Cornish Smugglers
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Dr. Johnson described a smuggler as being:
"A wretch who, in defiance of justice and the laws, imports or exports goods either contraband or without payment of the customs."
Adam Smith gave the following definition:
" A person who though no doubt highly blamable for violating the laws of his country, is frequently incapable of violating these of natural justice and who would have been in every respect an excellent citizen had not the laws of his country made that a crime which nature never meant to be so."
This is an ongoing project in which it is hoped to list as many of the smugglers of Cornwall as possible. If you have evidence of any then please let me know so that I can add them to the site.
George Pritchard
Key.
S/M = SHERBORNE MERCURY CHR = CUSTOM HOUSE RECORDS C/N = CORNISHMAN NEWSPAPER W/B/ = WEST BRITON NEWSPAPER PRO = Public Records Office J/W = JAMES WHETTER "CORNWALL FROM THE NEWSPAPERS 1781 -93" H/J = A.K.HAMILTON-JENKINS "CORNWALL AND IT'S PEOPLE" JRJ = JEREMY ROWETT JOHNS "THE SMUGGLERS BANKER" TCS = John Vivian "Tales of Cornish Smugglers" SoF = Henry H Shore "Smugglers of Fowey" 1910 BG = Baring Gould "a book of the west" 1899 SIC = Smugglers In Cornwall, Frank Graham B. = Barbra, Looe Museum. OBR = Old Bailey Court Records CN = Cyril Noalls Smuggling in Cornwall C/M = CORNISH MAGAZINE 1898 PCH = PENZANCE CUSTOM HOUSE P/G = PENZANCE GAZETTE R/N = R.J.NOALL "A HISTORY OF St. IVES" CRO = CORNWALL RECORD OFFICE. CG = Cornwall Gazette|
Name |
Parish |
Date |
Sentence / Boat/ Other |
Source |
|
Henry Addlington (Ships Cook) |
Polperro |
1803 |
Industry |
JRJ |
| Richard Arnold | Bodmyn |
1725 /1730 |
Bodmin Innkeeper | PRO T.64/148 |
| John Avery | Betreaux Castle |
" |
Mariner on the Sarah A Betty | PRO T.64/148 |
| Robert Avery | " |
" |
Maltster | " |
| Thomas Avery | " |
" |
Miller | " |
| Thomas Avery Jnr | " |
" |
" | |
| PETER AVERY | Broad Oak Downs |
1799 |
3 years Hard Labour | OBR |
| Richard Badge | Isles of Scilly |
1830 |
Owner Speedwell | Badge Family |
|
John Baker |
Polperro |
1778 |
Swallow |
JRJ |
| Henry Baker | St Austell | 1725/1730 | Yeoman | PRO T.64/148 |
| William Barker | 1801 | 1 month in Newgate Prison | CG/16.5.1801 | |
| Joseph Beauford | Maker | " | " | |
| John Bond | St Austell | " | Yeoman | |
| Edward Samuel Barnard | Wendron | 1799 | 2 years hard labour | OBR |
| Bawden of Mavagissey | St Ives | Dec. 1831 | Smuggling fi | TCS |
| Peter Bennallack |
Veryan |
1840 |
W/B |
|
| William Borlase | Porlorn Cove | March 1828 | Lighting Fire | TCS |
| George Bramwell |
Penzance |
August 1791 |
S/M |
|
| John Brown | Porlorn Cove | March 1828 | Lighting Fire. | TCS |
| Peter Brown | St Ewe | 1805 | CRO/T/2411 | |
|
Richard Barrett |
Polperro |
1796 |
|
JRJ |
|
Reginald Barrett |
Polperro |
1797 |
|
|
| Richard Blackwell | Sennen | 1804 | Involved in shooting of Revenue officer | CN |
| William Burgess | Trengrove Farm Portreath | 1800 | CN | |
| ? Bottrell | Sennen | 1804 | Involved in shooting of Revenue officer | CN |
| Joan Carrol | Paul | 1780 | CRO - QS/1/4/278 | |
| John Carter Alias The King of Prussia |
Perranuthnoe |
1770 - 1807 |
CM |
|
| Harry Carter |
Perranuthnoe |
1770 -1807 |
CM |
|
