Customs in the News

These are extracts from newspapers, mainly the Hampshire Telegraph, about Customs, Excise and Coast Guard.

1800 - 1819

 

,Portsmouth Telegraph – 24 February 1800

EXCISE SALE

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

At the FOUNTAIN INN, West Cowes, Isle of Wight on WEDNESDAY, the 26th February Instant.

A VESSEL, Carvel Built, called the RESOLUTION, burthen between 44 and 45 Tons, by Register, with all he Materials, Furniture, Tackle and Apparel: she if well found in Sails, Anchors, Cables, and Rigging.

Also, the BROKEN-UP HULLS of TWO BOATS, with their Materials; the same having been seized and legally condemned.

The above Vessel, &c. may be viewed on the day preceding, or on the Morning of the Sale, by applying to Captain SARMON, West Cowes.

The Sale to begin at precisely One o’Clock.

 

Mottley’s  Portsmouth Telegraph and Portsmouth Gazette – 24 February 1800

EXCISE SALE

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

At the FOUNTAIN INN, West Cowes, Isle of Wight on WEDNESDAY, the 26th February Instant.

A VESSEL, Carvel Built, called the RESOLUTION, burthen between 44 and 45 Tons, by Register, with all he Materials, Furniture, Tackle and Apparel: she if well found in Sails, Anchors, Cables, and Rigging.

Also, the BROKEN-UP HULLS of TWO BOATS, with their Materials; the same having been seized and legally condemned.

The above Vessel, &c. may be viewed on the day preceding, or on the Morning of the Sale, by applying to Captain SARMON, West Cowes.

The Sale to begin at precisely One o’Clock.

 

Portsmouth Telegraph – 6 July 1801

EXCISE SALE, ISLE of WIGHT

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

On WEDNESDAY, the 8th July, 1801 at Two o’Clock in the Afternoon, at the Custom-House in East Cowes.

THE UNDERMENTIONED TOBACCO:

Unmanufactured Tobacco           297 lbs

Short Cut ditto                           25 lbs

Shag ditto                                 1770 lbs

Scotch Snuff                              5 lbs

The above goods have been seized and legally condemned, and may be viewed, on application at His Majesty’s Warehouse, two Days before the Sale. 

 

Mottley’s  Portsmouth Telegraph and Portsmouth Gazette – 6 July 1801

EXCISE SALE, ISLE of WIGHT

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

On WEDNESDAY, the 8th July, 1801 at Two o’Clock in the Afternoon, at the Custom-House in East Cowes.

THE UNDERMENTIONED TOBACCO:

Unmanufactured Tobacco           297 lbs

Short Cut ditto                           25 lbs

Shag ditto                                 1770 lbs

Scotch Snuff                              5 lbs

The above goods have been seized and legally condemned, and may be viewed, on application at His Majesty’s Warehouse, two Days before the Sale.

 

Mottley’s  Portsmouth Telegraph and Portsmouth Gazette – 22 February 1802

ISLE OF WIGHT

BY ORDER OF THE HONOURABLE COMMISSIONERS OF HIS MAJESTY’S CUSTOMS

On Tuesday the 23rd February, 1802, will be Exported to Public Sale, at the Custom House, in East Cowes, at Eleven o’Clock in the Forenoon.

FORTY-SIX Half Barrels (containing 500 each) RED HERRINGS, which has been seized and may be seen at His Majesty’s Warehouse Two Days before and the Day of Sale.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 23 July 1804

Fifty Pounds Reward. Custom-house, Cowes, June 25 1804

Whereas it has been represented to the Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs, that in the night of Saturday the 7th April last, Daniel Dore and George Granger, Officers of Customs at the Port of Cowes, having, at a place called St. Helen’s Harbour, made the seizure of a Boat containing 40 Casks of Spirits, and having towed the said Boat to the opposite shore called Bembridge, in order to deposit the said Goods in the house of the said George Granger, preparatory to their being removed to the Custom-house at Cowes the next morning; and after hading taken 24 Casks out of the said boat, and placed them on the shore, they were attacked by three men, armed with bludgeons, who beat and wounded said Daniel Dore and George Granger in a severe and brutal manner, and forcibly rescued and conveyed away said boat and remaining Casks of Spirits there on board.

The Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs, in order to bring to justice the persons concerned in this outrage are hereby pleased to offer a Reward of £50 to any Person or Persons, who shall discover; and apprehend or cause to be discovered and apprehended, any one or more of the said offenders, to be paid by the Receiver General of his Majesty’s Customs on conviction.

By Order of the Commissioners

JOHN WARD, Collector

ISHAM CHAPMAN, Comptroller

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 4 March 1805

ONE HUNDRED POUNDS REWARD. Custom-House, London, 20 February 1805

Whereas it has been represented to the Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs, that on Thursday Evening, the 31st January last, James Snudden, an Officer of Customs at the Port of Cowes, as he was protecting a cart hired to convey to the Custom-House Warehouse, fifteen Casks of prohibited Spirits, then lately before seized by Officers of the Customs, on the south side of the Isle of Wight, was attacked in the road, within half a mile of Newport, by three men unknown, armed with large sticks, who had secreted themselves in a hedge, one of whom beat the said James Snudden violently about the head, and drove his horse on which he was mounted at a distance from the said cart, during which the said two other men forcibly rescued and took out of the said Cart five Casks of the said Spirits, and carried away the same.

The Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs, in order to bring to justice the Persons concerned in the assault and obstruction of the said Officer in the execution of his duty arehereby pleased to offer a Reward of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS to any Person or Persons, who shall discover; and apprehend or cause to be discovered and apprehended, any one or more of the said offenders, to be paid by the Receiver General of his Majesty’s Customs on conviction.

J. HUME, Secretary

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 11 March 1805

On Saturday last, Messrs. Granger and Dore, brought to this Custom-house Warehouse, 59 casks of spirits, which were seized in a cellar at Yaverland, in this Island. Mr Robey, Riding Officer, brought also 85 casks of spirits, which were found secreted at the back of this Island. – Mr Chiverton, Riding Office, has brought in 35 casks, found at Red Cliff, near Yaverland. The Excise Officers, in the course of last week, seized 108 casks of spirits at the back of the Island.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 1 July 1805

Five Guineas Reward

Lost, in the High Street, Lymington, on Monday the 13th day of May last, a POCKET BOOK, containing the Commission of Mr. Robert Willis, Sitter of a six oar’d Boat at the Port of Cowes, and other papers. Whoever has found the Commission, and will deliver the same to him at Yarmouth, shall receive the above reward from Robert Willis. (This appeared for four successive weeks.)

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 27 June 1806

On the 22nd, a seizure of 38 casks of spirits was brought to the Custom-house Warehouse, by Mr Robey, Supervisor of Customs, which were found in the cliff, near Lowcomb.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 6 July 1807

COWES. – This morning Capt. Turner of the Fox delivered 80 casks of spirits, picked up at sea. Mr Dore, Tide Waiter at St Helen’s has brought 32 casks of spirits to the Warehouse, found sunk near St Helen’s.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 18 April 1808

CAUTION. To oyster-dredgers and others frequenting the Motherbank. Whereas, by the Order of His Majesty in Council, dated the 21st July, 1806, it is ordered that no Persons, Ships, Vessels or Boats other than Vessels or Boats belonging to the Superintendent of Quarantine, or his Assistant, or other Boats regularly employed under the authority of His Majesty’s Customs, in the Quarantine Service, shall go under any pretence whatever within the place marked by Yellow Buoys for the Quarantine Service, at the Motherbank, except in cases of special necessity and emergency, and with the permission first had and obtained from the Superintendent of Quarantine of the Motherbank, or his Assistant, on penalty by law of FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS.

Notice is hereby given, that, at the Assizes at Winchester, on the 10th March, 1808, JAMES COOK, of the Smack Martha, of Maldon, was convicted of the said offence, and the said law will be enforced against all Persons found offending in the future.

 

London Gazette – 18 June 1814

BY order of the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors; James Snudden, late of Newport, Isle of Wight, in the county of Hants, in the service of His Majesty's Customs, and now a prisoner in the borough gaol of Newport, Isle of Wight; in the county of Hants, will be examined before the Justices of the Peace for the said borough, either at a General Session of the Peace, or an Adjournment of a General Session of the Peace, which shall be first holden for the said borough, after the expiration of twenty days at least from the day of the insertion hereof, for the purpose of determining whether the said James Snudden is entitled to the benefit of the Act for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors; and all Creditors of the said James Snudden are required to attend accordingly; if they shall think fit.—The petition and schedule of the said James Snudden are filed in the office of the said Court, at No. 59,

Milbank-street, in the city of Westminster.

