There is conflicting data on this woman. She was either Abigail or Jerusha Rumsey.
Descendants Jean Rumsey, Meta Smith Bush, and Elizabeth S. Smith believe that she was the second wife, not the mother of his children.
SOURCE: South of the Mountains, Vol 35, Issue 4, October 1991, p.3 “Claudius Smith, Loyalist” by Elizabeth S. Smith. Also in 1762, Claudius married Abigail Rumsey, daughter of Simon Rumsey, 11, and Phoebe Rose. (This is referenced to a letter of Fletcher Matthews dated December 1762, Scrapbook No 4, Goshen Library and Historical Society, Goshen.)Abigail was a younger sister of Jerusha Rumsey, who is supposed to have married David, the father of Claudius. Abigail was not the mother of Claudius’s four sons: Samuel, William, James, and Richard.
From: Elizabeth Kruse: I have two sources of conflicting data on Jerusha married to David Smith, b. 5 April 1707 in Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY, d. 1787. They had five children, including Claudius, who is listed as being married to his aunt Abigail. I also have info from Jean Rumsey that states Jerusha was married to “the famous black sheep of the Revolution, Claudius Smith, who was hanged in Goshen Square.” She lists three references: V. E. Shelford – Rumsey Family of Orange County, NY; NY Historical Society Vol. 28:429; and Calendar of NY Wills – Fernow – p.320. Jean Rumsey states, “It is not known what became of Abigail. There is no other mention or record of her that has been found.”
It is not clear whether Abigail really was Claudius’ wife but it is popularly assumed. In the “Public Papers of Governor George Clinton,” there are references to Rumney’s (also spelled Rumney’s) brothers-in-law to Claudius Smith.
SOURCE: George Washington to George Clinton, August 10, 1781: The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.–vol. 22 Head Quarters, Dobbs’s ferry, August 10, 1781.
Dear Sir: An anxiety for your Excellency’s safety induces me to transmit a report I lately received from New York, though it may not in have a sufficient foundation, still, caution on the subject may not be improper.
I am informed that George Harden, James Kilty, one Bice of Dutchess County and a fourth person whose name is not noted, are promised a very considerable reward if they will seize your person and conduct you to New York. The places to which these fellows resort, (together with Richard Smith (son of Claudius Smith) and Isaac Sissio, a Molatto, who are both traversing the Country are at Patrick McDonalds above the High Lands, Galloway’s son in law to Austin Smith, at Fletcher Matthews’s and his fathers, at Coleman’s Uncle to Richard Smith; and at the Rumneys one or both whom are brothers by Law to Claudius Smith
SOURCE: Jeanie Killick
“William Bull and Sarah Wells Family of Orange County, New York”, Emma McWhorter, Dolly Booth, Philip Seaman, T. Emmett Henderson, Publisher. Pages 189-190 speak of PHINEAS RUMSEY, who was “Capt. of the Blooming Grove company of militia at the outbreak of the Revolution.” Also, “His most notorious Tory relation was his sister ABIGAL’s RUMSEY husband, CLAUDIUS SMITH, leader of a guerrilla band of Tories and disinfectants based in the Highlands, commonly called the “cowboys”, who terrorized the Whig population of Orange Co., for several years. No doubt supported by the British to sap colonial strength and morale, the force degenerated into a band of outlaws seeking personal gain and settling personal animosities. Smith was finally captured and hanged at Goshen, 22 Jan 1779.”
SOURCE: JEAN RUMSEY: “The Descendants of Simon Rumsey…”
It had long been thought that Jerusha Rumsey was the wife of the notorious Tory, Claudius Smith, but Mrs. Myrtle Edwards has concluded that Jerusha was his stepmother and sister-in-law instead. There is some evidence (which I have not seen) that Claudius had Rumsey brothers-in-law, which has led to the belief that his wife was Jerusha Rumsey and that she was omitted from her father’s will due to his notorious reputation. However, she became his stepmother instead, after marrying his father, David, while Claudius likely married Abigail Rumsey, one of her younger sisters. JME, (Myrtle Edwards) has worked on this problem for many years, so I am inclined to accept her version, though I do not have access to such proof as she has found. In 1986, she sent me a photo of “Tool house on Rumsey Farm in East DivisionGoshen in which Claudius Smith locked the Rumsey family when he took off with their daughter and went to Oxford, where he married her in 1762. Located in the Back of the House. Myrtle Edwards”
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