Marriage Witnesses

[Staffs Boaties]

I have the following people who witnessed marriages for Canal Boatmen in my family tree.


Richard Ludlow and Eliza Davies, Chester 1871
Hugh Williams (other witness was related to the bride), High Offley 1924
Alice Huxley (other witness was related to the bride), Nantwich 1902
Edward Lowe and Eliza Ann Thomas, Nantwich 1899
Samuel Wilday? (other witness was related to the bride), Nantwich 1907
John Henry Bannister and Charles Malpass, High Offley 1915

I would like to know if all of them worked on the canals also as none of them show up on any of the other paperwork I have

[bumblebee]

On the 1901 census there is an Alice Huxley 'niece of' in Nantwich.

Nantwich St Mary and St Nicholas

116 Hospital Street

Annie Blackburn 36 Niece
Alice Huxley 24 Niece single (cannot make out occupation) Mell........? (could be Milliner)
Ann Huxley 69 Head

Bumblebee

Class: RG13; Piece: 3362; Folio: 136; Page: 20

[bumblebee]

I have tried to follow the above Alice to see if any surnames tie up, but she seems to turn into Alice S Bowyer in the 1891 and 1881 census still with Ann Huxley (still as niece) and husband Thomas - Tin Plate Worker.

Does say Huxley on the 1901 census though.

1881 - Class: RG11; Piece: 3547; Folio: 89; Page: 32

1891 - Class: RG12; Piece: 2856; Folio 35; Page 27

Bumblebee

[bumblebee]

1901 census for a Samuel Wilday - he is a butcher but Father James is a Canal Boatman, Barge.

Chester Castle

14 Water Tower View

Elizabeth Wilday 49
Harry Wilday 13
Herbert Wilday 21
James Wilday 56 Canal Boatman born Bilston Staffs.
James Wilday 7
Robert Wilday 12
............Samuel Wilday 16 Butcher.

Class: RG13; Piece: 3369; Folio: 93; Page: 64.


in 1891 the same family are at..

Chester Castle
Queen Street Wharf, Canal Boat 'David'

Father James is 'master'. Crew (Cargo Transport)

There is a notation next to this family something about 'this family.....?' but I cannot read it all.

Class: RG12; Piece: 2861; Folio 109; Page 33

Bumblebee

[bumblebee]

There is also a pension record for a Samuel Wildey, Boatman, born about 1890 in Staffordshire. Married a Harriet Aston in 1912. Address is 'Boat Bateston? Shropshire Union Canal'

Bumblebee

[Staffs Boaties]

Thank you. I have found reference to a Samuel Wilday in the Wolverhampton boat records and I'm sure the Lowe family worked on the boats too. The only thing I don't know is if any of them were part of my family

[Kentincomer]

I have the following people who witnessed marriages for Canal Boatmen in my family tree.


My ancestor, Francis Pesley who is a boatman on his marriage certificate in 1849, in Darlaston Staffs, had two witnesses not related, and I wonder if they are boat people? They are: John Talbot and Mary Pearson-neither of them could write, nor could my Francis, though his wife, Harriott appears to have signed her name.

[ann.pitts]

I'm just reading the posts on this thread does someone have access to them if so is there william flatley boatman on them
please i do know william was on surcco
ann

[bumblebee]

Hi Ann

Can you tell us any more about William - do you know when and where he was born.

Bumblebee

[ann.pitts]

he was born in kidderminster in 1863 i only really after evidence of records on the canals most of all thankyou
ann