SMUGGLERS' BATTLES PART 7 - ....them that ask no questions..., 1800 to 1809.

SMUGGLERS' BATTLES PART 7 - ....them that ask no questions..., 1800 to 1809.

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.

Smugglers Cove. A painting by Donald MacLeod

April 1800;

Last Tuesday morning Mr Whitpain, an officer of the Customs, assisted by a party of Light Dragoons, seized on the beach, near Broadwater, between three and four hundred casks and bags, containing brandy, rum and tobacco, which the smugglers had just landed, but by the activity of the above officer were prevented from conveying away.

The goods were afterwards safely lodged away in His Majesty's warehouse, at Shoreham.

June 1800;

Old Shoreham.

Some smugglers, a few nights ago experienced a serious loss, owing to their signal lights not being properly attended to, near Rottingdean, where a boat, containing one hundred and fifty tubs of contraband spirits, was, on being rowed on shore, seized by the Revenue Officers in waiting.

The crew of a larger boat, laden with four hundred and fifty tubs and packages, to effect their escape, were compelled to throw their cargo overboard, but which, for the most part, was afterwards recovered, by boats belonging to the Customs house at Shoreham.

Shoreham Customs House Vault.

November 1800;

A gentleman and his wife were passing through Earsham in a whiskey, the horse suddenly turned out of the road, and the gentleman was thrown from the carriage, but happily received no injury.

On examining the cause of the animal's fright, he discovered a heavy lift of 4 bars, laid across the road, and on proceeding about a furlong further, there was another laid in the like manner. It is strongly suspected that this wantonly atrocious act was committed by a party of smugglers to elude some cavalry who were in pursuit of them.

January 1801;

Saturday, Richard Harnell, otherwise Arnold, otherwise Little Dick, a noted smuggler was brought before R. Ford Esq. by Dixon, one of the Bow Street Officers, who had just arrived in town with him from Sheerness.

He had been detained  a prisoner on board His Majesty's ship, the Zealand, on a strong suspicion of being the Captain of a smuggling cutter, which, on the 18th June 1794, maliciously fired into a boat belonging to the Lively Excise Cutter, off the coast of Sussex, and wounded three of the crew, and for whose apprehension a reward of £500 was long advertised.

The prisoner was taken a short time since on board another smuggling vessel, of which he was the commander; together with 600 tubs of brandy, and 97 of tobacco, and which vessel was captured by the Repulse Revenue Cutter off Harwich.

Little Dick would die after a fall from his horse in January 1807.

March 1801;

The Revenue Cutter Buckingham, Capt. Hopkins, has carried into port of Strangford the noted smuggling cutter, the Lottery. After a chase of 48 hours, she threw overboard her guns and part of her cargo, the smugglers even cut some of her beams in order to escape the King's Cutter.

May 1801;

Robert Carter, whose offence was peculiarly atrocious, it appearing that his party of smugglers fired at the officers, and kept their smuggled spirits in caves under rocks defended by barriers, was sentenced to three years hard labour on the river Thames.

A Thames Prison Hulk.

June 1801;

Tuesday morning about 1 o'clock a skirmish took place on shore at Dungeness, between the boats of the Anacreon armed brig, and a party of smugglers.

It is said 2 of the smugglers were killed and 2 wounded, and being repulsed by their opponents, about 700 tubs of spirits and a vessel were taken possession of and carried to Dover.

August 1801;

Edward Brotherton (Customs Officer) said that on the 8th September 1800, he was employed as riding officer to the Customs House, and received information which led him to a village called Great Clackton.

He got there about ten o'clock at night. About twelve he saw two carts close by the roadside, loaded with casks of liquor, and four persons standing by them. He had seen three of the persons, namely, Micklefield, Miller and Edwards, they were dressed in smock frocks, and the other was in a blue coat.

He tasted one of the casks, and having satisfied himself that it contained foreign geneva, he seized it for the use of the King, and himself; he proclaimed his seizure, the defendants ran to the horses' heads, and came round and attacked him.

They struck at him with large sticks about four feet long, they struck him as hard as they could, and repeated their blows, holding their bludgeons with both hands. He tried to protect himself with his stick, but they drove it out of his hand, he then took his hanger, with which he attempted to defend himself, they struck his hanger and drove it out of his hand.

Finding himself thus hard pressed, he pulled out his pistol, rode towards them, and attempted to discharge it, but it miss fired, they retreated at the sight of the pistol, and ran towards the carts.

In the scuffle he had lost his hat, at the same time the wounds he had received bled very much. It was so dark he could not see where the defendants were. Just as he reached the place where he lost his hat, two of the men came up, and before he could mount his horse, began upon him with their sticks.

One of them snatched up the pistol he had lost and exclaimed "Damn him, blow his brains out!" snapped it at his head. Another struck him with his own hanger, and cut through his hat. One gave him a blow with a stick on the temple, which rendered him insensible.

When he recovered , he found himself lying between two trees, and the smugglers had disappeared with their carts. He walked down to a public house about two hundred yards distant, but could not get the people up. He made the best of his way home, which was about five miles off, with a deal of trouble  he reached home at near five in the morning. He was attended by a surgeon for two months after.

When he saw Micklefield he was clear he was one of the persons who had assaulted him, he never had the least doubt as to his identity, he had not the same certainty at first about Miller, but he verily believes he was one of the men. All three were found guilty.

September 1801;

A singular circumstance occurred on Tuesday last, at King Harry's Passage, Cornwall.

