“The ship was moor’d—the oars were plied—
The boats moved on athwart the tide,
And steered their course direct to land,
Well fraught with goods, though contraband.
The landsmen gathered there in swarms,
Receiv’d the same with open arms;
And, favoured by the starless night,
Plied well their time conceal’d from sight,
The ship unloaded, all was done
Before the rising of the sun.”
“Famous Escapees – Roberston-Scotch smuggler” early Turf cigarette cards
A Smugglers Tale
After the Acts of Union in 1707, Scottish lands began new taxing on items such as tea, alcohol, tobacco…
In this void of reason the smuggler arouse…
The ‘malt tax’ in 1725 dramatically hiked taxes on these items especially ale. In this time the smugglers were the only affordable means to acquire these items as a commoner. This lead to a robin hood type situation with the citizens, where everyone looked the other way and helped them out whenever possible from law.
Of course whenever power or money is in question, force is applied…
Rigging Out a Smuggler, an 1810 illustration by Thomas Rowlandson, shows the practice of concealing contraband around the person: the comely lady has a barrel of cognac and panniers of tea, and a bottle of perfume wedged firmly between her breasts.
In 1736 the town of Edinburgh had many local smugglers. Andrew Wilson was a baker by trade but due to economic times began smuggling goods.
Wilson was well known by the revenue officers too i.e. ‘the tax man’ and one day was caught…
Taking away all his goods he was also fined a hefty amount. This didn’t sit well with Wilson who believed the fine was too much after taking all of his stuff already.
Wilson quickly hatched a plan, he break into the revenue office and steal the very same money they took from him…
Enlisting 2 more guys, George Robertson & William Hall, the three robbed the Revenue office and took back the 200 pounds.
Suspecting who had robbed the office, the three were eventually caught. William Hall became a rat, becoming ‘kings evidence’ against his friends, Wilson and Robertson…
The verdict? Death by Hanging the following week on April 14, 1736
North-east corner of the Grassmarket. Up until 1764 public hangings took place on a spot just to the left of the yellow traffic sign
The pair was housed at the Tolbooth prison, awaiting their nearby hanging date.
5 days before they were to be hanged, the pair cut some of the iron bars off the jail cell window’s. Wilson was a bigger man and while attempting to squeeze through the tight fit, became stuck, putting a cork in their escape plan…
Robertson didn’t leave his partner Wilson when he was stuck in the window. It was said Wilson felt guilty about ruining their escape.
At the time it was customary for the convicted to attend one last church service before execution. 3 days before the hanging was to take place, Wilson and Robertson with escort from 4 prison guards were taken to the Tolbooth Kirk for their last service…
the Tolbooth Kirk – Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland
Inside the Tolbooth Kirk, as the bells of the church rang out, Wilson grabbed the nearest guard by the throat while quickly grabbing another with his free hand…
Screaming “Run, Geordie, run,” Wilson grabbed a third guard by only his teeth, pinning all 3 to the ground…
With the whole church now looking at the scene in awe, George Robertson knocked down the fourth guard and ran out of the church a freeman!
He later escaped Scotland to the Netherlands…
The Porteous Riot by James Skene, 1818
Andrew Wilson having helped his friend escape, was brought back to prison…
On April 14, 1736 a crowd had gathered in Grassmarket for the hanging of Wilson. The story of heroics for his friend had spread with a sympathetic public…
As Wilson’s body stiffened the rope, the crown began shift…
As Wilsons body was cut down, hurling rocks began hitting the executioner and guards…
Fearing the angry mob could get out of control, Captain John Porteous ordered the guards to fire ‘over the crowd’… When a young boy hanging from a nearby window was struck, the mob turned…
The guards then fired into the crowd killing more innocent citizens, 6 in total…
The Porteous Mob – James Drummond 1855
Captain John Porteous who was in charge during the hanging and who gave the orders to fire, was arrested the same day at the demand of the crowd for the murder of the innocent…
The jury was quick to find Captain Porteous guilty and sentenced him to death.
The royals in London, not liking the outcome of the trail of one of their own, had the sentence deferred…
When the public found out about this betrayal, a riot again broke out…
Marching down High street to the prison, Captain Porteous was dragged from his cell by more then 4 thousand gathered citizens.
Dragging him to Grassmarket to get their revenge, he was violently lynched in the ensuing riot known forever as ‘the Porteous Riots’…
A plaque marks the spot where the lynching of Porteous took place, Grassmarket – Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland
Feelings run deep, which you will find out if you visit Edinburgh, Scotland…
Walking old town by Grassmarket near the West Door of St Giles High Kirk in the High Street section of the Royal Mile, lies a heart-shaped mosaic, formed in colored granite setts, built into the pavement.
The mosaic is called the ‘Heart of Midlothian’ and marks the doorway to the Old Tolbooth prison: and a point of public execution.
A tradition in town still points at the feelings of the citizens of the city even hundreds of years later…
As people pass the Heart of Midlothian, they spit right on it…
Heart of Midlothian – The heart marks the doorway to the Old Tolbooth prison: and a point of public execution.