Claudius Smith

Claudius Smith (1736 – January 22, 1779), the notorious Cowboy Terrorist of the American Revolution was the oldest son of David Smith (1701–1787) – a taylor, cattleman, constable, and finally judge – from Brookhaven, Suffolk, L.I., New York and Meriam [Williams] Carle from Hempstead, Queens, L.I., New York, the daughter of Samuel Williams.

He, along with several members of his family – including three of his four sons: William, Richard, and James – allegedly terrorized the New York countryside during the American Revolution around an area formerly known as Smith's Clove, Orange County, New York where David Smith and his family moved to in and around 1757 from Brookhaven.

Several accounts differ on his size and stature including his 1762 French and Indian War Muster Roll, which had him at 5'9" and his 1778 Wanted Poster, which the then Governor George Clinton of the state of New York had him at close to being 7' tall.

It is obvious from all accounts, though, that Claudius was a Tory and fought in raids along side the Mohawk Indian Chief, Joseph Brandt, which more often than not got him labeled a terrorist, as opposed to a legitimate enemy combatant.

He, surprizingly, killed noone; but when one of his party did kill a one Maj Nathaniel Strong in the Fall of 1778, the Governor became perturbed and put out a "serious" wanted poster for his arrest, which eventually did occur and resulted in his own hanging on January 22, 1779 in the town of Goshen, Orange County, New York, and in the deaths of at least two of his sons: William and James – the later of whom being captured in February of 1779 by a one Abner Thorpe, according to: Knight's New York in the Revolution (1901, Supp.), p. 165 [the Accounts of Governor Clinton].

Richard remained at large at least through 1781, when we see him on a letter addressed to Governor Clinton from Gen George Washington warning him of his eminent kidnapping by the remaining members of the Claudius Smith Gang. (cf. the Library of Congress link, infra).

George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741–1799, Series 3c Varick Transcripts George Washington to George Clinton, August 10, 1781.

WB