SMUGGLERS' BATTLES PART 2.
The Gentlemen of Hawkhurst. 1741 to 1749
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.
January 1741;
Cranbrook, Friday 26th December, Thomas Carswell and William Grey, riding officers of the customs, belonging to the port of Rye in Sussex, upon their duty, with the assistance of another man and four dragoons, seized in a barn in the parish of Salehurst upwards of eighty bags, containing about 2000 weight of tea.
As they were carrying the same in a waggon to the customs house at Hastings, were attacked at a place call’d Hurst Green in the said parish of Salehurst, by a resolute gang of about 40 men, armed with blunderbusses and other offensive weapons, who fired on the said officers and their assistants, shot the said Carswell off his horse dead, wounded two of the dragoons and rescued and carried away the said tea.
It is said they are the same gang as fired upon the excise man and twenty dragoons on the 16th November last at that place, where one smuggler was killed and one shot thro’ his thigh, who we hear is since dead. (Possibly the first report of the notorious Hawkhurst gang)
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| The Oak & Ivy, Hawkhurst, the gangs first HQ. |
February 1741;
Whereas on Tuesday the 16th December last at about nine o’clock in the evening, John Darby and Freebody Dray, riding officers of the customs, were assaulted in the execution of their duties, at Brooks near Lydd in Kent.
About twelve smugglers on horseback, unknown, armed with clubs, who had oyl-skin bags of tea under them, and eight drove horses laden likewise with tea, some of which were actually seized by the said officers. But the smugglers immediately assaulted them with their clubs and the said Darby, after several strokes, was knock’d off his horse and Dray was much beat and bruised and the tea that had been seized, forcibly rescued and the whole quantity carried off by the smugglers.
And whereas on Thursday the 18th of the same month, about twelve o’clock at night, Francis Riggs and Richard Lake, riding officers of the customs at Week Wall, about a mile from said town of Lydd were assaulted in the execution of their duty by twelve smugglers on horseback, unknown, and armed with blunderbusses, pistols and cutlasses, who had bags of tea under them and about eight drove horses or led horses, likewise laden with tea.
And on, the said Riggs and Lake coming up, and telling them they were the Kings officers, the gang swore at and damn’d them, and instantly fired several blunderbusses and pistols at them and two dragoons they had to their assistance, when they were not above two rods distant, and riding in a body upon them at the same time, forced Riggs and his horse down a steep bank into a ditch of water, and fired at him in the ditch.
Seizing one of the dragoons horses by the bridle, disarm’d him and afterwards compell’d him to lead one of their loaded horses to Sandhurst, in the aforesaid county of Kent, being upwards of twenty miles from Lydd. Hawkhurst gang
January 1743;
Last week one Chant, a customs house waterman, meeting two women at the turnpike near Deptford with about 20lb of smuggled tea, by virtue of a deputation made a seizure thereof, but had not got 30 yards from the place before he was pursued by three fellows and the two women, with whom, by the help of a long knife, he maintain’d a smart engagement and in defiance of them all he brought off his prize.
August 1743;
Letters from Brighthelmstone in Sussex advise, that a party of Dragoons assisted by some Officers of the Customs attacked a gang of about eighty smugglers who had with them a great quantity of tea.
But after a desperate engagement, wherein several were wounded on both sides and one of the Dragoons kill'd on the spot, the smugglers carried off their goods.
October 1743;
Yesterday an information was given to some customs house officers that a large quantity of tea was conceal’d at a house in Kennington Lane in which were several smugglers to guard it. Accordingly a posse of about twenty of them assembled as the smugglers had threaten’d them with the loss of their heads if they came that way before Christmas, they took with them a file of musketeers.
When they came to the house the officers demanded entrance, which the smugglers absolutely refused telling them they should lay siege to it in form before they would surrender.
But after an attack of three hours they agreed a capitulation, which was, the officers should enter the house and search it provided they would pay the damage done to the same, which was accordingly complied with and after searching for a considerable time they found the information to be a cheat and were obliged to pay about 10 shillings damages and go off without their booty.
January 1745;
Yesterday Mr Bolton, one of the customs house officers that was seized by the smugglers a few days ago and carry’d to Hawkhurst in Kent, came safe to town, having had the good fortune to escape out of their hands.
But what they have done to the other two is at present unknown. Further to this event….Last Saturday Mr Jones, another of the officers who was seized by a gang of smugglers and carried to Hawkhurst, arrived in town, so that only Mr Floyd is missing, who was put aboard a cutter, in order to be sent to Bologne in France.
