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Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: linda51 on Saturday 18 April 20 15:52 BST (UK)
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I'm looking at an old brickwall and attempting to break it.
William Jones, Lighterman is the father named on a marriage certificate in 1867 for the son, also William Jones.
William Jones - the son - christening on 14th February 1819 Parish of New Windsor, Berkshire. William s/o William and Mary, Bargeman of Spital.
Any ideas how to get more information on this Bargeman / Lighterman?
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Some useful information here:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=647978.0
Carol
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Thanks Carol
I had a go at searching the database earlier this afternoon and put in just the surname Jones and Berkshire.........no results. It could of course be me!!!
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This might be useful:
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/thames-watermen-and-lightermen-1688-2010
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Thanks, but that doesn't have anything. The information I have is probable marriage:
William Jones. Aged 43, born 1782. Spittall. Burial 8 December 1825. St Andrew, Clewer.
and burial:
William Jones. Aged 43, born 1782. Spittall. Burial 8 December 1825. St Andrew, Clewer.
and occupation given on the marriage certificate of his son - also William Jones
.......and christening records for his children:
14th February 1819. Parish of New Windsor, Berkshire. William s/o William & Mary Bargeman of Spital
26th May 1822 Mary Jones, St Andrew, Clewer d/o William Jones Lab and Mary of Spital Row b 28th April 1822
7 May 1826 Charlotte Jones. St Andrew, Clewer. d/o Wiliam Jones Bargeman and Mary of Spital
Bargeman or Labourer?
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As I undersrand it, a lighterman supplied ships/ boats .
He would have a small boat and would take food supplies etc, to ships at anchor but not right in hadbour.
There is one in my family tree ,in the 1881 census.
“ Lighterman ,off the coast at Hull”.
Viktoria.
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Thanks Viktoria. I can imagine that would certainly be the case on coastal waters, but this is Windsor in Berkshire.................but perhaps he took supplies to smaller boats or barges. I'm not sure how navigable the Thames is past Windsor - though I think barges go up at least as far Henley and possibly further, but huge great ships surely wouldn't sail there. On the other hand, he could have been provisioning boats from Windsor eastwards towards London and the coast.
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Yes, a lighter was a type of barge ,so perhaps there would be inland ones too,as well as provisioning ships they also took cargo off ,hence “ lighters”.
Viktoria.
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Thanks Viktoria - that helps my understanding a lot.
Do you think lightermen would need apprenticeship - or even a licence..........anything which may have left a paper record.
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Many of my ancestors were Thames lightermen in London and they all served a 7 apprenticeship. Assume it would be the same in other places.
Carolyn
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Thanks. I hope so, but I searched various databases and found nothing!!
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The Thames is navigable right through to lechlade in Gloucestershire and maybe beyond, but there are locks on it 14 ft wide to accommodate barges, Thames lighters and Lightermen are a different thing altogether, and much bigger craft.
Prior to the railways the upper Thames was a very busy waterway, it seems likely your man was a barge man on this stretch of river.
If I have the dates right williams father died when he was six, so on his marriage cert. he may not have been fully aware of what his dad did for a living.
Mike
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If I have the dates right williams father died when he was six, so on his marriage cert. he may not have been fully aware of what his dad did for a living.
That's a very good point Mike - Thanks very much! It may be better for me to look at poor law records as his mother would have needed help, then she died in 1830. Before I give up on apprenticeship/licenses do you know what records if any, exist for bargemen?
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I have generations of Lightermen in my family, going back to the early 1700’s and they were all based in the London area.
This from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_of_Watermen_and_Lightermen
Jo :)