Claudius Smith appears to generate many stories - which are probably no more far fetched now than they were when he was still alive. Almost every Orange County family seems to have a story. It is very difficult to actually document anything on Claudius. It is not surprising that he left no will. It would not have been valid anyway as all "enemies" of the state had their lands confiscated. There do not appear to be either birth or marriage records. His first wife's name is unproven but one of his later wives is generally believed to be Abigail Rumsey: (The Jean Rumsey, Descendants of Simon Rumsey, and the Bull Genealogy quoted below) Abigail was almost the age of Some of Claudius' children and Jean Rumsey documents a story that Claudius kidnapped Abigail, married her in Oxford Co, and shortly after their return Abigail went back to her family. Several other genealogies including Predmore's Smith of Smith's Clove and the Meta Smith Bush Smith and allied Families and therefore the Hurd, Smith Family History 1648-1779 suggest perhaps Claudius' wife was Jerusha. There is some speculation from unknown members of the Hulse family quoted by Jean Rumsey, and her source Myrtle Edwards, that Claudius' first wife was Harriet Hulse. I have a feeling - but that is all it is - that one was a Coe. Two of Samuel's daughters named a son Coe, for no apparent reason. All sources seem to indicate Claudius was a man of several wives both of the official and common-law variety. His death is documented - most hangings are. The rest is only as good as the storyteller's bias. But here are some of the tidbits I have found with the help of many able genealogists. Some facts are actually documented.

Claudius came to Knight's Mill's in the present town of Monroe with his father "where he grew up, married and had sons...It may safely be stated that the family of Smiths were early settlers in and perhaps gave their name to Smith's Clove. (Smith's Clove was a valley of the Ramapos. It is an area of ponds, streams and mountain gorges. p. 801 " Here were the hiding places of Claudius Smith and his associates") Claudius is described by Eager as "a man of large stature and powerful nerve, of keen penetration; one upon whom nature had bestowed abilities worthy to be exerted in a better cause. He conducted his expeditions with such cautiousness as scarcely to be suspected until in the very execution of them; and if a sudden descent was made upon him, by some bold stroke or wily maneuver he would successfully evade is pursuers and make his escape." Ruttenber says that " he had the credit of doing much that he did not do is no doubt true; murder was not one of his offences though murder was committed; he was a "cow-boy", a stealer of horses and cattle, perhaps of silverware and money, if he could find it and as a thief he was tried and executed at Goshen on the 22nd of January, 1779. His indictment being "for burglary at the house of John Earle; for robbery at the house of Ebenezer Woodhull; for robbery of the dwelling and still-house of William Bell. ... Whatever other sins he may have committed were not charged against him. He had good qualities. It is said that " the poor man found in him a friend ready to share both his meal and his purse, and it is believed that much of what he extracted from the wealthy he bestowed upon the indigent." ...He was hospitable ... He hated meanness..."

At what time he began serving the British is not known. "In July 1777, as a prisoner in Kingston Jail, in company with one John Brown, "charged with stealing oxen belonging to the contingent." from Kingston he was transferred to Goshen, from whence it is said he escaped. In anything like a tangible record, he is next met on his capture at Long Island, in the fall of 1778, and the official narrative ends with his execution. The immediate act which led to his arrest was the murder of Maj. Nathaniel Strong, of Blooming Grove. Immediately...Governor Clinton (Oct 31, 1778) offered a reward for the apprehension of Claudius and his sons Richard and James...He was recognized [on Long Island] and... seized in his bed, and conveyed to Connecticut, where he was placed under guard. By direction of Governor Clinton...Smith was taken through Connecticut to Fishkill Landing...and under guard of Capt. Woodhull's troop of light-horse, taken to Goshen, where he was ironed and placed in jail. His trial was held at the Oyer and Terminer, Jan 13,1779 and his execution followed on the 23rd of the same month...His son James is believed to have been executed at Goshen soon after his father [probably in early summer] ...his son William was shot in the mountains [near Smith's Clove] before his father was executed...Richard, the youngest son of Claudius, with several members of the band, escaped to Nova Scotia after peace was declared..."