As to the fate of Mr Floyd….We hear advice came yesterday to the customs house that the smugglers had drowned Mr Peter Floyd, one of the officers seized by them some time ago at Shoreham in Kent. Hawkhurst gang.
February 1745;
Last Thursday about one o’clock in the afternoon, six smugglers, well mounted and armed with blunderbusses, pistols &c, rode through the town of Lewes with their pistols drawn and cock’d and their blunderbusses in a posture fit for engagement, daring the whole town and bidding defiance to everybody, though there was a company of soldiers with their officers in town.
But to complete their impudence, they called for a bottle of wine at the White Horse Inn. The drawer not bringing it so soon as they would have it, one of them rode into the house and seeing a sergeants halbert, took it, and carried it away with them.
As they went thro’ the upper part of the town, they shot into the houses, and had like to have kill’d a Gentlewoman, the ball passing very near her, thus they went on driving all before them, none daring to molest them. Hawkhurst gang.
March 1745;
We hear from Folkestone, that Mr John Jorden, a customs house officer there, having by his industry fallen under the displeasure of a gang of smugglers who use that coast.
On Thursday last in the afternoon they came in a large body, attack’d his house, destoy’d his goods and took what plate they could find. And one of the smugglers observing a man to look thro’ the glass, taking notice of their actions, he went into the room and endeavour’d to shoot him, but missing fire, the man took a pistol that was at hand and shot him dead.
They then made off, went to Hyde and joined the rest of their companions, who, one and all, agreed to rescue the body of their deceased friend and another of their companions who was in custody. But being on the road to Folkestone they were inform’d the townsmen were up in arms against them and had sent to Dover for a detachment of soldiers, they march’d off threatening vengeance.
They were all arm’d with a brace of pistols and a carbine, as the smuggler had that was kill’d, who had ruffles and was genteely dressed, a piece of plate and some letters belonging to Mr Jorden were found in his pocket. Hawkhurst gang.
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| The Mermaid Inn, Rye, second HQ of the Hawkhurst Gang. |
March 1745;
Last Friday two vessels belonging to the Customs attack'd a smuggling cutter off Rye in Sussex for above an hour, wherein two of His Majesty's officers were very much wounded.
During the action the Eagle Snow privateer, Capt Beezely, luckily came to their assistance. The smugglers perceiving this got into their boat and made for shore, leaving the Eagle in possession of the cutter, wherein was 25 tons of tea.
During the action the Eagle Snow privateer, Capt Beezely, luckily came to their assistance. The smugglers perceiving this got into their boat and made for shore, leaving the Eagle in possession of the cutter, wherein was 25 tons of tea.
April 1745;
Advice to the Customs House, on Thursday last a party of smugglers sixteen in number, were taken at Hawkhurst Kent, by officers of the Customs assisted by a party of Wade's Horse.
June 1745;
We hear that last Thursday night a desperate engagement between a party of soldiers and a gang of smugglers happen’d near Hythe, wherein 8 smugglers were killed and 18 taken prisoners and a boat and the cargo taken. A corporal and two soldiers were also killed, as it is reported.
Further to this story….The report about the soldiers and smugglers mentioned in our last is not true, tho’ it was confidentially revealed by a soldier who came to this city, declaring to several persons that he was in the fight and pretended to give particulars. Could this by the army falsifying reports to make up for their lack of success in combating the Hawkhurst gang? We shall probably never know.
September 1745;
On Wednesday night some Officers of His Majesty's Customs at East Grinstead seized a large quantity of tea, the smugglers to whom it belonged having information thereof got together and attacked the officers.
We hear that one of the smugglers was killed on the spot and the others retired, the tea &c was the next day conducted to the customs house under a strong guard.
September 1745;
Last Tuesday was committed to Horsham Gaol, in Sussex, James Roe and William Winter alias Black Sam, two notorious smugglers.
They were taken the day before by Mr Smith, riding officer, assisted by a party of soldiers after some resistance.
January 1746;
Some time since the Two Batchelors of Dartmouth, laden with wines from Oporto, for some merchants in London, was forced upon the shore near this place (Brighthelmstone near Brighton), by a violent storm, when the great part of the cargo was plundered and carried off by the wreckers of this coast.
But by the diligence of Mr John Kempe, agent to the Lord of the manor, there were saved and secured about 30 pipes of wine and put under the King’s locks, into a strong warehouse and two watchmen constantly employed to guard it. But about eleven o’clock last night there came above 100 arm’d smugglers, with half anchors, and having seized the watchmen they broke open the King’s locks and began to fill their casks.
