Forum: Canals and Watermen

I'm keen to confirm the parentage and know more about my great-great-great grandfather George F Wright b. 1822 approx Hampton Middx (sometimes Moulsey, Surrey!) I have marriage certs for 2 of his 12 children listing him as a waterman, 2 of his sons become watermen and he spends his married life...

I am trying to find out more about a Charles Smith, Bargeman, born abt 1796, father of: Elisa Smith b 1817 Matilda Smith 1818 – 1866 Charles Thomas Smith b 1821 by Mary (maiden name unknown); all baptised in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England. Daughter Matilda's marriage certificate to...

Not sure if this is the right place for this one. My dad often used to refer to a sharpened wooden implement which was used to clean clay and earth etc from spades. I found a reference in a book about Irish Navvies which used the term Minute Man, as it took just a minute to clean the spade and...

We at Boats and Canals often have people searching for people or canal related history, if we can help please feel free to ask in our forum, we do not sell anything nor do we promote our site for ranking places, we specialise purely in Canal life and its people, maybe we can be another avenue to...

I believe that my family the wiggins married into the terry family in and around oxfordshire in about 1840's Charles wiggins married sarah(?) but his sister mary anne wiggins married a TERRY Can anyone help regarding any sites to gain info about canal men people Many thanks Kevin

I am trying to find out about my grandfather,George Bucknall who was I believe a lock keeper in Penkridge Lock No 86 this would have been around 1900-1905+. To date i have not been able to locate any info on this any help or guidance appreciated. baymanofkb.

Just thought those researching boat families may be interested in a website created by Ormskirk & District Family History Society www. boatfamilies.org.uk

Hi ,stuck abit !! grandmothers g.g.gfather ... william west on his daughters marrige cert it states he was a lighterman . his daughter annie maria west ( born 1862) married james william brown born 1861 - mar 1882 deptford . on the 1891 census she has used the name maria a brown . ...

Hi All, I am researching the Vincent family of Stepney/Limehouse/Ratclff. I wondered if anyone may have any information the Vincents as Lightermen ? (circa 1850 +/-) Kind regards...... John

Hi I would be very grateful if anyone can help with more info on Thomas Hearn and family. He was married to Mary and they had children:Thomas 1812, Edward Percy 1827, Charlotte 1827, Mary Ann 1807 & Sarah Ann 1810. The baptisms were at St Mary Magdelane, Bermondsey. I would really like to find...

Hi Maggiemac I would be very grateful if you could point me in the right direction. I have a George RUSHTON b.1865. He married Kate Hallam who is on the census for 1901 as Wife. George must have been at sea. My father tells me that George (my G Grandfather) had a fishing fleet of five, all named...

I have an ancestor called either Richard Samuel or Samual Richard James, born about 1831 in Bermondsey and says he is a lighterman. I have been looking in the registers but to no avail. Can anyone shed some light on whether he had to be registered or is it a profession he could do without being...

I hope I am in the right place, but My G G Grandfather was born in Stepney London in 1826. I can't find him on the 1841, but he married in Bruree Co Limerick in 1851, to a girl from Castletownroche in Co Cork. He had several children, some were born in Co Limerick and some in Killalloe Co...

Hi...My maternal grandfather and family were all watermen (lightermen). Grandad was called James Knott (1872-1952) and was from Winteringham, Lincolnshire. His father, Christopher, had a vessel (barge) called "Blanche" around 1871-1881. I would be interested in finding more about their voyages and...

I am trying to find information about the Blacksmith Livery Co. who were located on London Bridge in the 1600s as I have been told my husband's ancestor Richard Burman worked there and there was a kitemark with Burman on it. My question to any knowledgable person is: Wasn't that too early for...

Hi, Does anyone have any information on the following boats which I think were owned by SURCCO: Cressent (or Crescent) would have been in Audlem 1909 Suffolk would have been in Runcorn in 1882 Chester would have been in Nantwich 1902 Princess would have been in Nantwich 1907 Cromer...

I contacted the Watermen's Hall in order to find out some information on my ancestors and was informed that the Watermen were not employed by the Company of Watermen and were only tied to their Master's through their apprenticeships until they were confirmed as Freemen at the end of the...

Hi , another question i'm afraid . I have the death certificate for my g/grandfather and it states " Drowned by falling off a clay barge into the River Teign" Accidental death ! Would there be a report or record of this accident that i would be able to see ? Thank You Sue