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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Shropshire => Topic started by: Emjaybee on Thursday 17 February 11 16:45 GMT (UK)
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There is infromation that the Beard family (Thomas and Eustace) were one of the last to work boats down the Severn out of Coalbrookdale.
Is anyone researching this line please? My lot settled in The Rhydd, Worcestershire some time after 1800.
Mike
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Thomas Beard's Day Book is at Shropshire Archives although you'll need to check with them whether it can be issued due to the condition. This is his diary from the 1830s. For background see Colin Green's book "Severn Traders"
Peter
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Hello there!!!
I am connected to the Thomas Beard through his grandson, George Stephan - whom sailed on the boat with him between Coalbrookdale and Bristol. They were on ships called 'Trows' - the last remaining being on display at the Blists Hill Victorian Musem.
unfortunately, I have had a phonecall from the Archives today and the Alderman Books (which contain the Diary of Thomas) that I was planning to view tomorrow are no longer for public viewing. They're in a bad state of repair and any further public viewing may make them unrepairable - so I have been advised by Liz Young that I cant view it. REALLY disappointed but said she would keep in touch if matters changed! Unfortunately, no-one ever got photos of the diary, so it's just not plausable to get any sort of viewing at this time...
You can also view the book by Barry Trinder, Barges and Bargeman - (from the library) - which I am yet to do but Thomas is mentioned in there a fair bit apparently.
I have managed to get a fair bit of exciting stuff for Thomas if you want to email me, I can send it all over.
I'm in the midst of packing to move house but have a few bit of stuffed saved to my computer.
Thomas was the 'Last of the Severn Trowmen' to survive. My ancestor, George, sailed on a ship called 'The William' with him, as he pretty much brought him up (because his father - another George! - moved to Worcester to live with his new wife).
I even have a picture of what I believe to be them aboard 'The William'. I also have census records for them 1881-1901. After being Master of the Barge, Thomas and George went on to run the General Gordon Public House. This was located in the Werps - opposite Coalbrookdale. I managed to get a map and old picture of this from Broseley Local History - because the place no longer exists. (my Dad got his middle name of Gordon because of the pub). The Gordon pub stayed in the Stephan family for some years before it (apparently) subsided into the River Severn!
I have recently had an email from a Mike Beard (literally yesterday!) who is also researching the Worcester line of Beards! I'm sure he wouldnt mind me passing on his email!
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William...
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The werps was at coalport not coalbrookdale it is about midway between the boat inn and the woodbridge on the south side of the river as you say its gone now but if you get hold of a copy of images of england south telford there is a picture of the General Gordon pub in there hope this is of use to you .
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Sorry, I meant Coalport. Slips of the tongue!
I got photos from Broseley Local History website, thank you x
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Hi
I contacted Shropshire Archives last Summer to view Thomas Beard's diary (Alderman Jones Notebooks) and was also told the document was not available for viewing.
One wonders who makes these decisions, who has access to this stuff?
Regarding Thomas Beard from the trow William in the 1881 census, do you know who his father was?
I have a Thomas Beard son of John and Mary Beard who was baptised on 22nd September 1811 at St Nicholas Gloucester. The 1841 census lists him as a waterman age 30 living at Priest Yard, Gloucester, he had a wife Harriet Beard age 25.
Chris
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Hi Chris
Unfortunately they told me the same thing and said it would cost a fair amount of money to bring it back to a standard that would make it viewable again... I even suggested perhaps they take pictures of each page just to make it at least accessible in electronic format but she didn't think that would be possible either. Shame... we may never get to read it!!
I was retracing the steps of my ancestors, the Stephans - got sidetracked a bit with an earlier ancestor, Pierre. I've since started back at Uni, so the family research has had to take a back burner until the Summer!
However, I know from the census records that Thomas was married to a Mary Annie (1871). The 1881 census records Thomas as being a widower, age 63. Making his year of birth 1818. I've attached screenprints of the census records for you.
I'm PRETTY sure that this line of Beards were in Coalport for some time as there are various local (broseley) newspaper extracts relating to the Beard family.
However, as watermen, they obviously went up and down the Severn between Coalport and Bristol - so needles to say that they would of spread along this stretch of water!
...and like my family, (who ALL seem to be called Peter or George Stephan!) held the family name. I just did a search on freebmd and there are numerous Thomas Beards around this time.
Moderator Comment: census images removed for copyright reasons - see http://www.rootschat.com/forum/copyright.php.
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On that basis, I have just done another ancestry search on Thomas and Mary Annie to clarify things for you.
They were very wealthy the Beards, owning a fair bit of land and buildings. Look how many lodgers, servants etc were living in them and the adjacent outbuilding on the 1861 census which seems to roughly match up with dates.
