Thanks David...wonder if this is James 1803, younger brother to my Thomas b 1796, comvicted smuggler????? Sounds familiar! Regards Debbie -------Original Message------- From: David Collyer Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 15:10:55 To: ISLE-OF-WIGHT-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [IoW] More on MIDLANE & DAWSON Dear Friends and Cousins, I came across the following in an old email I'd saved when searching newspapers. I know it will be of interest to someone here:- Newspaper (30/1/1837), in the Newport report dated 28 January, I saw: "At the Town Hall last before Lord Yarborough and a full bench of Magistrates, James MIDLANE and Richard DAWSON, butcher, St. Helens, for offering bribes to the preventive men in order that they might run some contraband goods, were convicted in the penalty of 200 pounds, which was mitigated to 100 pounds, in default of which they were committed to Winchester gaol, until paid." Regards David in Ballarat .