Ben Merriman presents a selection of piracy cases from the proceedings of London's Old Bailey. Although a few live up to the swashbuckling heists of stereotype, many reveal the surprisingly everyday nature of the maritime crimes brought before the court, including cases involving an argument over chickens and the stealing of a captain's hats.
Smuggling could be the effort of individuals seizing an opportunity, or a professional, large-scale planned venture. The majority of fines and penalties were, unfortunately and perhaps unfairly, pa…
The Hawkhurst smuggling gang was a formidable and notorious smuggling gang that operated from 1735 to 1749 in southeast England from Dorset to Kent.
History Scotland is your number one online resource for Scottish history and nostalgia, bringing you daily news and expert articles on Scottish heritage, history and events.
In his research on the smuggling organisation that operated along the Seasalter coastline, Harvey Wallace consistently refers to the organisation as ‘The Seasalter Company’ and describes it as ‘a f…
A Typical Landing Place for Contraband It wasn’t job you could just walk into. Before you became a Customs officer you had to embark on six months training. This took place at some of the more impo…
I’m researching smuggling along the Dorset coast of England in the early 1800s. (Lovely, lovely research!) My next self-published series will be set in the area in the days leading up to the Battle of Trafalgar. If you’re interested in the subject, I recommend Smuggling in Hampshire and Dorset 1700 to 1850 by Geoffrey Morley. Fascinating stories! I expected to find tales about secret tunnels and midnight raids, but some of the stories are so amazing, I couldn’t wait to share them with you. Legend has it, Isaac Gulliver, called by some the King of the Smugglers, once covered his face with the white chalk of the Dorset soil and laid in a coffin to hide from the Excise Men. But legend also has it he foiled a plot to assassinate King George III, who praised him and vowed to let him smuggle all he liked. Smuggling increased dramatically in the area of Weymouth whenever the King came to visit. Another story tells of two Preventers, as the Customs Officers were known, who were caught spying on a smuggling gang. The gang hung them by their feet over the edge of a cliff, then proceeded to unload their cargo in full view. When the smugglers were finished, they hauled up the officers and dumped them bound in a nearby field, where their colleagues would eventually find and release them. And then there’s the story about a Dorset farmer’s wife, who happened to be French. She vowed she’d seen Napoleon standing on the headland not far from her home in 1803, studying the English defenses. This was at a time when England’s fear of invasion from across the Channel was at its highest. According to the legend, Napoleon looked down the coast, compared what he saw to a map in his hands, rolled up the map, uttered the word, “Impossible,” and was never seen again. That one’s going in my book. 😊
How a 119% tax on tea imports in the 1750s helped smuggling become a vital part of the UK economy.
Pirates of the Golden Age had a nasty reputation. They were feared the world over and with good reason. Many notorious pirates like Blackbeard and Ned Low were cruel and barbaric, their tales of savagery and tortures enflamed their reputations and the notoriety of pirates as a whole. But pirates have been around a lot longer than those that flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries. For as long as there have been boats, there have been pirates. In Ancient Egypt and Greece, there are recorded evidence pirates prowled sea trading routes raiding merchant ships for their goods. Black Bart So why did men, and some women, turn to piracy? Was it for the treasures? For fame? Oh sure, there was adventure. Make no mistake, the hours were long, the work hard and dangerous. There was starvation, sickness, and overwhelming boredom. Heck, death was a constant on board. But there was also excitement and reward that came with taking a bountiful prize or leading a successful raid. Pirates worked hard but partied harder, usually blowing all their earnings on food, drink, gaming, and women. Life was short. Those fleeting chances to live with abandon was worth every bit the effort and risks. While selfish gain had much to do with going on the account, it was rarely as simple as to get rich. There were more compelling factors that lead men to piracy. Turning pirate might be seen as the lesser evil or a means to freedom. People rarely rose above their caste. Individual freedom and human rights did not exist and justice was not universal nor always fair. Most people in Western Europe, whether rural or urban, lived in extreme poverty. Hard work didn’t equal high wages and jobs were scarce, especially for those without a skill or education. Good people were forced to become thieves to survive. Many turned to the docks for better employment opportunities. Signing on to work a merchant ship brought wages and men might learn a trade, such as carpentry, at sea that could give them greater chances for employment on land. Unfortunately, conditions at sea were harsh and pay not guaranteed. Men worked excessively long hours on under-crewed ships and were often cheated by unscrupulous merchants should voyages not be profitable enough. Joining the navy wasn’t much better. In fact, it could have very well been worse, even if enlisting kept a man out of debtor’s prison. Just as with most ships, conditions on board were brutal and wages might not ever be paid. The British Royal Navy had difficulty finding willing men to recruit and had established the Impress Service. This organization was little more than a gang of rough and tough wharf laborers authorized to forcibly press men into navy service. Scores of men and boys were kidnapped, tricked, beaten, shackled and dragged, and otherwise press-ganged, onto naval ships. No able-bodied male was safe. Not even in their own homes. Not even the men that made up the Impress Service. Got action + love triangle? Click cover for more! Piracy presented an escape from