Smithtown, A History: Revolutionary Times

During the Revolutionary War, from 1776 to 1783, Smithtown was under British occupation. Residents suffered poverty, destruction and the loss of property and loved ones at the hands of British soldiers and loyalists.

Smithtown historian Bradley Harris said one-third of Long Islanders were loyalists, one-third patriots and one-third neutral. Most loyalists were found in Nassau, and the majority of those who were neutral were Quakers. According to the historian, Suffolk County is where you found the majority of patriots.

As for one’s alliance, Harris said, “Where you were on Long Island made a difference.”

After the Battle of Long Island in 1776, the British occupied the island including Smithtown. According to Harris, residents’ homes were raided by soldiers and loyalists. There were also threats to their lives if they didn’t pledge their allegiance to the King of England.

Smithtown’s Ruth Blydenburgh, a widow, was not intimidated. Harris said when soldiers came to her tavern demanding food and drink; she told them not to bother a poor widow and sent them to the tavern of Epenetus Smith.

While Smith may have served them that day, he too was a patriot. He circulated a log asking Smithtown residents to note what the soldiers and loyalists stole from them with the intent of being reimbursed one day. According to the historian, items such as hay, Indian corn, wheat as well as supper plates, cut glasses and petticoats were listed.

A devout patriot was Caleb Smith I, whose house still stands today at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve. Smith refused to give up his money and silver to the British and buried it on his property. Harris said soldiers and loyalists chased Smith around Willow Pond, slashed him with hickory gads, destroyed his furniture and abused his family, but he would not give up.

Today a door is displayed at the park’s museum that Smith used to shield himself from his enemy’s cutlass. The mark left on the door by the weapon is still visible today.

Zephaniah Platt of the Fort Salonga area provided a hideout for whaleboat raiders. According to Harris, the raiders would place cannons on whaleboats and go out on the water to attack the British. In the end of 1777, the British burned the hidden whaleboats and sent Platt, who was over 70 years old, to a prison ship in New York City. Platt was rescued by his daughter but died a few days later.

The name Fort Salonga comes from the British Fort Slongo that once stood there. In October of 1781 General George Washington decided an attack on the fort was needed to delay a British assault on New York City. The fort was burned down and twenty British soldiers were captured.

As for Washington, he never slept in Smithtown. However, according to Harris, he did stop in our town in 1790 during a Presidential visit. Washington was on his way back from Setauket and stopped at Widow Blydenburgh’s to rest and feed his horses.

While his visit to Smithtown was a short one, Washington was in a town where many remained dedicated patriots despite adversity during the war. These patriots are still remembered today.