She helped transport maritime pilots between inbound or outbound ships coming into the New York Harbor.

[1] On January 28, 1822, the pilot boat Thomas H. Smith was on a cruise off Sandy Hook, where she helped vessels in need of assistance.

She supplied vessels with fresh provisions, and brought the passengers into town, from the ship Cotton Plant from Savannah, that was anchored near Prince's Bay.

[2] On March 26, 1827, the pilot boat Thomas H. Smith brought to the city a skiff with two exhausted African American men, ten miles outside Sandy Hook.

[7] On August 31, 1857, the pilot boat Thomas H. Smith driven ashore in a gale six miles from Barnegat Inlet, and was broken in pieces.