Patriot Burials

Written By Dino DiPietro

🪦 Zephaniah Platt – A Patriot Buried in Smithtown Cemetery

  • Identity & Location
    Zephaniah Platt Sr. (c. 1704–1778) is interred at Smithtown Cemetery, located near the intersection of North Country Road (NY-25A) and Judges Lane in Smithtown, NY. [findagrave.com], [hmdb.org]

  • Acts of Patriotism
    During the Revolutionary War, Platt hid rebel whaleboats in his barn—used to harass British naval vessels—at his Sunken Meadow estate. British troops later discovered and destroyed them. [wgpfoundation.org], [en.wikipedia.org], [The Smitht...s mark ...]

  • Arrest and Imprisonment
    In 1776, at around 72 years old, he was captured and sent to a prison ship in New York Harbor. He contracted smallpox onboard. Thanks to efforts by his daughter Dorothea, he was released, but died shortly thereafter on February 27, 1778. [findagrave.com], [The Smitht...s mark ...], [ancestors....search.org]

  • Commemorative Marker
    In 2021 (or dedicated in 2022), the William G. Pomeroy Foundation placed a“Patriot Burials” historic marker at his gravesite. The inscription reads:
    “PATRIOT BURIALS – SMITHTOWN CEMETERY – REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOT ZEPHANIAH PLATT BURIED HERE. IMPRISONED FOR HIDING REBEL WHALEBOATS IN HIS BARN.”
    The marker (No. 895) is visible when traveling south on Route 25A. [wgpfoundation.org], [hmdb.org], [The Smitht...s mark ...] [hmdb.org]

Broader Revolutionary Context in Smithtown

  • Area Under British Occupation
    Long Island—including Smithtown—was occupied by the British following the Battle of Long Island (Aug 1776). Residents suffered raids, property destruction, forced allegiance oaths, and resource confiscation. [patch.com]

  • Notable Patriots

    • Caleb Smith stubbornly refused British demands, hid silver on his property, and resisted aggression—his door, marked by a British cutlass strike, is displayed at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve. [patch.com]

    • Zephaniah Platt, though not a formal soldier, made courageous contributions by safeguarding rebel vessels and suffering imprisonment as a consequence. [patch.com], [The Smitht...s mark ...]

Significance of Patriot Burials Program

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation, in partnership with the Sons of the American Revolution, has erected over 180 such markers across New York, honoring Revolutionary War patriots—both combatants and civilian supporters—preserving local historical legacies. [wgpfoundation.org], [hmdb.org]

If you’re interested in visiting or researching more:

  • Smithtown Cemetery: Find-a-Grave contains Platt’s biography, including details on his birth (c. 1704), death (Feb 27, 1778), and burial site. [findagrave.com]

  • Local Tours: The Smithtown Library occasionally offers cemetery tours highlighting Revolutionary War figures—check their calendar for events. [smithlib.org]

Dino DiPietro