Claudius Smith: Born 1736 in Brookhaven, Long Island
Moved to the Clove in 1747, Claudius Smith was married and had four sons: Samuel, James, William, and Richard.
Enlisted Ulster County Militia under James Clinton, 1762 (French and Indian War)
In 1769, a newspaper advertisement in the New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury offered a fifty-dollar reward for Smith, who had recently escaped from jail after being confined for “debt, theft, and rioting.”
Newark, July 5, 1773
“Last week was apprehended and committed to jail in this town, the notorious Claudius Smith, who justly deserves to be ranked among the first of his profession in this country. He has long practiced, with impunity, the crime of horse stealing; and although he has been frequently apprehended, and the fact fully proved on him, yet he has always found out some method (after being committed) to elude the vigilance of the jailer, and to escape. He appears as different characters and passes by many different names. Since his commitment here, by a dexterity peculiar to himself he has taken off his irons four times, which were put on by a smith, who took every precaution to prevent him pulling them off: This is mentioned that, in future when he shall be apprehended, no dependence may be placed on irons that are put on him. He had in his custody a brown mare, marked with the letter A on the left shoulder, which he says he stole at Bound Brook; a quantity of homespun linen, two pewter dishes, and some other trifles; they are now in the custody of the gaoler. Whoever owns them may have them, on proving this property and paying the charges” – The New-York Gazette, No 1125, July 19, 1773
Captured once again in 1777 and imprisoned in Kingston, New York, for “stealing oxen (Escaped).
Aug 4, 1778, Claudius, James Smith, and Richard Smith forcibly entered the house of William Bell… According to this indictment, William Bell …(and family) were in “bodily fear and danger of their lives”
Claudius Smith, William Smith, Richard Smith and James Smith burglarized the house of John Earle in the Precinct of Cornwall only four days later on August 8 at about one o’clock at night of twenty copper pence, one silver stock clasp, one man’s saddle, one bridle, fifteen yards of mixed colored homespun cloth, one man’s brown colored broadcloth coat, one black velvet vest, one velvet breeches, divers bills of credit, one piece of Spanish coined silver of the Kingdom of Portugal and six silver spoons. This indictment alleged that force and arms were used during the robbery. Still, there was no indication of bodily harm being inflicted, nor was there any indication of fear of bodily harm.
On October 6, 1778, Claudius Smith and the Cowboys raided the home of local militia captain Ebenezer Woodhull while he was away in Clarkstown, New York. The following day, Abigail Woodhull testified to the Orange County Coroner that Smith and a party of six men came to her home, robbed her, and said that they wished Ebenezer were at home, for they would “have him Dead or Alive.”
October 31, 1778 (see below) pursuant to a motion of the assembly, issued a proclamation offering a reward of $1200.00 for the apprehension of Claudius Smith, and $600.00 for each of his sons, Richard and James Smith…”
On Nov. 6, 1778, they went to his house and fired at him in his bedroom, through the window, which, though without any shutter, was curtained, and fired without effect. The major’s pistols, although loaded, were useless at the moment because their priming was covered with paper. Promising that his life should be spared if no opposition was made to their ingress, they broke into his house and through the locked door of his private room, and shot him dead upon the spot.
Mrs. Strong recalled to the coroner that around 1 a.m., the gang knocked on the door and broke the windows. When Major Strong asked who was at the door, Smith replied, “A friend,” and ordered Strong to put down his gun and open the door. When Nathaniel complied and stepped outside, he was shot. Before he died, Strong named Claudius Smith as his killer.
The raid of the Woodhull residence and the murder of Nathaniel Strong by Claudius Smith and the Cowboys created a panic in the region. The following morning, a group of seven local Whigs wrote to Governor of New York George Clinton with a summary of the gang’s crimes. They, too, articulated the paranoia of Orange County citizens:
“In short, we have not thought ourselves secure for a long time. We live so scattered that they can come in the dead of night to any one family & do what they please.”
On November 11, 1778, the Cowboys ransacked Ringwood Manor, the home of local outspoken patriot and ironmaster, Robert Erskine, who was away serving as the Geographer and Surveyor General of the Continental Army. While no one was killed in the raid, the gang stole several hundred dollars’ worth of possessions and threatened to kidnap several of Ringwood’s residents “in His Majesty’s name”
On Nov 20, 1778, Major Brush was paid 480 pounds for apprehending and securing Claudius Smith…
In 1779, things began to get hot for Smith and his cohorts. Local civilians and militia units stationed in the area banded together, went into the Ramapos, and slowly tracked down the guerrillas. In one of the fights, Claudius’ son William was shot. Smith left the mountains and travelled to Brookhaven, L.I., where he hid out at the house of a friend who had Tory leanings.
Captured
Word was received of his whereabouts by a local major in the militia. Jesse Brush, who with a group of enlisted men, went to Brookhaven and captured Smith on January 13, 1779. He was taken to Goshen, the county seat of Orange County, and was tried and executed on January 22, 1779.
On January 13, 1779, the local court sentenced him to hang for his crimes of “burglary at the house of John Earle; robbery at the house of Ebenezer Woodhull,” and “for robbery of the dwelling and still-house of William Bell.” Sheriff Nicoll expressed his feelings about Smith’s sentence to Governor Clinton four days later: “As to Claudius Smith and James Gordon, I shall take pleasure in seeing them executed.” Smith was hanged on January 22, 1779.
On the morning of January 22, 1779, the roads were crowded with people on foot, on horseback, and in all kinds of wagons, heading for Goshen and the big public hanging. Claudius Smith and five of his band of outlaws were to pay the ultimate penalty for their crimes that day.
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