SMUGGLERS' BATTLES PART 3.
Watch the wall my darling. 1750 to 1769.
A history of the skirmishes seen across Britain during the "golden age" of smuggling, gleaned from newspaper accounts from the time - it shows how far both side would go to gain success.
After the break up of the Hawkhurst gang the south coast was awash with military personnel, every town and city had soldiers and dragoons quartered close at hand and the navy was constantly patrolling the coast. Hundreds of outlawed smugglers were taken at this time, the newspapers are full of people being imprisoned, transported and executed, but the trade carried on.
February 1750;
We learn from several parts of Suffolk that the smugglers on that coast are becoming so daring and formidable, notwithstanding the security afforded by the soldiers quartered in those parts, associate themselves in large gangs and act in the double capacity of housebreaking and smuggling.
A body of these people the other day entered the house of a gentleman at Diss in Suffolk who was preparing for an evening of entertainment and company that was to sup with him. Being armed with sledgehammers &c they bound the gentleman and his servants, the keys to several rooms were immediately offered but they had no need of them and fell to breaking the doors with the hammers and spitefully destroyed all the china and glass in the house.
They then rifled the gentleman's desk of 400l in money and to complete their villainy they then hung the gentleman up till he was almost dead, but one of them had so much compassion as to cut him down and thereby happily saved his life.
February 1750;
Early this morning three prisoners said to be smugglers found means to escape out of Newgate. By sawing or breaking the double braced iron bars of the second window over the gateway facing St. Sepulchre's and by the conveniency of ropes let themselves down from thence and have not since been heard of.
June 1750;
One Blew, a noted smuggler, was removed from Chelmsford Gaol to Chichester to stand trial for the murder of Michael Bath, a Dragoon in Lord Mark Kerr's Regiment on the 14th of February 1743. (Blew was actually dying of smallpox and it was thought better for him to face a judicial end rather than a natural one). This was occasioned by the deceased opposing the smugglers who were forcing him on board a smuggling vessel in order to carry him and some other Dragoons to France.
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| Chelmsford Gaol |
This punishment for the said Dragoons was for assisting a customs house officer in seizing a parcel of goods, the smugglers then raised a greater number and took back the goods and captured the Dragoons. The deceased refused to go, Blew cocked his piece, shot at him and the poor man died directly.
June 1750;
On Thursday last a gang of smugglers was attacked within a few miles of Whitehaven in Sussex, by a party of Dragoons, in attempting to carry away some prohibited goods. Part of the booty was seized and three smugglers taken.
May 1751;
Yesterday came advice that last Tuesday a smuggling cutter from Boulogne was run into Bulridge Gut, on the Sussex coast, by the Spence sloop of war and by the assistance of a party of the Scots Greys the smugglers were prevented from carrying their goods to shore, by which means she was made a prize.
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| Scots Greys |
June 1751;By letters yesterday from St. Edmundsbury in Suffolk, there is advice that Nesbit, alias Smock Face and Black James, two smugglers, are taken into custody by General Honeywood's Dragoons.Being charged with divers robberies and cruel outrages committed in different parts of that county, which have been so frequently advertised.
December 1751;
We hear from the further part of Sussex that the smugglers there have lately committed several outrages and that a soldier in a marching regiment was shot in the back.
July 1752;
Yesterday the eleven malefactors under sentence of death were executed at Tyburn, they all behaved with more decency and seeming concern than is usual when a number of felons are executed together.
James Holt the smuggler behaved very penitently but did not seem convinced that his sentence was just or that smuggling merited death. Amongst his last words were "it's very hard to be hanged for smuggling".
February 1753;
We hear from Rochester, that a customs house officer having receiv’d information that a quantity of run goods was conceal’d in a hearse that was travelling from Dover to London, insisted upon searching it, which no sooner attempted, but a bear which the coachman had taken in at Dover to bring to London, clapp’d his paw upon him and so terribly frighten’d him, that as soon as he was at liberty, he was glad to get away without prosecuting his intention.
