Hi I am trying to find out more information on canal boatmen in my family. The surnames I have are Howard, Watkin, Hall, Statham, Littlehales, Edwards, Jones and Roberts. On the Howard side I have Charles Howard b1846 Handsworth, Staffs d 1922 Chester, dad Charles (not a boatman) mom Sarah, wife Mary Ann Jones b either 1840 or 1844 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, dad Edward (boatman) mom unknown. Charles married Mary in 1871 Chester. They had a son William Edward b 1881 Runcorn who married Elizabeth Watkin b either 1881 or 1886 Wolverhampton, Staffs dad John mom Mary. Elizabeth had sisters called Rose Hannah b 1878 (married Richard Edwards, dad John Edwards), Harriet (married Thomas Littlehales, dad Thomas), Mary, Ellen and a brother called John (married Emma Hall, dad Thomas). I know they worked the following boats: Orange, Crow, Fredrick, Cressent?, and Chester

Any help would be greatly appreciated