| Robert Carter | 1801 | 3 years hard labour | CG/ 23.5.1801 | |
|
John Canning (Carpenter) |
Polperro |
1803 |
Industry |
JRJ |
| William Chaffer | St Micheal's Mount | Oct. 1822 | Killed in Rose of Gweek shipwreck | TCS |
| JOHN CHAPMAN | Broad Oak Downs | 1799 | 3 years hard labour | OBR |
| John Common Jnr | St Austell | 1725/1730 | PRO T.64/148 | |
| John Congden | St Austell | " | Mariner | " |
| William Cork | 1801 | 1 month Newgate Prison | CG.23.5.1801 | |
| John Couch | Tywardreath | " | Yeoman | " |
| Nathaniel Couch | Fowey | " | shopkeeper | " |
| Thomas Couch | Tywardreath | " | Yeoman | " |
| Coryton of Pentille | Pentille | CRO/CY/872 | ||
| William Curtis | " | |||
| Richard Cuff | 1801 | 2 years in Newgate Prison | CG/ 23.5.1801 | |
| William Clements | Rame | 23 April 1805 | CRO -QS/1/7/317-334 | |
| William Allen Cutler |
Mousehole |
1757 |
PCH |
|
| William Daw |
August 1787 |
|
S/M |
|
| John Dawny | Truro | 1725/1730 | Shopkeeper | PRO T.64/148 |
| John Dickenson | Falmouth |
" |
" | |
| John Dean | Lanteglos |
19 Apr. 1803 |
Indicted |
CRO -QS/1/7/235 |
| James Dunkin |
Penzance |
August 1791 |
? |
S/M |
| John Dunstan | Porlorn Cove | March 1828 | Lighting Fire | TCS |
| John Dunstone | Stithians | 1800 | caught with 2 tubs | CN |
|
James Ellis (Mate) |
Polperro |
1803 |
Industry |
JRJ |
| James Ellory |
Probus |
1834 | H/S | |
| Thomas Fletcher | Looe | 1830's | absconded from the Coastguard service | B |
| John Fowler | Talland | 1795 | OBR | |
| Fugler | Tregony | 1840 | 6 months prison | W/B 10/1/1840 |
| Freeman | Breage | 1793 | Funeral | J.S. Buckingham |
| Christopher French |
Near Parr |
1725/1730 | Master of Vessel | PRO T.64/148 |
| George Fox |
Parr |
" |
Merchant | " |
| James Funnell | 1801 | 18 months Newgate Prison | CG/23.5.1801 | |
| Green |
Penzance |
October 1751 |
escaped |
PCH |
| Anne George |
Sennen |
1802 |
Turned Kings Evidence |
H/J |
| Joseph George |
Sennen |
1802 |
H/J |
|
| John George |
Sennen |
1802 |
Hung |
H.J |
| John George | Polperro | 1808 | Hung at Newgate | PRO |
| Henry George | Flushing | 1725/1730 | Mariner | PRO T.64/148 |
| Richard George | Mullion | 1840 | known as the Spattsman | CN |
| John Gilbert | St Michael's Mount | Oct. 1822 | Killed in Rose of Gweek Shipwreck | TCS |
| William Gilbert | " | " |
" |
TCS |
| Lewis Grenfell |
St Just |
|
H/J |
|
| John Fynn | Looe Island | 1804 | B | |
| Joan Fynn | Looe Island | 1804 | Alias Black Joan | B |
| Jacob Hansen | Lands End | 1768 | Wrecked off Lands End whilst Smuggling | PRO Cust 68/7 |
| John Hawkey | Wadebridge | 1794 | found not guilty | OBR |
| Hawkins of Trewithen | Trewithen | 1803/07 | CRO/J/1/2123 | |
| JOHN HEALS | Broad Oak Down | 1799 | 3 years hard labour | OBR |
| George Harris | Grade | 1725/1730 | PRO T.64/148 | |
| William Higgman | Pentuan | " | Yeoman | " |
| Michael Higman | " | " | Mariner | " |
| Henry Hoskin | Polpean | " | " | |
| Hicks | Fowey | 1833 | Involved in Smuggling | SoF |
|
|
Publican St Just in Penwith |
1804 |
Lost at sea Priest’s Cove, St Just |
SM |
|
Mrs Susanna Hockins |
Polperro |
1783 |
Part owner swallow |
JRJ |
| Hoare |
Madron |
J.C.Hoare | ||
| Samuel Hydan | Nare Point | 1839 | assault | CN |
| Amram Hooper | Looe Island | 1820 | B | |
