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Dark Markets Observatory
Smuggling Prosecutions in England and Wales c. 1722-1732
This is a raw version of the data that was transcribed and compiled from reports ordered by the British House of Commons in 1733. In that year and following debate over the Excise Bill, the House ordered a summary of all prosecutions for smuggling throughout England, Wales, and Scotland for the preceding 10 years.
While the Scottish report has not yet been located, the reports for England and Wales were found
at the National Archive, Kew, England (references T64/146-149).
Corrected data will be provided in early March, 2026
If you think this data might be useful, please feel free to email me with ideas about formatting, visualizations or connections with other sources. If you detect errors, please also let me know. dasmith@wlu.ca
Thanks to Jessica Duncan and Nicholas Morrison for their excellent assistance putting together this database. Jessica used TransKribus to create the transcription and Nicholas proofed the copy.
This research is supported in part by funding from Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Index | Year | Persons | Place | County | Circumstances | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
74 | 1726 | Thomas Warren | On the Coast of Essex | Essex | Imported & Run without payment of Duty | were prosecuted for this & other Frauds Chisam, Goddy, & Goad cant be heard of - Judgment was obtained against Warren with which he was Charg'd in Execution in the Fleet prison |
77 | 1727 | Ambrose Beaksby | Aldeburgh Beach Suffolk | Suffolk | Imported & Run without payment of Duty | were prosecuted for this & other Frauds Dallinger was Sent to Gaol & was afterwards a Witness - The Cause was at Issue against Sprunt but the proof was not Sufficient to Try it wee never know where to meet with John Coble A Verdict was obtained agt Beaksby & he was Charged in Execution in the Fleet Prison |
77 | 1727 | John Coble | Aldeburgh Beach Suffolk | Suffolk | Imported & Run without payment of Duty | were prosecuted for this & other Frauds Dallinger was Sent to Gaol & was afterwards a Witness - The Cause was at Issue against Sprunt but the proof was not Sufficient to Try it wee never know where to meet with John Coble. A Verdict was obtained agt Beaksby & he was Charged in Execution in the Fleet Prison |
77 | 1727 | Robert Dallinger | Aldeburgh Beach Suffolk | Suffolk | Imported & Run without payment of Duty | were prosecuted for this & other Frauds Dallinger was Sent to Gaol & was afterwards a Witness - The Cause was at Issue against Sprunt but the proof was not Sufficient to Try it wee never know where to meet with John Coble A Verdict was obtained agt Beaksby & he was Charged in Execution in the Fleet Prison |
78 | 1727 | John Batney | Frinton in Essex | Essex | Imported and run without payment of Duty | was prosecuted for this & other frauds - Sandall & Batney became Witnesses - Process Issued against John Frost Abraham Hullock & Richard Bruce but they absconded & could mot be taken A verdict was obtained agt Joseph Bruce upon another Information & he Run away. A Verdict was obtained agt Edward Langrum & he was Charg'd in Execution in the fleet prison |
78 | 1727 | Joseph Bruce | Frinton in Essex | Essex | Imported & Run without payment of Duty | was prosecuted for this & other frauds - Sandall & Batney became Witnesses - Process Issued against John Frost, Abraham Hullock & Richard Bruce but they absconded & could mot be taken A verdict was obtained agt Joseph Bruce upon another Information & he Run away. A Verdict was obtained agt Edward Langrum & he was Charg'd in Execution in the fleet prison |
78 | 1727 | John Frost | Frinton in Essex | Essex | Imported & Run without payment of Duty | was prosecuted for this & other frauds - Sandall & Batney became Witnesses - Process Issued against John Frost, Abraham Hullock & Richard Bruce but they absconded & could mot be taken A verdict was obtained agt Joseph Bruce upon another Information & he Run away. A Verdict was obtained agt Edward Langrum & he was Charg'd in Execution in the fleet prison |
78 | 1727 | Richard Bruce | Frinton in Essex | Essex | Imported and run without payment of Duty | was prosecuted for this & other frauds - Sandall & Batney became Witnesses - Process Issued against John Frost Abraham Hullock & Richard Bruce but they absconded & could mot be taken A verdict was obtained agt Joseph Bruce upon another Information & he Run away. A Verdict was obtained agt Edward Langrum & he was Charg'd in Execution in the fleet prison |
78 | 1727 | Edward Langrum | Frinton in Essex | Essex | Imported & Run without payment of Duty | was prosecuted for this & other frauds - Sandall & Batney became Witnesses - Process Issued against John Frost Abraham Hullock & Richard Bruce but they absconded & could mot be taken A verdict was obtained agt Joseph Bruce upon another Information & he Run away. A Verdict was obtained agt Edward Langrum & he was Charg'd in Execution in the fleet prison |
78 | 1727 | Abraham Hullock | Frinton in Essex | Essex | Imported & Run without payment of Duty | was prosecuted for this & other frauds - Sandall & Batney became Witnesses - Process Issued against John Frost, Abraham Hullock & Richard Bruce but they absconded & could mot be taken A verdict was obtained agt Joseph Bruce upon another Information & he Run away. A Verdict was obtained agt Edward Langrum & he was Charg'd in Execution in the fleet prison |
79 | 1727 | Thomas Buxton | Near Yarmouth in Norfolk | Hampshire | Imported and run without payment of Duty | was prosecuted for this Fraud & other Goods - he absconded & could not be taken |
80 | 1727 | John Rowland | Parnell Brittin Flintshire | Flintshire | Imported and run without payment of Duty | These persons were prosecuted for this fraud (& other Goods) process Issued against David Jones, Charles Pott, Jeremy Williams, Thomas Edwards & Evan Rowland but they absconded & could not be taken - Thomas Brown & Edward Jones were arrested & sent to Gaol - John Rowland was arrested & Judgment was obtained upon his Bail Bond & he & his Bail all Run away. |
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