conscription tactics, corrupt merchants, and “honest” work from merchants and navies. Pirates, for the most part, offered a democracy, equal pay, revolving work hours, fair judgment and punishment, workmen’s compensation for injuries, and a voice. It did not matter the class, race, religion, they were treated the same. This gave men freedom that they probably wouldn’t have had otherwise, on land or sea. And freedom is a powerful reason. Some pirates started out as lawful pirates called privateers. These men were commissioned by their governments (with letters of marque) to attack enemy ships or ports during times of war and shared the gains with their investors. But war between any given nation was sporadic. If news of peace hadn’t reached a privateer, an attack on an enemy that had suddenly become an ally would mean an act of piracy. At any rate, if the profits were good, privateers would have been hard to persuade back into legitimate commerce. One such famous captain who had been a privateer accused of piratical deeds was Captain Kidd. Kidd was captured, tried, found guilty of piracy, and hung. [Side note. Becoming a pirate wasn’t always a choice. As an example, some men were forced to join the crew, and usually for their skill. Carpenters, navigators, and surgeons were among the experienced spared and/or snatched off an overtaken ship.] No, the allure of piracy wasn’t always for fortune, but of circumstance or a way out of oppression. Pirate Bartholomew Roberts, also known as Black Bart, said it best. For I have dipped my hands in muddied waters, and, withdrawing them, find 'tis better to be a commander than a common man. He also said: In an honest service there is thin commons, low wages, and hard labor; in this, plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the hazard that is run for it, at worst, is only a sour look or two at choking. No, a merry life and a short one, shall be my motto. About the Author Jennifer Bray-Weber is the award-winning author of the Romancing the Pirate series. Visit her at www.jbrayweber.com or join her mailing list for sneak peeks, excerpts, and giveaways.
A little while ago, I posted this blog about privateers operating off England’s east coast during the latter part of the eighteenth century. I thought readers might also be interested in some conte…
Believe it or not, pirates operated under a democracy. It was understood that to be a successful crew, conduct had to be governed by rules and regulations called the ship’s articles. Also known as articles of agreement or pirate codes, these terms and conditions were the law and order of pirate communities. Detailed obligations, destinations, the divvying up of shares, compensation for injuries, and even punishments for breaking the rules were written prior to weighing anchor. Each crewman had input into what went into the articles and, as a whole, the agreement was approved and signed—or in the case of the illiterate, placed a mark on the document. The men swore an oath to uphold the articles upon a bible or symbolic weapon. By pledging this allegiance, the crewmen were entitled to the rights to vote, bear arms, and fair shares of the booty, whether that be treasure, food, or liquor. New recruits, a.k.a. those captured from other ships, were often forced into signing the articles, too—especially trained men with important jobs such as carpenters, surgeons, and navigators. Black Bart Some articles written during the Golden Age of piracy still survive. The following is probably the most famous. These are the articles of the Royal Fortune captained by Bartholomew Roberts, more notoriously known as Black Bart. Every man shall have an equal vote in affairs of moment. He shall have an equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors at any time seized, and shall use them at pleasure unless a scarcity may make it necessary for the common good that a retrenchment may be voted. Every man shall be called fairly in turn by the list on board of prizes, because over and above their proper share, they are allowed a shift of clothes. But if they defraud the company to the value of even one dollar in plate, jewels or money, they shall be marooned. If any man rob another he shall have his nose and ears slit, and be put ashore where he shall be sure to encounter hardships. None shall game for money either with dice or cards. The lights and candles should be put out at eight at night, and if any of the crew desire to drink after that hour they shall sit upon the open deck without lights. Each man shall keep his piece, cutlass and pistols at all times clean and ready for action. No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man shall be found seducing any of the latter sex and carrying her to sea in disguise he shall suffer death. He that shall desert the ship or his quarters in time of battle shall be punished by death or marooning. None shall strike another on board the ship, but every man's quarrel shall be ended on shore by sword or pistol in this manner. At the word of command from the quartermaster, each man being previously placed back to back, shall turn and fire immediately. If any man do not, the quartermaster shall knock the piece out of his hand. If both miss their aim they shall take to their cutlasses, and he that draw the first blood shall be declared the victor. No man shall talk of breaking up their way of living till each has a share of 1,000. Every man who shall become a cripple or lose a limb in the service shall have 800 pieces of eight from the common stock and for lesser hurts proportionately. The captain and the quartermaster shall each receive two shares of a prize, the master gunner and boatswain, one and one half shares, all other officers one and one quarter, and private gentlemen of fortune one share each. The musicians shall have rest on the Sabbath Day only by right. On all other days by favor only. Available where great ebooks are sold! Who knew pirates could be so impartial and self-governing? About the Author Jennifer is the award-winning author of the Romancing the Pirate series. Visit her at www.jbrayweber.com or join her mailing list for sneak peeks, excerpts, and giveaways.
