In
1697 the Barony of
Folkestone was purchased by Jacob des Bouverie. The 1700's saw the town
visited by smallpox twice. In 1720 a smallpox epidemic claimed the lives
of 145 victims. In 1765 the disease returned and a further 158 townspeople
perished. This century also saw the growth of the nonconformist movement
in the town. This corresponded with a decline in relations between the townsfolk
and the parish church. Many people resented the payment of church-rates.
Some dropped away from the church altogether. Others turned to burgeoning
new churches. Records note Quaker meetings from as early as 1671 and Baptists
from 1698. In 1797 Congregationalists formed a church in the town. Later,
in 1824, came the Wesleyan Methodists. Fishing continued to be the main
industry of the town at this time but this was also the beginning of an
era when smuggling became almost a way of life for many of the towns people.
Smuggling initially involved the illicit export of wool. Added to
this was the import of contraband goods such as spirits, tea, tobacco, silk
and lace. Smuggling grew to dominate local economy through the 1700's and
well into the 1800's. Local customs authorities here were quite clear about
the allegiances of the Folkestone people. One commented... 'As most of the
Inhabitants of Folkestone, Sandgate and Hythe are in the confidence of the
smugglers, no information can be expected of them.'
The headquarters of the smugglers was The Warren, just east of
the town. Four secret passages led from a house here into a nearby wood.
The smugglers commonly brought goods ashore at East Wear Bay, then moved
them up up to the Warren, and on to the Valiant Sailor Inn nearby for
distribution.
The premises were considered
such a problem that in 1698 the government bought the lease to the house.
Two such smuggling incidents are worth particular note. The first occurred on the 26th May 1820 when eleven Folkestone men were captured in the act of smuggling. The men were Richard Hart, Stephen Warman, John Stubbles, John Marshall, William West, Richard Grayland, Amos Cullen, William Fox, James Minter, Francis Reberts and Thomas Minter. They were placed in custody in Dover gaol but were the same night rescued never to be recaptured when the townsfolk of Folkestone broke into the gaol and released them. The second incident occurred in 1823 and involved the capture of the crew of the Four Brothers following a chase and gun battle with a revenue cutter. The crew were tried and acquitted of firing on a King's ship on the grounds that the ship was Dutch and more than half the crew claimed Dutch nationality.