(The "History" goes on to detail some colorful accounts of the deeds of Claudius' sons- Richard in particular- in their vow to avenge his death as reported by local papers and from the confession of one of the gang- not exactly unbiased or dependable sources. LH]...There is a note reportedly pinned to the jacket of one of the men Richard's group attacked and killed quoted in "The Fishkill Packet" , Apr 23 1779. "A Warning to the Rebels, - You are hereby warned at your peril to desist from hanging any more friends to government as you did Claudius Smith. You are warned likewise to use James Smith...well, and ease their irons, for we are determined to hang six for one...the blood of Claudius Smith shall be repaid. There are particular companies of us who belong to Col. Butler's army... that are resolved to be avenged on you for your cruelty and murder..."

SOURCE: W. Eager, Esq. "History of Orange County NY" p. 559

... " The people of the state of New York vs Claudius Smith : on indictment and verdict against the prisoner for a burglary at the house of John Earle; on indictment and verdict against the prisoner for a robbery in the dwelling house of Ebenezer Woodhull; ...robbery of the dwelling house of William Bell during the day and a Robbery from the still-house of William Bell in the presence of some of William Bell's family;...

SOURCE: Russel Headley " History of Orange County New York" -LDS film #0934846 p. 87-88

" The jails at Goshen and Kingston were filled with prisoners, but the local Tories continued to be troublesome...The residents of this portion of the country and on down the Ramapos Valley were mostly Tories...Claudius Smith and his sons, who had their headquarters in the Clove, were the boldest and most successful of its Tories. Smith was a large powerful and shrewd man and while he committed many crimes and did many hazardous things, yet for a long time managed to escape capture. In October 1778, Govenor Clinton, enraged at Smith's depredations, offered a reward for his arrest and that of his two sons, Richard and James. Alarmed by this Smith fled to Long Island, and was recognized there, and seized in the night in bed.(Other sources say he was at Smithtown, LI) He was tried for one of his crimes in Goshen in January 1779, and executed on the 22nd of the same month. ... Retribution followed soon on all of Smith's band. His son William was shot in the mountains and his son James was probably executed in Goshen soon after his father...Claudius Smith commenced his depredations in the interest of the British in 1776 and first appeared in public records charged with stealing in 1777. He was confined in Kingston Jail, and transferred to Goshen jail, from which he escaped. He was said to be friend to the poor giving liberally to them of what he stole from the rich" p. 233" Claudius Smith, a notorious outlaw, and his gang of ruffians, who were known as cowboys...Smith was taken captive at Smithtown, L.I. by Major Brush. He was given into the custody of Isaac Nichol, sheriff of Orange county, and on Jan 22, 1779, was publicly executed at the west corner of church park in Goshen..."

SOURCE: Smith Family History 1648-1779 - author unknown. Received from Terry Hurd (edited) ( now believed to be a condensation, partly quoted verbatim of Meta Smith Bush's Smith and Allied Families.)

...Claudius had married Jerusha Rumsey (This comes from the Hurd biography - the Bush one acknowledges it may have been Jerusha but says it is not clear) of Goshen, a descendant of Simon Rumsey formerly of Southold, L. I. In the "Public Papers of Governor George Clinton" are references to Rumneys (also spelled Rumnes) brothers by law to Claudius Smith, David's son... Claudius, was an ardent Tory as were 3 of his 4 sons, Richard, William, James, Claudius' son Samuel was a Whig, thus differing from his Tory father and 3 brothers... Samuel signed the articles of Association in Cornwall in 1775 and appeared as a militia man in the 41 regiment of Orange County Militia under Col. John Hawthorne. (These facts are quoted in Eager's history where the lists are all printed) He is listed for land bounty rights as a member of the 3rd regiment of Orange County Militia...

