This was probably the last 'major' gang that existed in Kent and it is believed that they were known as 'The Blues' from the colour of the smocks or clothing that they usually wore.

The first reference to the Aldington Gang was in November, 1820 at Sandgate where they were one of three groups of men, part of a combined total of 250 required to unload a galley that had been rowed across from France. However, it is believed that they were active well before this date and were responsible for incidents in Deal, St. Margaret's Bay and on The Romney Marshes. Their leader at that time was Cephas Quested until his capture in 1821 at the 'Battle of Brookland'. The "Battle" took place in February when some 200 members of the Gang were discovered by a group of blockade men at Camber Sands. Although the Gang successfully completed the unloading of the goods, they were harried right across the Marshes until they reached Brookland where the Gang turned on the blockade force. Five men were killed in the fighting and there were more than twenty wounded. Cephas Quested in the confusion of the Battle turned to a man close by him, handed him a musket and instructed him to 'blow an Officer's brains out'. Unfortunately for Quested, in the confusion of the fight, the man that he had turned to was a Midshipman of the blockade force who immediately turned the gun on Quested and arrested him. One other smuggler that was arrested was a Richard Wraight but he was acquited after claiming that he had only become involved by accident. After being sentenced, Quested was taken to Newgate and hung for his activities.

Brookland High Street, 2000
© P.E. Blanche

The next leader of the Gang was George Ransley. He started his working life as a farm boy and then a waggoner at Court Lodge Farm. However, he had many smuggling connections, including the family of his wife, Elizabeth Bailey, who were known for being involved in the Trade. Ransley was known for his excellent organisational abilities but stories differ about the man. Some said he was a giant of over six feet, others said he was hardly more than five feet tall, some said he was a likeable rogue, others lived in absolute fear of him. Whatever was the truth, there was no doubt that he could be as ruthless as the situation demanded. The main headquarters of the Gang at this time was The Walnut Tree Inn in Aldington and Ransley lived at a house called The Bourne Tap, from where he frequently sold spirits that he had landed. Another location regularly frequented by the Gang at this time was an Augustine Priory, which was actually used as a farm house, at Bilsington which they would use as a store house. Stories were circulated about there being a ghost which manifested itself as a severed head in the old building which served well to keep the curious away.

The Walnut Tree Inn at Aldington was often used by the Gang when they waited for others of their group to bring in goods from across the Marshes. A lamp was hung in the rear if the Inn when the way was clear for them. There is a story that as a result of a fight between the Gang members one night, one of their number was murdered and the body disposed of down a well at the side of the Inn. It is also said that on some nights the sounds of scuffling and a body being dragged outside can still be heard. I have also heard a similar story being told about the Black Robin (in Kent a Black Robin was a Highwayman) at Kingston near Barham where a similar murder occured as the result of a fight between smugglers and that sounds of that fracas can also be heard during the night. However, I did recently question the present landlady about the landlord at around the time of the murder, Edmund File, who was a relative of mine, and she knew nothing of him. Therefore I'm not sure how much truth there is in this second story although it is quite conceivable that Ransley would use this Tavern as well because he was known to frequent The Palm Tree further along the Elham Valley road at Wingmore. Also, smugglers were known to visit Horsehead Farm which was close by and also owned by some more of my relatives.

Although the Gang had a brutal reputation, and rightly so, they were not, at times, without a warped sense of humour. There is a story that they found and captured a blockade officer and after binding his legs and blindfolding him, left him dangling from the top of a cliff. Eventually, the officer could keep his grip on the edge of the cliff no longer only to find that the "cliff" was less than a foot higher than he was.

The success of the smuggling gangs was very dependent upon the goodwill of the local people. Slowly, this Gang began to lose this special relationship as they gradually extended their ruthless behaviour beyond that of the authorities and the blockade forces and turned on the rural communities. Some of the members of the Gang started resorting to breaking into to local residences and the problems were substantially compounded when a member of the blockade forces at Dover, a Richard Morgan, was shot and killed. Morgan, who was a quartermaster with the blockade, was well liked in Dover and spotted the Gang trying to run a cargo ashore on Dover Beach. After firing a warning shot the Gang turned on him, resulting in his death and the wounding of a seaman who was with him. A reward was offered for information after this incident which was claimed by several people and as a consequence, in October, 1826 the blockade forces together with two Bow Street Runners raided The Bourne Tap and captured George Ransley and seven other members of the Gang. Eventually a total of nineteen men were captured and stood trial at Maidstone Assizes in January, 1827. They were all found guilty of charges that carried the death penalty but their lawyer, a local gentleman from Maidstone, managed to get their sentences commuted to transportation.

