RobinC
05-02-2010, 7:21 PM
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 apprenticeships.
"Usually, the only records we have of Waterman and Lightermen was the date they were bound to the Company as apprentices, usually aged around 15 years old, and when they became Freemen of the Company, usually 5 or 7 years later. They were not employed by the Company, nor did we keep employment records. When they were bound, they had a Master, who may or may not have been their employer on the river."
So if you are looking for any ancestors that were Watermen then the only information you will find is when their apprenticeships began and ended and this information is normally available at the Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, City of London, EC2V 7 but is at the LMA at the moment.
"Usually, the only records we have of Waterman and Lightermen was the date they were bound to the Company as apprentices, usually aged around 15 years old, and when they became Freemen of the Company, usually 5 or 7 years later. They were not employed by the Company, nor did we keep employment records. When they were bound, they had a Master, who may or may not have been their employer on the river."
So if you are looking for any ancestors that were Watermen then the only information you will find is when their apprenticeships began and ended and this information is normally available at the Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, City of London, EC2V 7 but is at the LMA at the moment.