Who Do You Think You Are Magazine Forum

[JMcK]

In this Naval Record it seems to say John was on a vessel named
Tweed 14 May 1824 - 1 April 1825 "Run at Harwich"

Then 3 years later
he is on the Challenger 31 Oct 1828 AB 10 Jan 1829
"Smuggler" late Tweed
same ship 11 Jan 1829 - 12 June 1833. what is his rank? 2nd ----Mate?

then he goes to the Victory

in brackets at the side it says SMUGGLERS TIME

So.. my question is what exactly does this mean?
Did he run at Harwich and was a smuggler for 3 years then caught and as punishment put back to work on a Naval ship?
(interestingly he married in the October of 1825)

[AdrianB38]

Can you tell us how to see the original then - if it's on FindMyPast or Ancestry - those of us with subs can see the whole page and get a better feel for the writing.

[JMcK]

Hi Adrian,

Link to Ancestry - it's the John NUTCHER page on the right

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/ ... PUBJs=true

[elsabels]

I read it as 'Smugglers' prev 'Tweed'

John Nutcher was variously
'Blonde' of 2 Norris Court Gosport Boatswain Mate

'Fantome' Acting Boatswain 3rd Class
wife was Sarah nee Morley

'Britannia' Gunner Crew

'Poicters' acting Boatswain

'Poicters' Boatswain 3rd Class

'Challenger' Quartermaster b 1798 St Helens

These are from FMP where there are Pension records.

Have you made a timeline of the vessels served on?

[sdup26]

Could John (and his ship) have been on anti-smuggling duties, hence the reference to 'smugglers time'? There's info via google about smuggling on the Tweed.

[meekhcs]

If I have the correct John Nutcher he is included in service and pension records featured on FMP British Royal Navy & Royal Marines Service And Pension Records, 1704-1919, Series Description Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Coastguard and related services: Officers' and Ratings' Service Records (Series II)

To support this in the 1861 census he was aboard HMS Dauntless which at the time, according to wikapedia was a coastguard vessel stationed in Southampton.

[JMcK]

Yes, I've got those records and can read the list of ships etc.
And I'm busy following those ship movements in the newspapers (which is fascinating)

But I just wondered if I was interpreting the Smugglers part right, or if anyone could think of another possible interpretation. Thank you Sdup, that is a possibility to investigate.

i.e. was my 4 x great grandfather a smuggler for a short period?

[AdrianB38]

...
in brackets at the side it says SMUGGLERS TIME. So.. my question is what exactly does this mean?
Did he run at Harwich and was a smuggler for 3 years then caught and as punishment put back to work on a Naval ship? ...

Here's what I originally drafted....

The idea of service on a Navy ship being punishment for being a smuggler makes no sense to me. At least, not instinctively (posh word for guessing). Especially since he's rated as an Able Seaman (one rank above Ordinary Seaman, which is the lowest) and gets promoted to Second Mate.

Well, so much for instinct because I then went on a search in TNA Discovery Catalogue and look what I found...:

Reference: ADM 359/45/254
Description: Draft Letter questioning the practice of sentencing smugglers to five years Service in the Navy. Enclosure.
Date: 1825 Nov 24
Held by: National Maritime Museum: The Caird Library and Archive, not available at The National Archives

(My italics for emphasis). And 5 years is about what John Nutcher got as "Smuggler's Time".

[JMcK]

Well! thats great, thank you Adrian. Some more investigation into the 'gentlemen' now required!