I was thumbing through a local guide book this weekend, waiting for inspiration to strike and help me pick a fun activity to do with the family, when I came across a reference to the "infamous outlaw, Claudius Smith" in Orange County, NY. Infamous? Really? I'd never heard of him and I'd never seen a reference to him before in any of the many books on local history I have the misfortune to own. Sounds like maybe someone history has forgotten about and I resolved to make him the next, Behind the Curtain profile. Turns out, he was the pretty fierce leader of a band of robbers during the Revolutionary War and a pretty interesting sounding guy, although I'm glad I never met him on a dark road in Orange County. Click Extended Entry below for the rest of it.
1
Neat! I love these Behind the Curtains posts.
This guy was quite the character. I wonder how accurately he is portrayed. If he was a true Crown Loyalist his activities take on an almost honorable tone, at least for his time. If, as conjectured, he was a simple opportunist he was immensely loathsome.
With all of the crap coming out of Hollywood these days you'd think they could just open up a history book or two and find some gems like this. Smith is a ready to write blockbuster.
Posted by: Jim at January 11, 2005 10:43 AM (tyQ8y)
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Splendid! What a character!!! Never heard of him either, thanks for writing about him.
Posted by: Mick at January 11, 2005 10:52 AM (VhRca)
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If you're interested in New Jersey history, you should definitely do a search on Amazon for Henry Charlton Beck. They can get his books used very reasonably. Beck does cover this fellow and a great deal else. For a time, New Jersey was sort of the California of the colonies and the early US, since it seems to have been a place where misfits went who were unhappy in other colonies/states, so you had various kinds of social innovation taking place there. Beck is very good on this kind of stuff.
Posted by: John Bruce at January 11, 2005 02:22 PM (t28xF)
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Claudius is a GGGG for me. He has long fascinated me - most of our relations are not as controversial. I have done a lot of research on Claudius and would be happy to share. I have far more information collected than I have analysed. Nearly every family in the immediate area was somehow affected and most have included their experiences in their family tales. How accurate these stories are is questionable - suffice it to say there are too many to assume Claudius a sterling character. I believe, as does this author, it seems, that he was at best an opportunist. Please feel free to contact me.
Posted by: Lil heselton at February 07, 2005 02:26 AM (yVXTt)
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My father's name was Claudis Smith. My Grandfather's name was Claudis Smith. His Grandfather was named William Claudis Smith. See a pattern? I am trying to find William Claudis's ancestors. When I "googled" him, it asked me if I meant "Claudius" and when I told it "yes", then I learned all about Claudius Smith and his misdeeds. I don't yet know if I'm his decendent or not. I don't see a parent naming their child (William C. was born 1781) after someone so imfamous unless it was a family name, and maybe that's why they dropped the "u"? Well, anyway, your research was wonderful. Thank you so much for educating me.
Posted by: Kristal at August 12, 2005 01:58 PM (/Jsts)
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