A Timeline of Important Events Related to Orange County (as currently defined) During the Revolutionary War.
1765
Cadwallader Colden Sr. of Coldenham is acting governor of New York tasked by royal authorities with implementing the Stamp Act. Massive protest to the taxation plan erupts in New York and throughout the American colonies. Colden’s coach is smashed to kindling by a mob. His figure is hanged in effigy.
1775.
The Continental Congress authorizes fortifications to be erected in the Hudson Highlands. Construction is centered in the vicinity of what became known as Fort Montgomery, several miles south of West Point.
Goshen, NY resident Daniel St. John provides intelligence to Col. Zebulon Butler regarding an imminent attack by an army of loyalists intent on taking over the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. St. John reports the loyalists next intend to make themselves as strong as possible, and attack the Continental army along a secondary front from the frontier when British forces arrive on the coast in later months. Butler makes use of this information to crush a superior body of men when they arrive to the Wyoming Valley as warned. This thwarts the plan to create a secondary front from the Pennsylvania frontier during the 1776 Invasion.
Command of American forces devolves to Campbell Hall’s Donald Campbell at the Battle of Quebec after General Richard Montgomery is killed and Col. Benedict Arnold is wounded. Campbell orders a controversial retreat which leads to his dismissal from active military service. The Americans thus fail in their goal to deny British access to Canada.
1776.
Orange County native David Mathews is appointed Mayor of New York City.
George Clinton from New Windsor and Henry Wisner from Goshen are sent to the Continental Congress at Philadelphia as delegates from New York to consider American independence, but return to New York before the Declaration of Independence is signed, ostensibly due to the impending invasion of New York. Wisner operates a crucial gunpowder manufacturing facility outside Goshen.
An estimated two hundred men from the vicinity of Goshen are recruited in the Plot to Assist the 1776 Invasion of New York. Thomas Bull’s brother Richard, and son, Absalom (said to possess a Captain’s commission) are implicated in the conspiracy as is Claudius Smith’s brother Julius. Their plan includes an objective to immediately seize the full length of the Hudson upon arrival of the British warships. The plot is exposed by a secret committee headed by John Jay as well by a local committee at Blooming Grove just before the invasion of New York by British forces takes place. Both David and Fletcher Mathews are charged in the plot. David escapes detention. Fletcher is set free.
Invasion plot conspirator Peter McLean makes his escape from Manhattan to New Jersey via Bulls Ferry which is operated by Absalom and George Bull.
Cadwallader Colden Jr. is arrested at Coldenham on July 4, 1776 after he is suspected to be involved in the invasion assistance plot.
Col. James Clinton is placed in charge of the fortifications in the highlands following his return from the disastrous Battle of Quebec. He is later promoted to General. George Clinton receives a mysterious letter from congressional secretary, John McKesson suggesting that his brother James may be succumbing to the influence of loyalists. Around that same time, which was just after the exposure of the Plot to Assist the British Invasion of New York, George Washington writes to James Clinton seeking to recruit his Little Britain neighbor, Mrs. Thompson as his new housekeeper. Washington makes it known his previous housekeeper had to be let go. (It has long been rumored David Mathews planned to kill George Washington by having someone lace his favorite peas with poison.) Was this a clever way for Washington to ingratiate himself with James Clinton as well as obtain important intelligence on him? Mrs. Thompson was a reliable servant to the commander nevertheless and remained in Washington’s household for the majority of the war.
New York City is invaded as anticipated and occupied by the British military, however British warships are unable to immediately penetrate the Hudson highlands as planned. New York City continues to be occupied for the full duration of the war.
Famed American spy Enoch Crosby goes undercover in Orange County in the neighborhood of Little Britain at the behest of John Jay to disrupt the recruitment of loyalist fighters.