A smuggler, with two ankers of brandy on the horse under him, was discovered by an Exciseman, also on horseback, on the road to the Passage. The smuggler immediately rode off at full speed, pursued by the Officer, who pressed so close upon him, that after rushing down the steep hill to the Passage, with the greatest of rapidity, he plunged his horse into the water, and attempted to gain the opposite shore.

King Harry's Passage

The horse had not swam half way over, before, exhausted with fatigue and the load on it's back, he was on the point of sinking, when the intrepid rider slid from his back, and with his knife cut the slings of the ankers, and swam alongside his horse, exerting himself to keep his head above water, but all to no purpose, the horse was drowned, and the man with some difficulty reached the shore.

The less mettlesome Exciseman had halted on the shore, where he surveyed the ineffectual struggle, and afterwards, with help of the ferryman, got possession of the ankers.

September 1801;

James Tubb (Revenue Officer) said, in January last, he was an officer of excise, and was in company with March and Clarke, Customs House Officers, upon the look out after smuggled goods; he observed late at night four men with a cart and two horses, which they were driving towards a sheep house in the Seasalter marshes.

Seasalter Marshes

He went with March to the spot, found 30 ankers of foreign geneva, and seized them, the defendant, Robinson, was lying by them. Tubb had left Clarke in charge of the horses, and sent March to Seasalter for a cart, after he had gone they saw 6 men with large sticks coming up to them. Tubb posted himself at the door of the sheep house, and presented his pistol.

Robinson immediately joined the six, threw off his great coat, and said "Now, damn me, if you shall keep the goods, though you have taken them", he advanced towards Tubb, Hart, one of the smugglers seized his arm, and wrested his pistol from him, thrust him back into the sheep house, and threw him down.

Hart struck him repeatedly with his fist, exclaiming, "Damn me, I'll kill him, I'll kill him!" Robinson said "No, we will not kill him." At that instant Clarke fired and shot Hart in the shoulder, in consequence of which he left Tubb and desired Robinson to keep him down.

Hart, who was but slightly wounded, went towards the ankers, and said, if the officers would not let them have half, he would stave the whole. Finding that Tubb would not comply, he threw the whole of them out of the sheep house into an adjoining field.

Tubb begged Robinson to let him up and wipe his face, as it was very bloody. The smugglers at length went away, and Tubb, out of 30 casks, found 26 in different parts of the fields. Tubb had known Robinson before, and was positive as to his being one of the smugglers, he was equally positive about Hart being the man shot and wounded by Clarke. Both men were found guilty.

September 1801;

Thomas Pelham (Customs House Officer), assaulted in the course of his duty.

In consequence of information he had received, he proceeded to the coast, having previously procured the assistance of some dragoons. About one in the morning he arrived at Rottingdean Gap, and perceived a company of smugglers, amounting to between 50 and 100.

Rottingdean Gap 1820

He likewise observed a number of horses, with saddles and straps. Upon his approach with the soldiers, the smugglers flashed their pieces, and made fires on the hills, as signals to the boats to stand off.

One boat was very near the shore, and another farther off, they both appeared deeply laden, the boats answered the signal. At this time a quantity of stones were thrown off the cliff, there were a great number of stones, and very large ones, aimed at him and his assistants.

Pelham then went up the Gap, and requested the smugglers to desist from throwing stones, as one of the soldiers had been struck. Two of the smugglers, of the names of William Dunk and William Kinnard, came up, and the latter abused him very much, by calling him a rascal, robber, murderer and a villian, and threatened to knock him off his horse if he did not alight and fight him, and said, he and his party would fight them, man for man until they died.

A man, Davey, caught hold of his bridle, Pelham asked him what authority did he have, only to be replied "Damn him!" Pelham soon twisted it out of his hand, and Davey struck him in the side.

Pelham sent some soldiers to another place, where he expected the boats to land, and remained with the rest at Rottingdean Gap. A smuggler took out a bag of gold , and placing 3 guineas between his fingers said "You are good fellows, quit this rascal, and we will work the goods in defiance of him." The soldiers refused to take the money, and followed Pelham to Greenway, where he supposed the boats had gone. The smugglers followed abusing them all the way.

16th Regiment of Dragoons

Several soldiers of the 16th Regiment of Dragoons entirely corroborated the account given by the officer.

November 1801;

Edmund Davey, William Duncan and W. Dunn, convicted at the last assizes for Sussex, of having assaulted and obstructed a Revenue Officer, were brought to receive judgement.

It appeared from the affidavit of the officer, that the smugglers were assembled in a great gang near Rottingdean Gap, and attacked the officers and soldiers with great stones; one of the defendants at the same time offering 3 guineas to the soldiers if they would leave the officers; in which case they would land their goods in spite of their teeth.

There were then two or three boats lying in the offing, a little way from the shore, deeply laden with tubs.

It was understood that in that part of the country, that every servant or husbandman who chose to go out on a night and assist the smugglers, had claim to a guinea a night, and any quantity of liquor they chose. Among these people that is considered a debt of honour.

The Smugglers Rest, Rottingdean, the heritage of smuggling lives on.

November 1801;

General Don

Military Intelligence - In consequence of a gang of smugglers having fired on a party of the Derbyshire Militia at Deal (where their assistance was required by the officers of the Revenue to escort a seizure they had made to the Customs House).

General Don has issued very strict orders, and that in future, if called upon a like occasion, the party shall not consist of less than 50 men and three officers, who are to load their pieces before they march off, in order to return any fire that may be made on them.

December 1801;

William Sanders, said that on the night of the 11th September last, in consequence of information given, he and his partner, together with the supervisor, went from Yarmouth to a place called St. Olave's Bridge.

