Governor of [[Connecticut]] and Templar Jonathan Trumbull was killed by Assassins.<ref name="AC3" />

The [[Coyote Man]] was a Native American who allied himself with the Templars and was responsible for the death of one of the Mentors of the Assassin Order at some point during the 18th century.<ref name="AC3" />

===Northwest Indian War===
In 1794 during the Northwest Indian War, the American Rite was contacted by [[Frederick Weatherall]], who sent appeals asking them to support the overthrown [[De la Serre family]] against [[François-Thomas Germain]] and his extremists. Though they lent their sympathies, they offered no support, as the [[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order|Parisian Rite]] ran smoothly, making [[Élise de la Serre]]'s request for support of marginal interest. It was also likely Germain had contacted them and convinced them that overthrowing the De la Serre family was necessary.<ref>[[Assassin's Creed: Unity (novel)]]</ref>

===American Civil War===
{{Main|American Civil War}}

===Modern times===
In 1952, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] were investigating [[Jack Parsons]] for selling state secrets to the [[Communism|Communists]]. A group of FBI agents, alongside a woman from [[Abstergo Industries]], came to confront his colleague [[Thomas Sean Morgan]] in [[Pasadena]] for information on his true activities.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' – [[DATA-DUMP S00.S02]]</ref>

In 1983, Abstergo Industries orphaned and kidnapped a young boy, who they brought to their [[Philadelphia]] facility. Where [[Warren Vidic]] began to experiment on Subject 4 of the [[Animus Project]], a young boy who would later be named "[[Daniel Cross]]." Placing Daniel in the Animus to relive the memories of [[Nikolai Orelov|his ancestor]].<ref name="The Fall">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]''</ref> Using a replicated [[Pieces of Eden|Piece of Eden]],<ref name="ACB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' – [[Rifts]]</ref><ref name="The Fall" /> Warren embedded Daniel with a subconscious impulse to assassinate [[Mentor (2000)|the Mentor]] of the Assassin Order, were he ever presented with the opportunity.<ref name="The Fall" />

In 1986, [[Alan Rikkin]] lead a team of Templar agents to capture members of the [[Lynch family]] to find an [[Aguilar's Apple of Eden|Apple of Eden]] as they had discovered that their bloodline lead to the [[Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins|Spanish Assassin]] [[Aguilar de Nerha]]. When they arrived, Mary was dead, killed by [[Joseph Lynch]] to prevent the Templars from finding it and [[Callum Lynch]] escaped. Joseph was captured while his son ran away.<ref name="ACFilm">''[[Assassin's Creed (film)|Assassin's Creed: The Movie]]''</ref><ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization]]''</ref>

In 2000, an Assassin compound in Texas was located and destroyed by Abstergo during the "[[Great Purge]]".<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' - ''[[Abstergo Files]]''</ref>

Sometime before October 2011,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' – Database: Reconstructed Data #001</ref> in an underground [[Abstergo Industries]] facility beneath {{Wiki|Denver International Airport}}.<ref name="AC - E-mail: Additional">''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' – ''[[Warren Vidic's email]]: Additional Subjects?''</ref> Daniel Cross<ref name="ACI">''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – ''Assignment in Denver''</ref> was the Project Lead on an experiment involving the [[Eye-Abstergo]] satellite, however Daniel fell under the influence of the project's Apple of Eden and killed everyone in the facility before the company's clean-up crew had arrived and the artifact was ultimately destroyed. Dr. Warren Vidic was responsible for preparing the final report of the incident.<ref name="AC - E-mail: Additional"/>

As of 2014, there was a Grand Master operating in the United States. That year, Alan Rikkin sent a memo to Gramática informing him that, if they proceeded with his plan to excavate the [[Observatory]] located in [[Long Bay]], [[Jamaica]] and retrieve the missing [[Blood vials|blood vials]], which Gramática considered to be of critical importance to the [[Phoenix Project]], he would contact the Grand Masters in [[Cuba]], [[Mexico]], and the United States to get a read on the situation.<ref name="ACU database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Database: 10. Reconnaissance Memo|Helix Database: 10. Reconnaissance Memo]]</ref>

In 21 October 2016, Dr. [[Sophia Rikkin]] had Callum's execution staged and brought him to the [[Abstergo Foundation Rehabilitation Center|Abstergo Foundation]]. A Templar run initiative led by Sophia Rikkin in [[Madrid]], [[Spain]].<ref name="ACFilm" />