Joshua Hett Smith of Haverstraw about whom opinions seem to be equally divided as to whether he was the accomplice or the dupe of Arnold in the Arnold-Andre affair, in his book, "An Authentic Narrative of the Causes Which Led to the Death of Maj. Andre" published in London in 1808 writes concerning Orange County. "This was the unhappy state of a district more than 55 miles in extent in one of the oldest and best settled counties in the government where literally brother was against brother and father against son, frequently imbruing their hands in each others blood. All friendly intercourse was at an end, for each was jealous of the other and no one slept safely in his bed. Many families hid themselves at night in barns, wheat ricks, corn cribs and stacks of hay and on each returning day blessed their good fortune that their home had escaped the flames." He says further, "This district (Smith Clove) was celebrated for the attachment of its inhabitants in general to the British interests, who had frequently encouraged and protected parties from New York in their mountainous recesses". On the next page he tells us, "the importance of the passes of the highlands was and probably may be again, the subject of military contemplation. I must be allowed to add that almost all the communications between Canada and New York passed through this place; there being a regular connection of the Kings's friends where they could take their stages during the whole war in the greatest safety"...."The Public Papers of George Clinton," first Governor of the State of New York published in Albany about 1904 offer authentic information regarding the times. Governor Clinton in writing to General Heath says in speaking of communications between Canada and New York (#3959 Vol. VII) "I am not acquainted with the Enemys present channel of Communications but I am led to believe it will be either through the eastern parts of this county & into Westchester and Smith's Clove & so to Elizabeth Town or Paulus Hook on the west side of the River, on either route there are so many disposed to give their Assistance that it is impossible to fix upon Particular Persons."...

This then is the background pictured for us of which David's son Claudius was a part. He had a bold, adventurous spirit and the quality of leadership...It originally was started as a Tory band from a patriotic motive...Claudius' gang first drove off cattle and horses to supply the British, then (at least some of them) fell to stealing for its own sake...

Eager's History of Orange County treats the Smith's harshly, but he did not have access to papers then buried in files at Albany, hence he did not have all the facts to draw upon. It is assumed that Claudius' "band" or "gang" were exclusively deserters or ruffians. Instead, {they were} Tory sympathizers who believed just as firmly in the rule of the King as the Whigs did in the cause of independence, were glad to be a part of the band and to help the Tory cause. People of prominence suffered and lost their liberty and estates for their adherence to the cause of the King...At the close of the war the estate of Fletcher Matthews (a Lawyer whose brother in law was Col. Jesse Woodhull, spent much of the revolution in Jail) was confiscated and so he lost his all for the cause he believed to be right... Another man implicated with Claudius, was Austin Smith. Austin was respected, in 1765 he was overseer of the Road for Woodbury, and later was captain of the Woodbury Clove military Service. When the war broke out his sympathies were Tory so he was succeeded in office by his brother Capt. Francis Smith. Again is a case of a family divided for Capt. Francis Smith's Company became a part of Jesse Woodhull's Regiment...Austin's estate was confiscated... he went to Nova Scotia to start again and there he died...Here with these two men is direct evidence that Claudius had associated with him some men of prominence and good character... Eager's history names the most notorious of Claudius Smith's gang Matthew Dolson, John Ryan and Thomas Delamar (who was not even a part of the group)...

Claudius was captured near his old home, Smithtown by Maj. Jesse Brush who had received word that Claudius was living at the home of a friend there. Bursting into his room one evening with several men, he captured Claudius... He was brought through Connecticut to Fishkill Landing... and finally to the jail at Goshen where he was tried January 13, 1779 and executed Jan. 22 next.

