As the name would suggest, this gang operated mainly along the North Kent coast from the River Medway as far as Ramsgate in Thanet. Originally there had been numerous small gangs operating along this stretch of the Kent Coast but with the increase in the size of the preventative forces following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, strength came with numbers. As a result the smaller units gradually merged together to form the North Kent Gang.

For some reason, which is presently unknown to me, some of the gangs operating along this stretch of Coast seemed to use the term "Company" for their orgaisations rather than "Gang". It certainly sounds somewhat grander but the activities were no different. The Hoo Company was mentioned in 1737 as having lost a cargo to the preventative forces and another group that would have ultimately been part of the North Kent Gang was the Seasalter Company. The Hoo Company operated along the North Kent coast, either for their own benefit or with others until at least 1815.

As the North Kent Gang, there are several accounts of their exploits in 1820 and 1821 particularly. In March, 1821 they unloaded a cargo at Stangate Creek and seriously wounded an officer of the blockade force that challenge them. In June, they were at Bishopstone Gap, near Herne Bay, and when they were discovered yet again by the blockade force, they injured several of the Government men but two of the Gang were captured and taken to Faversham Gaol. A few days later, the Gang actually attacked the Gaol and set their friends free. A reward of £100 was posted but the escapees were never found.

The grave of Sydenham Snow in Herne Churchyard © P.E. Blanche 1999

Another cargo was being unloaded by sixty members of the Gang at Herne Bay in April, 1821 after they had already spent a considerable amount of time at the Inn at Herne (now known as "The Smugglers") and were somewhat the worse for wear! They were surprised by a small blockade force led by Midshipman Snow. There was an exchange of fire and Midshipman Snow was hit twice. He was carried to "The Ship Inn" where he died of his wounds the next day and was subsequently buried in the Churchyard at Herne. Prior to his death, Midshipman Snow was able to provide a desciption of several of the smugglers and as a result, five of them were captured and taken to trial in London. All five were released on a legal technicality.

The Ship Inn, Herne Bay, Kent.
© P.E. Blanche 1999

During a later run at Marsh Bay, Westgate-on-Sea, the Gang was again discovered by a blockade force but this time one of the men was identified. This eventually led to the arrest of eighteen members of the Gang, four of whom were hung on Penenden Heath and the remaining fourteen were sent off to Tasmania for their troubles. This was the beginning of the end for this Gang.

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