at the beginning of the 18th century during the Continental wars."
About the middle of the 18th century the notorious so-called " Hawkhurst Gang" by their cruelties and atrocities were a terror to the whole district. The history of this gang reached a climax in 1747, and is told in an old book in the author's collection, with the following title, "The History of the Inhuman and Unparalleled Murders of Mr. William Galley, a Custom House Officer, and Mr. Daniel Chater, a Shoemaker, by Fourteen Notorious Smugglers, with the Trials and Execution of the Seven Bloody Criminals at Chichester. Also the Trials of John Mills and Henry Sheerman, Laurance and Thomas Kemps, Robert Fuller, and Jockey Brown, condemned at East Grinstead. With the Trials at Large of Thomas Kingsmill and other Smugglers, for breaking open the Custom House at Poole. Written by a Gentleman of Chichester. Printed and Published by J. Williams, Portsea."
The following is an extract: "In September, 1747, one, John Diamond, otherwise Dymar, agreed with a number of smugglers to go over to the Island of Guernsey, to smuggle tea, where, having purchased a considerable quantity, on their return in a cutter, were taken by Captain Johnson, who carried the vessel and tea to the port of Poole, and lodged the tea in the Custom House there. The smugglers being so incensed at this fatal miscarriage of their purchase resolved to have revenge, and a body of sixty of them, all well armed and mounted, assembled in Charlton Forest. In the night, between the 6th and 7th of October, about 30 of them then went to Poole, while the remainder were placed as scouts along the various roads to watch the Officers and Soldiers. They broke open the Custom House, and took away all the tea. Daniel Chater, who met them on the road, gave information to William Galley, a Custom House officer. These men followed the smugglers on horseback, and came up with them, when their identity was betrayed, and they were seized and done to death in a most cruel manner, being put through horrible tortures."
The leaders of the gang, Benjamin Tapner, of West Stoke, Sussex ; William Carter, of Rowland's Castle ; John Hammond, of Burstead, Sussex ; John Cobby, of Sidlesham, Sussex ; Richard Mills, the elder, of Trotton, Sussex ; Richard Mills, the younger, of Stedham ; and William Jackson, of Welsworth, Hants, were found guilty and executed. And the gang was ultimately broken up.
" On January 1st, 1832, there was a terrific smuggling encounter at Warrior's Gate, in which several of the smugglers were wounded, and three of them died. Several of the Coastguards were also badly beaten by the batsmen (men engaged to assist in landing the cargo). Two bodies of the smugglers were found under a hedge on the Gensing Farm. The cargo was seized, and consisted of 205 tubs of spirits."
