January 22

This Day in History

Also on This Day

Lead Story
Ted Kaczynski pleads guilty to bombings, 1998
American Revolution
Claudius Smith, "Cowboy of the Ramapos,"hangs, 1779
Automotive
"Gran Torino" opens Down Under, 2009
Civil War
Rebel General John McCausland dies, 1927
Cold War
Reagan links arms talks with Soviets to oppression in Poland, 1982
Crime
Roe v. Wade, 1973
Disaster
Plane crashes at Nigerian airport, 1973
General Interest
British colonists reach New Zealand, 1840
Queen Victoria dies, 1901
First Russian Revolution begins, 1905
Supreme Court legalizes abortion, 1973
Sakharov arrested in Moscow, 1980
Hollywood
Heath Ledger dies of accidental prescription drug overdose, 2008
Conan O’Brien makes final appearance as “Tonight Show” host, 2010
Literary
George Gordon, Lord Byron, is born, 1788
Music
Final portrait of John and Yoko is on the cover of Rolling Stone, 1981
Old West
Chief Dull Knife makes last fight for freedom, 1879
Presidential
Lyndon Baines Johnson dies in Texas, 1973
Sports
Foreman beats Frazier to win heavyweight title in Jamaica, 1973
Vietnam War
U.S. Joint Chiefs foresee larger U.S. commitment, 1964
Operations Jeb Stuart and Pershing II kick off, 1968
World War I
Bloody Sunday Massacre in Russia, 1905
World War II
Brits and Australians take Tobruk, 1941

American Revolution

Jan 22, 1779:

Claudius Smith, "Cowboy of the Ramapos,"hangs

Previous Day January 22 Calendar Next Day

Famed Tory outlaw Claudius Smith meets his end on the gallows on this day in 1779 in Goshen, New York. In the wake of his death, Patriot civilians hope for relief from guerilla warfare in upstate New York.

Born in Brookhaven, New York, in 1736, Smith moved with his family to Orange County, New York, in 1741. Thought to have fought with Mohawk leader Joseph Brandt as a Tory defender of the crown during the New York campaign of 1777, Smith earned the label "Cowboy of the Ramapos" for his use of guerrilla tactics against Patriot civilians. Smith and his cohorts stole livestock and ambushed travelers on the Orange Turnpike between Canada and New York from the cave now memorialized as "Claudius Smith's Den" in Orange County's Harriman State Park.

Smith managed to escape justice until his gang murdered Patriot Major Nathaniel Strong in the course of a robbery. Patriot Governor George Clinton then issued a warrant for his arrest, offering a $1,200 reward for the capture of Smith, who was described as "7 feet tall" in his wanted poster. Captured on British-controlled Long Island by vigilantes in October, he and other members of his gang, including one of his sons, were returned to Patriot territory and hung near their home turf in Goshen.

Despite his less than savory exploits, Smith earned a reputation as a "robin hood" because he targeted the wealthy but was said to be generous with the poor. Because his mother reputedly warned him that, unless he reformed, he would "die with his boots on," Smith removed his footwear before he was hanged. Two of Smith's three sons belonged to his gang—one was hanged with his father; another took over the gang upon his death.

Legend has it that Claudius Smith's skull was filled with mortar and included in the edifice of the Goshen Court House.

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Previous Day January 22 Calendar Next Day

This Week in History, Jan 22 - Jan 28

Jan 22, 1779
Claudius Smith, "Cowboy of the Ramapos," hangs
Jan 23, 1775
London merchants petition for reconciliation with America
Jan 24, 1781
Light Horse and Swamp Fox raid Georgetown, South Carolina
Jan 25, 1776
First national memorial is ordered by Congress
Jan 26, 1779
Engagement at Burke County Jail
Jan 27, 1785
Georgia incorporates the first state university
Jan 28, 1777
British plan to isolate New England

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