George Campbell of Campbell Hall, brother to Donald Campbell, is commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in the Kings American Regiment, a loyalist provincial unit headed by William Tryon and Edmund Fanning, two of the leading figures within the Plot to Assist Invasion of New York. Campbell is stationed at Bergen Neck in the vicinity of Bulls Ferry during the winter of 1776-1777.
1777.
Lady Mary Johnson and her young children are paroled to Barclay relatives in the vicinity of Coldenham. This was after being held at Albany for months as apparent hostages to prevent Iroquois forces under the control of her husband, Sir John Johnson from creating a secondary front along the New York frontier during the British Invasion. Lady Johnson is assisted in an escape to New York City via Bergen Neck by sleigh. An intelligence report implicates a son of Cadwallader Colden Jr. in the deed. There is some indication he may have borrowed a sleigh from his grandfather, Thomas Ellison to carry out the caper.
Engineering continues in the highlands to obstruct shipping on the Hudson. Multiple Hudson Chains are constructed from locally sourced iron.
Orange County native Nathaniel Sackett is selected by George Washington as his top spymaster until Sackett is replaced by Benjamin Tallmadge under mysterious circumstances.
George Clinton accedes to the first governorship of the State of New York.
Alexander Hamilton becomes dangerously ill in New Windsor. Assistance for him is sought from Dr. John Jones, the preeminent surgeon in America, then taking refuge at the estate of his relative, Fletcher Mathews. Dr. Jones explains he cannot assist because he himself is ill. Dr. Jones makes an attempt to instruct James Clinton to cover the medical treatment of Hamilton on his behalf however it appears Hamilton manages to travel outside the county for needed care instead.
Thomas Goldsmith, an Orange County resident from a family whose estate lies between the estate of Fletcher Mathews and that of Vincent Mathews, acts as a loyalist spy. He claims in Canada after the war that he repeatedly crossed enemy lines at great personal danger to himself to deliver messages for Burgoyne. He also describes revolutionists dismantling his mill for iron to be used for the Hudson chain.
Two loyalist military recruiters of Dutch ancestry Jacob Roosa and Jacob Middagh are captured in the vicinity of Schunnemunk Mountain in Orange County as they made their way to New York. They are considered ringleaders and publicly hanged in Kingston to set an example.
Claudius Smith is incarcerated in Ulster County Jail in Kingston on the charge of stealing oxen belonging to the Continental Army. He apparently escapes jail and is later spotted in the local area during the Battle of Fort Montgomery, where he likely assisted in guiding British forces through the mountains during the sneak attack.
Sir Henry Clinton overtakes the highland forts in the Battle of Fort Montgomery. This ends up being a futile effort to aid Burgoyne at Saratoga as Burgoyne has by then surrendered. Thus the British fail to seize the full length of the Hudson for the second time in as many years. About half the American soldiers in the battle—- the majority being from the local area—- were captured or killed. Large numbers of prisoners are held in New York City in harsh conditions. Some are held for years. Many die in captivity.
Following the burning of Kingston and British withdrawal to New York City, West Point is reconsidered. It becomes the main defensive position in the Hudson Highlands over Forts Clinton and Montgomery several miles to the South.
Spy Daniel Taylor is captured by American forces at New Windsor following the Battle of Fort Montgomery after Taylor becomes confused which camp of General Clinton he entered. He mistook George for Henry. Taylor is subsequently hanged at Hurley.
1778.
Claudius Smith and his sons are captured by a group of Rangers from the north country who are here in the Spring to repair the forts of the Hudson Highlands, however the Smith gang apparently escapes or is released from Goshen Jail.
The Claudius Smith Gang rampages through Orange County in August in a series of terrifying foraging raids against civilians following its apparent involvement in the Wyoming Massacre in Pennsylvania.