In the 18th, 19th and early-20th centuries, excise officers loomed large over the Scotch whisky industry. Charged with ensuring government taxation was adhered to – and illicit distilleries were silenced – they were subject to intimidation, bribes and even the occasional kidnapping. Gavin D Smith tells the story of the age of the excisemen.
Who became a pirate and what was life like for them? Step into the world of pirates in the classic age of piracy.
Fighting a Smuggling Gang It’s often said that there is nothing new under the sun, and this story from the Stamford Mercury for April 16th, 1772, certainly bears this out. It makes it quite c…
In the 18th, 19th and early-20th centuries, excise officers loomed large over the Scotch whisky industry. Charged with ensuring government taxation was adhered to – and illicit distilleries were silenced – they were subject to intimidation, bribes and even the occasional kidnapping. Gavin D Smith tells the story of the age of the excisemen.
Piracy in the Atlantic had a brief revival in the post-Napoleonic era. Benito de Soto was a psychopathic ecample. Part 1 ot a two-part blog article.
America's largest pirate mass burial site has been discovered after 300 years, with more than 100 sets of remains offering clues to the crew's exploits.
I am delighted to welcome Alicia Quigley back to the salon to chat about the City of Smugglers (now available on Amazon!) and share an extract from her latest release! ---oOo--- “La cite de Smoglers” I’ve been doing a lot of reading about Regency smuggling in the last couple years as I worked on The Contraband Courtship (released last summer) and Lady, Lover, Smuggler, Spy which will be published in May. A lot of this has been fascinating – both how mundane some of the business aspects of it were as well as how violent it could be, and the major financial impact of the guinea smuggling. One of the most interesting things I read about was the “City of Smugglers”. In fact, the story of the City of Smugglers, a special cantonment built inside the city of Gravelines by Napoleon to support and control the activities of the smugglers plying their trade across the English Channel, is so interesting, that I made it a key plot element in my latest Regency romance. Gravelines and this enclave are mentioned in a number of 19th century books, but those of us without the time to peruse a dozen historical tomes owe a debt of gratitude to Gavin Daly for bringing all of this information together in a readable and interesting paper. Napoleon visited Dunquerque in 1810 which was the hub of the smuggling trade at the time, and decided that it was far too easy for the smugglers to move around there, making it easier for the spies who also worked with the smugglers to ply their trade. Saying he wanted to reduce the impact of the rowdy smugglers on the local population, he built a special enclosed “city” within nearby Gravelines and moved the trade there. Maps of Gravelines and Dunkirk (right) give some insight as to why Gravelines was the preferred city. While Dunkirk is fortified with a large wall around much of it, there is an open area which must have made it very easy for people (or goods) arriving on smuggling boats to just disappear into the countryside. Since Napoleon had a mania for good administration and the collection of customs duties, in addition to his concerns about spying, a look at an old map of Gravelines (below) clearly shows why it was preferable. The fortifications go right around the city, along with a canal in most areas. It was far easier to control the smugglers here than in Dunkirk. Since my next book, Lady, Lover, Smuggler, Spy to be released in May, includes an escape from Gravelines, this map made me wonder how this was to be accomplished, and coming up with a plausible story line took some thought! I mentioned customs officials earlier, and although I admit there is little interesting about the Douane in general, also uncovered some interesting information about the “Douane Imperiale” a semi-military unit of customs officials who moved with the French Army to conquered countries to ensure that the ports and trade came under Napoleon’s control swiftly. This unit even took part in skirmishes occasionally as part of their duties. They certainly were handsomely kitted out; here are some images of their striking green uniforms (left and below). This was too much fun