Smuggling , April 1759
Plymouth, April 18th 1759, from Owen's Weekly Chronicle; and 1763, from the London Chronicle.
This day was reseized by Henry Gibbs, Esq., Surveyor-General of his Majesty's Customs, and landed at the Custom-House Quay from the Isis man-o'war, 140 anchors of brandy, 17 bags of tea, and 200 wt. of tobacco; which had been taken out of three smuggling-boats off the Lizard; the smugglers declared they were going to land on the coast of Cornwall, and that they came out of Guernsey in company with 7 boats, one brig, one schooner, and a sloop, all intended for the said coast. The total of their cargo did not amount to less than 2000 anchors of brandy, and about 25 tons of tea.
The London Chronicle, 1763
On Sunday 20th February a smuggling sloop from Guernsey put in to the River Yalm near Plymouth, having on board about 120 casks of brandy, and three bags of tea; and in the night about 40 to 50 men came with horses, and carried away the goods.
National Library of Wales. 20th November 1737. Pembrey, Carmarthen.
James Ayres; Parish: Guernsey, Channel Islands; County: Outside Wales; Status: Mariner. Offence: Riotously breaking and entering prosecutor's house, a David Parker being a person 'suspected to have informed the customs officers concerning some goods they had run i.e. smuggling on the coast.' Also implicated but not indicted are Thomas le Page, William Lambert and Peter Major. Prosecutor: Margaret Parker, widow. Plea: Not guilty. Verdict: Not guilty.
Ayres, along with Guernsey sailors Henry Lambert and William Roberts, was also accused both of riot and assault and wounding a prosecutor by shooting him. They were all found not guilty.
Frauds in the Customs
By Letter, dated in December and January 1731, from the Officers at Falmouth. No. 15. The Commissioners received Notice of the Seizure of 233lb. of Tobacco, and a considerable Quantity of other Goods out of the Sarah Sloop, Samuel Pascoe Master, from Guernsey; as also the said Sloop, which Goods hsve been since condemned, and the Sloop burnt for importing Brandy that was seized with Tobacco and other Goods.
By Letter, dated 27 April 1732, from the Officers at Fowey. No. 16. The Commissioners received an Account of the Seizure of 2, 946lb. of Leaf Tobacco and 78lb. in Rolls, with other Goods out of the Patience Sloop, George Leigh Master, a noted Smuggler, from Guernsey; which Tobacco is since condemned; And this is one of the Sloops mentioned in the aforegoing Letter from Captain Ashe, who makes it a constant Practice to run such Goods from Guernsey.
Extract of a Letter dated 28 April 1732, from Captain Ashe, Commander of the Custom House Sloop at Dartmouth, to the Solicitor of the Customs. There are about 25 Sail of Vessels which are about 12 or 14 Tons each, betwixt Plymouth and the Land's End, that make it a constant Practice to go over to Guernsey, and bring over Tea, Brandy, Rum, Tobacco, Soap, Cloth, Wine, and other Goods, and run it ashore, in Defiance of all Officers, having 80 or 100 Men well armed to assist them at Half an Hour's Warning, who will land a Cargo in an Hour or Two; and they are always provided with Horses to carry it into the Country; so that it is impossible to take them when Bulk has been broken; and they have declared they will claim every Thing that is seized.
By an Information received in June 1732 from Robert Nash. No. 19. 10,403 Pounds of Tobacco shipped at Liverpoole for Guernsey, was fraudlently landed in Ireland; where upon a Prosecution was commenced against the Exporter, for Repayment of the Drawback, amounting to £299.0.2, and for double that Sum, which by Law was forfeited; but the Evidence having withdrawn himself, the Cause could not go on.
By a Letter, dated 28 July 1732 from the Officers of Penzance. No. 20. The Commissioners received Proofs, that Goods were run out of the Mary, one Richard Richards Master, who was supposed to come from Guernsey; upon which the Officers seized the whole Cargo, contsisiting of 7,336lb. of Tobacco, and Brandy, which are since condemned.
By Letter, dated 18 November 1732, from Falmouth. No. 23. The Commissioners received an Account from Falmouth, of the seizure of 4,673 Pounds of Tobacco and other Goods, out of the William, an open Boat, Samuel Pascoe master, from Guernsey, which has been condemned.
By Letter, dated 7 January 1732, from the Officers at Dartmouth. No. 24. The Commissioners received an Account, that Captain Ash had brought in the Ann and Jane Sloop, of about 12 Tons Burthen, laden with 12 Bags, containing 1,380 Pounds of Tobacco and other Goods, from Guernsey. This Vessel was found at anchor in Start Bay, within a Quarter of a Mile from the Shore, near the Place where lay at Anchor, had he not been prevented by the Captain; and there being proof of an intended Fraud, the Goods were condemned.
The Captain brought in, at the same Time, the Dolphin Sloop, Burthen 50 Tons, James Sullivan pretended Master, of St Malo, but last from Guernsey, laden with 90 Bags of Tobacco, and a considerable Quantity of other Goods. This Sloop was found at an Anchor in Start Bay, about Half a Mile from the Shore; and the Officer learnt, that one Bell was the Master of her, who was left behind at Fowey, in order to be ready, with Men and Horses, to take the Goods on Shore when the Sloop should arrive on that Coast; and that this Sullivan was on old Smuggler on the Cornish Coast; and there were Two Men brought over in this Sloop, who ran away before the Captain came up with her, for fear he should know them. These Circumstances were very strong Reasons to susupect a Fraud; but the Officers not being able to get sufficcient Proof of Breaking Bulk, the Commissioners, upon advising with their Solicitors, ordered the Sloop and Goods to be discharged, upon the Master's giving a Bond not to land the Goods in this Kingdom.