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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
36 | 1725 | Christopher Virgoe | Harwich | Essex | Imported & run without payment of Duty | was prosecuted for this fraud & other goods & became an Evidence against others. |
38 | 1725 | Robert Woodmass & others | Stockton | Durham | Imported & run without payment of Duty | were prosecuted for this offence & other Goods & Compounded |
39 | 1725 | John Vincent | Near Holkham Norfolk | Norfolk | Imported & run without payment of Duty | were prosecuted for this fraud (& other Goods) & were sent to Gaol. Vincent & Box were Witnesses & a Judgmt was obtained against Bretland & Gibbons & they were Charg'd in Execution thereon |
39 | 1725 | Tobias Bretland | Near Holkham Norfolk | Norfolk | Imported & run without payment of Duty | were prosecuted for this fraud (& other Goods) & were sent to Gaol. Vincent & Box were Witnesses & a Judgmt was obtained against Bretland & Gibbons & they were Charg'd in Execution thereon |
39 | 1725 | Roger Box | Near Holkham Norfolk | Norfolk | Imported & run without payment of Duty | were prosecuted for this fraud (& other Goods) & were sent to Gaol. Vincent & Box were Witnesses & a Judgmt was obtained against Bretland & Gibbons & they were Charg'd in Execution thereon |
40 | 1725 | John Thompson | Little Holland in Essex | Essex | Imported & run without payment of Duty | was prosecuted for this fraud but he could not be taken |
41 | 1725 | Joseph Bruce | Frinton Low in Essex | Essex | Imported & run without payment of Duty | These persons were prosecuted for this fraud; Sandall, Freeman & Palmer became Evidences; Thos Went was Drown’d; Murry & Bruce absconded & could not be taken; John Thompson is dead. |
41 | 1725 | John Thompson | Frinton Low in Essex | Essex | Imported & run without payment of Duty | These persons were prosecuted for this fraud; Sandall, Freeman & Palmer became Evidences; Thomas Went was Drown’d; Murry & Bruce absconded & could not be taken; John Thompson is dead. |
41 | 1725 | John Sandall | Frinton Low in Essex | Essex | Imported & run without payment of Duty | These persons were prosecuted for this fraud; Sandall, Freeman & Palmer became Evidences; Thos Went was Drown’d; Murry & Bruce absconded & could not be taken; John Thompson is dead. |
41 | 1725 | Dennis Murry | Frinton Low in Essex | Essex | Imported & run without payment of Duty | These persons were prosecuted for this fraud; Sandall, Freeman & Palmer became Evidences; Thomas Went was Drown’d; Murry & Bruce absconded & could not be taken; John Thompson is dead. |
41 | 1725 | Edward Freeman | Frinton Low in Essex | Essex | Imported & run without payment of Duty | These persons were prosecuted for this fraud; Sandall, Freeman & Palmer became Evidences; Thomas Went was Drown’d; Murry & Bruce absconded & could not be taken; John Thompson is dead. |
41 | 1725 | Thomas Went | Frinton Low in Essex | Essex | Imported & run without payment of Duty | These persons were prosecuted for this fraud; Sandall, Freeman & Palmer became Evidences; Thomas Went was Drown’d; Murry & Bruce absconded & could not be taken; John Thompson is dead. |