ISAAC
SMITH
Coram
Patriot
Isaac Smith was
born sometime in 1750. He was one of two children. His
brother's name was Joshua. His father's name was also
Isaac.
The Smith home
was the Old Hotel/ Tavern, which was located near the
intersection of Middle Country Road and Patchogue Port
Jeff Road (now route 112). According to family tradition,
during the Revolution, the British occupied the home and
converted part of it into a stable for their horses. At
the rear of their property (now the Home Depot parking
lot) the British stored hay that they were collecting for
use by the British Calvary. In 1780 American forces
crossed the Long Island Sound and burned the British hay.
All three
Smiths were loyal to the American cause. Isaac's brother
and father were engaged in whaleboat raids on the British
during their occupation of Long Island. One time the
British caught Isaac's father. He escaped by dressing up
as a woman and he walked right out. After this he was
given the nickname "Petticoat" Smith.
Isaac Smith
joined the American Army in March of 1776. He served in
the company commanded by Captain Daniel Griffin. Col.
Henry Livingston commanded his regiment in the brigade
commanded by General James Clinton in the 3rd regiment of
the New York line of the Army or the Revolution.
While with the
Army he marched to the East End of Long Island and
remained there until the surrender of Long Island to the
British. After that they went to Shelter Island and
helped transport patriots and their belongings to
Connecticut.
With Long
Island in British hands the company moved to Saybrook
Connecticut and later to New Haven Connecticut.
On one trip to
Long Island, with the help of Rhode Island troops, they
had a brief skirmish with the British in Setauket and
caught a tory leader by the name of Jacob Smith. They
also captured 23 of his men. They took them prisoner and
brought them to Connecticut when they returned.
The company
than marched to Fishkill in upstate New York. After they
left Fishkill they marched to Fort Montgomery. Isaac
Smith remained there for the remainder of his service.
Isaac Smith was discharged from the American Army at this
fort.
In 1818 at the
age of 68 Isaac applied for a pension. In the letter he
stated,"I am unable by means to support my family
and myself and am in such indilligent surcumstances am
absolutely in much need of the aid, cooperation, and
assistance of my country". On October 25, 1819 he
received a pension but on July 19, 1820 it was
discontinued. After the pension was discontinued the
70-year-old Isaac smith stated that he needed the pension
because he was poor.
At the time of
his pension application he claimed to own 200 acres of
thin sandy land in the town of Brookhaven and a mortgage
to Hannah Woodhull for 800.00, which he claimed, equaled
his property value. He stated that his personal
belongings were 1 cow, 1 heifer, 2 old horses, 1 wagon,
1plow, 1barrow, 1 axe, 1 spade, 1 rake, 1 old chain, 1
pot, and 1 tea kettle. Also the amount due from said
Isaac Smith to several, featuring by all that above
mentioned to Hannah Woodhull is $40.00.
Isaac Smith
married Sarah Rockwell of Connecticut. They had a total
of six children. They had five sons and one daughter. The
name of one of his sons is not known. His other four sons
were named John, Laphaeth, Isaac, and Thomas. His
daughter's name was Loruina.
Click here to see copy of pension
application
Written by,
Chris Knight
Longwood Middle School
December, 2000