Robert Coath’s Petition

Robert Coath’s Petition to the Excise Commissioners for Superannuation: 15^th January 1819

An analysis of some of Robert Coath’s claims are available here.

Honorable Sirs,

I humbly beg leave to represent to your Honors, that I have had the honor of being your most dutiful servant, for 21 years;¹ during which long period of time, I flatter myself I have discharged the important duties committed to my trust, with the utmost fidelity and care; have maintained that integrity of reputation which the forked-tongue of slander itself has never presumed to attack;- have, I humbly trust, evinced your Honors, unprecedented instances of vigilance in securing the interests of the Revenue; in most carefully watching the artful manoeuvres of Smugglers, so very general and numerous in this county; in exerting myself to the utmost of my power to detect illicit practices:- have in many instances, at the hazard of my life, encountered and apprehended the most resolute, and flagrant offenders; and have, I presume, made more seizures, and detected more frauds on the Revenue, than any ten Officers collectively in the county.- The respective accounts have from time to time been officially transmitted to your Honors; and I am confident that the Solicitors, my respecting Collectors, and Supervisors, in the period above mentioned will readily corroborate my statement to your Honors.

I humbly beg leave to detail the instances in which I have been concerned, as far at least as I can recollect, although many important occurrences have escaped my memory.

While under instructions at Liskeard, in company with Messrs. Edwards and Hicks, I fell in with four Smugglers near Polperro, in Liskeard District, when both Edwards and Hicks ran away, and left me to contend with the four daring, able-bodied Smugglers, alone; and having contended with them 1 Hour and 25 minutes, I secured the whole of them, and took them to John Gogg’s and dressed their wounds, from whence one of them made his escape; the other three I took to Liskeard, likewise their horses and spirits. I was beaten so severely by them, being armed with bludgeons, that I was confined to my bed three weeks after it, and a surgeon attended me to dress my wounds.

I was called on by Mr. Samuel Morris, then Supervisor of Liskeard, to get up early in the morning to get his Horse shod, which I did, when going to call the Smith, I fell in with 3 Smugglers, and after a severe battle, I seized 2 casks of spirits from them, they then followed me, being armed with three long sticks, and knocked me down while I had 2 casks in my hands; they rescued the casks from me. I then rose from the ground and pursued and overtook them, and a fresh battle ensued between me and John Crossman, whom I knocked down and re-seized the cask of Spirits from him. I then took that cask to Mr. Edwards house, Division Officer, being near the spot. I then pursued the other two and found them at the end of the passage concealed behind empty casks, with the other casks of Spirits between them; I knocked them each down with my stick and secured the other Casks, when they made their escape. I then sought, and found Crossman and secured him and took him to the Division Officer’s house. Mr. Morris can prove the truth of this statement.

Messrs. Morris and Hicks having been previously contending with 5 Smugglers (viz.) John Yeals, two Pethericks, John Every, and Chapman, and being defeated by them; they then called on me, when we all pursued them and fell in with them again at Bodinnel-Bridge, Mr. Morris asked me if I could undertake to engage John Yeals, (known by Bully-Yeals) I told him I would. Messrs. Morris and Hicks agree to undertake the other four; the battle commenced, when Hicks ran away leaving Morris to contend with Chapman, Avery, and one of the Pethericks; when the other Petherick came to Yeal’s assistance, and I had to contend with them both;- The battle continued about three quarters of an hour, when I defeated them both; I then went in quest of my Supervisor (Mr. Morris) and found him lying on the ground and the 3 Smugglers beating him with bludgeons; when I came to his assistance the hair and skin were completely beat off his Head, and apparently he was quite dead. Petherick presented a Pistol at my breast, which he took out of Mr. Morris’s Pocket, as he lay on the ground; I then struck at him with a hanger, which stuck in his collar bone, who fell to the ground. I then engaged the other two, vanquished them, and released the Supervisor from them; I procured assistance, got Mr. Morris taken to a neighbour’s house, procured a Surgeon, and removed him to his house in a post-chaise; in consequence of the injury he had sustained he was unable to speak for one month, and was attended by Physicians and Surgeons for three months. Chapman, Avery, and Yeals were afterwards apprehended, tried at the Old Bailey, and transported for three years – the other two left the country. At the close of this battle I was the only one of 7 left standing.²

While under instructions, I fought in all, no less than sixteen battles, made numerous seizures at St. Germans, Polperro, Launceston, Callington, & Liskeard.