Thomas Bull and Fletcher Mathews are jailed in tandem in Goshen under a new New York State law to prevent mischief. This incarceration apparently continues through 1780. They are mysteriously spared from being banished behind British lines and they are also mysteriously spared from attainment. Cadwallader Colden Jr. is similarly detained for significant periods, however he is sent to Kingston jail, not Goshen, and then later is apparently sent behind British lines in New York in 1779. He is not attained and returns to live out his life at Coldenham. All three of these jailed loyalists, whose immediate relatives inflicted great harm to the American cause, return to live on their estates. They retain possession of their slaves. In the case of Thomas Bull, he has a 700 acre park named in his memory, while Fletcher Mathews’ name is erased.
Poughkeepsie Sept’r 16th 1778.
Gentlemen, His Excellency the Governor being informed by the Officer who conducted the last flag, that the Enemy at New York have determined to suffer no more flags to come down by water untill a flag with notice thereof be previously sent in by hand, & their consent for the purpose obtained, supposes the sending down those Persons who refuse to take the Oath is become rather disagreeable to them & that they, therefore, mean to retard this Business as much as possible. He is, therefore, determined for this as well as for other Reasons to detain Messrs. Fletcher Mathews & Thomas Bull for exchange & directed me to inform you of this & to request that you will cause them to be confined in Goal accordingly; where it is his Pleasure they receive similar treatment w’th that of our friends who have been confined in the Provost Goal at New York untill they can effect their Exchange. This letter deliv’d to the Sharif will be a suff’t warr’t to him for receiving the Prisoners into his Custody & confin’g them accordingly. I am &c.
Robt. Benson, P. Secy.
To the Commiss’rs for detect’g Conspiracies &c. Orange County.
The Baylor Massacre in Bergen County, NJ on the New York border is carried out at night against sleeping cavalrymen. It appears to have been part of coordinated foraging operation between British forces in New York City and the Claudius Smith Gang. The cruel slaughter of Baylor’s Dragoons, a unit of light horse from Virginia (tied to George Washington) appears to have cleared the way for stolen livestock collected from the north to be driven down from the Ramapo Mountains through the Hackensack Valley to New York City. A witness describes hundreds of head of livestock passing through the area following the massacre. In a deposition taken afterward quoted in Dr. Thacher’s journal, a Captain Bull is described giving orders to execute the wounded by knocking them on the head. Others have given the name as Captain Bell. A legend of a mass grave associated with the massacre persists for almost 200 years. It is proven true in 1967.
The Smith Gang assassinates Major Strong in his Blooming Grove home at night. Joseph Brant and his band of Mohawk and loyalist fighters make their first raid in the neighborhood of present day Port Jervis nearly at the same time, possibly in an attempt to coordinate with Smith.
Claudius Smith is hunted down and captured on Long Island after a large reward was posted for his capture and the capture of his surviving sons by Gov. George Clinton. Previous to this, Claudius’s son William is shot dead during a gunfight on Schunnemunk mountain, possibly triggering the assassination of Major Strong in retaliation.
1779.
Claudius Smith and members of his gang are tried and executed by hanging at Goshen. In retaliation for this Claudius’ son Richard savagely murders a man named John Clark in Warwick and leaves a menacing note at the crime scene. Later in the year Claudius’ son James is captured and hanged publicly in Goshen with other members of the Smith Gang, diminishing its capacity to terrorize.
George Bull is implicated in the Cole Confession as a Claudius Smith gang member. He is accused of an armed robbery against a man named Ackerman.
Sheriff Isaac NIcoll promotes Henry Wisner’s idea to Gov. George Clinton to send Thomas Bull and Fletcher Mathews away from Goshen jail to a jail in Albany apparently without success. Nicolls calls Mathews, his brother-in-law, an “exceading Bad man.”
Goshen March 5th 1779.
