Smuggling in North Wales
Every year in May, Conwy hosts a Pirate Festival in the town, but in the 18th century along the north Wales coastline smuggling was all too real. I have included several accounts from that period which illustrate the problems of being a revenue man.
An incident on the sands outside Llandudno in 1712 gives considerable insight into the relationship between smugglers, the revenue men and the local establishment.
A smuggled shipment of salt arrived, and the local population turned out with their carts to carry off the contraband. At the head of the procession to claim the bounty was a baronet and a Justice of the peace, Sir Griffith Williams. A lone customs officer had the misfortune to observe the spectacle and was set upon by the locals. He was beaten, blindfolded and tied up and was imprisoned in a henhouse for a day and night and fed a diet of buttermilk. When he reported the incident, the officer could not get anything done about his ill treatment let alone the smuggling because he was accusing people whom if not well placed themselves, at least enjoyed the protection of the wealthy and famous.
Smugglers in the Menai Straits continued to enjoy popular support throughout the 18th century. In July 1783 several smugglers were captured and imprisoned at Caernarfon after a sea chase in which one of their number died. After just one night behind bars the smugglers were released by the local JP’s. With incredible cheek the freed men then immediately attempted to prosecute the custom man who had shot their crew member!
At Talacre a cargo of fine French wine was seized at the Great Barn and taken to the Lletty Gonest inn. During the night a party of “Mostyn colliers” kidnapped the revenue men guarding the goods and rescued the wine. The son of the landlord observed wryly that the “colliers” wore valuable diamond rings and fine cloths underneath their dirty rags!
The enthusiasm of officers at the time is open to question as one custom officer at the Great Orme went 30 years without a seizure and was affectively redundant.
Being a revenue man was not necessarily a good career move in the 18th century particularly in north Wales.
My thanks to Smugglers Britain Guidebook: Anglesey and North Wales.