Episode 163: Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum with Mark Sternberg

The Long Island History Project

Today we dive back into a discussion of the Culper Spy Ring, turning our attention to the area of Port Jefferson or, more appropriately, it's original incarnation of Drowned Meadow. The village of Port Jefferson is opening the Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum inside the 18th century home of Culper ring member Phillips Roe.

Mark Sternberg, the museum's Culper Spy Ring Historian, walks us through the focus of the museum, the background of Roe, and the deeper context of the Culper Spy ring in the Setauket area. For instance, Mark's recent article in New York State Archives magazine lays out documentary evidence on the activities of Selah Strong in regards to the Revolution and spying. You'll also hear about Mount Misery, Old Man's, petticoats, and the late, lamented AMC series Turn: Washington's Spies.

Further Research

• Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum on Instagram
• "Records Reveal an Overlooked Hero of the Culper Spy Ring" (NYS Archives magazine)
• Books mentioned on this episode (via WorldCat)
• Founders Online (National Archives)
• Spy Letters of the American Revolution (Clements Library)
• George Washington and the Culper Spy Ring (Stony Brook University Libraries)
• "Mary Silliman's War: A Convincing Social Portrait"
• Audio Footnotes
  • Past podcast episodes on the Culper Spy Ring