Weirdly, my Nanny Florence, whom married into the Stephan family was a Cullis. Another well-known local name...
I THINK they may have owned a pub before the General Gordon. I recall reading something about the Pheasant Inn...it does say innkeeper on the census...
The 1841 census which seems to match up shows Thomas Beard living with his father (another Thomas, a waterman!), mother Ann and what is likely to be his brother, Richard.
Unfortunately, dates on census records seem to vary. The ones I've now got for Thomas vary on him being born 3 years either side of 1818...
Moderator Comment: census images removed for copyright reasons - see http://www.rootschat.com/forum/copyright.php.
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I am sure i have seen headstones in Barrow church yard relating to Beard watermen might be worth you having a look sometime, also the Ironbridge gorge museum have a library at Coalbrookdale with lots of photos and all sorts of info about the local area, give them a call they may have something of use to you they are very helpfull.
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My Thomas was resident in The Rhydd, upstream from Upton on Severn, in 1841. He was a fisherman. There are two Thomas and Anne marriages (father and son marrying the same name) it looks like the Brosely Beards are a diffent family.
However, in the past information has arrived from across the world to set the record straight, we shall wait for Rootschat Magic to happen again. I waited a year last time!
Thanks to all for your interest.
Mike
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Thanks penbex & madeley,
Thomas Beard on the William in 1881 is not as I suspected the same Thomas I have, the ages are too far apart 1818 against 1811.
I have been researching my Beard roots on the Severn for several years and have connections with Beard's in Broseley, Gloucester, Stourport and finally Wolverhampton once the river trade ended.
Madeley, I am interested in the Beard watermen you mentioned in Barrow churchyard, I will pay them a visit next time I am in the area.
Regarding books the mentioned for Severn researchers; apart from Severn Traders by Colin Green and Barges and Bargemen by Trinder, Trinder & Cox's Miners and Mariners of the Severn Gorge is also a fine book.
This is an interesting thread, thanks all.
Chris
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Thomas Beard's commonplace book details events in the 1820s and 1830s so it is likely that it will not be that of either Thomas born 1811 or 1818.
Peter
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Does it Peter?
It's not likely to be of much interest to me then to be honest. I have received a response from Shropshire Archives as follows. Not being related to the Beards directly, I wouldn't have much hope in aiding them.
Dear Penny,
Thanks for emailing - I have details from our conservator, Andrew Davidson
which he gave me last week in reply to yours and other queries we have had
about the Alderman Jones notebooks. I'm afraid it is not ggod news, but
this is his reply:
These commonplace books are in such condition as to require a great deal of
work even to make them safe for a careful photographer. They are actively
losing text from the edges which are curled and dogeared. The binding is
crude and in places stab-stitched, requiring excess pressure on delicate
paper in order to fully turn pages. The conservation of these items is
necessarily complex. The mixture of single leaves and bifolios and the
general condition of the paper speaks of two months work to me. That is a
four figure sum in any conservator's language. If a compelling case could
be made for the conservation of these items it may be possible to apply for
a grant. However, the ownership of this item is not clear and that would
have to be resolved before any of the likely funding bodies would consider
making a grant available.
If you would like to make a compelling case we could then consider what we
need to do to resolve the ownership issue, but I have to say that if we
start to get drawn into an excessively time consuming search for Alderman
Jones' decendants and then legal processes we might have to call a halt.
Please let me know your thoughts.
Regards
Andrew. Senior Conservator. Shropshire Archives.
best wishes
Liz Young
senior archives assistant.
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Hi Penny
Many thanks for posting the reply from Liz Young and Andrew Davidson at Shropshire Archives regarding Alderman Jones Notebooks.
I fully understand the fragile nature and financial implications of conserving of the said document, however could we not have an overview of what is contained within it.
As a Beard researcher I would probably only be looking for names/dates of people or vessels and connections between them if these are contained within the book.
Maybe someone at Shropshire archives could go through the notebook and produce a brief description of its contents, I have no idea how extensive or useful it is as I have never seen it.
Also where does the link with Alderman Jones stem from? I understand the notebook is the observations and impressions of Thomas Beard.
Thanks
Chris
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Hi Chris
I dont know the connections im afraid. I was told that Beards diary is contained within the alderman notebooks and to check it out by a fellow researcher!
Unfortunately, that is exactly what I asked for; some sort of overview or photographic record. I'm sure if handled delicately they could at least preserve it in that form but as with you, I just don't know how large the book is and therefore, how big a job it is. Evidently though, unless someone is going to battle and claim it (which I cant because I'm only connected to the Bards by marriage), it won't be repaired.
