April 26, 1821

Smuggling was a constant problem along the east coast. Taxes on goods such as spirits and tobacco were hugely resented, and the smugglers often had popular support. Nevertheless, hard-pressed Revenue officers fought a long, hard and frequently violent battle to suppress the so-called ‘free traders’ in this era.

On April 26, “a smuggling boat was captured at Yarmouth between the Nelson monument and the old jetty, by boats of the Revenue cutter Ranger, Capt Sayer.

“The smuggler had on board about 400 tubs of Geneva [gin] and a quantity of dry goods. Her crew escaped by jumping overboard and swimming ashore.”