Being first ordered by your Honors Supernumerary in Somerset collection, under Mr. Irving, and next ordered to Yeovil 1^st ride under Mr. John Crang, Supervisor; while in that department I made more seizures and detections than had been previously made for more than 20 years;- for the truth of which I beg to refer your Honors to Mr. Irving, who will, I doubt not, sanction my representation.

While in that ride, I was first taken by Mr. Northcott, division officer at Yeovil, to look out for the Wars, (noted Smugglers in Dorsetshire) I fell in with one of then near Yeovil. (Mr. Northcott being at a small distance) when a battle ensued between us, I took him with his horse and goods, then called for Mr. Northcott, when we took him to Mr. Northcott’s house.

Some short time after this I fell in with Richard War and John War, at Mudford-Bridge, near Yeovil, I contended with them both, took John War, his horse and spirits; but the night being very dark, Richard War made his escape;- subsequently to this Mr. Northcott and myself searched Richard War’s house, seized 13 casks of spirits, and the delinquent was brought to a hearing and heavily fined.

Pursuant to an information received, I fell in with Charles Palmer near Ilchester, when a severe battle ensued between us, I defeated him and seized all his spirits from him, he was apprehended, prosecuted in the exchequer, and died in Ilchester Prison;- he had been a very notorious Smuggler for more than 20 years and was never taken before.

I next encountered Richard Purchase & Son, near Hazelborough in Somersetshire, with whom I fought for more than one hour, after making a conquest of them both, I took their horses and goods. Purshase, Sen. Then cried murder, when, it being by day, upwards of 20 persons came to his assistance, and being thus assisted, the horses and kegs were rescued from me; Purchase was afterwards apprehended, tried at Bridgewater Assizes, found guilty, sent to London to receive his sentence, and confined in prison at London for a very considerable time

Next I fell in, on a very dark night, with another party of 3 Smugglers, by myself, at East-Coker, near Yeovil, when I was knocked down, and also my horse, I then arose and remounted my horse, pursued and overtook them; and taking the bridle arms of them, I cut them all from their horses, still remaining in my saddle. I made a complete conquest of the whole, and seized their goods from them, which I took to the house of John Plowman (one of my victuallers)³ during the remainder of the night, proceeding to my Supervisor, to inform him what I had done, and by his direction the goods were brought to Yeovil.

My next enterprise was with Stephen Male of Sidland, after a long and spirited contest with him, overcame him, took his horse, cart and spirits, bringing the whole home to Yeovil, where he was brought before the magistrates and heavily fined.

I was next called by Mr. Bond, excise officer of Martock, Somersetshire; when we fell in with 3 Smugglers at Load Bridge, near Ilchester, whom we took, and after they were thus taken, I discovered one of them take a pistol from his pocket, I then cautioned Mr. Bond to take care as they had fire-arms; the men rode from us, making their escape:- the seized horses and goods we then took to Martock; being a very dark night, neither of the smugglers were known by either of us.

Being returned from my ride, I was met by 3 persons unknown to me, on horse-back, after passing me, they turned round their horses and followed me, asking who I was, I told them that my name was Coath, Officer of Yeovil 1^st Ride, when they each struck at me with their whips and sticks, and after encountering them all for near half an hour, I defeated the whole, and beat them all off their horses, took one of them into custody, taking him into Yeovil where he was well known, and confessed on the other two; their names were Richard Selly, Robert Selly, and James Bennett of Puddimore, near Ilchester. I then brought them before the magistrates at Yeovil, when they were severally fined in the presence of Mr. Irving.

