This is a tale from a period when many believed in the supernatural and has an unexpected ending to it.

The story commences with a reference to two men who lived in the Henwalia area, and were named Musket and Murray. One of them was a retired Army Colonel, but the storyteller could not remember his name, although he had been entertained to dinner by his father at Parkia and he recalls the guest telling him that he was called Pil Garlick, short for William Onion.

When the Colonel died and shortly after the funeral it was rumoured that his ghost traveled in a hearse around the town at night. Some swore to having seen, not only the ghostly hearse, but the apparition of the Colonel himself. However, as it only occurred in the early hours of the morning, the ghost and the hearse were allowed to roam the streets at will.

At that time, as inprevious summers, ships from Jersey and Guernsey visited the Port of Caernarfon with a cargo of apples. A merchant from the town, Boaz Pritchard was a regular customer and Llewelyn Turner, in his book, testifies to having known him and states that he and his wife lived in Love Lane. He further claims to having seen both of them on board some of these vessels on occasion. There was nothing strange in that, of course, as Boaz would have been there on business. But what kind of business? That is what caused Customs Officers to suspect that therewas something afoot.

The story of the ghost and the hearse had reached their ears and when they learned that one of the ships carrying apples had arrived in port, they decided to act. In the early hours of the morning they lay in waiting and stopped the hearse. It had been borrowed (if that is the correct word) from a shed near Llanbeblig Church and inside was a number of casks of brandy. Spirit, yes, but no ghost.

Boaz Pritchard was arrested, tried, found guilty of smuggling and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. A change of address from Love Lane to Caernarfon Jail. This, no doubt, could be regarded as just deserves for such a rogue, but that was not the case according to Llewelyn Turner. No less a person than the Marquis of Anglesey appealed requesting that the prisoner be given a reduced sentence and was successful.

What could have caused a former Mayor of Caernarfon from 1831 - 1836 to plead for mercy on Boaz Pritchard=s behalf? Perhaps that this extract from a Canvass Return for Love Lane, taken at the time of the Election of 1841 is significant.

Boaz Pritchard.

Intends voting for Charles Pagent    Remarks:   Obligated to Ld. Anglesey