h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

NaJoPoMo 2015 Bobstafford A Message in a bottle Interesting Ancestors

25. 11 2015

It appears that I have an ancestor who ran a pub in Kent. My father found out the history some years ago, my grandmother's maiden name was Ransley, she was regarded as being from a well known family.
Her family was originally from the Deal area and a close relation George Ransley ran a pub in the area called the Bourne Tap.

Like any good businessman he had grasped the principal buy cheap and sell high. this applied to wine and spirits as much as any commodity. Living on the kent coast the best source of a cheap supply was smuggling.

He was supplied by a large gang in the area and after a time became deeply involved, to such an extent that after a customs raid called "the battle of Brookland" he became the leader of the gang.

After a little matter when a customs officer was accidently on purpose shot through the head, and was arrested for murder. Owing it the efforts of a brilliant lawyer he avoided a hanging, but he won himself a trip to Tasmania (in chains). However he was pardoned and established a family and ended up owning a 500 acre farm, surrounded by a large and happy family.

Anyone else have stories from their family history

Yeah, my ancestor was a customs officer from Kent...

They might have met in the pub

[Amy P]