to leave out of the book, so the Douane Imperiale makes an appearance in Lady, Lover, Smuggler, Spy as well. Gravelines was the port through which much of the golden guinea trade flowed, and had counting houses and connections to more than one merchant banking organization. It also had what sounds like a smugglers’ mall, in which over 50 merchants sold gin, fabrics, lace, wine, shawls, and anything else for which there was a market. The heroine in Lady, Lover, Smuggler, Spy takes advantage of this smugglers’ mall as a means of getting needed information, as well as creating some interesting adventures. Excerpt from Lady, Lover, Smuggler, Spy: Sir Tarquin handed her to a seat in front of the fire, and then took a chair across from her, settling into it comfortably and crossing his elegantly booted ankles. “So, Mrs. Carlton, I find that I am almost vulgarly curious about your past. It is evident that you are a gentlewoman, yet I found you penniless and unescorted at the Angel this morning. How did that come to pass?” Valerie gazed down at her hands, before looking at him. “I am the oldest daughter of Lord Upleadon and his first wife,” she answered, “and married Robert Carlton, an officer in the Light Division.” “Upleadon?” exclaimed Sir Tarquin. “You are an Upleadon, yet I found you alone, penniless, and ready to board a mail coach?” “My father did not approve of Mr. Carlton, I fear,” Valerie answered economically. “That stiff rumped old tartar--” Sir Tarquin suddenly recalled that his listener was not only a lady, but also the daughter of the gentleman he was about to malign, and fell silent. “Quite so,” Valerie responded with a definite hint of laughter in her voice. “In any event, when I insisted on marrying Mr. Carlton my father cut me off entirely. Even when my husband was among the dead at Sabugal he refused to see me.” “While I’m not well acquainted with the baron, as he is a good deal older than I am and moves in very different circles, I’m sorry to say that I can easily imagine him lacking remorse. You must have been a mere child. How have you managed since then?” “When I returned to England, several of my friends had married, and were happy to help me get on my feet. I was mourning my husband, and had no wish to remarry or to be a burden on them, however, so I quickly found a position as a governess.” “But the Battle of Sabugal was three years since. Have you been a governess all this time?” Sir Tarquin asked. She nodded. “I had only been with the Forneys for in a few months. When I first became a governess I was in charge of a young lady who needed some polishing before she came out, as her parents were not people of fashion. I enjoyed it very much; the daughter was charming and her mother and father were kind and grateful. Unfortunately the two positions that followed it have been much less satisfactory.” Valerie fell silent, looking down at her hands, and Sir Tarquin, finding himself appreciating the sight of her blonde curls, fine figure, and aura of calm, didn’t need to stretch his imagination far to imagine the son of the Forney household had been unable to resist the temptation of the pretty governess. “It makes me angry to think of you being preyed upon,” he said abruptly, much to his own surprise. “It is a common enough problem, and far worse has befallen others. He did not force me and, while Mrs. Forney was unkind, I left of my own volition,” said Valerie uncomfortably. “My friends have helped me before and will help me now. I would rather spend my time with children, but perhaps I will have to seek employment as a companion to an older lady instead.” “You do not deserve a life as a drudge to children or as the companion of elderly harridan, who will doubtless have a horrid grandson who will treat you as Mr. Forney did,” Sir Tarquin exclaimed. “You are young, and have given far too much.” “Whatever do you mean?” she asked. “You sacrificed a husband and a family to your country, did you not?” “I suppose you could say so, although it has been three long years since then.” A wistful look came over her face. “It seems so long ago. Thinking of it now, Robert and I were both practically children; it is almost as though it happened to someone else, or was a story someone told to me.” “Yet you are still all but penniless and without protection as a result, are you not? That is not much of an ending to the story.” She gazed at him