Kings Cutters and Smugglers 1700-1855 | Page 8

Symonds for wages and dyett
[diet] for himself, master and six men ... £56, 5s. 0d." And for the
"wear and tear to be disposed as ye Commrs. direct ... £14, 15s. 0d."
There was yet a third vessel stationed a few miles away, the
"Quinborrough smack," and a reference to "Nicholas Badcock for hire
of ye smack, two men, and to bear all charges ... £23." These vessels
were not known as Revenue cutters at this time, but as Custom House

smacks. They were hired by the Commissioners of the Customs from
private individuals to prevent the owlers from smuggling the wool from
Kent, Essex, and Sussex. But it would seem that these smacks, even if
they modified a little the activities of the owlers, did not succeed in
bringing about many convictions. Romney Marsh still sent its
contribution across to France and Holland, much as it had done for
generations.
But in 1698 the attack on the men of Kent and Sussex was strengthened
by legislation, for by 7 & 8 William III. cap. 28, it was enacted that "for
the better preventing the exportation of wool and correspondence with
France ... the Lord High Admiral of England, or Commissioners for
executing the office of Lord High Admiral for the time being, shall
from time to time direct and appoint one ship of the Fifth Rate, and two
ships of the Sixth Rate, and four armed sloops constantly to cruise off
the North Foreland to the Isle of Wight, with orders for taking and
seizing all ships, vessels, or boats which shall export any wool or carry
or bring any prohibited goods or any suspected persons." It was due to
William III.'s Government also that no person living within fifteen
miles of the sea in those counties should buy any wool before he
entered into a bond, with sureties, that all the wool he might buy should
be sold by him to no persons within fifteen miles of the sea, and all
growers of wool within ten miles of the sea in those counties were
obliged within three days of shearing to account for the number of
fleeces, and where they were lodged.
Instructions were duly issued to captains of sloops, and a scheme
drafted for surrounding the whole of the coast with sloops, the crews
consisting of master, mate, and mariners. But from an entry in the
Excise and Treasury Reports of 1685, it is clear that a careful regard
even at that date was being had for the import smuggling as well. The
reference belongs to September 24, and shows that a "boarding" boat
was desired for going alongside vessels in the Downs, and preventing
the running in of brandies along the coast in that vicinity. The charge
for building such a boat is to be £25. In another MS. touching the
Customs, there is under date of June 1695 an interesting reference to "a
Deale yoghall to be built," and that "such a boat will be here of very

good use." She is to be "fitt to go into ye roads for boarding men or
other ocations when ye sloops may be at sea."
So much, then, for the present as to the guarding by sea against the
smugglers. Let us now turn to look into the means adopted by land. The
wool-owners of Romney Marsh were still hard at their game, and the
horses still came down to the beach ladened with the packs ready to be
shipped. If any one were sent with warrants to arrest the delinquents,
they were attacked, beaten, and forced to flee, followed by armed gangs
on horseback. But it was evident that the Crown was determined not to
let the matter rest, for a number of surveyors were appointed for
nineteen counties and 299 riding officers as well, though they made
few seizures, and obtained still fewer condemnations, but at great
expense to the State. In 1703 it was believed that the owling trade,
especially in Romney Marsh, was broken if not dead, although the
smuggling by import was on the increase, especially as regards silks,
lace, and such "fine" goods. At that time for the two hundred miles of
coast-line between the Isle of Sheppey and Emsworth--practically the
whole of the Kentish and Sussex shore--fifty officers were being
employed at a salary of £60 per annum, with an allowance to each of
another £30 annually for a servant and horse to assist them during the
night. And there was authority also for the employment of dragoons to
aid the riding officers, especially in the neighbourhood of Romney
Marsh; but there was a number of "weak and superannuated" men
among the latter, who did not make for the efficiency of the service.
We need not say much more about the