I was then ordered to repair to London to attend a trial, when seeing my Solicitor Mr. Vivian, on some heavy fines standing at Polperro, he questioned me why I did not petition for a ride in Cornwall collection;⁴ accordingly I did so, and was appointed officer at Padstow ride. I then received the documents from Mr. Vivian, to apprehend Richard Oliver of Polperro, when I called on Mr. Morris, Supervisor of Liskeard, and Mr. Bray of Bodmin, who in company with several officers proceeded to Polperro, where upwards of 500 Smugglers reside. Mr. Morris and myself broke open Oliver’s door, I found him secreting himself in a private part of the house, I laid hold of him, secured him, and brought him to Bodmin Prison; notwithstanding his pretensions to be a poor fisherman, paid £1090 fine, and I flatter myself Oliver would never have been taken, if I had not used my exertion.

In company with Nowell then examiner in Bodmin District, I, pursuant to an information received, found 7 caves with 69 anchors of goods, the goods all belonged to Oliver Sleeman, who was prosecuted and fined 150 guineas.

The next instance I was called on by Mr. Uglow, then officer of St. Columb ride, to assist to search a gin ship. – On the road, we fell in with 8 Smugglers belonging to St. Stephens; we took 5 casks from them, the Smugglers surrounded us, we proceeded to the Excise Office, but the doors being shut, we could get no entrance, the Smugglers rescued the goods and took them off;- then they returned to us again with bludgeons and swore they would murder Coath, Uglow ran off and left me with the 8 Smugglers upon me, after fighting them all for an hour and 5 minutes up and down the street, I drove them back to the spot where the kegs were and brought it to the Excise Office and secured it, they continued to beat and stone me, when in my defence I took a brace of pistols, presenting one at Lark and the other at Binnitha, when they dropped their stones and ran off; after which Binnitha was apprehended and tried at Launceston Assizes, found guilty and sent to Bodmin Jail, and Lark left the country.⁵