The British evidently did not consider Claudius a common robber. Maj. Jesse Brush had received a reward of 480 pounds for the capture of Claudius. (electronic source: Ancestry, New York Military in the Revolution : notation: 20th Novr. to cash paid Major Jesse Brush for apprehending & securing the Body of Claudius Smith agreeable to my Proclamation founded on the concurrent Resolutions of the Senate and Assembly as pr. Rect. 480:0:0 pounds) Some time later Maj. Brush was captured by the British. It was the custom of the time to exchange prisoners but the British refused to exchange Maj. Brush. His name was struck off the list of prisoners of war and he was instead listed and treated as a common criminal...

Governor Clinton writes to Gen. Heath Sept. 22, 1781 discusses offering someone to the British in exchange and says. (Vol. 7 p. 437) "I had it in contemplation to offer him for a Mr. Brush, an inhabitant of this state who is prisoner with the enemy and has been confined in Dungeon with most rigorous treatment for near two years and this I am the more inclined to do as I have reason to believe this severe treatment is in consequence of his strenuous exertions in our cause, and particular his being the principal in apprehending Claudius Smith, the noted robber."...

It is very evident the British would not have bothered to revenge someone they considered just "a noted robber." It would have to be someone they looked upon with admiration and respect...

Judge Bodle, said that during the trial of Claudius, he conducted himself with firmness and when asked if he had anything to say in his defense, he replied. "No, if God Almighty can't change your hearts, I can not."

Eager gives a word picture of the execution: " Claudius was dressed in a suit of rich broadcloth, with silver buttons and with his large form and manly air presented really a noble appearance. While walking to the place of execution he was observed to gaze intently toward the hills east of the town, to see, as was thought if his comrades were not coming to his rescue, for he had harbored throughout that he should be preserved by some such interposition. None appeared, however, and he ascended the gallows with a firm step. Casting his eyes about he bowed to several whom he knew in the crowd---On the gallows he kicked off his shoes with the observation that his mother had often told him that he would die like a trooper's horse with his shoes on, but that he would give her the lie. When the cart was drawn from under, he swung to and fro perfectly straight, determined as was supposed, to evince no feeling; when senseless he twitched a little. Thus died a man whose abilities if rightly directed would have raised him to eminence and greatness. Notwithstanding his life of infamy. Claudius had some generous qualities; and it is said that the poor man found in him a friend ready to share both his mean and his purse, and it is believed that much of what he abstracted from the wealthy, he bestowed upon the indigent."

Such is Eager's ( Lil's note: a man not inclined to give much credit to Tory folk, however, he did not have access to papers now available) summing up of Claudius. It makes one realize that his ill fame rests principally upon the fact that he was a Tory and because loyalty to the King was the losing side of the war...

A book was published by P Demarest Johnson in 1890 in Middletown, NY and entitled, "Claudius Cowboy of the Ramapos Valley" It seems like a biography but is written in fictional from. It gives Jacobus and Marie as parents of Claudius and his brother as Cobus and sister as Sally. Those statements are so obviously fiction that the tales in the book are credited as fiction only. One tale says that Claudius was encouraged to steal as a youth by his father, and another that David became blind in his old age and would lay around him with a stick striking everyone within reach. In view of the fact that for more than 10 years preceding the Revolution, David Smith held the office of Justice of the Peace, one realizes that the tales are untrue. A dishonest cruel man would not have been continuously reelected to an office which was an especially important one in those days. In pamphlet No. 11 of the Newburgh Historical Society, a writer says in speaking of David; "he was a much better man than some of the critics of his son Claudius would have him appear...

SOURCE: South of the Mountains, Vol 35, Issue 4 October 1991, p.3 "Claudius Smith, Loyalist" by Elizabeth S. Smith

This is in my opinion the best article written on Claudius. The author had acquired bookcases full of information on Claudius and David.(according to George E Smith, who visited her home and corresponded with her during her lifetime) This particular article is a copy of a presentation delivered to the Orange County Genealogical Society in 1987, and originally printed in the OCHS Journal, Nov 1, 1988.