| Elizabeth Hooper | Looe Island | 1820 | B | |
| John Jaikes | Falmouth | 1837 | Caught Smuggling | W/B 10 Nov. 1937 |
|
William Johns |
Polperro |
1783 |
Swallow |
JRJ |
|
William Johns Jnr. Captain |
Polperro |
1803 |
Industry |
JRJ |
| Thomas James | Mylor | 1814 | Shot by Excise | Gravestone Mylor |
| Jago |
Redruth |
1839 |
W/B |
|
| John James | St Kevern | 1725/1730 | Yeoman | PRO T.64/148 |
| William James | Gorran Haven |
" |
Master of the William & Sarah |
" |
| Walter Jones | Truro |
" |
Habberdasher |
" |
| Arthur Jose | Bodmin |
" |
Innkeeper |
" |
| Arthur Jose | Near Fowey |
" |
" |
|
| John Keilgle | Mevigezzy | " | Gent | " |
| George Kirkin | Fowey | 1834 | SoF | |
| William Keigwin |
Mousehole |
1757 |
PCH |
|
| Richard Kingcup | Fowey | 1833 | Tam o Shanter of Fowey | SoF |
| Melchisideck Kinsman |
Gwennap |
1768 |
Not guilty |
CM |
| Mary Lerrebee | Budock | 1725/1730 | Spinster | PRO T.64/148 |
| William Lucy | Pentuen | " | Mariner | " |
|
John Lanmaid |
Polperro |
1794 |
Sentenced to death but reprieved |
JRJ |
| John Leane of Gwennap | Truro |
March 1801 |
Broke into Customs cellar | CN |
| Philip Light |
Cawsand |
1840 |
W/B |
|
| Robert Long | Veryan |
1660 |
Caught at Veryan Bay | CN |
| John Longmead | Talland | 1795 | Convicted capitally, but Judgment respited, by order of the Court. | OBR |
|
John
Mark |
Polperro |
1802 |
|
H/S |
| James Marks | Truro |
1801 |
Broke into Customs cellar | CN |
| Robert Mark | Polperro |
1802 |
Shot by Customs | H/S |
| John Maddern |
Madron |
1752 |
Witness withdrew |
PCH |
| William Moyle |
15 September 1791 |
Hung |
S/M & PRO |
|
| John Martin | Nare Point | 1839 | charged with assulting to Customs men | CN |
| Thomas Mann |
Mousehole |
1771 |
CM |
|
| Richard Mann | Mousehole | 1772 | Smuggling | PRO Cust 68/7 |
|
John Minard |
Polperro |
1797 |
|
JRJ |
| Benjamin Mellish | Fowey | 1725/1730 | PRO T.64/148 | |
| John Merryfield | Bodmin | " | Mercer | " |
| John Morcomb Jnr | Falmouth | " | " | |
| John Morcomb Snr | " | " | " | |
| George Mitchell |
St Keverne |
|
||
| Oliver Nancollas | Clothier St Austell | late 1700's | found with 35 galls Brandy | PRO T/64. Supplied by Mike Nancollas Gillingham Kent |
| Nevill Norway | Lostwithiel | 1777 03Feb | sale of sloop 'Prosperous' | S/M |
| Nicholls | Publican Point | Apr. 1822 | Smuggling | TCS |
| Francis Oprey | Pentuan | 1725/1730 | Mariner | PRO T.64/148 |
| Oats |
St Just |
1818 |
H/J |
|
|
Richard Oliver |
Polperro |
1797 |
|
JRJ |
| Pascow | Wendron | 1799 | OBR | |
| Parkynson | Lostwithiel | 1725/1730 | Apothecary | PRO T.64/148 |
| Robert Pennington | Bodmin | " | Mercer | " |
| ? Pender | Sennen | 1804 | Involved in shooting of Revenue officer | CN |
| Nicholas Pentreath | Penzance | 1769 | Smuggling Tea | PRO Cust 68/7 |
| NicholasPentreath | Paul | 1780 |
|
CRO - QS/1/4/278 |
| Richard Pentreath Alias "Doga" |
Mousehole |
1771 |
CM |
|
| Permewan |
St Just |
1818 |
H/J |
|
| William Petherick | Broad Oakdown | 1799 | OBR | |
| Richard Petherick | " | 1799 | OBR | |
|
Lukey Petherick |
Polperro |
1783 |
Part owner swallow |
JRJ |
| Thomas Perry | Talland | 1795 | OBR | |
| Patrick Plunkett | Penzance | 1778 |
PCH |
|
|
William Pit Boatswain |
Polperro |
1803 |
Industry |
JRJ |