Having received an information that two Danish Vessels⁶ had frequented the port of Padstow several years with timber, and were in the habit of smuggling many years, and having received an account they were arrived at Harbour Cove, near Padstow Town, I called on my Supervisor, Mr. Bray, Mr. Eastmead, Mr. Abbott, and Mr. Uglow to assist me in examining the said vessels; they all agreed to meet me at eleven o’clock at night, but not one of them came; I then took my stick, proceeded to the quay where the vessels were, and found 9 men coming on shore with 9 casks on their backs; I let them pass me with the casks and proceeded to the vessels, where I concealed myself between the scaffolding and the side of the vessel; I saw 5 men take up 5 casks of hollands, I then followed them, announcing my name and authority, and on examining the packages, found them to contain Foreign Geneva, without permit; when they immediately drew their knives on me; I knocked them down, took one ten-gallon cask of Gin from them, and carried it into one of my victuallers’ houses. I then went again in pursuit of them, and overtook them going on board with the other 4 ten-gallon casks, which I had not been able to secure. I followed them on board, when a desperate battle ensued between myself and 13 men belonging to Capt. Byerson’s vessel. The people of the town of Padstow being generally alarmed at such an unprecedented enterprise, went to inform my wife of the perilous situation I was in, who ran to call some constables to my assistance, but when my wife came on board the vessel in quest of me, she found I had completely defeated the whole of the 13 men, driven them all under deck, and captured the vessel.- The constables after this came on board, (Thomas Best and David Marytin) we then took 14 casks and 25 jars of spirits conveying the whole to my house, I still keeping charge of the vessel. About one hour after I had defeated all the crew, captured the vessel, and had seized and secured all the spirits, Mr. Uglow came to me on board, I asked him where my Supervisor, Mr. Bray, Mr. Eastmead and Mr. Abbott had been during the time I had been defeating the Smugglers, and making the seizure; and why they had not been punctual to their engagement to come to my assistance; when Mr. Uglow replied, Messrs. Eastmead and Abbott were gone home to Wadebridge and Bodmin, their respective residences, and Mr. Bray he had left at the head of the town, viz. Padstow. I then dispatched my wife in quest of Mr. Bray, whom she found at the head of the town under an hedge; she took him by the arm, and conducted him to the vessel of which I was in possession. I informed him what I had done, requesting him to procure the nearest officers to his assistance and go in pursuit of another Danish vessel at Gentle-Jane,⁷ near 2 miles up the river, as I had received information against her, that she had been landing smuggled goods that morning. Mr. Bray then went and called on Messrs. Eastmead and Jones, proceeded to the vessel, but discovered no illicit transaction. They then returned to me at Padstow, I still keeping possession of the vessel I had seized; I told them I could rely on the truth of my information, and told Mr. Bray that if he and Mr. Uglow would take my station, and keep possession of the vessel, I would then go myself and try what I could do. This being agreed on, I took a boat from Padstow quay, two watermen, Eastmead & Jones, and proceeded to Gentle-Jane, where I found on board the vessel Mr. Phillips, Comptroller of the Customs,⁸ and the Custom-house officers belonging to Padstow.  I enquired whether they had discovered any smuggling transaction that morning, on board that vessel; they all told me they had not seen anything of the kind. I informed them that I had an Information against the vessel and requested their assistance to examine her, Phillips then formed his fist, and extending his arm, threatened if I did not quit the vessel, he would knock me down, as I had no business where he was; I relied I would hazard, being well able to defend myself, and was not in the least intimidated by his threatenings: Eastmead, Jones, and self proceeded to search the vessel, when we found 4 large casks of Hollands and 13 jars on board. I then returned to Mr. Phillips, asked him whether he now thought there was no smuggled goods on board? – He made no reply. I proceeded to the beach, about 20 yards or upwards from the vessel, where I found 6 casks of Geneva buried in the sand. I then sent Mr. Jones on board to request the key of Mr. Norway’s warehouse at Gentle Jane, and in Jones’ absence I placed a plank up to the window of the warehouse, and on looking in perceived 3 casks bearing the same marks with those I had seized in the vessel, and on the beach. Mr. Jones returned, informing me he could get no key; I then sent Mr. Eastmead to try to get it, and when on board, if it was refused him, to hold up his hat, which he did, I then broke open the door and found 3 casks of smuggled spirits, Brandy and Geneva, which I seized and put with the other seized goods at Padstow, making altogether 13 casks and 13 jars. On my returning to Mr. Bray, informing him what I had done, he expressed his great surprise, saying that he could discover nothing. This was compromised,⁹ a sum of £300 paid by Captain Byerson, and the other vessel hastily discharged her cargo, mare off to sea, and has never been there since.

I humbly beg to state, that during the four years I was an officer at Padstow, I made more seizures and detections than had been made in that ride for forty years previously.

I was next ordered to St. Columb ride, where, at different times, I detected numerous fraudulent Malsters and Victuallers, and Smugglers.

From strong suspicion of some illicit transactions being carried on by Messrs. King and Wills, spirit merchants at Bristol, of sending out goods with false permits, to private families, I took an opportunity when Captain Richards arrived from Bristol with spirits on board, to go to Padstow and examine his vessel, taken Mr. Eastmead with me; we demanded an inspection of the shipping-book of the captain, which he refused to submit to; we then searched his vessel and found 1 cask with a permit nailed on it with new tin,¹⁰ which permit upon being examined, was for 2 gallons of X, and 14 years old. The cask contained 12 gallons Rum; I then informed Captain Richards if he persisted in his refusal top shew me his shipping-book, I would immediately seize his vessel; he then consented, and on my inspection of the book I procured sufficient information of the names and places where each cask was to be sent, when, Eastmead and self proceeded to the respective places, and found 18 other casks, all sent from Messrs. King and Wills, which had, each of them, a false permit thereon, which we seized. King and Wills were prosecuted in the exchequer, and the penalty compromised for £50 and costs.

