Deborah, Just the explanation I was looking for! Becoming a coastguard certainly seems a more attractive occupation than a tax collector. Thanks. David On Jan 31, 2014, at 11:23 AM, Deborah O'Brien wrote: > In this case I think you will find he was planning to become what later was > known as the Coastguards. See > http://www.genguide.co.uk/source/coastguards-and-customs-amp-excise-officers > -england-wales-scotland-ireland-occupations/145/ > > Regards, > > Deborah O’Brien > Devon OPC Co-ordinator > DFHS Member 11261 > http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/OPCproject.html > Online Parish Clerk for Meavy, Newton Ferrers, Roborough by Torrington, > Sheepstor, Walkhampton > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dob7/index.html > Researching SQUANCE, LILLICRAP, SURTEES, DANKESTER & YATES > > -----Original Message----- > From: devon-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:devon-bounces@rootsweb.com] On > Behalf Of David L. Langenberg > Sent: 31 January 2014 15:59 > To: devon@rootsweb.com > Subject: [DEV] NORTHCOTE - SECCOMBE - Excise - (ROCKEY) > > I have been reading with great interest a newspaper article which was > published in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 23 March 1839, about the case > of NORTHCOTE v. SECCOMBE regarding a breach of promise of marriage. The > parties involved lived in Lifton, and places mentioned include Ashwater, > Broadwoodwidger, Tavistock, and Plymouth. (I am tracking down ROCKEYs who > lived in Ashwater, Broadwoodwidger, Tavistock, and Plymouth, hence my > interest in the article.) There is one phrase used that I don't quite > understand the significance of, namely "he said he was expecting to go off > in the Excise, and he would marry me and take me away" and "young Seccombe > said he did not care for his father, but he could get into the excise and > then marry me." Am I correct in assuming that this has something to do > with Customs and Excise, i.e. tax collection? In an American context, a > young man of the 1830s stating that he wanted to become a tax man strikes me > as quite odd, although I do unders! > tand that the implication was that it was an opportunity to make money so > that he could provide for the young woman. But why specifically "excise"? > I probably am completely missing the significance of "excise" in an English > context. Can anyone help me understand? > > David Langenberg > Newark, Delaware, USA > ------------------------------------------ > The DEVON-L mailing list is co-sponsored by GENUKI/Devon ( > http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/ ) and the Devon FHS > (http://www.devonfhs.org.uk/ ) List archive for Devon can be found at > http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/DEVON/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DEVON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in > the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------------------ > The DEVON-L mailing list is co-sponsored by GENUKI/Devon > ( http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/ ) > and > the Devon FHS (http://www.devonfhs.org.uk/ ) > List archive for Devon can be found at http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/DEVON/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DEVON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi David Being a Coastguard then was rather different then than now in the UK. There was no particular emphasis on life saving. It was all about smuggling detection and prevention. The Excisemen were regarded by entire communities as the enemy and they could have a miserable existence in the community they lived in if it was a smuggling one. I think there were two main roles-coast rider and sailor on fast cutters. The first rode the coast trying to find cargoes being illicitly landed and then would alert local authorities (the squire and any militia that may have been about the area) to try to stop them. There is a long path round most of north Devon that is about 6 feet wide and was built in the late 18th century to facilitate the riders. Parts still exist as a metalled road in the Exmoor area. The ones on the cutters had the more romantic job of chasing down the smuggling vessels at sea. As the penalty for smuggling was usually hanging the fights between exciseman and smuggler were frequently viscious. Jon -----Original Message----- From: devon-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:devon-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of David L. Langenberg Sent: 31 January 2014 16:45 To: devon@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [DEV] NORTHCOTE - SECCOMBE - Excise - (ROCKEY) Deborah, Just the explanation I was looking for! Becoming a coastguard certainly seems a more attractive occupation than a tax collector. Thanks. David On Jan 31, 2014, at 11:23 AM, Deborah O'Brien wrote: > In this case I think you will find he was planning to become what > later was known as the Coastguards. See > http://www.genguide.co.uk/source/coastguards-and-customs-amp-excise-of > ficers -england-wales-scotland-ireland-occupations/145/ > > Regards, > > Deborah O'Brien > Devon OPC Co-ordinator > DFHS Member 11261 > http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/OPCproject.html > Online Parish Clerk for Meavy, Newton Ferrers, Roborough by > Torrington, Sheepstor, Walkhampton > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dob7/index.html > Researching SQUANCE, LILLICRAP, SURTEES, DANKESTER & YATES > > -----Original Message----- > From: devon-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:devon-bounces@rootsweb.com] > On Behalf Of David L. Langenberg > Sent: 31 January 2014 15:59 > To: devon@rootsweb.com > Subject: [DEV] NORTHCOTE - SECCOMBE - Excise - (ROCKEY) > > I have been reading with great interest a newspaper article which was > published in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 23 March 1839, about the > case of NORTHCOTE v. SECCOMBE regarding a breach of promise of > marriage. The parties involved lived in Lifton, and places mentioned > include Ashwater, Broadwoodwidger, Tavistock, and Plymouth. (I am > tracking down ROCKEYs who lived in Ashwater, Broadwoodwidger, > Tavistock, and Plymouth, hence my interest in the article.) There is > one phrase used that