June 1753;
Dublin, early yesterday morning His Majesty's Officers at Wicklow had intelligence that a smuggling vessel was on that coast, upon which they went in a boat to make a seizure.
But when they came near the smugglers threw stones at them, which made the officers fire, who killed a man and seized 127 anchors of brandy, tobacco, tea and coffee.
September 1754;
They write from Cornwall that the smuggling trade flourishes in the north part of that country more than was ever known in the memory of man, insomuch that French spirituous liquors are so plentiful as to be drank muzzled with cyder instead of small beer.
November 1754;
A gang of smugglers came lately into this town (Whitehaven) about eleven at night with several cart loads of run goods. They were so well armed that if our officers had known of their coming, they durst not have faced them.
The officers catched a boat lately from the Isle of Man coming into the harbour with tea and brandy, seized her and the cargo. The Captain of the Customs House sloop the other day met with a larger one laden with brandy, rum, wine, tea and tobacco which was seized and taken to Cirkcudbright.
February 1755;
By a letter from Marazion in Cornwall we are informed of a desperate skirmish, which happened on the 8th inst, between the officers of excise and customs and a gang of smugglers, wherein several were dangerously wounded on both sides, but that in the end the smugglers went off in triumph, enough to ring the chapel bell in their way thro’ Marazion, in the same manner as they did about a fortnight ago.
June 1758;
Mr Armstrong Chief Mate of the Bridlington smack, in the absence of the commander, failed last week on a cruise against the smugglers. On the 3rd inst. at about two o'clock in the afternoon he fell in with a smuggling cutter upon the Yorkshire coast and chased her until around eight in the evening but with the weather being calm could not come up with her. He therefore manned the smack's boat and pursued.
The cutter's people observing them getting closer threw overboard their half anchors of brandy and put their tea and coffee into their boat. As soon as Mr Armstrong came near they called and told him what they had done and they would not suffer him to board them but they would drop their boat astern with the tea and coffee for him to take. If he refused they would send him and his men to the bottom.
As the smugglers took up glasses and drank damnation to him Mr Armstrong observed six swivel guns and men standing with matches in their hands to fire and so he thought it prudent to take the tea and coffee and look for the half anchors.
May 1759;
Plymouth, this day was re seized by Harry Gibbs, Surveyor General of His Majesty's Customs, and landed at the Customs House quay from the Isis man of war 140 anchors of brandy, 17 bags of tea and 200 Wt of tobacco.
Captain Wheler had taken the goods from three smuggling boats off the Lizard. The smugglers declared they were going to land on the coast of Cornwall and that they came out of Guernsey in company with seven boats, one brig, one schooner and a sloop, all intended for the said coast.
The total of their cargo did not amount to less than 2000 anchors of brandy and about 25 tons of tea.
July 1761;
The smugglers continue their old practices, notwithstanding the war, of running goods, but happily for the Officers of the Customs they do not often appear with fire arms.
Thursday morning last a large quantity of smuggled goods were seized on the sea beach near Chichester by George Pierce, Commander of the King cutter that is stationed on this coast, it consisted of 3500lb of tea and 40 tubs of brandy.
December 1762;
On Wednesday the 1st September last at about eight o'clock at night a most violent outrage was committed on the person of Joseph Manuel of Ilford in the parish of Christchurch in the county of Southampton.
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| Ye Olde George, Christchurch, a smugglers haunt |
A gang of smugglers consisting of eight persons forced open the door of the house of William Manuel and violently seized his son Joseph, they said they were King's men (press gang) and dragged him by force out of the house. They carried him across the heath to the sea shore towards Poole and forced him down to Bournemouth to a lonely house there called the Decoy Pond House, notoriously frequented by smugglers, where after he had been some little time confined, he was put into a boat.