thoughtfully. “It was my decision, though I was far too young to understand the possible consequences. In some ways it was worth it all the same; I loved Robert as much as an eighteen-year-old can love anyone, and perhaps even more, I loved following the drum.” Sir Tarquin looked startled. “Did you really? Surely it was a very hard life for a gently bred and sheltered young lady?” Valerie laughed. “Indeed it was! I had no notion that such hardships were ahead of me. Yet the sense of purpose, of being needed and useful, and of having a meaning to my life was so powerful, that it overcame them all. I was always rather bookish, and never truly enjoyed the rounds of parties and balls, to my stepmother’s despair.” “Even in the tail of the Army with all the camp followers, and rabble you felt so?” Sir Tarquin asked curiously. “Oh, I rode with the column, Sir Tarquin,” she exclaimed proudly. “I had no children to care for and I was handy with horses even before I went on campaign, for my father’s stables are renowned and I spent a great deal of time in them as a child. I soon learned to kill and stew a chicken, and make sure that there was always something to eat at our billet, so it was not long before many of the other officers were to be found at our table.” “You rode with the column?” her companion echoed in surprise. “Except when an engagement was imminent, yes. In many respects it was as safe as being in the tail of the Army, for Robert’s friends would watch out for me. I moved rearward when there was any real danger.” “But it must have been difficult to be so far ahead without any servants to help you.” “Oh, my husband engaged a woman for me, a large, rather foul mouthed Scotswoman, who was a match for most of the men! She did much of the heaviest work, although I helped, of course.” Sir Tarquin watched as Valerie’s eyes filled with memories that were clearly dear to her. “His batman was also there, and it never seemed as though things were unmanageable. Difficult yes, but even the worst days were just another challenge to rise to…” Valerie’s voice trailed off, and she gazed into the fire, seeing another place and time. Sir Tarquin watched her in pensive silence, for a moment and then stood, shaking his head to dispel the thoughts that filled it. “My glass is empty. May I pour you some more punch as well, Mrs. Carlton?” Valerie shook off her memories, and handed him her empty glass. “Thank you, Sir Tarquin. You have a way with a punchbowl, it seems.” She watched as he walked away, enjoying the wide set of his shoulders, and athleticism of his gait. After some moments he returned and offered her the cup, now full of warm, spicy liquid. Her fingers brushed his slightly as she took it. She looked away, taking a sip. “I so miss feeling part of something bigger than me,” she murmured. “A governess makes herself useful, I suppose, but it is not the same. Being a paid companion would be even duller, I fear.” Sir Tarquin, who still stood beside her chair, reached out with one long finger and tipped her chin up, gazing into her face intently. “You most assuredly must not be a companion to a querulous dowager,” he murmured. “It would be an utter waste.” Valerie stared back at him, at a loss to answer. In the quiet and warmth of the private parlor they seemed removed from the world, and she simply waited for him to act. He gave a tiny sigh, and then lowered his mouth to hers, pressing her lips firmly yet gently as he sought the right pressure. Her mouth trembled a little, and he lifted his, only to press it against hers at a slightly different angle before drawing back, to kiss her cheek, and then one of her eyelids, which had fluttered closed, before releasing her chin and stepping away. About the Author: Alicia Quigley is a lifelong lover of romance novels, who fell in love with Jane Austen in grade school, and Georgette Heyer in junior high. She made up games with playing cards using the face cards for Heyer characters, and sewed regency gowns (walking dresses, riding habits and bonnets that even Lydia Bennett wouldn’t have touched) for her Barbie. In spite of her terrible science and engineering addiction, she remains a devotee of the romance, and enjoys turning her hand to their production as well as their consumption. Website, Social Media: Website Twitter Facebook Amazon Author Page Written content of this post copyright © Alicia Quigley, 2016.
