Thomas Sivell, smuggler
Standing in the churchyard of Holy Cross, Binstead, Isle of Wight is the headstone of smuggler, Thomas Sivell.
At the top of the headstone is a image of his sloop, the inscription underneath reads:
who was cruelly shot on board his
sloop by some officers of the customs
of the Port of Portsmouth on the
15th of June 1785, at the Age of 64 Years.
leaving a disconsolate Widow & family
All you that pass pray look and see.
How soon my life was took from me
By these officers as you hear
They spilled my blood that was so dear
But God is Good, is Just, and true
And will reward to each their due.
A report by the Customs at the time records that the Customs' boat Roebuck was at anchor between Chichester and Langstone harbour on the lookout for smugglers when Thomas Sivell’s sloop carrying contraband came into sight and the Roebuck gave chase. Those onboard the Roebuck fired musket balls into the rigging of the sloop to bring it about; the fourth musket ball striking Thomas Sivell in the head, killing him. The contraband was seized and the body of Thomas Sivell landed at Ryde.
In all the stories about Sivell, no mention is ever made of any others onboard the sloop.