==Members==
===Colonial Rite of the Templar Order===

<div style="float:left; width:48;">
*[[Nicholas Biddle]]
*[[Benjamin Church]]
*[[Shay Cormac]]
*[[Coyote Man]]
*[[Matthew Davenport]]
*[[George Dorrance]]
*[[Christopher Gist]]
*[[Thomas Hickey]]
*[[William Johnson]]
*[[Edmund Judge]]
*[[Johann de Kalb]]
*[[Haytham Kenway]] (Grand Master; 1754-1781)
</div>
<div style="float:right; width:48%;">
*[[Charles Lee]] (Grand Master; 1781-1782)
*[[Eleanor Mallow]]
*[[Gillian McCarthy]]
*[[George Monro]] {{c|[[British Rite of the Templar Order|British Rite]]}}
*[[Federico Perez]]
*[[John Pitcairn]]
*[[Johann Rall]]
*[[Gerhard von Stantten]]
*[[Jonathan Trumbull]]
*[[Jack Weeks]]
*[[Victor Wolcott]]
</div>
{{-}}

===American Rite of the Templar Order===

<div style="float:left; width:48;">
*[[Nelson W. Aldrich]]
*[[Buzz Aldrin]]
*[[Alice (Templar)|Alice]]
*[[Richard B. Connolly]]
*Shay Cormac
*[[Cudgel Cormac|"Cudgel" Cormac]]
*[[Daniel Cross]]
*[[Henry Pomeroy Davison]]
*[[Thomas Edison]]
*[[Harvey Firestone]]
*[[Henry Ford]]
*[[A. Oakey Hall]]
*[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]
*Edmund Judge
</div>
<div style="float:right; width:48%;">
*[[American Grand Master]] (Grand Master; c. 2014)
*[[John Pierpont Morgan]]
*[[Charles Norton]]
*[[Ransom Eli Olds]]
*[[John Roberts]]
*[[Charles W. Sandford]]
*[[Lucy Stillman]]
*[[Benjamin Strong, Jr.]]
*[[Peter B. Sweeny]]
*[[William M. Tweed]] (Grand Master; c. 1863)
*[[Frank A. Vanderlip]]
*[[Joseph Vidic]]
*[[Warren Vidic]]
*[[Paul Warburg]]
*[[Harry Dexter White]]
</div>
{{-}}

===Allies and puppets ===
====Colonial Rite of the Templar Order====
'''[[Seven Years' War]]'''
*[[David Borgen]]
*[[James Cook]]
*[[Benjamin Franklin]]
*[[Charles Gabriel Sivert]] {{c|[[Parisian Rite of the Templar Order|Parisian Rite]]}}

'''[[American Revolutionary War]]'''
*[[George Davidson]] {{c|[[Louisiana Rite of the Templar Order|Louisiana Rite]]}}
*[[Hugh Jackson]]
*[[John Boyd]]
*"[[Twitch]]"
*[[Ratonhnhaké:ton]] {{c|[[Colonial Brotherhood of Assassins|Colonial Brotherhood]]; 1777–1778}}
*[[Kanen'tó:kon]]

====American Rite of the Templar Order====
'''[[American Civil War]]'''
*[[John Wilkes Booth]]

'''Early 20th Century'''
*[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]

'''Late 20th Century'''
*[[Gerald Ford]]
*[[Henry Kissinger]]
*[[Lee Harvey Oswald]]
*[[Ransom Eli Olds]]
*[[Richard Nixon]]
*[[William Greer]]

'''21st Century'''
*[[Dick Cheney]]
*[[Donald Evans]]
*[[Grace Collins]]
*[[Condoleezza Rice]]
*[[Donald Rumsfeld]]
*[[Antonin Scalia]]
*[[George W. Bush]]
*[[Paul Wolfowitz]]

==Trivia==
*Lesser known Colonial Templars were the targets of assassination contracts accepted by Ratonhnhaké:ton.
*Other lesser known Colonial Templars were the targets of district liberation missions in Boston and New York.
*Barry and Cassidy Finnegan's son was a member of the Colonial Rite.

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: The Fall]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Abstergo Files]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Forsaken]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – ''[[Aveline (Dlc)|Aveline]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed Volume 1: Trial by Fire]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Templars nav}}
{{AC3}}
{{ACRG}}
{{ACM}}
{{ACLD}}
[[Category:Templar Rites]]

Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

American Rite of the Templar Order