Today in History: January 22, 1779 On January 22, 1779, notorious Tory outlaw Claudius Smith, who had plundered and terrorized the people of New York during the Revolutionary War, was executed on a makeshift gallows in Goshen, New York. Since his mother had long suspected he’d meet such an end and “die with his boots on”, he supposedly kicked off … Continue reading This Day in History: January 22nd- Hanging Claudius