They were at this place about one in the morning, when two carts came up loaded with tubs of gin. The witness laid his hand on the first of them and said "I seize this cart and these horses, together with the liquor , for the use of the King and ourselves."

He had scarcely spoke these words when one of the smugglers named Benstead, came behind and cut him severely in the back of the head. The witness immediately struck at him with his cutlass and beat him down. A second man who came up he served in the same manner.

The prisoner Hawke then came up with a stick in his hand, and appearing as if he meant to use violence, the witness struck and wounded him also with his hanger. The smugglers then went off, and possession was taken of the goods.

December 1801;

Last Friday night a great number of tubs of contraband spirits (supposed to have been thrown overboard by some smuggling cutter under chase) floated on shore with the tide at Newhaven. 

The circumstances being unknown to the Revenue Officers, the tubs were taken up and secured by poor persons belonging to the place.

December 1801;

Messers Hiscock and Piddell, two officers of the Customs at Portsmouth, being on the lookout near Southsea Common, met a party of smugglers, from whom they took a quantity of tubs.

Southsea Common circa 1860

After having them in their possession for a quarter of an hour, the smugglers returned, and marching up like soldiers, and armed with large stones and pieces of railing, they swore they might as well die as to lose their goods.

The officers immediately presented their pistols, and threatened to fire, if they attempted to touch the tubs. The smugglers declaring they would have them or lose their lives. Each of the officers fired a pistol, which is supposed to have wounded some of the smugglers, but unfortunately the officers were soon overpowered and beaten in so dreadful a manner with the butt ends of their own pistols, that Mr Piddell is thought to lose one of his eyes, and is supposed to have saved his life by defending his head with his arms, which are most terribly beaten.

Mr Hiscock is also severely bruised and wounded. The officers, being glad to escape with their lives, left the smugglers in possession of the tubs. Mr Thomas Mottley, with his boat's crew, went in pursuit of the smugglers, and took one man, who's name is Bennet with a cask of spirits, he has been committed to gaol.

January 1802;

Mr James Ireland of the Customs cutter Tartar, stationed at Dover, was on duty in the six oared boat off Walmer, together with a crew. There they fell in with a smuggling lugger, and followed her to the town of Deal, where she anchored, and the officer and crew boarded her.

Smuggling Lugger at Deal.

While the officer and men were in the act of getting the lugger off, a great number of boats full of men, to the amount of 150 or more, were launched from the shore at Deal, and came alongside of the smuggling lugger.

With threats and oaths they boarded and struck the officer and his boat crew several times, and at last compelled them to leave the lugger, through fear of being killed by the smugglers. One of them took a pistol out of the hands of one of the Tartar's crew, and presented it to him, but it flashed in the pan, and missed fire.

January 1802;

Horsford, near Norwich

On Monday was seized, at Cawston Woodrow, by two officers of the Excise and two soldiers, six horses and five carts laden with spirits and tobacco. In conveying them to Norwich, they were followed and attacked at Horsford by upwards of thirty smugglers armed with guns, blunderbusses and pistols.

They immediately fired upon the soldiers and officers, a desperate engagement ensued, one soldier received a shot in the face and another in his left shoulder. Several smugglers were severely wounded, and two of them have since died.

A great reward is offered for the apprehending of the villains that were guilty of this audacious offence.

November 1802;

A violent combat ensued between the officers of the Customs and the smugglers, in which the Customs House Lieutenant was killed, and two of his assistants wounded. One of the smugglers is also dead.

November 1802;

Mr Reid, Supervisor of Excise at Dalkeith, with some of his officers, interfered on the road, with two horse loads of spirits, escorted by two smugglers, when a desperate affray ensued.

The officers shot one of the horses, and wounded another, after being repeatedly struck with bludgeons, and by these means alone were able to secure the seizure, with the exception of one anker, which the smugglers staved.

December 1802;

Yesterday morning early, B. Johnson, a smuggler confined in the Fleet, contrived to make his escape over the high wall of that prison. Johnson effected his escape, in company with Tapsel, a few years ago, from the New Gaol in the Borough, by an extraordinary stratagem, and by a relay of horses, got out of the Kingdom.

Horsemonger Lane Gaol, also known as the New Gaol.

When the expedition to Holland was first mentioned he offered his service to pilot the whole of the British fleet, which he completely effected, and obtained his pardon.

Returning to his old practice of smuggling, wherein he acted with a high hand against Revenue Officers, he was lately taken into custody, and admitted to the Fleet Prison, in order to be taken to Newgate to be tried for a capital offence.

December 1802;

A man scraped up a few pounds for a venture in what is called on the coast, a fair trade, and went over to the other side in a small boat, on his own account, smuggled on board a large quantity of what was warranted to him to be champagne, of the bulk vintage, and which he paid for at the rate of 24 livres per dozen.

He had the good luck to sell above half of it at an enormous profit, before a person, more cunning than the customers he at first had, and who depended on the peculiar shape of the bottle, the length of the cork and the wire that secured it, for the goodness of the contents, made the discovery that the bottles were filled with coloured water quite tasteless.

January 1803;

Friday morning an affray took place in this city (Chichester) between two smugglers and two Excise Officers, and after a very hard contest, during which one of the officers lodged a ball in the thigh of one of his opponents, they made off, leaving a horse and cart, laden with spirituous liquors and tobacco.

January 1803;

Mr Whitford, Coroner for Devon, took an inquest on the body of Mr Bartlett, Riding Surveyor of Excise for the Port of Dartmouth, who was so cruelly beat on the 12th December last by two smugglers and died last Sunday. Verdict of the Jury, wilful murder against person or persons unknown.