Pirate ships were well equipped with weaponry. For any ship worth its reputation, shipboard guns were an important part of the arsenal. It was these guns that waged war, won battles, and kept crews alive. But they were more complex than just cannons that go boom. The basics: First and foremost, cannons were not cannons aboard a ship. They were called guns. And the projectiles they fired were not cannon balls, rather they were shot. Guns were made from cast iron or sometimes bronze. Iron guns were subjected to corrosion from saltwater causing misfires or the lodging of the shot. Bronze guns were expensive to make. The longer the barrel of the gun, the farther it fired. Well, sort of, since the farther the distance the greater the inaccuracy. The guns could weigh anywhere from a few hundred pounds to several tons. Smaller guns, such as swivel guns, could be fastened to the ship, but the larger guns were mounted on wooden carriages. These big guns were identified by the weight of the shot they were made for. It was common for ships to carry 8-pounders, 12-pounders, 24-pounders, 36-pounders, and higher. There are a variety of small calibers, too. Parts of a shipboard gun Those suckers on carriages were big, weighed a ton (literally), and were dangerous. Smooth sailing did not apply with guns on board. They had to be lashed down to prevent rolling. Gun tackle (ropes) were tied to both sides of the carriage. In addition, a breeching rope was tied to the knob at the rear of the gun (called a cascabel) and fastened to the ship’s hull (wall). The breeching rope gave way just enough for loading. It also helped prevent the gun from recoiling with such force to snap the lashing ropes – a term called jumping its track. More rope was used to pull the gun up to the gun port. This rope, known as the train tackle, was attached to an eyebolt below the cascabel. It takes a team: Seriously, it took four to five men per gun working in synchronicity to fire. Men had assigned guns which totally makes sense when avoiding additional chaos in the heat of battle. After the gun was unlashed, hauled inward, the gun ports opened, and the equipment used for priming and loading were in hand, the real work commenced. The gun’s barrel was swabbed with a wet sponger rod to remove residue or embers. Loose, measured gunpowder went in first using a scooped powder ladle. Gunpowder might also come wrapped in Beautiful thief + sexy libertine = wicked fun Click here for more! cloth. Once the gunpowder was in, it was followed by a cloth, paper, or sometimes hay wad, packed in using a ramrod. Shot and another wad (to prevent the shot from rolling out) were rammed in next. A priming iron was used to clear the touchhole of residue and, if using a cartridge charge, pricked open the charge to expose gunpowder. The touchhole was filled with more gunpowder. The men adjusted the gun’s height using a quoin—a wooden wedge with notches on the carriage. A two to three-foot lintstock with a slow burning match was then set near enough to the touchhole to ignite the powder. Bam! A good gun crew familiar with their weapon could swab, load, aim, and fire a gun within two to five minutes. Huzzah, ye sea dogs! Types of shot: Aside from spherical balls of varying size and weight, pirates (and naval crews) were creative in their deadly projectiles. bar shot - two balls affixed at the ends of an iron bar (effective for maximum damage on men and rigging) chain shot - two balls affixed at each end of a chain (also effective in destroying rigging and sails) double shot - two balls with extra gunpowder in one gun grape shot - small iron balls wrapped in canvas (think buckshot, lots of balls taking out more than one target, be it human or other objects) langrage - canisters filled with scrap metal, nails, bolts, and even eating utensils (another impressive way to annihilate crew and rigging) partridge shot - small bags filled with pellets of lead (excellent for saturating an area) trundle shot - iron spikes or sharpened bars (good for impaling) And these are just what was used in the guns. Weapons used by pirates were extensive—a topic for another post. About the Author Jennifer is the award-winning author of the Romancing the Pirate series. Visit her at www.jbrayweber.com or join her mailing list for sneak peeks, excerpts, and giveaways.
Privateers and pirates were a constant scourge to the many hundreds of ships which sailed along the east coast of England, many of them heading to or from the Norfolk ports. If you aren’t quite sur…
Reward and pardon offered by Dublin Castle after the murder of Henry Bird a Revenue man in 1773. Smuggling is often portrayed as a victimless crime but violence often occured.
One of the last and most brutal of Atlantic pirates was Benito de Soto in the late 1820s. This is the seccond part of a two-part article .
In my latest Austen-inspired story, Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary, smugglers in Kent were mentioned several times. Yet, what do we know of these smugglers? Daniel Defoe wrote a poem ab…
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Britain’s trade expanded dramatically. All sorts of goods were being shipped in and out of the country and the English Channel was a major thoroughfare for…
During the 18th and early 19th century in Britain, smuggling was a huge enterprise. Riding officers became one element in the government’s arsenal against smuggling.
Notice to licensed tobacco importers! a sale of seized tobacco from 1825, the sale lists 230,000 pounds of tobacco from #cork Harbour.
For those of you eagerly awaiting the next episode of Poldark, here is the story of a real Cornish smuggler. 'Smugglers' from Clara L Matéaux, Round and about Old England (London,1876) BL flickr In June 1801 the Revenue gun-ship Hecate had taken possession of a smuggling lugger laden with spirits...
Curator of Naval History James Davey shares examples of real pirates who were far more characterful than those of fiction.
An archaeological site where whisky was illegally distilled in the 1700s has been officially recognised as a monument of national importance.
The Riding Officer was a common if unpopular occupation during the 18th century. The principal duties were to patrol the coast within a predefined riding range, meet and correspond with other ridin…
The growth of the 18th and 19th century free trade touched the lives of practically everyone. The trade was driven by desperation amongst the poor and a sense of resentment from other classes. High…
