Robert Purvis was born in about 1794, the son of a weaver, Thomas, from Angerton. Although his father taught him to weave, he never took to it. He tried other trades, but decided to settle on smuggling as his chosen career.
In 1828 he was met on Longhorsley Moor by an exciseman named Williamson from Morpeth. The casks that Purvis was carrying were captured, but he himself managed to escape. Purvis realised that his personal freedom was now in peril; he bought a horse from the money he had made and hid at his brother’s house. Occasionally he would return to Angerton to visit his father, and one time excisemen were there waiting. He managed to escape through a window, wearing only his shirt and drawers, hiding in a pond until they disappeared.
In 1829 he attended a fox hunt at Thornton Moor. Again, the excisemen tried to capture him, but “putting spurs to his mare” he quickly escaped, leaving his would-be captors far behind. Purvis now decided it would be best to leave; he sold his horse and prepared to emigrate to America.
He was on his way to Shields with a friend when Williamson again caught up with him, this time in Bedlington. He hid in a nearby cottage, but the mistress of the house gave away his presence and he managed to escape through a window, again. Purvis and his friend swapped their clothing and when the excisemen were in view, his friend made a run for it and was captured.
Purvis managed to get to Shields, and boarded a boat. In America he settled, married and became successful in agriculture. He died in about 1840. Sadly we do not know the outcome of the loyal friend who was captured.
