Customs Officer query

[kallie50]

Hello

I'm probably not in the correct area but I have been clutching at straws and googling which has led me here.
My 3 x great grandfather, Thomas Williams, was born in Weymouth, Dorset about 1791. He and his wife Mary (Russell) had eight children, all born in Weymouth except the youngest (William Henry b 1840 - my 2 x ggf) who was born in Hull.
1841 census shows the family living in Hull and occupation of Thomas is shown as Customs Boat.
1851 census shows Thomas still living in Hull with his second wife, Elizabeth, her two sons and his son William Henry - (first wife Mary died in 1847) - occupation of Thomas is shown as 1st class weighman in her majesty's customs.  I haven't been able to find marriage details for Thomas and Mary in the Dorset area and because Mary died before 1851 I'm not sure where she was actually born.  I was pretty much at a brick wall.  Then..........after about seven million google attempts  I found information relating to 'Retired Allowances for Superannuation' parliamentary papers.  It was under the heading COWES Isle of Wight and showed a Thomas Williams, Chief  Boatman in the preventing boat at St Ives - Treasury Letter, 25th February 1819 - received 32 pounds  - he had been in the service five years - the payment was for the loss of a hand, a consequence of the execution of his duty which was 'to board and rummage ships and to guard the coast against smugglers'.  I'm not sure if this is my 'Thomas Williams' - I have checked the Genuki coastguard site but he wasn't there.  I'm not sure where to go from here and I sincerely appreciate any help/tips/advice etc.  I'm in Australia so I'm not really sure about the distances and if it is feasable to think someone born in Dorset could go to Cowes and end up in Hull.  Sorry to ramble on......
Regards
Lynne

[groom]

I'm in Australia so I'm not really sure about the distances and if it is feasable to think someone born in Dorset could go to Cowes and end up in Hull.  Sorry to ramble on......

Quite feasible I would think, especially if he was working for Customs. Weymouth to the Isle of Wight (Cowes) is really no distance. Hull is also a big port, so perhaps he was transferred there.

[bearkat]

Customs officers were often moved around so they didn't get too friendly with the locals 

The National Archives holds records.  See their research guide

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/coastguard-officers/

You can dowload records free of charge (very large files) to view at home.

[Little Nell]

I think you need to be clear in your mind - was he a customs officer or was he a coastguard?  From what you say I think he was a customs officer.

Coastguard records can be downloaded from TNA, but I don't think records for customs officers can be downloaded in the same way.

Nell

[kallie50]

census records and his sons death certificate show he was a customs officer.  I was confused I thought from information I have read that customs and coastguard amalgamated in 1822. Sorry for the confusion

Regards
Lynne

[Little Nell]

Apologies, Lynne,

I omitted the link for the research guide for Customs officers:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/customs-officers/

Customs officers were generally responsible for ensuring that all taxes and duty was paid.  The coastguard were mainly responsible for preventing smuggling.  But with various develpments and mergers it can be very confusing for those trying to trace their ancestors 

Nell