Claudius Smith: Bandit's Arsenal Traditional Cache
Claudius Smith: Bandit's Arsenal
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A cache hidden within Goosepond Mt State Park, NYS Office of Parks and Recreation permit number 10-16.
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 fitted 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?
This was my favorite discovery of our explorations. My cacher name is Goex and most people need to look it up to figure out what it means.
As any outlaw highwayman would know you have to keep your powder dry or you are as good as dead. For a roving pack of criminals 230 years ago extra pistols were not enough to stay ahead of the law. A ready supply of dry powder, patches, flints and ball ammo were also essential for pillaging the countryside and terrorizing innocent civilians.
This cache is placed in the hiding spot that the gang used to keep their arsenal bone dry. Ironically enough it is an ammo can.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
haqre n ose
Treasures
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