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DEDICATION OF NYS ROADSIDE MARKER FOR CAPTAIN AUSTIN ROE

Capt. Austin Roe (March 2, 1748 - Nov. 28, 1830) was a member of the Culper Spy Ring, a successful spy network during the American War of Independence that was organized in 1778 by General George Washington.  Capt. Roe served the spy ring as a courier, secretly relaying its message beginning in early 1779. He claimed to be conducting business as a merchant in order to avoid suspicion and pass through British checkpoints. He would travel over 1,000 miles on horseback performing his missions during the war. He has therefore been called the Paul Revere of Long Island. His family and he moved from Setauket and settled in Patchogue, running an inn known as Hart's Tavern.