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I don't think its a case of a Beard claiming it - rather descendants of the Alderman not claiming it.
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One would think bristol!
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Why Bristol ?
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Thats the poster name - Bristologgerheads - Bristol for short ;)
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Hello all
I thought you would like to know that although the Alderman Notebook is no longer available to view at the Shropshire Archives, the author Barrie Trinder did make a transcript which is available through the Ironbridge Museum. I am obtaining a copy and will upload here when received. x
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I'd be interested in seeing the transcript :)
Peter
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Haven't forgotten guys. The contact I have only works Wednesdays and I've got to pay for it before they will send it out! Should have something by the end of the week.
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Great work penbex86 , I have been trying to view this document for ages.
Chris
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Evening Guys!
Alderman Notebook Transcript by Barry Trinder as promised...
It's been scanned in as a PDF and the size limit for files on the forum is only 500kb...the file is 8MB!
I have uploaded it to my partner's file synchronisation system online. Please find it here (promise its safe!!):
http://ubuntuone.com/6klyGkqFiBsWs14VIj6SP3
EDIT Just noticed I scanned it in upside down, so you might have to save the pdf file, then 'View' and 'Rotate Clockwise'!
Penny
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Many thanks Penny for all your efforts in making the contents of the Alderman Notebooks available.
Chris
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That's okay Peter.
A distant relative had done some research on the my Cullis' family and referenced it in his documents, it was only luck that I stumbled upon it! Glad to share it, as knew so many people were hoping to view the original!
Although the Cullis mentions in this document are not particularly proud ones, haha
Penny
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My great great grandfather, Thomas Heighway 1815, and his father were both watermen and according to the 1841 census were neighbours, page 3, of Thomas Beard, pg 4. Thanks so much for the photo. Any further information would be greatly appreciated.
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VERY interested in this thread! Not descended from Beard (that I know), but my cousin, Brian and I are researching a Thomas Heighway, waterman who lived at Werps 1840s, so this is wonderful, historical information for both of us!
I am in the US, Brian is in the UK, and suggested I view this thread.
THANK YOU for posting this, and for the wonderful photo later in the thread. I don't know how to respond directly to that poster, but what might be the date of that great photo?
Thank you,
Marilyn
DC, USA
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Hi Marilyn
Steve Dewhirst at the Broseley History Society advised me that the exact date is not known but the picture was published as a postcard entitled "The last Shropshire Sailing Barge" and he thought it would put it in the early 1890s.
I have the census for 1881 and 1891 which shows my great-grandfather George Stephan and his grandfather Thomas Beard aboard the 'William', so I'm pretty sure it has to be them in the picture!
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My great great grandfather, Thomas Heighway 1815, and his father were both watermen and according to the 1841 census were neighbours, page 3, of Thomas Beard, pg 4. Thanks so much for the photo. Any further information would be greatly appreciated.
I have a photo of the Werps if its of any interest to you?
(I can email you the higher quality version if you want it, it was too large to upload here)
I was also given this link (again by Steve Dewhirst of the Broseley History Society), which is the tithe map. He said that it shows plot 762 as Public House, Stables, yard & garden owned by Thomas Beard. We believe this is the General Gordon Pub as they were shown there in the 1901 census after being aboard the 'William'- my Dads middle names is Gordon too! lol
When you match it to the tithe map, it looks like its the white building at the back with the dormer windows.
http://www.broseley.org.uk/TitheMap/Broseley%20Tithe%20Map%2022.jpg
If you email Steve (*)he might be able to tell you what plots your ancestor owned :)
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penbox86:
Yes, would love a photo of the Werps. (*) THX!
I will contact Steve of the Broseley HS. A distant Heighway cousins had been to the site and described it to me in a ltr about 10 years ago. She's more closely related to cousin Brian, who I believe is bjcomox, unless we have another cousins out there researching this line.
According to Helen Stansmore, a Heighway descendant:
“Thomas lived at the Tuckies (so named after the farmer named Tucker), a short walk around the bend [from where his father lived at Werps, on the Servern River]. His cottage – one of a half dozen back to back – formed the foundation of some pig sties now standing in their place. A very ancient lady in a charming adjacent cottage gave me the information on the original cottages. These details of domicile are taken from the 1841 census records.”
Helen died about 10 years ago.
My Davies line married into the Heighways and were also in/around this area about 1800-1850s.
Thanks again for your interest and assistance!
Marilyn
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Hi Mairlyn
Just sending you the photo now!
The Tuckies is also on the map (the west) - there are a couple of groups of back-to-back houses on the map that your descendant may have lived in. I'm sure Steve will be able to help you pinpoint which one it is, as theyre all numbered up!
