Claudius Smith – The legend of the Ramapo
Cowboy.
Claudius Smith was the famous (or infamous?) Tory outlaw
who, with his band of “Cowboys”, terrorized patriot
civilians in the Ramapo Valley and what is now the Monroe area
during the revolutionary war. Smith was born in 1736, the son of
Mariem and David Smith, the founder of Smith’s Clove, which
is now the village of Monroe. Growing up, Claudius was the terror
of the area, stealing pretty much anything he could. Despairing of
his behavior, his mother pronounced that he would one day
“die with his boots on”. As an adult, Claudius served
in the French and Indian War. Later, when many colonialists turned
away from England in the Revolutionary War, Smith remained a
loyalist Tory to the crown. He took part in raids alongside Mohawk
chief Joseph Brant, and would then head his own band of outlaws (or
cowboys, as they were then known as). The crew would include three
of Smith’s sons. The Smith gang would roam the area of the
Ramapo valley stealing horses, cattle, and other supplies meant for
the revolutionary war effort in the Hudson Valley. They would hide
out in the many stony mountains and valleys of the
region.
As with all outlaws, the cowboy’s greed got the
better of them, and they began to rob at gunpoint the homes of
local wealthy landowners. While some portrayed them as “Robin
Hoods”, there is not much evidence that they gave their loot
to the poor. Eventually, the thievery led to murder, when one of
Smith’s men killed patriot major Nathaniel Strong while
plundering his home. In October of 1778, New York Governor George
Clinton issued a reward of $1200 for Smith’s capture. Smith
was soon detained on Long Island (hiding out in British occupied
territory) and returned to Orange County for justice. Smith went to
the gallows on January 22, 1779 in front of a crowd in Goshen
square. Prior to the noose fitting around his neck, he kicked off
his boots, to “make a liar of his
mother”.
Smith’s body laid in Goshen soil for many years. It
is rumored that his skull is now entombed in the stone entrance of
the Goshen courthouse. The gang, without their charismatic leader,
would not continue much longer. One possible plot might have been
the kidnapping of George Washington. One son would follow his
father to the gallows pole, and another would be gunned down. The
remaining son fled to Canada at war’s
end.
So what does this tale have to do with geocaching?
Throughout the 1800’s, descendants of Smith and his other
outlaws would often appear in the area, looking for possible hiding
dens for the gold and other plunder that was alleged to have been
left behind. They had very little luck. The area of what is now
Goosepond Mountain State park was believed to be one of their
hiding spots. Perhaps an intrepid searcher might find one of these
legendary caches?
When you are hanging out with a gang of outlaws, can you
really trust anyone? Wouldn't you want your own personal hiding
spot so you could keep some loot for yourself?
To begin your search, park at the posted coordinates.
There is room for a couple of cars single file. Follow the trail on
level ground, before turning uphill at the recommended coordinates.
The trail is not marked, but can be easily followed. Cache is less
than 100 feet from the trail. Enjoy the hunt!