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Looe Island Smugglers
Commander H.N. Shore wrote the following in 1899 "I have succeeded in quarrying out from official and other virgin fields quite a mass of interesting material relating to Looe island and the enterprising parties who frequented the spot in days gone by. The ‘cave dwellings’ wherein the trusty Hamram and his daughter imprisoned the spirits entrusted to their care were subsequently discovered—one accidentally, the other by a process known in the profession as ‘pricking.’ The position of both has been pointed out to me by old men who were ‘in the know.’ The story of the Looe island caves and their guardian angels would make quite an interesting chapter of history. Alas all who could speak of them from personal knowledge have, since imparting their experiences to the present writer, passed away to the ‘happy smuggling grounds." This is a smuggling story that is now being researched. Can you help with information. If so please e-mail Barbra who tells me that she is "trying to sort out myth from fact despite the difficulties engendered by smugglers who did not use their own names! We have the tales of " Fynn & Black Joan or Fynn & Island ' Til" I know Fynn was buried on 25th December 1800 but who he was or where he came from....oh arrr tis lost in the mists of time me hearties!! I am working on it!!" Dear Both, Hope you had a good Christmas. I had a chance to catch up on your web site and, with the list of known smugglers, I found a couple of errors I think I can give you the answers to. You have Joan Hamram & Fyn Hamram, these names have, I believe, come from the myths of the Mewstone man and the writings of Shore, whose interviewees mention " Hamram" What I have found, and some of the info comes from the primary sources of parish registers and the family bible, is that a family called Finn or Fynn lived on Looe Island for about 40 years ( also verified by Bond) from c 1780s Their names appear in the Bible and John Fynn's death is recorded in the latter and in Morval church registers. George Finn and Elizabeth also appear. Then, in 1789, a widow called Elizabeth Christopher , married Anthony Hooper and, in addition- to the records of her 3 children by her previous marriage, we find her 2 children by Hooper, called Philly & William but later christened Amram & Jochabed at Talland church in 1800-, these were the smuggling family of Hoopers I have included in the book we are hopeful will be published. So, we have rumours of Fynn & Black Joan on the Island and then tales of Amram Hooper , he was in action from about the 1820s, he married in 1823 and was living in Looe in 1841 census but his mother had remained on the Island & died in 1841. Can you help? Barbara has now put a website on line and it is well worth a visit. Use your back botton to return to this site. |
