There was a story in the family of my mother (Marjorie May Smith) that one of the uncles/brothers of her grandparents was one of a group that brought down a policeman by putting a rope across the road and bringing down his horse.

With family surnames of Smith, Griffith and Jones etc., it could never be proved but my sister has just found an entry in court records that has

George Jones of Hilliers Land aged 28 and 5'8" tall Farmer's son
William Smith of Hilliers Land aged 24 and 5'7" tall Wood Cutter
Elms Smith of Berry Hill aged 18 and 5'6" tall Collier

accused That on the 11th March 1856 at the Township of West Dean did unlawfully assault and beat one Richard Thompson of the County Police.

I have a 1st cousin 4x removed called Elms Smith and he was of Berry Hill but he was baptised 24 Sep 1830 at Christchurch (PR has Helmes but later census and burial in 1860 has Elms). The only other Elms Smith is his nephew who was born in 1861.

I wondered if anyone had anything further on this, I have tried newspapers and the inquests on this site without finding anything.

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10 generations in the Forest

Year: 1830
Month: Oct
Day: 24
Parents_Surname: SMITH
Child_Forenames: Helmes
Fathers_Forenames: Richard
Mothers_Forenames: Sarah
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Berry Hill
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: T.R. Garnsey
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: 8212
Page_Number: 14
Parish_Chapel: Christchurch

1841 Berry Hill ( Worcester Walk)

Richard Smith Male 15 1826 Gloucestershire, England
Richard Smith Male 15 1826 Gloucestershire, England
Edward Smith Male 20 1821 Gloucestershire, England
Amos Smith Male 14 1827 Gloucestershire, England
Elms Smith Male 10 1831 Gloucestershire, England
Benjamin Smith Male 5 1836 Gloucestershire, England
Susannah Smith Female 45 1796 Gloucestershire, England
Eliza Smith Female 15 1826 Gloucestershire, England
Eisabeller Smith Female 3 1838 Gloucestershire, England

1851 Berry Hill
Richard Smith Head Married Male 57 1794 Collier Berry Hill, Gloucestershire, England
Susan Smith Wife Married Female 54 1797 - Berry Hill, Gloucestershire, England
Richard Smith Son Widower Male 29 1822 Collier Berry Hill, Gloucestershire, England
Eliza Smith Daughter Unmarried Female 25 1826 - Berry Hill, Gloucestershire, England
Amos Smith Son Unmarried Male 23 1828 Collier Berry Hill, Gloucestershire, England
Elms Smith Son Unmarried Male 20 1831 Collier Berry Hill, Gloucestershire, England
George Smith Son Unmarried Male 18 1833 Collier Berry Hill, Gloucestershire, England
Benjamin Smith Son Unmarried Male 16 1835 Collier Berry Hill, Gloucestershire, England

in 1856 Elms Smith of Berry Hill aged 18 and 5'6" tall Collier
would expect age of 26 if recorded accurately , however a variance like this is not rare

Surname Given Names Age Year Died District Register Entry
SMITH Elms 30 1860 Monmouth, Coleford 9 458

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

The only record I can find is their conviction on the 19th March 1850 in Gloucestershire Prison Records.
Terms of imprisonment for Elmes Smith and George Jones was 21 days or pay 4l.6s.
William Smiths terms of imprisonment was 1 cal. month or pay 5l.6s.

Baptism FOD records

Tidenham

18 March 1849

Isaac Richard Thompson

father: Richard (occupation Policeman)
mother: Maryanne

Residence : Woodcroft Tidenham

GRO Index

Thompson, Isaac Richard

Mother’s maiden name: Pullen

GRO reference : 1849

M Quarter in OF CHEPSTOW

Volume 26 Page 65

Using the Advance Search for Elms SMITH as a Witness at a Wedding, there is........

At Christchurch 18 October 1855

Henry SHORT a Collier, residence; WHITEHALL

marrying

Jane BURGHAM, residence, SHORTSTANDING

witnesses:

Mark of ELMS SMITH
and Sarah COOPER

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GRO Index

SMITH, Elms - 1860 S Quarter in MONMOUTH Volume 11A Page 11

Age at death: 30

Just Googled:

Mining Accident 1860 Elms SMITH, Christchurch Gloucestershire

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Which led me to the Website, produced by the Forest of Dean Local History Society

Headed:

MINERS MEMORIAL PROJECT - Facilities in Coal Mines

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SMITH Elms - 4 September 1860

aged, 30, Collier

Mine: Buckholt Level

Fall of strong top called 'beef' on the 4th.

Died 7th. and buried 9th without notice either to Home Office, inspector, coroner or police.