I don't quite understand the significance of, > namely "he said he was expecting to go off in the Excise, and he would > marry me and take me away" and "young Seccombe said he did not care for his father, but he could get into the excise and > then marry me." Am I correct in assuming that this has something to do > with Customs and Excise, i.e. tax collection? In an American context, > a young man of the 1830s stating that he wanted to become a tax man > strikes me as quite odd, although I do unders! > tand that the implication was that it was an opportunity to make money > so that he could provide for the young woman. But why specifically "excise"? > I probably am completely missing the significance of "excise" in an > English context. Can anyone help me understand? > > David Langenberg > Newark, Delaware, USA > ------------------------------------------ > The DEVON-L mailing list is co-sponsored by GENUKI/Devon ( > http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/ ) and the Devon FHS > (http://www.devonfhs.org.uk/ ) List archive for Devon can be found at > http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/DEVON/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DEVON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------------------ > The DEVON-L mailing list is co-sponsored by GENUKI/Devon ( > http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/ ) and the Devon FHS > (http://www.devonfhs.org.uk/ ) List archive for Devon can be found at > http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/DEVON/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DEVON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------------------ The DEVON-L mailing list is co-sponsored by GENUKI/Devon ( http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/ ) and the Devon FHS (http://www.devonfhs.org.uk/ ) List archive for Devon can be found at http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/DEVON/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DEVON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Coastguards had a major role in preventing smuggling. (Excise duty was tax on imports). There was a lot of money involved, and penalties were severe, so the smugglers were prepared to fight - 19th century organised crime. Being a coastguard could be dangerous, even fatal. Chris -----Original Message----- From: David L. Langenberg Sent: Friday, January 31, 2014 4:45 PM To: devon@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [DEV] NORTHCOTE - SECCOMBE - Excise - (ROCKEY) Deborah, Just the explanation I was looking for! Becoming a coastguard certainly seems a more attractive occupation than a tax collector. Thanks. David On Jan 31, 2014, at 11:23 AM, Deborah O'Brien wrote: > In this case I think you will find he was planning to become what later > was > known as the Coastguards. See > http://www.genguide.co.uk/source/coastguards-and-customs-amp-excise-officers > -england-wales-scotland-ireland-occupations/145/ > > Regards, > > Deborah O’Brien > Devon OPC Co-ordinator > DFHS Member 11261 > http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/OPCproject.html > Online Parish Clerk for Meavy, Newton Ferrers, Roborough by Torrington, > Sheepstor, Walkhampton > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dob7/index.html > Researching SQUANCE, LILLICRAP, SURTEES, DANKESTER & YATES > > -----Original Message----- > From: devon-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:devon-bounces@rootsweb.com] On > Behalf Of David L. Langenberg > Sent: 31 January 2014 15:59 > To: devon@rootsweb.com > Subject: [DEV] NORTHCOTE - SECCOMBE - Excise - (ROCKEY) > > I have been reading with great interest a newspaper article which was > published in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 23 March 1839, about the > case > of NORTHCOTE v. SECCOMBE regarding a breach of promise of marriage. The > parties involved lived in Lifton, and places mentioned include Ashwater, > Broadwoodwidger, Tavistock, and Plymouth. (I am tracking down ROCKEYs who > lived in Ashwater, Broadwoodwidger, Tavistock, and Plymouth, hence my > interest in the article.) There is one phrase used that I don't quite > understand the significance of, namely "he said he was expecting to go off > in the Excise, and he would marry me and take me away" and "young Seccombe > said he did not care for his father, but he could get into the excise and > then marry me." Am I correct in assuming that this has something to do > with Customs and Excise, i.e. tax collection? In an American context, a > young man of the 1830s stating that he wanted to become a tax man strikes > me > as quite odd, although I do unders! > tand that the implication was that it was an opportunity to make money so > that he could provide for the young woman. But why specifically "excise"? > I probably am completely missing the significance of "excise" in an > English > context. Can anyone help me understand? > > David Langenberg > Newark, Delaware, USA > ------------------------------------------ > The DEVON-L mailing list is co-sponsored by GENUKI/Devon ( > http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/ ) and the Devon FHS > (http://www.devonfhs.org.uk/ ) List archive for Devon can be found at > http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/DEVON/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DEVON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in > the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------------------ > The DEVON-L mailing list is co-sponsored by GENUKI/Devon > ( http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/ ) > and > the Devon FHS (http://www.devonfhs.org.uk/ ) > List archive for Devon can be found at > http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/DEVON/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DEVON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------------------ The DEVON-L mailing list is co-sponsored by GENUKI/Devon ( http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/ ) and the Devon FHS (http://www.devonfhs.org.uk/ ) List archive for Devon can be found at http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/DEVON/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DEVON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message