Boatman Cheshire / Manchester

[Pricey4848]

My great x 2 grandfather was born Lymm c1871.

In 1894 he is living in Hulme Manchester when he marries Elizabeth Barnes.

On the wedding certificate he is shown as a Boatman as was his father William Born Middlewich (deceased at time)

I imagine the Lymm-Hulme connection derives from the Bridgewater Canal given the Boatman occupation.

Are there any research records available in respect of Boatmen or Bridgewater Canal etc???

[Viktoria]

Do you think he was a - a narrowboatman  ie a  bargee?
There are the Trent & Mersey canal and the Shropshire Union canal in the  Middlewich area.
 Going through Manchester is the Rochdale canal.
Bridgewater canal starts at Worsley, quite a long way from where he lived in Hulme.It was  built  by the Duke of Bridgewater to carry coal from his mine.
Google Bridgewater canal and you will find out more but as for individual boatmen I am not at all sure.
I cant imagine narrow boats on The Manchester Ship canal, not with ocean- going liners like the Furness Lines  using  it.

Good luck.Viktoria.
                   

Best of luck

[Pricey4848]

Thanks...the Bridgewater canal runs through Lymm and right through Hulme into Manchester City Centre (Castlefield Basin)

Just says "boatman" on the documents.

[garstonite]

you haven't actually posted his name - You have posted his wife Elizabeth Barnes - but not your gg granddad - is this the marriage ??
Marriage: 8 Sep 1894 St Mark, Hulme, Lancashire, England
 George Almond - 23, Boatman, Bachelor, 50 Owen Street
 Elizabeth Barnes - (X), 19, Hooker, Spinster, 50 Owen Street
     Groom's Father: William Almond, deceased, Boatman
     Bride's Father: Thomas Barnes, deceased, Towman
     Witness: Rodney Dunn; Annie Lomas
     Married by Banns by: W. S. Caiger
     Register: Marriages 1891 - 1901, Page 89, Entry 178
     Source: LDS Film 2357303
 
this looks like he has an address and doesn't live on a boat like most boatmen did - let me see if there are any baptisms and where he is ?

[garstonite]

Baptism: 10 Feb 1895 St Stephen, Hulme, Lancashire, England
 Edith Almond - [Child] of George Almond & Elizabeth
     Born: 17 Jan 1895
     Abode: 20 Wood St.
     Occupation: Labourer
     Baptised by: T. H. Taylor
     Register: Baptisms 1891 - 1895, Page 98, Entry 777
     Source: LDS Film 2357333

...
Baptism: 20 Dec 1896 St Stephen, Hulme, Lancashire, England
 John William Alman - [Child] of George Alman & Elizabeth
     Born: 30 Nov 1896
     Abode: 10 Clegg St.
     Occupation: Labourer
     Baptised by: T. H. Taylor
     Register: Baptisms 1895 - 1898, Page 48, Entry 381
     Source: LDS Film 2357333

.............................................................................................
Baptism: 8 Jan 1899 St Stephen, Hulme, Lancashire, England
 Mary Elizabeth Almond - [Child] of George Almond & Elizabeth
     Born: 3 Dec 1898
     Abode: 18 Clegg Street
     Occupation: Labourer
     Baptised by: L. Spencer Murdoch
     Register: Baptisms 1898 - 1908, Page 8, Entry 59
     Source: LDS Film 2357333

......................................................................
Baptism: 3 Feb 1901 St Stephen, Hulme, Lancashire, England
 Ethel Almond - [Child] of George Almond & Elizabeth
     Born: 28 Dec 1900
     Abode: 18 Ann Street, Lloyd St.
     Occupation: Labourer
     Baptised by: H. F. Haigh Hewitt
     Register: Baptisms 1898 - 1908, Page 62, Entry 492
     Source: LDS Film 2357333

..................................................................................
Baptism: 12 Apr 1905 St Stephen, Hulme, Lancashire, England
 Emma Almond - [Child] of George Almond & Elizabeth
     Born: 21 Mar 1905
     Abode: 13 Ann Street
     Occupation: Labourer
     Baptised by: L. Spencer Murdoch
     Register: Baptisms 1898 - 1908, Page 148, Entry 1183
     Source: LDS Film 2357333

...................................................
Baptism: 10 Apr 1907 St Stephen, Hulme, Lancashire, England
 Margaret Almond - [Child] of George Almond & Elizabeth
     Born: 4 Mar 1907
     Abode: 35 Foster St.
     Occupation: Labourer
     Baptised by: T. Storey Bates
     Register: Baptisms 1898 - 1908, Page 187, Entry 1490
     Source: LDS Film 2357333

................................................................................
if these are your George and Elizabeths children it looks like he stopped being a Boatman because he is a Labourer on all the Baptisms ??

[Pricey4848]

Thank you...yes this is the same family....

[jane harrison]

Hello
yes Narrow boats (Canal working boats) where known to be at the Manchester ship Canal & Docks  for loading  directly off the ships as I have several census with mine there who also had a home address as the time span you at researching is before the boatman had wages cut & where forced to give up their homes & take the wife & family onboard with them. Also wide boats where used your boatman could have been a river boatman have you looked to see if he is registered as these workers had to have a trade & union card of such .I have also found it depends on the numerator. As if he or his wife said he works on the docks or boats  they often put them down as a labourer on Census & their Childrens birth & baptism certs