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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
135 | 1729 | William Cramlington | at Headworth at Wareinway in Durham | Durham | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for these & other Frauds - The Cause against Cramlington is at Issue - Artley is dead. |
136 | 1729 | Francis Dobson | on the Yorkshire Coast | Yorkshire | Imported and run without payment of Duty | was Prosecuted for this Fraud & Compounded. |
137 | 1729 | John Corder | in Langenhoe Creek in Essex | Essex | Imported and run without payment of Duty | is under Prosecution for this Fraud - he can't be taken. |
138 | 1730 | Hugh Lloyd | at Borthewin Bay in the Isle of Anglesea | Anglesey | Imported and run without payment of Duty | are under Prosecution for this Fraud Judgment was obtained against Lloyd upon his Bail Bond & Execution hath Issued agt him, but he cant be taken Williams & Hughes can't be heard of. |
138 | 1730 | William Williams | at Borthewin Bay in the Isle of Anglesea | Anglesey | Imported and run without payment of Duty | are under Prosecution for this Fraud Judgment was obtained against Lloyd upon his Bail Bond & Execution hath Issued agt him but he cant be taken Williams & Hughes can't be heard of. |
139 | 1730 | Daniel Smith & others | at Aldbro Beach | Suffolk | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this Fraud but the Witness against them withdrew himself & never came to Support his Information. |
140 | 1730 | Thomas Crake | Scarbrough | Yorkshire | Imported and run without payment of Duty | was Prosecuted for this Fraud - he was admitted an Evidence. |
141 | 1730 | Samuel Diball | at Scargap in Norfolk | Norfolk | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this and other Frauds Butcher & Eyson & Diball can't be taken; Ficklyn is admitted an Evidence. William Brown was Prosecuted for receiving part of these goods - he has made an offer to Compound & has given an Information which are under Consideration. |
141 | 1730 | James Butcher | at Scargap in Norfolk | Norfolk | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this and other Frauds Butcher & Eyson & Diball can't be taken; Ficklyn is admitted an Evidence. William Brown was Prosecuted for receiving part of these goods - he has made an offer to Compound & has given an Information which are under Consideration. |
141 | 1730 | Samuel Eyson | at Scargap in Norfolk | Norfolk | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this and other Frauds Butcher & Eyson & Diball can't be taken; Ficklyn is admitted an Evidence. William Brown was Prosecuted for receiving part of these goods - he has made an offer to Compound & has given an Information which are under Consideration. |
141 | 1730 | William Brown | at Scargap in Norfolk | Norfolk | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this and other Frauds Butcher & Eyson & Diball can't be taken; Ficklyn is admitted an Evidence. William Brown was Prosecuted for receiving part of these goods - he has made an offer to Compound & has given an Information which are under Consideration. |
141 | 1730 | John Ficklyn | at Scargap in Norfolk | Norfolk | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this and other Frauds Butcher & Eyson & Diball can't be taken; Ficklyn is admitted an Evidence. William Brown was Prosecuted for receiving part of these goods - he has made an offer to Compound & has given an Information which are under Consideration. |