List of the Creditors of the said .James Snuddcn, except those at whose suit he is detained in custody.

Thos. Perry, Fareham, Hampshire, mariner; Messrs, Kirkpatrick and Co. Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, bankers; Mr. C. P. Sullivan, Newgate-street, London, warehouseman; Henry Pearsall, High-street, Southwark, Surrey, hosier; Benjamin Dunn, Penryn, Cornwall, mariner; William Hull Pierpoint, Broadway, Blackfriars, London, cotton warehouseman; John Steane, Newport, Isle of. Wight, Hampshire, distiller; Reader Clark, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, miller; Jonathan Wavell, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, draper ; Edmund Wavell, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, shoemaker; Robert Bloxam, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, surgeon; William Davis, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, draper; Richard Mew, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, upholsterer; John and Edward Rogers, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, drapers; William Tucker, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, butcher; James Booty, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, grocer; John Gray, of Furzehurst, Hampshire, gentleman; Robert Bloxam, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, surgeon, and James Ceill, of the same place, brewer, executors of Mr. R. B. Wilkins, late of Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, ironmonger, deceased; Edward Breefett, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, ironmonger; Mr. O. B. Silcock, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, grocer; Thomas Robinson, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, corn-merchant.

JAMES SNUDDEN.

 

Morning Chronicle – 24 July 1814

We are informed, from authority, that the Collector of Customs at Cowes exercised no sort of official authority as Collector of Customs, in rescuing the whale from the custody of Yarmouth people, but he attacked the creature by virtue of a warrant from the High Court of Admiralty, dated the 13th inst. directed to him as Deputy-Vice-Admiral, and Receiver of Admiralty Droits for the Isle of Wight, the huge Leviathan being deemed a perquisite thereof, from having been found within its jurisdiction; at the same time all persons having, or pretending to have, any right or claim to the whale, were cited to appear before the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty, on Saturday , the 2nd October ensuing, to have their claims heard.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 6 March 1815

Died on Wednesday morning, Mr James Ferris, late Mate of the Duke of York Excise cutter.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 3 June 1816

On Wednesday, the Harpy Excise Cutter brought to this port [Southampton] a French row-boat, with 124 casks of contraband goods. The crew consisted of four French and two Englishmen; the former are liberated, the latter are detained.

COWES. Yesterday, Mr. Jeatts, sitter of the six-oared boat at Bembridge, delivered thirty two casks of spirit into the Custom-house warehouse at this port, which he found secreted near Bembridge.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 2 December 1816

On Saturday last, the three men (smugglers) taken by the Supervisor and Officers of Excise, of Newport, were taken before the Sitting Magistrates in that town, and fully convicted in the full penalty of £100 each; and not being able to pay the same, they were immediately committed to prison.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 22 September 1817

On Saturday, the 13th inst., Mr. Dickson, Sitter of the Preventive Boat stationed at St. Lawrence, crept up 68 casks of Geneva, at Puckcaster Cove, and delivered the same at Southampton. – And on Friday the 19th inst., Mr. Snudden, Riding Officer, brought to Cowes a small seizure of four casks found in a hedge at Shanklin.

 

Trewman’s Exeter Flying Post – 18 December 1817

Thursday the ship Grace of London, Davey, master, with 80 officers on board bound to St Thomas’s on the South American Expedition, was seized in Cowes roadstead, by John Ward, Esq., Collector of Customs at that Port for having received on board many of said officers in a clandestine manner, contrary to the Passengers’ Act: and also for having no papers on board to prove the ship’s identity and character. The Grace is reported to be owned by a Mr. Fitzgerald, who for some time was examined before the Lord Mayo, for engaging to convey passengers out of the kingdom in a ship called the Caledonia. On the day preceding the seizure of the above vessel, Mr Sutton, a volunteer officer for South America, was shot in a duel, at West Cowes, by Major Lockyer, a British officer, about to depart on the same enterprise.- Evening Paper

The following account gives a further account of this transaction:-

Isle of Wight, Dec. 13.

