Source Excise Minute Books at PRO KEW Indexes searched from PRO 47/278 (July 1771) until PRO 47/413 (July 1799). Apart from entries listed below there are no Treays, Trease or other spelling variations of Trease name recorded in these books. PRO 47 - 5 index matches for William Treays 299 Wm Treays p51 304 Wm Treays p13 318 Wm Treays p41 325 Wm Treays p20 332 Wm Treays p83 PRO 47 index - other matches 352 Richard Tree p52 360 Richard Tree p107 361 Richard Tree p79,118 361 Richard Tree p153 368 Thos Trees p65 401 George Trise? p117 413 Wm Trease p96 (July 1799) - First reference to William's nephew who also joined the Excise service The name Sharp was investigated as William's mother's family was thought to possibly have seafaring/excise connections. Sharps not methodically inspected but one book referenced pointed to Northampton as location. Lots of Sharp(e)s listed:- 365 John Sharp p41 366 Robt Sharp p42,106 367 Robt Sharp p99 (not searched after then – numerous hits for Sharp)
P51 of Minute Book PRO 47/299
Friday 26th May 1775
Thomas Davis who by Minute of 19th Instant was appointed assistant at Bristol being dead, as by letter of 24th Instant, from
David Griffiths, Officer; Ordered that William Treays be assistant there in his Stead on Mr Scott’s motion.
P13 of Minute Book PRO 47/304
Thursday 30th May 1776
John Popham Officer of Laugham 2d Ride Wales West Collection having ……; Ordered that he be discharged that Thomas Bassett Officer of
Wiveliscombe Ride, Tiverton Collection succeed him at his own request and that William Treays, dropt assistant at Bristol be Officer of
Wiveliscombe Ride or such other ride as he shall be fit for.
P41 of Minute Book PRO 47/318
Friday 22nd October 1779
John Stewart Officer of Wimbourne Dn Dorset Collection being by Minute of the 8th Instant discharged; Ordered that Richard Tucker Officer
of Barnstaple 2 Ride Barum Collection be Officer of Wimbourne Dvn in his Stead on Mr Lucas’s Motion; that William Treays Officer of
Wilscombe Ride, Tiverton Collection succeed Tucker at his own Request and that Richard Spratley Officer of Bristol Sth Divn who by the preceding Minute is ordered to be reduced to an O:ride be Officer of Wilscombe Ride in the ….? of Treays.
P20 of Minute Book PRO 47/325
Friday 8th June 1781
William Treays, Officer of Barnstaple 2 OR Collection being arrested for Debt and committed to Prison as by letter of the 3rd Instant from
John Nelson Supervisor – Ordered that he the said Treays be discharged; that William Hoskin Officer of Grinstead 3 ORide, Sussex Collection be Officer of Barum 2 ‘ORide in his stead at his own Request and that John Andrews dropt Assistant in Norwich Colln succeed Hoskin or be Officer of such other ride as he shall be fit for.
P83 of Minute Book PRO 47/332
Tuesday 10th Dec 1782
William Treays, late Officer of Barnstaple, 2d. OutRide Barnstaple Collection who was discharged, having petitioned the Board praying to
be restored. Ordered that his petition be rejected.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
I don't suppose we will ever know the background to William being arrested for debt.
His mistake may have been one of naivety - he may have been "set up" by persons who wished to get him off their patch.