George Ransley was sent to Van Dieman's Land, now Tasmania where his knowledge of farming was a great benefit to him. As reward for good behaviour his wife and ten children were allowed to sail out and join him, and eventually, after being granted a pardon, he started farming 500 acres at River Plenty, Hobart. Apparently he lived there peacefully and it is said was extremely well liked. He died in 1856.

Additional information can be found here.

Sir Edward Knatchbull, 9th Bart., 1781 - 1849 (From a portrait by T. Phillips)

Government Officials.

• Hellard, Lt.Samuel, RN - the officer who led the 100 strong force that eventually captured Ransley and the senior members of the Gang in 1826.
• Knatchbull, Sir Edward - Local magistrate. The Knatchbull family plot is in the Churchyard at Mersham. It has to be wondered perhaps whether Sir Edward had any associations with the smugglers. It did seem from some of his decisions that I have read about that he may have had sympathies. Certainly in some instances men were transported that would readily have hung if brought before other magistrates. (1821)
• Morgan, Richard - a Quartermaster with the blockade forces who was shot and killed by "the Blues" on the beach in Dover on 30 July, 1826.

• Hogben, (first name unknown) - member of the Gang who was shot in the thigh by the Blockade near Folkestone in April 1820.
• Quested, Cephas - Leader of the Aldington Gand until 1821 when he was caught and hung. Although ordered to be hung in chains at Brookland, through the intervention of Sir Edward Knatchbull he was quietly taken to Aldington and buried there. (Hung - 4 July, 1821)
• Ransley, George - the leader of the Gang from 1822 after Cephas Quested had been captured. He was well liked in the Aldington area but was eventually captured in 1826 and sent to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania). Here he eventually started farming 500 acres at River Plenty, Hobart and his wife and ten children sailed out to join him. (b. c.1770 - d.1856)
• Wraight, Richard - arrested at the Battle of Brookland but acquited by claiming he had only become involved by accident. Probably his only accident was being arrested! (1821)

• Bailey, Elizabeth - the maiden name of the wife of George Ransley. Also, originally from Aldington.
• Hougham, Doctor Ralph - a resident of "Pear Tree House" at Brookland was called upon to tend injuries on both sides at the time of the Battle of Brookland.

• Barham, Richard Harris - b. Dec. 6, 1788 in Canterbury. Was bequeathed the Manor of Tappington at the age of 6 by his Father. Married Caroline, daughter of Captain Smart of the Royal Engineers in 1814. Vicar of Warehorne and Snargate approx. 1818. Died at the age of 57 on the morning of June 17, 1845.

Reverend Richard Harris Barham, the author of a collection of poems called "The Ingoldsby Legends" was perhaps one of the more notable acquaintances of the Aldington Gang. Barham would often meet the Gang when he was making his way home late at night. He never came to any harm but then, when the gang was using his Church at Snargate to store contraband, the Gang had a vested interested in his welfare. In fact, the Reverend claimed that he could find his way directly to the Church from the aroma of tobacco.

One of the poems written by Barham and included in "The Ingoldsby Legends" was the story of Smuggler Bill and Riding Officer Anthony Gill in The Smuggler's Leap (which is supposedly a chalk pit at Acol and is close to the end of the runway at Manston - now called Kent International! - Airport). No doubt, Barham's own meetings with the smugglers of Aldington added much colour to the thrilling verse actually based on local legend.

Another quote from Barham tends to place the whole area and mystique of the Marshes in a category that cannot be appreciated until you've actually spent time on out on the beaches, fields and laneways in the dead of Winter or when the clammy Autumn mists grope at your very soul:

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