ESPY has Smith hanged for murder; Delmar and Gordon for housebreaking. Hearn lists their convictions as: Smith, high treason; Delmar, burglary, and Gordon, horse stealing.

Web information on Claudius Smith is extensive; the only web mention of the latter two is in the ESPY file.

Claudius Smith led a band of British Loyalists who conducted guerrila war on Revolutionaries and their sympathizers in northern NJ and southern NYS. A cave reputed to have been used by him and his gang is a hiking trail attraction in Harriman State Park.

Smith and a gang member "Brown," arrested for stealing oxen from the Revolutionary Army, were jailed in Goshen on July 18, 1777 by Orange County Sheriff Dumont. But later the gang seized the sheriff and broke Smith and Brown out of jail.

The Tory gang's exploits terrorized Ramapo Valley residents who supported the Revolution. Smith raiders waylaid Gen. Washington's couriers and plundered Patriot farms. On Oct. 6, 1778, during an attack on one such farmhouse, its owner, Revolutionary Major Nathaniel Strong was killed. That Oct. 31, Gov. Clinton issued proclamation offering a large reward for the capture of Smith.

Claudius fled to Long Island but was caught and eventually transported back to Orange County where Sheriff Isaac Nicoll took custody. Smith was placed in heavy irons. Several extra guards were assigned just to keep watch on him and to prevent his escaping again from the Goshen jail. Claudius was tried and convicted on Jan. 13, 1779. He was publicly executed Jan. 22 in Goshen. In due course, stories involving his dramatic activities evolved into legend, For more, visit:

• North Jersey Highlands Historical Society's "Claudius Smith - Cowboy of the Ramapos & Tory Loyalist."
• NY-NJ-CT Botany Online's "Claudius Smith's Den."
• The Claudius Smith Den photos of the nonprofit The Outdoors Club, Inc, a mostly hiking group.

During the summer of 1779, two British loyalists, Lieutenant Henry Hare and a Sergent William Newbury, were captured as having led Seneca tribe warriors for attacks in then Tryon County. General Clinton had them tried by court martial as spies and hanged at Canajoharie. For more, visit:

• Schoharie County NYGenWeb Site's Ch. X og History of Schoharie County by Jeptha R. Simms.

On April 21, two white convicted horse thieves James Farrell and John Hodges, both 25, were hanged at Poughkeepsie. For more details, see Hearn Page 22. †

On May 12, two white convicted horse thieves Hendrick Rush and Joseph Hodges were executed at Albany. See Hearn, Page 22. †

On June 2, a burglar William Hallenbeck, white, was executed at Albany. See Page 22, Hearn. †

Major Andre was taken by two American officers from the stone house in Tappan where he had been confined. He was walked between them to the gallows nearby. He declared "I detest the mode!" When things were ready, Andre stepped into a wagon. It was moved into position under the gallows. His last words were "Bear me witness that I meet my fate like a brave man." The wagon was immediately moved from under him. His body was placed in a coffin, dressed in his regimentals, and buried at the foot of the gallows. See Library of Congress' "The Unfortunate Death of Major Andre" by William Hamilton.

But, whereas Arnold betrayed fellow Americans for money and to advance his career with the British, Andre was simply a brave British officer who took on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines as part of his sworn service to his own country.

The night of Sept.21, Andre had come came ashore from the British sloop "Vulture," anchored in the Hudson River below West Point. He met with Arnold from whom he received secret documents. But during the night, eager West Point troops fired upon the Vulture without waiting on Arnold's command to do so. The ship moved out of range and out of reach for Andre's return.

Dressed as an American solder, Andre attempted to get through American-held territory to a British-controlled area but encountered a trio of American volunteers in British uniforms. When the British major tried to order them to let him pass, they revealed their true identity, captured and searched him, whereupon they found Arnold's papers in Andre's boot.

André sent a plea to Washington, not asking that his life to be spared, but rather that he be shot ("a gentleman’s death") rather than hanged, an ignominious death. Washington communicated to British Gen. Henry Clinton that he would trade André for Arnold so Arnold could be hanged "instead," but absent such an exchange, Andre would be hanged as a spy.

In 1821 Andre's body was disinterred and reburied in the Heroes Corner of Westminster Abbey. For more, visit:

• The Ballad of Major Andre
• Westminster Abbey monument to Major André

On Oct. 27, 1780, John McMullen and Jacob Schell, white, British spies, were executed at Albany. See Page 22, Hearn. †

On April 21, Abraham Ackerly, John Vermillon and Henry Weeks, white, British spies, were hanged at Poughkeepsie. Hearn, Page 22. †

When the war began, Bettys, aka Beattys, lived in Ballston, Saratoga County, N.Y., and became a sergeant in Col. Wynkoop's regiment. In the Summer of 1776 he was assigned to a Lake Champlain fleet under Gen. Arnold's command. During the October 1776 engagement with British fleet under Sir Guy Carleton, Bettys fought with such great skill and bravery that Arnold's seond in command, Gen. Waterbury made him his chief aide. Despite spirited resistance, Bettys was among several Americans captured and taken as POWs to Canada. While there he "turned" and became a spy to the Crown.

When caught spying, Bettys was tried and condemned to be hanged but Gen. George Washington pardoned him in response to pleas by the family and others who cited his heroism before his imprisonment as a POW in Canada. However, soon after release, he reneged on a promise to stop his Loyalist activity and instead he returned to serving the British, robbing and kidnapping or killing Patriot rebels.in the Albany region.

In the winter of 1781-82, three Ballston residents (Cory, Perkins, and Fulmer) recognized and captured him in their town's vicinity before he was able to destroy a coded message he had been carrying for delivery to British forces in New York City. He was taken to Albany, where he was tried, convicted, and executed as a spy and traitor. For more, visit:

• Chapter VII William L. Stone's "Life of Joseph Brant and the Indian Wars of the American Revolution" Volume II, 1851, on the web site of Fort Klock Historic Restoration & Indian Castle Church.

According to Hearn (Page 22), Thomas Lovelace, one of Beattys' raiders, was hanged with him in Albany on April 1, 1782. The Lovelace/Loveless Family and Genealogical Research reports Thomas Lovelace left New York and went to Canada where he helped form a company of anti-patriot raiders. He returned with them "to abduct, plunder and betray his former neighbors in Saratoga, Schnectady, and Albany Counties." He is reported to have robbed General Schuyler's house and attempted to carry off Col. Van Vechten. For more, visit:

• Wendy Loveless' Lovelace/Loveless Family and Genealogical Research.

On June 6, Canfield, a deserter, spy and marauder, was hanged at Saratoga. More details, Hearn Page 23. †

In the summer of 1782, two soldiers Porter and Tench were executed in Brooklyn for the murder of a civilian. More details, Hearn Page 23. †

Tunis Casey was hanged for murder.*

Daniel Moore was hanged for robbery.*

Francis Higgins was hanged for robbery. Hearn on Page 24 dates and places the execution as April 29 in NYC and adds the name of another felon also hanged the same date and place and for the same kind of crime, Henry Blake.† *

Barbara Stillwell, white, was hanged for murder. Hearn dates and places the execution as June 22 in NYC for murder -- the fatal neglect and abuse of a Tory couple's 3-year-old son entrusted to her care. For more deails, see Hearn, Page 24. † *

William Flannagin was hanged for housebreaking/burglary. Hearn on Page 24 dates and places execution as Oct. 15 in NYC.† *

Joseph Alexander and William Gutherie, burglars/robbers, white, were executed in Jamaica, Queens Nov.2. For more deails, see Hearn, Page 24. †