FATAL DUEL.- On Wednesday last an inquest was taken at the Dolphin Inn, before Thomas Sewell, Esq., Coroner of the Isle of Wight, to view of the body of a gentleman of the name of John Sutton, who was killed in a duel, in Northwood Park, that morning. It appears in evidence, that the deceased was one of the passengers about to proceed to St. Thomas’s in the ship Grace, now lying in Cowes-roads; that on the preceding the deceased, a Major Lockyer, a Mr. Thomas Redesdale, and a Mr. Hand, and other passengers were in company together at the Dolphin; that Major Lockyer took offence at some expression made use of by the deceased, and, in consequence, challenged him. The parties met next morning. Mr Redesdale attending to Major Lockyer, and Mr Hand as second to the deceased. Major Lockyer only fired at the appointed signal, the ball entered the deceased’s body between the third and fourth ribs on the right side, passed through the ventricle of the heart, and occasioned, of course, instant death. The principal and seconds immediately fled. The jury, without hesitation, returned a verdict of wilful murder against Major Lockyer and Messrs. Redesdale and Hand, and the Coroner issued his warrant for their apprehension.- Mr Hand was apprehended (by Allen, the Newport Constable) at Portsmouth, on Thursday: the others are still at large.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 29 December 1817

On the 17th inst. Mr. Snudden, Riding Officer, seized at Shanklin, 11 casks of spirit, and lodged them in the Warehouse at Cowes. On the 21st, Mr.Dixon, Sitter of the St. Lawrence Boat, seized, at Bonchurch, 76 casks of spirit, which he delivered to the Excise Office at Newport. On the 22nd, Messrs. Snudden and Robey, Riding Officers, seized 42 casks of spirit, at Dunnose, which they deposited in the Warehouse at Cowes. Same day, Mr. Jeatt, Sitter of the preventive-boat at Bembridge, seized nine casks near Shanklin, and delivered them to the Excise Office at Newport.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 20 April 1818

James Snudden, an Insolvent Debtor.

The creditors of JAMES SNUDDEN, late of Newport, in the Isle of Wight, in the County of Southampton, Officer of Customs, who in or about the month of July, 1814, was discharged out of the Custody of the Keeper of the Gaol of the Borough of Newport, by virtue of the Acts of Parliament for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors in England, are requested to meet at the Town Clerk’s Office, in Lugley Street, in the Borough of Newport aforesaid, on Monday the 20th day of April next, at twelve o’clock at noon, in order to elect, choose, and appoint some proper person or persons to be an Assignee of the Estate and Effects of the said James Snudden. – Dated this 25th day of March, 1818.

CLARKE, SEWELL & HEARN, Solicitors.

 

London Gazette – 5 December 1818

Notice is hereby given, that the Assignee of the estate and effects of  James Snudden, late of Newport, in the Isle of Wight, in the County of Southampton, who was lately discharged out of the Custody of the Keeper of the Gaol of the Borough of Newport, by virtue of the Acts of Parliament for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors, will attend the Office of Clarke, Sewell and Hearn, Solicitors, in Newport aforesaid, on Thursday the 14th day of January 1819, from Ten o’Clock in the forenoon until Four o’Clock in the afternoon, to make a first dividend of the estate and effects of said James Snudden, from whose demands he has obtained his discharge by virtue of the said Act; when and where all his Creditors are to come prepared with proof of their debts, according to the directions of the said Acts, and every Creditor who shall not duly prove his debt will be excluded from the benefit of the said dividend. – Dated this 13th day of November 1818.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 25 January 1819

On the 19th inst. Mr Young, deputed mariner of the Resolution Cutter, on searching the hedges near Egypt. Parish of Northwood, found 19 casks foreign spirits, which he delivered to the Custom-House at Cowes. – On the 20th inst. John Fowd, Boatman, found near Gurnard, one cask of spirits, concealed in a bush, which he seized and delivered to the said Warehouse. – On the 19th also, Mr James Snudden, Riding Officer at Shanklin, found on shore, near Dunnose, 19 casks of spirits, which he seized and delivered to the said Warehouse. – And on the 21st inst. Mr Robey, Riding Officer at Ryde, and Mr Lydale, Coast Waiter at the same place, on searching the coppice of Mr Urqehart, distant about 150 yards from the house, found 125 casks of foreign brandy, which they seized and delivered to the Custom-House Warehouse at Cowes.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 8 February 1819