Four smugglers are in custody on suspicion of being concerned in this brutal and inhuman murder of a very active officer, and a very worthy member of society.

March 1803;

The Newhaven Riding Officers, assisted by the crew of the Seaford boat, fell in with a gang of smugglers, in number about 150, near the barracks at Bletchington, from whom, after a pretty sharp conflict, with bludgeons, cutlasses, and pistols, they seized 88 casks of contraband spirits and two horses.

Photo taken at the Smugglers Adventure, Hastings.

Being pursued by the smugglers the conflict was renewed, and obstinately maintained for about a quarter of an hour, during which time the officers kept constantly firing their pistols at the enemy, several of whom were wounded, as were many of their horses, and those deemed the most valuable, in a shocking manner, some of them having their eyes cut out, and some their ears cut off and others different parts of their body.

The smugglers at length gave way, and left the officers in possession of the 39 casks of spirit, and four small parcels of tea. The officers escaped with some severe bruises, and the smugglers, we believe, without any mortal wounds, but two of the horses have since died.

October 1803;

Old Deal, postcard.

A Coast Officer at Deal on the lookout for smugglers saw a boat running on the beach at the grey of the morning, from which 2 pipes of wine were landed and instantly carried off in a two horse cart, by the smugglers, to a house at some short distance from the shore, the owner of which the officer was intimate.

Proceeding thither with an assistant, in the course of the day, the owner of the house asked him kindly to come in the evening and smoke a pipe. "No thank you", replied the officer, "I smoked a pipe or two too many with you this morning, and am now come to have a peep into your wine cellar." The two pipes were seized, and half a dozen more into the bargain.

April 1804;

Monday night an affray happened between a Customs House Officer, assisted by a party of military, and some smugglers, who were in the act of unloading a cutter at Dumpton Stairs, near Ramsgate.

Dumpton Stairs (Gap) as it is today.

When the smugglers attempted, after resigning their goods, to get off the cutter, were fired upon, by which two of them were killed, and a third wounded in the face.

May 1804;

In an affray which happened at Doddington on Wednesday, between some Excise Officers and smugglers, one of the latter was unfortunately shot through the body, and another wounded in the cheek. The smugglers are said to have resisted the officers in the execution of their duty.

June 1804;

Tuesday morning early, an affray occurred in a lane near Shepherdswell, between a gang of smugglers and four riding officers. The smugglers had in their train 18 horses, loaded with half ankers of spirits, the greater part of which were taken, but not until several were wounded on each side.

July 1804;

James Barnford, Supervisor of Excise, at Rochester, was arraigned on the Coroner's Inquest for killing and slaying John Eaton, on the 9th May, at Doddington in this county (Cambridgeshire).

It appeared that the deceased was a smuggler, and that his resistance to the officer occasioned the latter to fire a pistol which took fatal effect.

The Jury without hesitation acquitted the prisoner.

January 1805;

Murder - A few days ago some smugglers deposited several tubs of gin in a wood near Sprat's Bottom, in Kent, till a convenient opportunity occurred to remove them.

On their return for that purpose they discovered that one of the tubs was gone, and on enquiry they were told that a person usually denominated 'Old Will' had been seen with one on his back, they accordingly set out in pursuit of him, and induced him to return to the spot with them.

When questioned he denied any knowledge of it, on which they tied him to a tree, and with their double thonged whips, flogged him until not the smallest sign of life appeared, and then left him.

Some persons passing through the wood, found the body about 100 yards from the place, whither it is supposed he had crawled on his hands and knees. A reward has been offered for the apprehension of the offenders, but, though they are known, it has been hitherto without effect.

January 1805;

On the evening of Tuesday se'nnight, Mr R. Herdman, officer of excise at Sheraton, attacked a gang of smugglers passing through Castle Eden to Sunderland, with several carts loaded with geneva and tobacco.

The conflict became severe, and the exciseman, after receiving several wounds, had nearly given up the contest, but the inhabitants from the above townships, assembled, a complete victory was at length obtained over them, when possession was taken of about 50 tubs of spirits, besides several bales of tobacco, which was lodged in the customs house at Stockton.

The above gang have carried this trade from Guisborough to Sunderland for some years past, with impunity, being of such daring disposition, that few of the revenue officers durst attempt to stop them.

March 1805;

Private Letter From New Romney.

First Lancashire Militia

A smuggler, which landed her cargo on this coast a few days since, was seized by a Revenue Cutter, but the officers, from the opposition they experienced, could not keep possession of her without the assistance of the military.

A party of the First Lancashire Militia, stationed at Dungeness, were accordingly called to their assistance.

They had not long been on this duty, when they were attacked by about 100 smugglers, in consequence of which a smart engagement ensued, nor were they repulsed till the military had fired eight or ten rounds.

One smuggler was killed on the spot, and several wounded, and we are sorry to add, that Captain Hollingshead, who headed the party, received a slug from a blunderbuss in his side, which we fear will prove fatal.

June 1805;

Last Thursday some smugglers being pursued by a press boat off Bognor, escaped to shore. On their way to Felpham they found a keg of brandy, which they took to the Fox public house, for the purpose of partaking of its contents.

The Fox, Felpham.

During the time they were thus employed, a quarrel ensued, and one of them, who was intoxicated, wished to fight with his companions, in endeavouring to do this, he so much bruised himself (for it does not appear that he received a blow from either of his companions) that he died on Saturday. He was a native of Hastings.

June 1805;

Willian Fosten, mate of the Defence cutter, in the service of the Customs, in company with nine seamen also from the Defence, being on duty at Whitstable Bay seized a boat and about 42 tubs of smuggled spirit.

