Today in 1829, the famous smuggler and Methodist preacher, Harry Carter died.

The brother of John Carter, the ‘King of Prussia’, Harry Carter was responsible for transporting the smuggled goods from Guernsey and landing them on Porth Leah, on of the three coves now, collectively, known as Prussia Cove. 

At that point, the goods became the responsibility of John Carter who transported them from their original landing point to hiding places along the coast and in hidden cupboards in many coastal cottages.  

Harry Carter was captured by the French and was imprisoned for two years. Released, Harry settled down as a farmer and Methodist preacher for the last thirty years of his life.

The Carters’ house was demolished in the early 20^th century.

In John Carter’s time (he vanished in 1807), the house was protected from the revenue cutters by a battery of cannons on the clifftop.  Remote from London but with close relationships with the Channel Islands and Brittany, taxes were greatly resented and smuggling was regarded as almost legitimate. 

The smugglers would import brandy, wine and lace and many Cornishwomen were unusually well dressed when their poverty-stricken life is considered.  Many local clergy and gentry supported the smugglers as it benefited them personally and financially and it was rare for a Cornish jury to convict a man accused of smuggling.

Unattributed