Captain Miller Worsley, R.N. nearly met with a nasty accident, on Saturday 28th ult. – On his return home about eight o’clock at night , from his daily inspection of the Customs preventive-boats, he was met in  a very narrow road by a waggon, with which the horses were ferociously running away. Before Capt. Worsley could turn his horse, both horse and the rider were overthrown, the horses and waggon passing over both. Captain Worsley’s horse was killed, but he providentially escaped almost unhurt, and was removed to his brother, the Rev. H. Worsley’s House, at Godshill, which he was able to leave the next day.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 22 February 1819

CUSTOM-HOUSE LONDON. March 19th 1819

Whereas it has been represented to the Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs that Captain MILLER WORSLEY, Inspecting Commander of the Isle of Wight, being on his return from the Parish of Wroxall to Gatcombe, on the night of 25th of December 1818, was feloniously fired at by some person or persons unknown, from a wood situated between Wroxall and Godshill, about eight miles from Newport, in the said Isle of Wight.

The Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs, in order to bring to justice the said offender or offenders, are hereby pleased to offer a Reward of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS to any Person or Persons who shall discover, or cause to discover, any one or more of the said offenders, so that they may be apprehended and dealt with according to the law, to be paid by the Collector of his Majesty’s Customs at the Port of Cowes upon conviction.

By Order of the Commissioners

G.DELAVAUD, Secretary.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 15 March 1819

CUSTOM-HOUSE LONDON. 27th February 1819

Whereas it has been represented to the Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs that WILLIAM ROBEY, Riding Officer, and ROBERT LYDALL, Coast Waiter, in the service of the Customs at the Port of Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, being out on duty about Ten o’clock of the night of Friday, the 19th inst. near the Turnpike Gate called Stonepits, about a mile distant from Ryde, in the said Isle of Wight, fell in with a GANG of SMUGGLERS, in number about five or six, carrying Casks on their backs, and who on seeing the said Officers, threw down the Casks, containing foreign run Spirits, and ran off, that the Officers immediately seized and secured the said Casks, and were proceeding with their seizure towards Ryde; when at about half a mile distant from that place on the high Road, they were feloniously fired upon by some Person or Persons unknown, from some sort of Fire Arms, the contents of which struck the said William Robey and Robert Lydall and dangerously wounded them.  

The Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs, in order to bring to justice the said offenders, are hereby pleased to offer a Reward of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS to any Person or Persons who shall discover, or cause to discover, any one or more of the said offenders, so that they may be apprehended and dealt with according to the Law, to be paid by the Collector of his Majesty’s Customs at the Port of Cowes upon conviction.

By Order of the Commissioners

G.DELAVAUD, Secretary.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 22 March 1819

Charles Le Haut, Emanuel Shinah, Samuel Burden and Peter Dyer, convicted before Sir Thomas Leonard Worsley Holmes, Bart, and Sir Richard Bassett, Knt. in the penalty of £100 each, for being, on the 28th day of February last, found on board a certain boat liable to forfeiture, and seizure, having on board the said boat contraband spirits, viz. 100 gallons of foreign brandy, and 550 gallons of foreign geneva.

 

Hampshire Telegraph – 5 April 1819

CUSTOM-HOUSE LONDON. March 19th 1819

Whereas it has been represented to the Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs that early on the morning of the 25th February last, B.E.QUADLING and B.PARKINSON, boatmen in the service of customs stationed at St. Lawrence, in the Isle of Wight, while returning from their duty, fell in with twelve men, supposed to be Smugglers, each having two tubs of spirits, did feloniously attack the said B.E.Quadling and B.Parkinson, with fire arms and other weapons, and wounded B.E.Quadling in the left hand with a pistol ball.

The Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs, in order to bring to justice the said offenders, are hereby pleased to offer a Reward of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS to any Person or Persons who shall discover, or cause to discover, any one or more of the said offenders, so that they may be apprehended and dealt with according to the law, to be paid by the Collector of his Majesty’s Customs at the Port of Cowes upon conviction.

By Order of the Commissioners

G.DELAVAUD, Secretary.

1820 onwards

Customs Cowes Homepage

6 May 2008