The Worthington family of Dover achieved a certain prominence in Kent, in the
18th and early 19th centuries, as barrel-markers and, perhaps paradoxically,
since contraband liquor usually came in barrels, as officers of the Customs
Service. This new exploration of their family history adds significantly to
published Worthington genealogy; mainly confined, previously, to the basic study
of their roots. 'The Worthington Families of Medieval England' (Phillimore,
1985). Apart from its intrinsic interest to Worthingtons world-wide, the book
holds equal appeal to anyone concerned with the work of the Revenue Service at
the height of the smuggling era - or simply intrigued by the story of smuggling!
This is largely due to the vast amount of material unearthed by the author
relating to the book's principal hero ... Benjamin Jelly Worthington
(1763-1822), a Customs Cutter Commander responsible for one of the busiest
sections of the south coast. The lieterature of the smuggling phenomenon is
almost monopolised by studies of the smugglers themselves, so that this account
of the work of their enemy, the Customs Officer, provides an unusual and
fascinating insight into the life and problems of the Revenue men. They worked
in a climate hostile to their efforts, yet throughout his 40 year career
Benjamin Jelly Worthington demonstrated quite remarkable zeal in the pursuit of
his prey and the seizure of their contraband.
In the mid-19th century the family began to disperse. One branch went to
Lowestoft where three generations became doctors. Some of the Dover family also
became doctors and several families with to New Zealand where they were farming
pioneers. One of Lieutenant Benjamin's sons went to Wales and some of his
descendants are still there. Sea-faring remained a strong attraction amongst the
Dover, Welsh, Canadian and New Zealand descendants. Others became artists; three
of the family were knighted, and brewing continued to be a family occupation up
to the end of the 19th century.
It was Sir Anthony Wagner, when Garet King of Arms, who first drew attention
to the great potential of the growth of serious and scholarly research into
family history to provide unexpected but invaluable contributions to the fabric
of history proper. This book amply confirms his confidence in the conversion of
the the old-time pedigree hunters into fully-fledged historical researchers. The
author, in seeking to illuminate the Worthingstons of Dover, has thrown light on
maritime, social, economic and local history and, at the same time, provided and
essential source-book for all future students of smuggling!
Contents:
List of Illustrations
Foreword
Preface and Acknowledgement
Family History Charts
1. Early Worthingtons of Dover
2. Benjamin Jelly Worthington: His Early Life
3. Commander Benjamin Jelly Worthington of the 'Tartar' Cutter
4. Children of Benjamin Jelly and Elizabeth Worthington
5. Grandchildren of Benjamin Jelly and Elizabeth Worthington
- The Children of Lieutenant Benjamin and Mary Worthington
- The Children of William Collins and Sarah Worthington
- Children of Henry and Mary Worthington
6. Great-Grandchildren of Benjamin Jelly and Elizabeth Worthington
- The Children of Francis Samuel and Helen Felicite Worthington
- The Children of John Scott and Mary Worthington
- The Children of Edward Scott Worthington
- The Children of James Copland and Harriett Worthington
- The Children of George Finch Jennings and Elizabeth Worthington
- The Children of Thomas Knight and Mary Ann Worthington
7. Cousins of Benjamin Jelly and Elizabeth Worthington
8. Related Families
- The Jelly Family
- The Collins Family
- The Novice Family
- The Rouse Family
- The Jennings Family
Appendixes
Notes
Abbreviations
Bibliography
Index of Persons
General Index