| Moses Pitt | Penberth | 1768 | Crewmember Hopeful | PRO Cust 68/7 |
| Pollard | Madron | 1804 | CRO/ X20/37 | |
| Christopher Pollard |
Madron |
1805 |
H/J |
|
| Joseph Pollard |
Sennen |
1805 |
Charged with smuggling |
H/J |
| Pool |
Nancothnan |
1805 |
H/J |
|
| Tom Potter | Polperro | 1799 | Shot Excise Officer | SIC |
| Pridham |
|
1818 |
H/J |
|
|
Richard Quick |
Penberth |
1768 |
Mate on board the Hopeful 1768 |
PRO Cust 68/7 |
|
John Quiller Snr. |
Polperro |
1804 |
Lost at sea |
SM |
|
John Quiller Jnr. |
Polperro |
1780 |
|
JRJ |
|
Richard Quiller |
Polperro |
1780 |
Lost at sea from the Privateer “Lively” 1796 aged 33 |
JRJ |
|
William Quiller |
Polperro |
1780 |
Vigilant |
JRJ |
| Edward Reed | Gwennap | 1725/1730 | PRO T.64/148 | |
| Edward Reed | " | " | " | |
| John Roberts | Truro | " | " | |
| Phillip Rower | Falmouth | " | " | |
| Richard Rewitt's | Talland | 1795 | Caught storing kegs | OBR |
| Richard Richards | Penzance | 1771 | Smuggling Wool | PRO Cust 68/7 |
|
Richard Richards |
Polperro |
1804 |
Lost at sea, Priest’s Cove, St Just |
SM |
| James Richards | St Michael's Mount | Oct 1822 | Killed in Shipwreck | TCS |
| Capt. William Richards | Prussia Cove | 1801 | CN | |
| William Richards alias Payow | Mullion | June 1801 | Fired on Preventative men | SM 16/11/1801 |
|
George Rose (Gunner) |
Polperro |
1803 |
Industry |
JRJ |
| James Rogers |
Breage |
|
CHR |
|
|
Rogers |
Point, Restronguet Creek | Apr. 1822 | Assault Customs Officer | TCS |
| Rowe | Falmouth | August 1836 | Caught smuggling tobacco | WB 5/8/1836 |
| Benjamin Rowett | Polperro |
1797 |
JRJ | |
| Richard Rowett | Polperro |
1795 |
"Happy Return" captured | JRJ |
| George Sampson | Falmouth | 1837 | Caught smuggling | W/B 10 Nov 1837 |
| Edward Scantlebury | St Austell Parish | 1725/1730 | Labourer | PRO T.64/148 |
| James Shepherd | 1801 | 3 months Horsham Prison | CG/23.5.1801 | |
| John Stephens | Falmouth |
" |
" | |
| Thomas Stephens | " |
" |
" | |
| Isreal Solomon | formerly Falmouth now Guernsey |
1776 10Jun |
Beyond the Law | S/M |
| John Sargeant | Penzance |
1841 |
6 months Bodmin | W/B 16/4/1841 |
| Sleeman | Truro |
1823 |
Boat "Hopewell" | H/S |
| John Skinner | Wendron | 1799 | OBR | |
| Skiller | Wadebridge | 1794 | named in trial | OBR |
| Samuel Smallridge | 1801 | 2 years hard labour Newgate Prison | CG/23.5.1801 | |
| William Spalding | Penberth | 1768 | crewmember Hopeful | PRO Cust 68/7 |
| Spry | Helford |
1825 |
Lighting Fire | TCS |
| John Spiller | Penzance |
1851 |
Smuggling on Smack Wellington 6 months prison | TCS |
| Methusaleh Taskus | Penberth | 1768 | accused of smuggling | PRO Cust 68/7 |
| Teed | Penzance |
1851 |
Smuggling on Smack Wellington | TCS |
|
The Rev. Sir Harry Trelawney |
Polperro |
1796 |
Buyer of smuggled goods |
JRJ |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Martin Teague | Falmouth | 1725/1730 | Labourer | PRO T.64/148 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| John Thwaite | Penzance | 1740 | Master of Neptune | PRO 68/2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Edward Thomas | Falmouth |
" |
" | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Arthur Tingcomb | Lansellas |
" |
" | |||||||||||||||||||||
| William Tredwyn | Bodmin |
" |