As they were proceeding to secure the said seizure, they were violently attacked by a large party of smugglers armed with cutlasses and clubs and other offensive weapons.

The smugglers knocked down Mr Fosten, and while he lay bleeding by the boat side, beat and dangerously wounded him and several of his men in a most cruel and brutal manner, and rescued and carried away 33 of the casks of spirit, and one musket, five pistols and five cutlasses belonging to the seamen.

A reward of £100 has been posted.

August 1805;

At Newcastle assizes an indictment was preferred by one of the coroners for the Northern District of Northumberland, against the township of Crookham, for neglecting to give him notice of the death of a smuggler, who died in consequence of a wound received in resisting a seizure by a party of the Royal Cheviot Legion.

The penalty by Act of Parliament is £200. As the wound was received in resisting lawful authority, and there was no suspicion of murder attached to the transaction, the verdict was for the defendants.

August 1805;

It is now a penal offence to make a light, fire or blaze, for the purpose of giving signals to smugglers at sea by an Act of Parliament. Defendants charged with making a fire on the 29th October 1804, on a hill, near Bognor, for the purpose of a signal to a smuggling boat, hovering on the coast.

Edward Pencham, officer of Excise in the parish of Pagham, was on duty on the coast, near Burstead, in the company of other Excise Officers, about 2 in the morning they saw a fire kindled on the cliff, Hornsby was the only man attending this fire; at the same time they saw two men on the sands making flashers, this was Sheppard and another man.

A Flasher & Signal Lantern

They saw another flash in the direction which Sheppard took, they pursued and searched him, and found upon him the flash pistol. As they passed they saw a smuggling boat about 200 yards from the shore, and they had no doubt but these flashes were a signal to her.

The boat was seized, and contained 350 half ankers, and three bags of tobacco. The defendants were acquitted on the grounds that the court had no jurisdiction, because the information had not been filed at the nearest sessions, as the act directed.

November 1805;

One night last week a sharp rencontre took place on the Dicker, near Lewes, Sussex, between a party of smugglers and some Revenue Officers, in which one of the former was most desperately wounded with a cutlass; another of the gang had the muzzle of a loaded pistol at his breast when it missed fire, and thus fortuitously spared his life.

The Officers maintained their ground manfully, though greatly outnumbered, and after receiving some heavy blows, brought off two horses laden with contraband spirits.

May 1806;

An affray took place on Friday night, at Deal, between the Customs House officers and some smugglers. One of the Customs House boat's crew was carried off, in a desperate state, to the hospital, and several were wounded.

One of the smugglers, a man of the name of Stokes, was killed. There were 11 boats on shore at one time, and the companies, which went down to assist, amounted to no less than 300 men.

Deal Customs House.

June 1806;

The Nimble cutter from the port of Deal, seized a brig laden with a large quantity of smuggled liquor on board just off Folkestone, near the Customs House watch house, at that place, and shortly afterwards two boats, with persons armed, came from the shore, upon which the smugglers in the same brig began to assault the Customs men.

The smuggler William Pay forcibly took Mr Richardson's blunderbuss, which he  cocked and pointed at mariner William Parker, the smugglers then boarded the seized brig and compelled the mariners belonging to the Nimble, to get into their boats and remain alongside the brig.

One of the smugglers standing upon the deck of the brig, threatened to fire upon them if they tried to escape, and a boat with seven men armed, was stationed next to them, and also threatened to fire upon them if they resisted or attempted an escape.

The smugglers then rescued and took out of the brig 14 puncheons and pipes said to contain geneva, which they then landed on the beach at Folkestone.

June 1806;

Thursday night, a horseman, belonging to a small party of smugglers, in attempting to escape with his goods, was shot dead by a customs officer, a small distance from Folkestone, it is said he left a widow and four children.

June 1806;

The Murder Of Russell.

The Stag Revenue Cutter.

A few nights ago, as a six oared boat, belonging to the Stag Revenue Cutter, of Rye, was attempting to board a smuggling lugger, off the town of Deal, the crew of the latter discharged muskets into the boat, and wounded John Russell and Robert Barham, the former so desperately, that he has since died of his wounds.

The lugger immediately hoisted her forsail, and run on shore, where between 200 to 300 men, mostly armed, were assembled to run the goods, from the said lugger, and the contraband cargoes of nine others, of different sizes, on their approach to the shore.

As the boat of the Revenue landed, they were surrounded by the smugglers, who after disarming them, kicked and beat them severely, stove their boat to pieces, and carried away her mast, sails, arms and oars.

June 1806;

A reward of £300 is offered by Government for the apprehension of any of the smugglers concerned in the murder of Russell, a Customs House officer at Deal. The crews of the Io, Victory, Hawke, and Betsey of Deal, Fly of Folkestone, Nancy of Lydd, and of three other luggers, are implicated in the affair.

October 1806;

The Watchman of the Customs House at Deal, on going his rounds about 3 o'clock on Monday morning last, discovered a large quantity of gunpowder laid under the porch of the house of the Collector of the Customs; and also a train of gunpowder extending nearly round the whole of the Customs House and King's Warehouse; upon which he alarmed the Collector's family.

Presently he perceived two men dressed in sailor's jackets, who, on being called to, answered, with horrid impercations, that they would blow up the Customs House and the Collector's family, or hang the latter at the masthead, finding their plot was discovered they ran away.

It seems that the Officers of the Customs have lately made some very considerable seizures of smuggled goods at Deal, which were deposited in the King's Warehouse. This circumstance has greatly enraged the smugglers, who for several days used many threats to the officers.