...Was he a Loyalist, devoted to his king, doing all he could to aid the British to subdue the Rebellion, or was he using the war for personal gain? That truth about Claudius is buried in the past…Claudius Smith was the son of David Smith, who came to Orange County in 1747 with Henry Brewster. David purchased Lot #43, containing 276 acres and on Nov 10, 1761, purchased adjoining Lot #34, containing 150 acres, both in the Cheesecock Patent…David Smith died in 1787. His sons had received an education as evidenced by a note written and signed by Claudius Smith (the original is in the Goshen Library) and by the inventories of the estates of David and Julius Smith made by Hophni Smith (the originals are in Goshen Surrogate office). …Contrary to legend Claudius was not seven feet tall. On Apr 14, 1762, Claudius enlisted in Captain James Clinton's Ulster County Militia (James was brother to Governor Clinton-which possibly indicates that the Governor knew Claudius before the Revolution)…Some say his bones were excavated from the Goshen Presbyterian Churchyard and were recognized by their great size. Claudius Smith was not the tallest man on the muster roll. Possibly the bones…were not those of Claudius. 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, father of Claudius. Abigail was not the mother of the four sons of Claudius: Samuel, William, James and Richard. …Claudius Smith and John Brown…were in Kingston jail, charged with stealing oxen belonging to the "continent" when on July 18, 1777, Sheriff Dumont was ordered to remove them to the jail in Orange County from whence they presumably escaped. …According to an indictment against Claudius Smith, during the daytime on Aug 4, 1778, he, 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"; however there is no indication that they actually suffered any bodily harm. A second indictment states that Claudius Smith, Willaim 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 pense, 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 bils 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, but there was no indication of bodily harm being inflicted nor was there any indication of fear of bodily harm. For pursuing Claudius Smith and a party of Tories and robbers expected to come through the mountains from Smith's Clove on Aug 12, 1778, payment was made to Garret Ackerson… On Oct 7, 1778, Henry Brewster and six other men of Blooming Grove, wrote to Governor George Clinton about the robbery of Ebeneezer Woodhull and the murder of Nathanial Strong, asking that someone be put in charge of the militia to pursue and protect the inhabitants from Claudius Smith and his gang, other than Colonel Woodhull, who it was believed, screened the villains from justice. Let me digress here. Ebenezer Woodhull was Captain Woodhull, and his family was the one robbed. Colonel Woodhull was Ebeneezers brother Jesse and the one accused of not pursuing Claudius and his gang. Some writers have confused the two… October 8, 1778 Governor Clinton replied to the letter of Henry Brewster et al "Received..account of the Murder of Major Strong & the robberies committed by Claudius Smith & his confederates…I have..issued orders…Also on the same date Col. Wm Holly sent to the Governor his report as coroner. The deposition of Mrs Woodhull stated that on the 6th "Claudius Smith and a party of armed Men came to hur house about Twelve O'clock, and did Rob hur and wished Hur Husband was at home for he would have him Ded or Alive". This is not anything like the detailed story of the robbery of the Woodhull home written by Belle Howell Gardner, published in the Orange County Press, May 8, 1903. The deposition of Mrs Strong followed Mrs Woodhulls, telling of the broken door, broken window, request that her husband lay down his arms and that he was shot by the party and heard her husband say that it was Claudius Smith. Thirteen men viewed the body, and part of the coroner's report…:"That on the Night of the Sixth of this insta. between one and two oclock as it is made appear to us by the Evidence of the wife of the Deceased, A cumpany of armed men one of them supposed to be Claudeus Smith, broak into the house, fiered hir husband and Killed him; that so and Not other ways the said Nathaniel Strong is came by death".