When officer at St. Columb, one Joseph Smith a desperate Smuggler, had many times threatened to disable me if ever I fell in with him; soon after I met him armed with a large loaded whip, in St. Columb, about one o’clock in the morning, having with him a horse and pair of kegs of smuggled spirits, when a battle ensued, which terminated in the total defeat of Smith; I seized his horse and kegs, arrested and conveyed him to Bodmin the same night, and on the following morning he gave bail, for his appearance at any future period, he was afterwards summoned before the magistrates and fined £100 which fine he afterwards paid.

While I was in this Ride, I discovered 15 or 16 private places, where smugglers concealed their goods. The parties were prosecuted to the amount of upwards of £700, the whole of which, by my peculiar exertions was recovered.

Upon receiving information that the smuggling vessel, the Earl St. Vincent,¹¹ was about to land her cargo at Lower St. Columb Porth, I sent to Mr. Eastmead of Wadebridge, to meet me that night. I took an opportunity, although the smugglers were watching my movements, to deceive them. I took my horse, and whilst they were in the same house with me, unobserved by them, went away and met Mr. Eastmead, when we proceeded to the suspected place; we seized 22 casks of smuggled spirits on the head of the beach. I left Eastmead in charge of them, to take to a neighbour’s house. I proceeded alone, towards the sea, where I saw 3 boats near the shore, and 100 horses, and more than 50 men on the beach. I passed by them, being dark, and made towards the boats, I swam my horse upwards of 20 yards into the sea, and boarded one of the boats. I found 8 men and 9 casks of spirits; 6 of the men jumped over-board and swam on shore; the other two were George Hawking of New quay, and John Clemens. Hawking held up the head of my horse, and I sculled the boat to the land, sending Hawking to Mr. Eastmead to come down to my assistance, to help carry the goods to the place where the former quantity was lodged. We placed all the goods under lock at the neighbour’s house, and proceeded again towards the beach in pursuit of more goods, when we saw two men run across the beach, with a cask each on their shoulders. Eastmead pursued one, and I the other; Eastmead secured the cask, but the man escaped; I secured my goods and man, but not without severe conflict.

In the mean while I sent for Mr. Trewolla, my Supervisor, who came to us the following day, when we went in search of more goods; and in my absence, the Smuggler I had taken made his escape from Eastmead. The whole of the goods taken by all three, were 52 casks. Some short time after this, I met with Henwood, the Smuggler that escaped from Eastmead, and Hawking, and sent them to Bodmin Prison, – they paid a fine of £300.

During the time I was in that station I made more seizures and detections that had been made previously for upwards of 20 years.

I was then ordered by your honors to St. Austle 1^st ride, in which department by my vigilance and exertions, during the space of 5 years, it has officially appeared to your honors from time to time, that I have made more detections and seizures, than all the officers collectively in the district.

I was then by your honors, ordered officer of Wadebridge 1^st ride, in which station I have made more seizures during the time I have been here, than have been made by my predecessors in this ride for 20 years last past; and also made more detections and seizures since stationed here, than all the other officers in the district: and during the time I have been in your honors employment I have discovered and opened upwards of two hundred caves, used for keeping smuggled spirits in.

Since I came to my present ride I fell in with one Thomas Hawkey a desperate and daring Smuggler, who had been in that capacity for upwards of twenty years, and never taken by any officer, to whom he had many times been heard to bid defiance; armed with  a whip, heavily loaded, riding on a horse with two sacks under him containing 250 pounds of smuggled Salt, and knowing him to be of that desperate character, I came behind him, sprang at him, seized him by his coat and un-horsed him, when a strong contest ensued; I however conquered him, and took him horse and salt altogether to my house; he was afterwards summoned before the Magistrates at Washway, and fined £60.