Dear Governor, I Receved your Faver and should with Pleashure a Took the Conducting of the Flag but I have had a Survear Turn of the Reumatism which Renders me not able to Purform the Jurney. I Understand by Mr. Wisenor that Capt. Fletcher Mathews and Thomas Bull are to be Removed to Albany; if so I am Glad, for I Look on Mathews to be an Exceading Bad man and that he is willing to Do all the hurt he Can, and this I am Confident of, that as long as he Stays in Goshen he never will Try for an Exchange Nor his Friends; and his being a Prisoner to me has Rendered the Office more Disagreeable than any thing Else, as he and Famaly are Continually Teasing of me to Shew him Faver, which is Disagreeable to me; one of his Daughtors has Laid at the Point of Death this Some Days, and by a Request of his wife I have Purmitted him to go and See his Daughtor, which I hope you will parden me for. I am Sincear Reguard Your Excellency’s most Obedient Humble S’r
Isaac Nicoll
His Excellency George Clinton
French intellectual Hector St. John DeCrevecour is banished from his Chester farm to New York City due to spying allegations. He is assisted in New York by Mayor David Mathews before finding his way back to Europe. His writing regarding pastoral American life in the local area before the Revolutionary War is well received and makes him world famous.
Many other local families are banished behind British lines due to their loyalist standing in what becomes a great purge of Orange County area loyalists from the land. Margaret Carscadden or “Skaden” of Campbell Hall is given assistance by David Mathews upon arrival to New York City. On March 22nd Mathews writes, “Sr, I beg leave to intercede in behalf of the bearer Mrs. Margaret Skaden an old faithful friend and Pilot to numbers who have made their Escape from the persecutions of the Rebels, But being at last detected in harbouring and conducting some of the Convention Troops into this City she has been obliged to fly here for shelter and leave her little substance behind, I hope she comes within the description of such as are allowed rations for she really deserves much from Government, She has often fed the Refugees and concealed them, It will be doing an act of benevolence if in your power Sr to allow her rations,”
Colonel William Malcolm is described by Dr. Thacher living in “retirement” on a country estate 14 miles west of river at New Windsor, which appears to have be in close proximity of Fletcher Mathews estate at Campbell Hall. It appears likely Malcolm was being called upon to provide surveillance during this so called retirement period. Malcolm had been the temporary commander at West Point the year before and is found engaged in multiple military assignments following Thacher’s notation from his visit. Gov. Clinton notes in 1779 that it was discovered that the Claudius Smith gang intended to plunder and burn Colonel Malcolm’s house as well as that of sheriff Isaac Nicholl.
General James Clinton joins General Sullivan in a brutal military campaign to destroy the crops and villages of Iroquois tribes throughout upstate New York. This is justified by Continental authorities to reduce the threat posed to farmers living along the New York frontier, who have endured numerous massacres to that point brought upon by Iroquois combatants. The campaign creates wide scale catastrophe. Many Iroquois die of starvation or are forced to flee into Canada as refugees, leaving the land desolate.
Joseph Brant makes a second raid in the area of Western Orange County. The Goshen militia is summoned in response and is lured by Brant into a mountain pass. This culminates in the disastrous Battle of Minisink. The Goshen militia is decimated.
New York State passes a law to attain the property of dozens of wealthy loyalists including David Mathews, some members of the Colden Family and Thomas Barclay from the local area.
More than a hundred American soldiers are listed as patients at “Otterkill Hospital” set up at St. David’s Church on Fletcher Mathews’ estate before the hospital is abruptly discontinued months later under mysterious circumstances. It appears likely that the hospital was cut off from supplies due to the exceptionally fierce winter of 1779-1780, perhaps creating a catastrophe.
1780.
Goshen, March 28th 1780
Dear Governor, The bairer Mrs. Mathews is Extreeme Desirous to get hur Husband home as Every thing is a going to Destruction and the Servents have got so bad as they will do nothing but what they Please; if it tis Consistent with your Duty and Law to Purmit it will grately Oblidge the Distrest Fammely and I Dare say she will Gratefully Acknowledge the Same. I am with Respect your Excellency moste Obedient H’m Servente
Isaac Nicoll.
N.B. Capt. Mathews is willing to give any Security for his Peasable and good Behavior.