When Mr Kempe and the inhabitants, alarm’d at the noise, arose and endeavour’d to drive off the smugglers, but they were soon overpower’d and taken prisoners and Mr Kempe very much wounded. And notwithstanding there were so many witnesses of their villainous outrages, they continued here several hours, filled their casks and carried them off in triumph towards Eastbourne and Hastings, declaring they would come again on Monday for the remainder and feared no opposition &c.
Further to this event…On Thursday last week an attempt was made at a warehouse near Eastbourne in Sussex, where a great quantity of wine is lodged belonging to some merchants in London, which was saved from a ship lately stranded on that coast, to carry the wine off.
But the design being discovered by one of the watch appointed to guard the warehouse, the villains who made the attempt cut the poor fellows throat and afterwards hanged him up near the place. It is said to be done by the smugglers, for the Tuesday before some of the gang carried off Mess. Newton and Waller, two customs house officers of Brighthelmstone and the same day shot and wounded several of the militia, under the command of Col. Spence, near Lewes. They are very numerous and now daily exercise themselves in the regular military manner. Hawkhurst gang.
April 1746;
Whereas on Sunday the 30th March last, about ten o’clock in the evening, six smugglers on horseback, arm’d came to the house where John Polhill, a riding officer of the customs, inhabitants, at Lydd in Kent, and finding he was in bed, broke down a window and one of the smugglers got into the house with a pistol cock’d in his hand and swore if the said Polhill did not come down the stairs that moment he would shoot him in his bed.
The said Polhill finding the house surrounded went down the stairs and immediately four of the smugglers seized him and clapp’d a pistol to his head and swore they would kill him and then dragg’d him out of the house. The other two, that were on their horses knock’d him down and beat and abused him in a barbarous manner, insomuch that his arms, hands, shoulders and other parts of his body are exceedingly bruised and he is thereby render’d incapable of dressing himself or doing any duty.
Whereas on Saturday the 5th of this instant April, as Joseph Montgomery, sergeant, and William Ross, private soldier, belonging to a party of Lord John Murray’s Regiment of Highlanders, quarter’d at Rye in Sussex, were coming to London by leave of their commanding officer, upon their arrival at Hawkhurst in Kent, about 15 miles distant from Rye.
They were billeted at an Inn kept by John Hider, and soon after their arrival there, they were assaulted by upwards of twenty persons, whom the said Montgomery and Ross apprehend were smugglers, being arm’d with blunderbusses and pistols, who took from them their broadswords, durks and pistols, with the money they had about them, cutting them and abusing them so much, that it is doubtful that William Ross will not die of his wounds he reciev’d from the said persons. Hawkhurst gang.
May 1747;
Extract from a letter from Goudhurst, April 1747.
"Permit me to inform you that the country hereabouts has been long under the cruel and arbitrary dominion of smugglers, who had so far intimidated all sorts of people, that no one durst whisper any dislike of their proceedings.
They took prisoners and whipped in a most inhuman manner several innocent people. They robb’d and destroy’d the effects of others without restraint. They had lately taken upon them to insult the inhabitants of this little town, when lo! a spirit of bravery and resolution appear’d in certain young men, who took up arms to defend themselves and friends from those ruffians.
This resolution was disagreeable to the smugglers, as it tended to weaken their power they had assum’d of awing the country. They thought it necessary to nip this bravery in the bud and gave out that they would come in a body and reduce the town to ashes. They came accordingly, arm’d to the neck with carbines, blunderbusses and all the terrible weapons they could think of and stripped to their shirts, with handkerchiefs about their heads, as is usual when they go upon their inhuman exploits.
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| Site of the battle of Goudhurst |
In this manner they made the most sudden and furious attack upon the house where about 14 of the young associators were assembled (they having just had notice of their approach), they fir’d a volley of shot into and through the house, which, to the immortal honour of the defendants, was return’d with so much coolness and intrepidity, that they laid two of the most resolute dead at their feet, upon which the rest thought proper to withdraw.
With proper countenance and assistance from the government this spirit of resistance may be cherish’d and encourag’d to the utter extirpation of those pestilent fellows, the smugglers, who now have taken up the trade of robbing everyone. “General” William Sturt’s Goudhurst band of Militia fought a diminished Hawkhurst gang, many of the key members had been taken and choked out their last at Tyburn. This band were led by Thomas and George Kingsmill, one of them (George) was killed the other being Barnard Woollet, the gang had lost face but they were still a force to be reckoned with, by July a Regiment of Foot were stationed at Goudhurst.