But in consequence of such a long series of enterprises, such unequal and severe conflicts, with the most resolute and desperate champions amongst the smugglers: by unwearied hardships and unequal battles, by such continued night-watching, by such continued and unprecedented difficulties, supported under the most unfavourable circumstances, by being beaten with weapons of almost every description, – I beg to represent to your honors my constitution is now quite broken down; have been wounded nearly in every part from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. Having had both my legs, left arm, and both collar bones broken, whilst in your employ, labour under a complication of complaints,- have from the most violent and reiterated blows, nearly lost my sight, and my memory much impaired: – In a word, find my body full of pain and disease, and although my spirits and resolution have not proportionably abated with my strength, I still feel myself quite inadequate to the discharge of my official duties, and humbly beg your honors permission to relinquish, and to be admitted to the superannuation.

I am, Honorable Sirs, Your most obedient and dutiful servant,
ROBERT COATH,
Officer of Wadebridge 1^st Ride, Cornwall Collection.
Wadebridge, 15^th January 1819

Beneath this, are two endorsements:

I do hereby certify that I have known Mr. Robert Coath, Excise Officer of this place, nearly twelve years; and that during the last three or four years I have been repeatedly called upon to attend him in may severe and dangerous attacks of disease, which evidently arose from the fatigues and watchings he has undergone, and the injuries he has sustained in the duties of his office,- that his limbs are much debilitated from injuries and fractures, and his sight considerably impaired, and that I consider him altoge-[ther disabled], and incapable of the effective duties of [an Officer of the] excise.

JOHN ROSEWARNE, Surgeon.
[ . . . . . . .  ] 1818.¹²

I do hereby certify that Mr. Robert Coath, officer of excise, of Wadebridge in this county, has been, at various times, during several years past, under my care, for dangerous attacks of disease, arising obviously from the injuries, such as fractured bones, and other severe treatment, he has received at different periods, in the execution of his office. I do also further certify that his sight is much impaired, and that he is, in my opinion altogether unfit to attend [to] his duties as an effective excise officer.

JOHN WALDON, M.D.,
Bodmin, Cornwall, Dec. 21^st. 1818.

Brou[  – – –  – – ]¹³

1. c.1798-1819
2. See also – Old Bailey trial 08/01/1799
3. In this context, Coath’s  ‘victuallers,’ were licensed victuallers – traders in spirits on his ride – to whom he had been assigned to regularly check their stock against their Excise permits, receipts and sales.
4. It at this point that Coath’s chronology appears to have become confused. I have summarised these trials in my introductory notes, but the point being that in evidence at the first of these trials, held at the Old Bailey on January 9^th 1797, he describes himself as employed in woollen manufacture – not as an Excise Officer
5. Coath is using a phonetic version of a name. Binnitha was in fact Benneta or Bennetto. This event occurred on February 18^th 1802 – see National Archives: KB 32/3; 4 Excise; Easter 1802; Cornwall
6. The probability is that these were Norwegian timber ships, Norway then being technically a Danish protectorate. Prior to the establishment of the North Atlantic timber trade in the Napoleonic Wars, a great deal of timber was imported from Norway and other Scandinavian and Baltic ports
7. On the North East bank of the River Camel, upriver from Rock
8. Probably Charles Phillips, Collector of Customs [not the Comptroller], Padstow in the 1780’s and probably into the 1790s
9. The revenue authorities seem to have been only too ready to compromise on a seizure, accepting a sum of money in exchange for the restoration of the goods or vessel. Or in lieu of further penalties on successful prosecution. Particularly where foreign vessels and seamen were concerned
10. Tin-tacks?
11. Earl St. Vincent, was possibly owned by Carteret Priaulx & Co., of Guernsey. She was certainly actively employed in carrying cargoes of contraband from their warehouses in 1807
12. The left gutter and bottom corner of this page has been torn away
13. The rest of the printer’s name has been torn away