[To:] His Excellency George Clinton.
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Circa March 1780
Dear Govenor; Sister Mathews has intreated of me to acquaint your Excellency of the misserable and unhappy State that her family is Redused to, in Consequence of her Husband being Confined So Long from Home; the Negroes have got to be ungovernable and, of Consequence, but very Little Labour Done and no Care Taken. They have Lost a Considerable Part of their Stock this winter, only for the want of Care; the family is a gowing to Destruction Head Long in a most Rappid manner and of Course must be Reduced to a very miserable State in a Short Time, If Something Does not Turn up, which may Prevent. She Humbly Begs your Excellency would be Pleased to make His own House his Prison, on Condition of his giving Sufficient Security for his good Behavior, If it be consistent with the Powers of the State, and will work no Injury to them were he Disposed to do mischeaf and has it in his Power. His Confinement at Goshen or Else where, unless it were Close would be more Dangerous than at his own House, for There, he would not have an oppertunity of Seeing Half So many People; if it might be Consistent for your Excellency to make his own House his Prison, it would be Dowing an Infinite Kindness to the Helpless family and would much ablige your moste Obd. & Very Humb. Serv’t.
Jesse Woodhull
[To George Clinton]
Absalom and George Bull defeat a much larger force commanded by Mad Anthony Wayne at the legendary blockhouse battle of Bulls Ferry, NJ. Both brothers are wounded in the fight but survive.
Benedict Arnold commits treason as he tries to surrender West Point to the British. This leads to the hanging of British Major John Andre at Tappen following Andre’s capture. George Bull becomes an assistant to Benedict Arnold post-treason.
Joshua Hett Smith, a native of Orange County and Benedict Arnold’s accomplice in treason (and Gov. George Clinton’s cousin), escapes from Goshen jail and makes his way to the British lines dressed as a woman. He describes being hidden in a home in the vicinity of Goshen in a secret chamber between chimneys (similar to the secret chamber discovered in Fletcher Mathews house during renovations during the 1830’s).
1781.
Food shortages, particularly of flour, give rise to corruption. Surveillance is implemented to crackdown on trading with the enemy on the Hudson.
Washington keeps his headquarters at Thomas Ellison’s home in New Windsor. A legend remains there was a plot thwarted near there to seize Washington and carry him off by boat.
Multiple plots emerge to kidnap Gov. George Clinton and other revolutionist leaders.
A group of American spies attached to Weissenfels Levies goes undercover in the neighborhood of Fletcher Mathews’s estate in search of Claudius Smith’s son Richard and other would-be kidnappers identified in an intelligence report provided by Washington.
James Clinton accompanies George Washington in the secret maneuver to rush south to trap Cornwallis’ army in Virginia. Clinton is at Washington’s side as the British surrender at Yorktown. Also there to witness the surrender is Sarah Mathews Osborn Benjamin, a native of Blooming Grove, NY who accompanies her second husband on the campaign (Her first husband is killed during the war). She later qualifies for a pension in her own name due to the domestic services she provided to the army. She lived to be over a hundred years old and became a celebrity in her new home in Wayne County, PA, however she is left out of early history accounts back home in Orange County. She claimed George Washington once asked her at Yorktown why she wasn’t afraid of flying bullets.
1782.
Washington keeps his headquarters at the Jonathan Hasbrouck house in Newburgh.
A large contingent of the Continental Army encamps in New Windsor awaiting the evacuation of British forces from New York.
Remnants of the Claudius Smith gang attack the Reynolds family living in the Smith’s neighborhood. Teenager Phoebe Reynolds heroically fights off the gang in her home to spare her father’s life.
1783.
General Washington successfully prevails upon his unpaid officers to desist from rebellion during the Newburgh Conspiracy.
General Washington delivers a farewell address at Newburgh laying out his vision for the new republic.
—James Robert Flannery. Copyright 2022, 2023, 2024. All rights reserved.
Wow. So much drama.
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