" | |||||||||||||||||||||
| George Trevillian | Falmouth |
" |
Master of the sloop Restoracion | " | ||||||||||||||||||||
| William Tucker | St Blazey | " | Innkeeper | " | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Tuckdale | 1801 | 2 years in Newgate Prison | CG/23.5.1801 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Trevaskis |
St Ives |
R.J.N |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
James Tinney |
Polperro |
1783 |
Part owner swallow |
JRJ |
||||||||||||||||||||
| John Thomas | Mousehole | 1772 | Smuggling | PRO Cust 68/8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| John Thomas | Penzance | 1783 | Discharged |
CRO
QS/1/4/400-412 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Thomas | Sennen | 1805 | Named in Defence Brief | CRO ref. X20/38 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Thompson | Lostwithiel | 1834 | "Hope" seized in River Yealm | SoF | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
John Toms |
Polperro |
1789 |
|
JRJ |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Richards Toms |
Polperro |
1804 |
Lost at sea |
SM |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Roger Toms | Polperro | 1799 | King's Evidence | SIC | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Treloar | Newlyn | 1842 | Seized with 20 Tubs of Spirit | CN | ||||||||||||||||||||
| John Tresidder | Penzance | 1771 | Smuggling Wool | PRO 68/7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Tresidder | " | " | " | " | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rich Tresidder the younger | " | " | " | " | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Tresidder | " | " | " | " | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Trethewy | St Stephens | 1782 | CRO/QS/1/4/350-362 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| John Tripconey | Nare Head | 1839 | Assualt | CN | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rev. J Troutbeck | Scilly Islands | 1794 | resigned his post |
SIC
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| John Webb Jnr. | St Austell | 1787 | CRO QS/1/5/238-259 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Jacob Whetter |
Gorran |
1780 |
6 months Bodmin |
J W |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Gideon Whitter | PoIle Carris near Fowey | 1725/1730 | PRO T.64/148 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| John Webber | Parr | " | " | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
William Windham (Surgeon) |
Polperro |
1803 |
Industry |
JRJ |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Dionysius Williams | Sennen | 1805 | CRO/X20/38 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Capt. James Williams | St Ives | May 1851 | found not guilty of smuggling | W/B | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Woolcock |
August 1792 |
S/M |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Isaac Wright |
Penzance |
1769 |
Smuggling Tea |
PRO Cust 68/7 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| John Yeoman, Alias "Lean Jack" |
Mousehole |
1757 |
PCH |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Yellam from Probus | St Ives | Dec. 1831 | Smuggling fined £100 | TCS |
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