A military guard is now doing duty at the Customs House, to prevent these desperados from carrying their diabolical designs into execution.

February 1807;

Ann Payne, about 26, of Dartford, in Kent, stated she had cohabited with a John Sisley for about two years, who got his living principally by smuggling. She used to dress in men's clothes and go out with him to assist in smuggling liquor, she rode on horseback as a man and used to be armed with two pistols.

Just before Christmas she went on horseback, as a man, in company with John Sisley, John Doe, a man called Old Tom, and the prisoners in order to smuggle 48 kegs of Hollands gin from Shepherd's at Deal.

The kegs were got safe on shore in the night, she had three kegs put upon her horse, and a horse was led which carried six kegs, all the men had the same. They proceeded safe on their journey, without interruption, until the following night near Hollingbourne, in Kent, when they met two Excisemen named Duly and Cocks, who desired them to "fall down" their goods.

Sisley answered  that they did not mean to lose them, and Sisley made an attack upon Duly, and struck his horse a violent blow with a stick, which knocked the animal down, and on it's recovery, ran away at full speed.

Old Dartford.

The officer was thrown from his horse , and Sisley struck him while he was down. Ann Payne and Old Tom rode off and made their escape with the liquor, while the officers were engaged in the affray with the smugglers. A few days after the prisoner Butcher came to Sisley's house at Dartford, and told Sisley, that the officers had cut off John Doe's straps and stirrups, and threw the kegs over a hedge.

He went back to the spot and recovered the kegs, and concealed them in Stone Wood, near Dartford, till a favourable opportunity offered to convey them home. The prisoner Butcher received a severe blow on the leg from the officers, and the prisoner Jeal had part of his ears cut off, and John Doe had a piece of one of his elbows cut off.

March 1807;

A very serious tumult took place at Dover on Monday evening, the particulars of which are as follows:

A Sketch of the Old Gaol, Dover

As seven men belonging to the Lilburn smuggling lugger, were conveyed to gaol, in consequence of having fired into the Customs House boat, about 500 persons assembled in the market place, and attempted a rescue.

The Magistrates and other peace officers interfered, and endeavoured to disperse the mob, but were repulsed, and some of them severely hurt, and the mob succeeded in getting three on the men away.

The Town Clerk then was obliged to read the Riot Act, and proceeded to swear in a number of extra constables and demand the assistance of the military.

The 12th Dragoons.

The 12th Dragoons immediately paraded the streets and by that means dispersed the crowd, which now amounted to about 2000 people, some of whom had ascended the Guildhall stairs, and were proceeding to rescue the rest of the smugglers.

These were, however, driven down by the constables, and the prisoners were safely lodged in the town, when the crowd gradually returned to their homes. No lives were lost on this occasion. It having been thought that an attempt would be made to break open the gaol, the men were removed, under escort, to the gaol at the castle.

April 1807;

A lugger laden with contraband goods, was seized off Deal, and afterwards delivered, with her crew, to the care of the Collector and Comptroller at Dover. While the officers were busy securing the seizure, an attempt was made by some of the smugglers to escape.

A skirmish ensued, and we are sorry to add, that several on both sides were wounded. A party of dragoons were called to assist the officers, and so desperate were the smugglers, that they continued their resistance even after the arrival of the military.

One of the dragoons had his horse shot from under him, the smugglers, we understand, were all afterwards secured, and properly guarded under their confinement.

June 1807;

Police Office - Bow Street.

The Goodwin Sands, looking towards the White Cliffs of Dover

The ship Endeavour, a West Indiaman from Jamaica, on her way home, was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands. A boat came to her assistance from Deal, and the men on board asked the Master of the Endeavour if she was likely to get off the sands, and being answered in the negative, they set to work to get the cargo out, about 30 other boats followed, put the passengers and crew on shore, and took possession of the cargo, to the value of several thousand pounds, on the grounds of it being a wreck.

The Three Kings Inn, now The Royal Hotel, Deal

Mr John Kneller, one of the passengers, inquired what they were going to do with the property, he was answered, with a great deal of abusive language, that it was none of his business. On Mr Kneller's arrival in London he informed Mr Wildburn, the principle owner of the cargo that they had taken. They agreed to go to Deal in pursuit of the man who had abused Mr Kneller on the shore. After being in the coffee house of the Three Kings Inn at Deal for a short time, a man came in whom Mr Kneller recognised to be him, he denied the charge. He proved to be Peter Atkins, the owner of the boat Noble, and kept a house at Deal.

Mr Wildman had employed Mr Carpmeal and several other Bow Street Officers, to go and apprehend him. On the officers going to Atkins's house, they were beaten off by a number of armed smugglers, and Atkins made his escape. Information being lately received that he had returned to Deal, Pearkes and Anthony were employed to go in pursuit of him.

From the Smugglers Adventure, Hastings

The officers accordingly went early on Sunday morning, and took all due precaution to avoid being discovered, and, to be provided against any forcible resistance, applied at horse barracks, a short distance away, for assistance, in case it was wanted.

The Commanding Officer ordered a Sergeant's guard to attend the officers, and they were stationed within a few minutes call of Adkins's house. The officers employed a boy to knock at the door, and, on it's being opened, they rushed in.

An alarm was instantly given, and several neighbours, who were smugglers, came in, and with horrid imprecations demanded to know the officers business. The officers presented pistols, and said if they attempted to interfere, they would shoot them.

In the meantime the officers had sent the boy for the party of soldiers, who arrived in about five minutes, and surrounded the house. The officers having secured Atkins, just as he was going to breakfast, brought him into the street, the soldiers formed a circle around him, and they all marched to the barracks, where the officers procured a chaise and four and set off for London, escorted by a troop of cavalry.