On October 31,1778, a proclamation was issued offering a reward for the cappture of Claudius Smith and two of his sons…Austen Smith ans Claudius were captured separately on Long Island in November 1778…On Nov 15, 1778 Governor Clinton wrote to Isaac Nicoll telling him how to guard the prisoners…On Nov 20, 1778 Major Brush was paid 480 pounds for apprehending and securing Claudius Smith…

SOURCE:Third annual Report of the STATE HISTORIAN of the State of New York 1897 p. 712 - A muster Roll of the men raised and pass'd muster in the County of Ulster for Captain Clinton's Company 20 June 1762

Claudius Smith April 14 age 26, born L. I., trade laborer, 5'9", Pale complexion, brown eyes, brown hair.

According to this muster roll of provincial troops from Orange County, ca. 1760, Claudius Smith was 5'9"- maybe a little above average for the time, but hardly the "giant stature" of legend.

SOURCE:TALES AND TOWNS OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, Chapter VI "The Scourge of the Ramapos"

"he (Jim Ransom) had spread before me an array of books either about Claudius Smith exclusively or in which Claudius was given more than scant recognition. : ."Claudius, a Story founded on Facts in Southern New York" by P. Demarest Johnston; "Cowboy of the Ramapos" by Marjorie Sherman Greene; "Near on Natures Heart" by Rev. E. P. Roe; "Claudius the Cowboy of the Ramapo Valley" subtitled "A Story of Revolutionary times in Southern New York" by P. Demarest Johnston; "Chronicles of Monroe in Olden Times" by Rev. Daniel Niles Freeland and "Outline History of Orange County" by Samuel W. Eager, Esq. ...

SOURCE: North Jersey Highlander. Vol. IV, No 3, Issue 12, Fall 1968. "The Career of Claudius Smith" Claire K Tholl p 3-7

...He was hanged from a Balm of Gilead Tree standing in what was known as "the Jail Yard" and then buried in the SW corner of what is now the Presbyterian Church Park. This tree which was 13 feet in circumference, remained until 1921 when it was cut down after being struck by lightening... Prior to the completion of the present courthouse in 1842, the Presbyterian church made some alterations in the grade level of the church grounds and "reputedly disclosed the burial place of Claudius Smith". Since his stature was well known, there was little hesitancy in identifying the bones, and tradition says that Smith's skull was claimed as a trophy and stored in the meat market of Col. Little until the new courthouse neared completion. It was then filled with mortar and masoned up in the wall above the main entrance. Another story is that Claudius' wrist bone was made into a knife handle by Goshen's leading blacksmith, Orin Ensign and was in the Ensign families possession many years later... (this is referenced to Land O Goshen then and Now)

SOURCE: The Accounts of Governor Clinton

20th Novr. to Cash Paid Major Jesse Brush for apprehending and securing the body of Claudius Smith agreable to my proclamation founded on the concurrent Resolutions of the Senate and assembly as pr Rect pound 480:0:0

SOURCE: Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, Wm. Nelson ed. V.28, Paterson, NJ, Call printing & Publishing Co, 1916, p 564-5

New-Ark July 5, 1773

Last week was apprehended and committed to jaol in this town, the notorious Claudius Smith, who justly deserves to be rank'd among the first of his profession in this country. He has long practised, 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 gaoler, end to escape. He appears as different characters and passes by as 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, mark'd 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

SOURCE: Newburgh in the Revolution, Albert Gedney Barratt, p20

This is one more document that tells of the trip from Long Island to Goshen. I have included this because the transport had to be made at some point. Fishkill, was the main supply depot for the northern division of the Continental Army, and, here, the Dutch Reformed Church was used as a military prison. This is probably what happened. Sheriff Isaac Nicoll and his party, accompanied by Woodhull's Light guard under Major Zachary Dubois, arrived from Fishkill Landing and stopped with the Tory bandit, Claudius Smith, late in the year of 1778. Wolvert Ecker on horseback headed a procession of many prominent citizens of the county, who acted as escort to the Sheriff and his prisoner from Newburgh to the jail at Goshen where Smith was executed for hanging on Jan 23 1779