He was then thrown into the sea and then carried on board a smuggling cutter called the Ranger privateer of Guernsey, Thomas Donna's commander and well known amongst the smugglers by the name of the Dorcas cutter. Soon they were under sail and put to sea.
In their passage to Alderney and after their arrival there the said Joseph Manuel was treated with great cruelty and would probably have been murdered if some of the crew relenting had not interposed. Then the said Joseph was compelled to fire off (with intent as it is supposed to destroy him) an overcharged blunderbus, which burst and tore off his left thumb, but having been left in this condition he found means to escape and thence return home.
July 1763;
At Hawkhurst in Kent there has been a battle between the smugglers and soldiers &c, the smugglers had 17 horses loaded with tea and brandy, which the officers, with the assistance of the soldiers, went to seize in the night, upon which a terrible battle ensued.
The smugglers had no fire arms but with their bludgeons and whips (which are loaded in the handles), beat the officers and soldiers and carried off their goods in triumph. Several of the soldier’s hats, with some of their firelocks broken in the battle, were found in the road next morning.
May 1764;
They write from Greenock that one of His Majesty's cruising cutters had discovered a suspicious vessel making for the Isle of Man and gave chase. The crew of the smuggling vessel then ran the sloop on shore.
When the officer of the cutter landed also in order to claim his prize he was given to understand that as the Master of the sloop claimed protection of the Island (which is without jurisdiction of the Government) he must desist from his attempt especially as he was not taken by him at sea.
Soon after the whole cargo was safely landed by the assistance of the Islanders, who on this occasion, resorted to the sea shore in very great numbers.
December 1764;
Yesterday arrived His Majesty's armed cutter the Laurel and has brought in a smuggling lugger with 150 anchors of brandy and 15 bags of tea. She was met with soon after she came out of Guernsey and the master of the Laurel was dispatched in a boat to examine her.
On his boarding her he was most violently assaulted and beaten, his boats crew were thrown overboard by the smugglers and it was no small difficulty their lives were preserved with the assistance of another boat from the Anson cutter.
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| Weymouth harbour in the 18th century |
They were however over powered and three of the principal offenders secured, but they have since made their escape at Weymouth, the port the said vessel was obliged to take shelter in the late storm.
April 1765;
Last Sunday night a scuffle happened at the Sand Banks near Poole betwixt thirty smugglers who were conveying a large quantity of tea just landed and about fifteen crew of a cutter stationed there to watch their motions.
One of the smugglers whose name is Trossiman was killed on the spot and there is reason to believe several of them were wounded. Nine of their horses were killed and about 20cwt of tea taken.
On the side of the cutter one man was shot through the leg, a midshipman wounded in his head and otherwise much bruised. The purser was beat in such a manner as to be left for dead and was thrown within the surf of the sea to be carried off by it, but luckily he recovered.
May 1766;
On Thursday last one of His Majesty's cutters commanded by Captain Hackett of Shoreham, took a large smuggling vessel off Brighthelmstone in Sussex and brought her into that place, her cargo consisted of 40 half anchors of brandy.
On which 28 smugglers came down with 30 horses and immediately attacked the crew of the King's cutter, obliging them to go on board and quit their prize. The smugglers loaded it onto their horses and carried it off, the above affair was transacted at noon day.
February 1768;
Yarmouth Feb 18. About 12 at night on the 13 inst, Mr Peter Haslip, the excise surveyor, with five of his boatmen, being at sea, fell in and took a cutter boat with seven men, the cargo 160 half anchors and 70 lb of tea.
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| Great Yarmouth Customs House, built 1720. |
The men requesting to be set ashore, the surveyor sent his own boat, with two of his men, to land them. They no sooner came to shore, a little south of Haven, than 40 or 50 horse and footmen, armed, seized the boat and secured the two men, demanding strictly if they knew the face of anyone there. Then mounted the boat with 17 of the gang, went back to sea, retook the boat and cargo, cruelly beating the four men on board, till some of their brains gushed out.
