SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 



between which they ran all the contraband ; the trade, however, really came 

 to an end about 1831 with the introduction of the new coastguard system 

 and the movement in favour of free trade. 878 



The running of uncustomed goods was, however, not the only form of 

 law-breaking in which Sussex indulged at this period. The forest district 

 adjacent to East Grinstead became notorious as the haunt not only of 

 smugglers, but also of horse-stealers, cattle-stealers, and poachers. The 

 Copthorne horn, which is supposed to have been kept in an inaccessible part 

 of the forest to summon the neighbours in case of dangerous affrays, had 

 been seen almost within living memory, as late as i862. 27S About the 

 middle of the eighteenth century trials for horse-stealing, cattle-stealing, 

 sheep-stealing, house-breaking, and highway robbery were frequent, more 

 especially at the East Grinstead sessions ; 97 * one such case of highway robbery 

 occurred on the Downs near Lewes in 1751, the victim being, however, 

 rescued by a shepherd ; S7S and in 1799 two men were hanged in chains near 

 Midhurst, where they had robbed the Portsmouth mail. 276 



The punishment of such crimes was fearfully severe. In July, 1730, 

 one person was convicted capitally for horse-stealing and two were burnt in 

 the hand ; in April, 1760, a man was executed for forgery, 277 and the Home 

 Office papers of the middle of the century are full of cases in which the 

 death sentence was passed for such crimes as house-breaking and cattle- 

 stealing, and subsequently on account of ' favourable circumstances ' com- 

 muted for fourteen years' transportation. 278 In 1739 felons were transported 

 from Sussex to Maryland at 5 a head and to Virginia at a similar rate. In 

 1740 the under-sheriff of the county received 200 reward for the arrest of 

 six felons. 279 



Spershott's Memoirs of Chichester further attest the horrible harshness meted 

 out to criminals at the time. In speaking of the pulling down of the East 

 gate arch and prison and the building of the new gaol in the city, the writer 

 adds : 



Mary Beedle, a young married waiting-woman of Lady Franklen, was the first prisoner 

 in it, for stealing a quantity of Linnen which in part return'd to its owner. After her 

 sentance to seven years Transportation she was immediately put into it, Jany. 12, 1784, 

 before it was quite finished and when water run down the walls, and a great snow & 

 extream cold winter followed upon it and no bed or fire alowed her nor friend to visit 

 her, so that she was nearly perished, and her husband, a civil man, almost distracted. 280 



That the Restoration in 1660 had been the beginning of a period of 

 lawlessness and licence is a truism which hardly needs illustration, but the 

 description of life at Chichester at the beginning of the eighteenth century 

 given by Spershott throws a strong light upon this period m 



There were then many great drinkers among all ranks of men, and revelings and Night 

 Freaks too common. Wine and very strong Beer was the run, ... it was not uncommon 

 with some Farmers when they came to Market to get Drunk and stay two or three Days till 

 their wives came to fetch them Home. The Commonalty were homely and free in their 



171 J. C. Wright, Bygone Eastbourne, 298-302. *" Sun. Arch. Coll. xiv, 62. 



174 Cal. of Home Office Papers, 1760-5, p. 664 ; 1766-9, pp. 119, 250, 255, 406, 415, 570 ; 1770-2, 

 pp. 152, 381; 1773-5, P- 286. 



176 Suss. Arch. Coll. xxiv, 141. " Ibid, xxiii, 214. " Ibid, xxiv, 141. 



178 Cal. of Home Office Papers, 1760-5, &c. passim. 

 "' Cal. ofS.P. Treas. 1739-41, pp. 18, 20, 62, 156. 



180 SMS. Arch. Coll. xxx, 158. " Ibid, xxix, 228. 



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