Jevington was well known for its smuggling connections with a smuggler
James Pettit known as "Jevington Jigg" organising the smuggling in the
local area. The gang offloaded at nearby Birling Gap and Crowlink , and
brought the contraband up the valleys to Jevington where they were stored
in the cellar of the Rectory and in the inn. Pettit was the local innkeeper
and leader of the local gang in the 1780's . As a criminal he seemed to be
interested in both smuggling and horse thieving as he was imprisoned at
Battle , Horsham and East Grinstead . In 1799 he was convicted of horse
thieving and was deported to Botany Bay.