August 1807;

On the 27th June last, Stephen Saxby, Tide Surveyor of the Customs, at the port of Deal, and his assistants, being on duty, and about to seize smuggled goods, then landing from a boat, at the North End of the town of Deal, was feloniously obstructed by a large party of smugglers, to the number of one hundred and more, some of them armed with fire arms, who threatened to shoot the said Stephen Saxby, and prevented him from seizing said goods.

The beautiful town of Deal.

Reward for information leading to capture £200.

August 1807;

Deal - Yesterday evening, a smuggling boat having on board contraband goods, was observed approaching the shore, when a boat belonging to HMS Princess Of Orange, put off and rowed towards her.

Upon approaching, the smuggler fired at her antagonist (who was just going to board her), which unfortunately proved fatal to the coxswain, who was shot through the body, and wounded two men, the smugglers ran their boat ashore between Deal and Walmer Castle, and seemed part of her cargo, when they ran off. The boat was seized this morning and has since been cut through the middle.

August 1807;

Deal.

On Tuesday night Lieut. Campbell, commanding the guard boat pursued a lugger in the south east, standing directly for the land: The Lieutenant immediately rowed in for the land, in hopes to cut her off, but his efforts proved ineffectual, as she reached the shore before him.

He saw her in the act of landing her goods, when he hailed her to desist, and at the same time fired a shot over the party. The smugglers immediately fired a volley of small arms at the King's boat, which wounded a man through the groin.

At which Lieut. Campbell run his boat on the beach and landed with his party of men, consisting of 6, and attacked the smugglers, who by this time mustered between 60 and 70, when an incessant fire was kept up.

During the fracas, one man, which I understood to be the coxswain of the boat, was shot and 2 more wounded: the Lieut. immediately procured a guard from the barracks, and seized the goods, and the galley. The spirited conduct of Lieutenant Campbell is deserving of the highest praise.

September 1807;

Mr W. Thompson of Deal, who was supposed to have died from a wound he received in the late affray between some Revenue Officers and smugglers in the neighbourhood of Deal, and who was buried at Shouldon, near that place, without an inquest having been held.

An inquest was taken on the body the same day, when the jury returned a verdict "apparently killed by musket ball." 

The jury waited for 5 hours whilst the constable, assisted by 2 Bow Street Runners, endeavoured to apprehend a person alleged to be a material witness, and had been summoned to give evidence, but after a thorough search of Deal, he could not be found.

October 1807;

Bodmin Gaol.

Several smugglers were committed to Bodmin Gaol last week, and whilst they were loading them with irons, one of the party pretending a great deal of sang froid, said to the turnkey, "Well I've seen enough of this, so I'll be going home."

The turnkey supposing him to be a mere spectator, who had been induced by curiosity to come in to see the grieves put on the prisoners, opened the gate, and the smuggler quietly walked off, silently rejoicing in the success of his scheme.

The ingenuity of the delinquent, however, with whom he had taken shelter, forgot what was due to hospitality, and surrendered him again to the civil power.

October 1807;

The Customs House Lugger Scourge, fell in with a large smuggling boat off Walmer Castle, last night, and after a pretty obstinate resistance, succeeded in capturing her. Her contents, about 600 kegs of contraband spirits, have been deposited in the Customs warehouse.

She is quite new and it appears this was her first voyage. We hear one man was killed and another wounded in the action, on the smugglers side.

November 1807;

Cornwall - We hear that a man was killed a few days ago in the neighbourhood of St. Keverne, in this county, in a skirmish between revenue officers and smugglers.

December 1807;

On Wednesday about midnight, the Eastbourne and Pevensey revenue officers, fell in with a large gang of smugglers, running prohibited goods near Pevensey Sluice, when, after a long struggle, they seized about 50 casks of geneva, and three horses.

They also found an arms chest containing carbines, cutlasses, and nearly 100 ball cartridges. The whole of which the officers delivered to the care of the Collector of the Customs at Eastbourne.

January 1808;

An Excise Cutter.

Dover - A few nights back, as a boat belonging the the Lively Excise Cutter, under command of Captain Lilburne, was in pursuit of a boat near Deal, supposed to be a smuggler, she was fired at by the boat which she was chasing. Two of her crew were wounded, one in the shoulder and the other in the thigh.

May 1808;

On Wednesday morning a lugger ran into Crowlink, near Cuckmere in Sussex, where a party of men were assembled to convey them away, when some soldiers, who were patrolling the coast, fell in with them.

The soldiers took five horses and ten casks of spirits, and four men, two of whom made their escape. The goods were lodged in the Customs House in Newhaven, and the men put in confinement. A scuffle ensued, in which one of the smugglers received a dangerous wound on the head from a sabre.

July 1808;

Saturday morning, the Asp, Customs House lugger, of Deal, came into Dover, the crew having in the course of the night been on shore at Deal in their boats, accompanied by the boats of the Nimble, Customs House cutter, of Deal.

They had been in pursuit of some smuggling boats which had gone on shore, but on landing, they were fired upon by a party from the shore, the consequences of which were that two of the people in the Customs House boats, Ellis and Bruce, were killed on the spot, and a third is so badly wounded as to lie without hopes of recovery having received two shots, two others are slightly wounded.

Soon after the lugger came in, a jury was summoned, who returned a verdict of "wilful murder by persons unknown". Two boats and a part of the goods were taken, the smugglers made their escape.