Mr Haslip, a decent and well behaved officer, died of his wounds next day in great agony and Jenkins, a boatman, is since dead of the wounds he received. They then run the goods unmolested, one of the gang fell overboard and was lost at sea.
October 1768;
Captain William Cumming, commander of His Majesty's cutter the Lord Howe stationed at Milford had information of three smuggling cutters on his station, one mounting 8 carriage guns, a number of swivels and carrying 30 men, the other two mounting 4 guns and a number of swivels with 18 men, all Irish living in France.
They had killed several customs officers in Ireland last year, so he wanted to go in pursuit of them, having heard they were seen near Studwall Roads. He arrived around sunset and found two of them at anchor, Capt Cumming instantly run his ship close along side of the largest vessel determined to board her, but before he could hale her she haled him and asked where he came from and to keep off or they would sink them.
They soon saw she was a King's cutter and immediately the small cutter fired into the Lord Howe, which was instantly followed by another. The Lord Howe then fired a broadside of both his large and small arms which was abruptly returned on the other side and they all concentrated their fire very smart for a long time with the small cutter continually attempting to board the Lord Howe on the side she was not engaged on by the other cutter.
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| Boarding ships, a bloody business. |
The Lord Howe beat them off every time at great loss, with the wind dying all three vessels lay close to one another engaging as brisk as possible, at last the Lord Howe laid the largest cutter on her side, her firing ceased and all judged her to be sinking, but in a few minutes she recovered her action and was as vigorous as ever.
As a breeze sprung up they endeavoured to get off but being disabled in making much sail the Lord Howe kept up with them each continuing to fire until the wind freshened and the smugglers set more sail and the action ended in a running fight. At last by good sailing the smugglers got off, the engagement lasted for four hours.
January 1769;
A gentleman in the west end of London declared openly in a coffee house that smuggling was come to such a pitch with numbers of men (who call it a legal trade) that fifty horse loads of tea was brought into London one night last week and that ten horse loads came in all together last Monday night.
There have been upwards of sixty horse loads brought into town every week for five weeks past by twenty and thirty men in a gang. Is it not most surprising that some method is not taken to suppress these audacious smugglers, who are become a great terror to some officers in defence of the law.
September 1769;
The gang of smugglers that is settles near Rush (Ireland), about 11 miles from this city, upon the sea coast, seems to have grown more desperate since the taking of Patrick Cutter, a party of them having landed a large quantity of brandy and tea near Skerries, a few night ago, were attacked by some of the King’s officers, but after an obstinate dispute the latter were obliged to retire, having three of their number desperately wounded.
One Conner, a principle among the smugglers, is supposed to be killed as he received several slugs from a blunderbuss in his breast and was carried on board his barge by his companions covered in wounds.
September 1769;
On Thursday night last four customs house officers being on the river in their galley, keeping a good look out, espied a boat going from Prince’s Stairs, Rotherhithe, across the river to Execution Dock, which they immediately boarded and found it full of valuables and china ware, in their endeavouring to make a seizure, they were immediately attacked by another boat with 7 Irishmen on board, armed with bludgeons and cutlasses.
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| Execution Dock, Wapping. |
The officers, who unfortunately having but one cutlass, which in the confusion they could not find, were soon overpowered by the Irishmen. One of the officers they threw overboard and hanging by his hands at the side of the boat, they barbarously chopped his fingers entirely off, another officer sheltered himself under the seat of the vessel, the remainder two being cruelly and grievously wounded, begged for their lives, which these barbarians refused and declared they would cut them to pieces and were inhumanly hacked away, when providently another customs galley, who had taken up the officer that was swimming in the river, came immediately to their assistance.
On which the Irishmen rowed away with great precipitation and were pursued by the last customs house boat to Execution Dock, where the Irish landed and instantly gave their usual howl, which brought down 16 of their friends, who made the officers retreat to their boat, where they found one of the men taken into custody, by the assistance of the crew of a collier.
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