Strongs Neck Bridge Selab Strong House
Anna Smith “Nancy” Strong, according to folklore, hung her laundry from her clothesline in a code to direct Woodhull to the correct location where Caleb Brewster was hiding with his whaleboats and crews. A black petticoat was the signal that Brewster was nearby, and the number of handkerchiefs scattered among the other garments on the line showed the meeting place. Anna Smith Strong was alone on Strong's Neck throughout most of the war. Her husband, Selah Strong, was confined in the “Sugar House” prison in 1778 for "Surreptitious correspondence with the enemy." She was able to obtain his release by appealing to her Tory relatives. Selah was still in danger and spent the rest of the war in Connecticut, taking their children with him.
After the war Anna & Selah were reunited and Selah led President Washington's entourage to the Roe Tavern in April of 1790 during Washington’s tour of Long Island. Nancy died in 1812 and Selah in 1815. They are buried in the Smith-Strong family graveyard.. St George's Manor Cemetery
Caleb Brewster was perhaps the most bold and daring of the spies. Brewster’s task throughout the war was to command a fleet of whale boats operating from the Connecticut shore against British and Tory shipping on Long Island Sound. This, together with his knowledge of the Long Island shoreline, and his boyhood association with Tallmadge, made him an ideal choice to carry intelligence back and forth across the Sound. Brewster made numerous trips with his Whaleboat Navy; into Long Island Sound to attack British shipping; and across to Setauket to bring messages back for Major Benjamin Tallmadge to deliver to General Washington.
Looking southwest across Setauket Harbor to the circa 1730 colonial home with its central chimney. The house sits on a rise above the harbor as it flows from the creek that empties into Setauket Harbor.
Austin Roe ran a tavern in East Setauket and used his position as a tavern owner to justify his trips to New York City. While in New York Roe gathered the supplies he needed for the tavern and intelligence to be relayed to General Washington. The spy network in New York coordinated their efforts through Robert Townsend. Townsend, who lived in Oyster Bay, was the principle contact in New York for most of the period between 1779 and 1781. The Culper spy network supplied General Washington with vital information concerning British troop movements, fortifications, and intentions in New York and the surrounding area. Intelligence transmitted by the spies enabled Washington to prevent the British from capturing Newport, Rhode Island, and destroying the newly arrived French army. Roe made the 110-mile round trip often. The road was heavily traveled by British & Tory troops and by highwaymen. Roe would receive information directly from Townsend, usually written in invisible ink and in code. He would ride back to Setauket and pass the information to Woodhull. Woodhull would meet Caleb Brewster and the information would go from Brewster to Tallmadge and then to General Washington. Austin Roe made numerous trips to New York and was never discovered.
On April 22, 1790, President George Washington enjoyed the hospitality of Austin Roe and spent the night. President Washington's room is believed to be the one with the two windows on the left side of the center section of the house. The window over the main entrance is the upstairs hallway leading to the bedroom the president occupied.
.
Culper Spy Ring - Long Island page -3