August 1808;

A Stale Trick - Yesterday a man who had landed from a ship near the Customs House Quays, with a loaf of bread under his arm, which he appeared to carry carelessly, was observed by an officer, who suspected some contrivance.

The guardian of the public revenue therefore demanded of the man what he embraced so closely! "Only a stale loaf," was the answer. The officer then took hold of the loaf, which immediately came asunder, and discovered a quantity of foreign lace.

After seizing the lace, the officer then returned the loaf to the unfortunate smuggler and cooly observed, "this is indeed a very stale loaf, and you may keep it for your breakfast."

October 1808;

From the Smugglers Adventure, Hastings.

A smart affray took place on Monday night, between a party of smugglers, who were proceeding with a quantity of Hollands gin, tobacco ect, from Fordingbridge to London, and a party of officers, who accidently fell in with them.

The smugglers had seven horses heavily laden, and three of them were taken, with the spoil. There were no firearms, and the smugglers, who were numerous, made their escape, after a smart action with sticks and fists.

November 1808;

THE KING V. JOHN PHILLIPS AND NICHOLAS PHILLIPS (Father & Son), SMUGGLERS.

For a desperate assault on officers of the Revenue , near Penrhyn, in Cornwall. In which one of the Defendants had a pistol ball lodged in his breast, which is not yet extracted, part of both his ears cut off, ect. He having sworn that he would murder the officers.

December 1808;

On Sunday 11th December, was committed to the castle of Ilchester, George Culliford, a smuggler, under escort of no less than six excisemen and others, all well armed with pistols and blunderbusses.

Ilchester Gaol Illustration.

Four of the guard, well mounted, and the other two in the chaise with him, who had pistols and a double barrelled gun, it being thought a rescue would be attempted.

May 1809;

THE KING V. POTTER.

The defendant was brought up to receive the sentence of the court, for having endeavoured to procure the escape of a French prisoner of war, upon his parole in Devonshire.

The defendant was an old smuggler, and meeting the prisoner, a Colonel in the French army, persuaded him to quit the town, to the limits of which he was confined, and go with him to Bere, upon the sea coast.

Exeter South Gate and Gaol.

The defendant first asked thirty guineas, and received twelve guineas. He kept the Frenchman for two or three days secreted at several farm houses, and then having got all his money off him, wanted to induce him to go back to the place where he had escaped from.

Mr Justice Grose, in passing sentence, made very strong remarks on the baseness of his conduct, both with respect to his country, and to a distressed foreigner, confined in this country, whom he first tempted to break his word, pledged to the country, and then pillaged of his little property - He was sentenced to be imprisoned for two years in Exeter Gaol.

June 1809;

A serious affray took place last week at Hilton, near Dundee, betwixt some Customs House Officers and smugglers. The former, in attempting to seize from the latter three casks of whiskey, were resisted by them, and many blows were exchanged by the contending parties.

At the close of battle, which lasted for a considerable time, the smugglers escaped with two of the casks, leaving one a lawful prize to the officers. One of the persons, supposed to be a principal in this deforcement, is imprisoned, and another has run off, although he had previously obtained a certificate, that, from the wounds inflicted in the scuffle, he was unable to attend the court.

July 1809;

An unfortunate affair took place in the neighbourhood of Dungannon on Thursday se'nnight. Mr Edward Pilkington, supernumerary gauger, and a young man, his assistant, met with three men having clandestine whiskey.

On Mr Pilkington's coming up with them, two of the smugglers retreated, the third sat down on his keg, which was in a sack. Upon Mr Pilkington attempting to seize it, the fellow, who's name is Keenan, stepped aside, when, drawing a pistol from under his coat, he fired, three balls entered Mr Pilkington about the right hinch.

The young man, in the mean time, in pursuit of one of the fellows, who was running off with a keg, which he seized, being drawn back by the cries of Mr Pilkington whom Keenan was beating with a staff, he lying on the ground, having fired two shots at Keenan, neither of which took effect. On the young man coming up, Mr Pilkington and he both fired at Keenan, when he fell.

July 1809;

A shocking murder was committed on Tuesday night, on the road leading from the village of Pepper, New Forest, Hants, to Goring, by two fellows, on the body of a smuggler, who was Conveying some property with a little girl, his daughter.

The ruffians demanded the man's money, and having a quantity of guineas about him to convey to Portsmouth, he refused compliance, when they beat him with bludgeons until he was lifeless, and robbed him. They left the little girl bound in the cart, and after taking off the horses, and turning them loose on the common, the villains decamped.

September 1809;

A serious affray took place on Friday at Foreden Bridge, Sussex, between a party of smugglers, nine in number, and about six Officers of the Excise and their assistants.

The smugglers were attacked by the officers whilst removing contraband goods on 18 horses, heavily laden, and after having been stopped, they commenced an attack with cudgels, and completely got the better of the officers.

The latter, however, obtained assistance, and pursued the smugglers several miles, and took 12 of the horses and their lading. Several on both sides were injured, but there were no firearms used.

November 1809;

On Thursday last a person was fined by the Justices of the Peace at Aloa the sum of £20 sterling, for illicit distillation, but being unable to pay the money, he was ordered to prison.

While, however, the officers were escorting him to a chaise, which had been procured to take him to Stirling Jail, the prisoner, who had lost a hand, struck one of them on the breast with the stump of his arm, which so stunned him, that the smuggler effected his escape.

He was immediately pursued by a great number of people, but was not overtaken, and after running for about a mile and a half, followed by nearly 500 men, women and children, he stopped and took off his coat and shoes, which he put under his arm, then he darted over a hill, without leaving any trace behind by which he could be discovered....