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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
181 | 1731 | Robert Hudson | Maldon in Essex | Essex | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this and other Frauds - they can't be taken. |
181 | 1731 | Gabriel Merrifield | Maldon in Essex | Essex | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this and other Frauds - they can't be taken. |
181 | 1731 | William Gosling | Maldon in Essex | Essex | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this and other Frauds - they can't be taken. |
181 | 1731 | Gilbert Heath | Maldon in Essex | Essex | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this and other Frauds - they can't be taken. |
182 | 1731 | William Maycock | on the River Mercey in the County of Chester | Cheshire | Imported and run without payment of Duty | are under Prosecution for this Fraud Depending. |
182 | 1731 | John Powner | on the River Mercey in the County of Chester | Cheshire | Imported and run without payment of Duty | are under Prosecution for this Fraud Depending. |
183 | 1731 | William Cramlington | Tinmo Haven Tynemouth? | Northumberland | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this and other Frauds - The Cause against Cramlington is at Issue - Artley is dead. |
184 | 1731 | Jane Walker | Clowton in Yorkshire | Yorkshire | Imported and run without payment of Duty | was Prosecuted for this Fraud & Compounded. |
185 | 1731 | Robert Cuthbertson | Cumberland | Cumberland | Imported and run without payment of Duty | is Prosecuted for this Fraud - he can't be heard of. |
186 | 1731 | Richard Woodwark | Marsh Chapel | Lincolnshire | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this Fraud - Judgment was obtained against Woodwark by default with which he is charged in Execution in Hull Gaol - Robinson & Mussendine can't be taken. |
186 | 1731 | John Mussendine | Marsh Chapel | Lincolnshire | Imported and run without payment of Duty | were Prosecuted for this Fraud - Judgment was obtained against Woodwark by default with which he is charged in Execution in Hull Gaol - Robinson & Mussendine can't be taken. |
187 | 1731 | Thomas Petty | unknown | is Prosecuted for part of these goods - he can't be taken. |