May 1747;
Yesterday Pollard, the noted smuggler of Hawkhurst, for the taking of whom a reward of 500l was offered, was brought from Dartford, under strong guard to the customs house, where he was examined and ordered into close custody.
He was taken asleep last Friday in an out house near Rye by two Dragoons and a third person. He was twice before taken and rescued.
Yesterday morning early the guards had intelligence that upwards of 50 smugglers were assembled near Blackheath in order for a third rescue, on which they crossed the water and thereby prevented the designed rescue. Last night he was committed to Newgate.
September 1747;
Fuller, head of the Hawkhurst Gang, a noted smuggler, for the taking of whom a reward of 500l had been offered was committed to Newgate under a very strong guard. Fuller was hanged at Tyburn on the 16th November.
April 1748;
On Saturday the 16th, about two o'clock in the morning, near thirty smugglers armed with blunderbusses and pistols came into the court yard of the House of the Collector of Customs at Colchester.
Threatening Thomas Coker, his servant, with immediate death if he did not show them where his master lay and obliged the said Coker to show them where the King's Warehouse was. They broke it open with a large blacksmiths hammer and crow and took from thence sixty oil cafe bags containing 1514 pounds of tea.
May 1748;
Timothy Harris, alias Tim Rough, alias Bludgeon Head, is taken at Hawkhurst by a party of Lord Cobham's Dragoons and committed to Horsham Gaol.
January 1749;
Letter from Chichester, January 15.
“I thought it could not be disagreeable at this time to give a true detail of that wicked affair, the murders of Mr Galley and Mr Chater, therefore have sent you, at the general desire of my neighbours here, the following account, which you may depend on as genuine and which you may publish, if you think proper.
His Majesty’s warehouse at Poole in Dorsetshire being broken open in February last, by a gang of armed smugglers, who took away between 1300 and 1400 lb of tea, a proclamation issued for apprehending them, accordingly one Diamond was apprehended and committed to our gaol.
Chater, who was a shoemaker by trade, and one concerned in taking away the tea, being apprehensive he should also be taken up, resolved to turn evidence and gave information to the late Mr Galley, a customs house officer, who agreed to go with him to one Major Batten, a justice of the peace near this place.
Accordingly they both set out, but having occasion to bait, called at a public house at Rollins Castle, which was kept by Elizabeth Pain, who has two sons, both reputed noted smugglers. After Galley and Chater had put up their horses, they sat down to drink, but dropping in their discourse something of their intentions, the two Pains went and fetch’d Jackson, Carter and Steel (the last is one of the King’s witnesses) and three more smugglers not yet taken, who forced Galley and Chater away with them, setting one of the gang behind Galley, who held him on his horse by means of a cord tied over Galley’s breast.
But Galley struggling and refusing to go any further, they beat him unmercifully and threw him off his horse, by which Galley fractured his skull and in that condition they flung him across the horse like a calf and carried him to a place called Lady Holt, where they buried him among the sand before he was quite dead.
As for Chater, they took him to the house of one Mills, an ancient man, a smuggler, near Midhurst, where they kept him until Thursday (being four days after the murder of Galley, during all which time the poor man was continually praying them that they would not murder him as they had done Galley). On Thursday eighteen of them assembled at Mills’s and agreed to draw lots who should be the murderer of Chater.
The lot falling on Benjamin Tatner, he immediately thrust a fork into one, then the other of Chater’s eyes, the left of which fell on his cheek, after some time, Tatner cut off Chater’s nose and privy parts, the space of time between each operation being a full half hour, scoffing and jeering the unhappy man during all the time of his sufferings, who returned them no other language but only, pray, 
Gentlemen, spare my life, which he repeated even after his privities were cut off. The villains, after committing these barbarous acts, threw him down a well, while living, and covered him with stones.”
Gentlemen, spare my life, which he repeated even after his privities were cut off. The villains, after committing these barbarous acts, threw him down a well, while living, and covered him with stones.”
The gruesome details of these murders are very suspect, however, the basics are true. The raid on Poole customs house was, at first, treated like the crime of the century, but as the details of the murders that followed came to light the general public were horrified, action came swiftly with arrests, trials and executions, within four years most of the Hawkhurst gang were either transported or dead. Their gibbets could be seen swinging in the breeze from as far as London, Dover to Poole, never again would this gang terrorise the coast, but others would soon follow.
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| The remains of Lady Holt well today. |
July 1749;
Last week seven smugglers were taken up at Chichester for smuggling and carrying fire arms. There's about 100 in the gang and all informed against. Three of the seven are sent to Horsham and four brought to town (London) to be examined by the commissioners.
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