I did find this photo awhile ago of the Tuckies - although its very very small. Steve may have a better copy too...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f6/Tuckies_c1900.jpg/220px-Tuckies_c1900.jpg
I just went on Google Street View and the one lot of back-to-backs (744 etc) are still there! I will email you that photo too!! xx
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Tithe Map extract
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I also took a photograph of the Tuckies Memorial bridge when I was there last year visiting the site of the former Werps :)
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Thanks for all this local information. I recognise the bridge as I was only up there for the first time two weeks ago. If only I had known it was the tuckies on the other side.
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As a new member got to three posts. The other thing Marilyn and I are interested in is finding the pubs John Heighway b1790 had. It was in the madeley census, but river side.
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Just found a reference to Beard family producing tiles in Jackfield from 1584 in Ironbridge,history and guide by Hayman and Horton pg 86
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Hi Marilyn
Steve Dewhirst at the Broseley History Society advised me that the exact date is not known but the picture was published as a postcard entitled "The last Shropshire Sailing Barge" and he thought it would put it in the early 1890s.
The postcard was published as "The last trow on the river, 1905" However the "last trow on the river" is also recorded as sinking after hitting Bridgnorth Bridge in 1895.
Peter
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I came across this document that might interest you :-
Will of Thomas Beard, Barge Owner of Broseley, Shropshire
Date 4 March 1845
Cat Ref Prob 11/2013
It seems to be available online £3.50
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Will of Lydia Beard, 11 March 1834 Prob 11/1828 also available at NA
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Hi Marilyn
Steve Dewhirst at the Broseley History Society advised me that the exact date is not known but the picture was published as a postcard entitled "The last Shropshire Sailing Barge" and he thought it would put it in the early 1890s.
The postcard was published as "The last trow on the river, 1905" However the "last trow on the river" is also recorded as sinking after hitting Bridgnorth Bridge in 1895.
Peter
Hi Peter
Where did you get that information from?
Because if its 1905, then it may not be my ancestors on the photograph, as they were running the General Gordon Inn in the 1901 census.
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I came across this document that might interest you :-
Will of Thomas Beard, Barge Owner of Broseley, Shropshire
Date 4 March 1845
Cat Ref Prob 11/2013
It seems to be available online £3.50
Thanks Brian! I have this on my list off purchases from the national archives - when I have a little more money and time to get back into the tree fulltime!
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The postcard was published as "The last trow on the river, 1905" However the "last trow on the river" is also recorded as sinking after hitting Bridgnorth Bridge in 1895.
Peter
Hi Peter
Where did you get that information from?
Because if its 1905, then it may not be my ancestors on the photograph, as they were running the General Gordon Inn in the 1901 census.
"Severn Traders" by Colin Green, p100
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The postcard was published as "The last trow on the river, 1905" However the "last trow on the river" is also recorded as sinking after hitting Bridgnorth Bridge in 1895.
Peter
Hi Peter
Where did you get that information from?
Because if its 1905, then it may not be my ancestors on the photograph, as they were running the General Gordon Inn in the 1901 census.
"Severn Traders" by Colin Green, p100
Thanks very much. From memory, I believe Barges & Bargeman by Barrie Trinder says different again! haha
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Barrie Trinder says the postcard was called "the last Shropshire sailing barge" but doesn't give a date.
Barges & Bargemen p136.
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Just in case anyone is still reading this thread, here are my notes for Thomas Beard b1818 from my family tree - let me know if you spot any errors. Sorry about my abbreviations - I'm sure you'll work them out ;)
bap: Thomas Beard Male 13 Sep 1818 Saint Leonard, Broseley f:Thomas Beard m:Ann C01155-4 England-Odm 992079
1841: Werps, Broseley. Thomas Beard 69 Barge owner, Ann 55, Thomas 20, Richard 18
1841 marr. Mary Anne Vaughan Jul-Sep 1841 Montgomery 27 130
1851: Werps, Broseley. (w to Head) Mary Anne Beard 32 b:Guilsfield Montgomery. Inn Keeper, Drusilla Vaughan Beard 4, serv Emma Price 20 (Thomas must be on the trow)
1861: Werps Inn, Broseley. Thomas Beard 43 Inn Keeper (Railway), w Mary Annie 44, Drusilla Vaughan 14, vis John Long 24, serv Mary Cullis 18, Lodgers: William Cook 35, David Johnson 34, Edward Brown 21, Thomas Jones 50, Samuel Taylor 40, John Scrogg 50, John White 30
1871: Werps nr Woodbridge. Thomas Beard 53 Barge Owner, Mary Annie Beard 54, s-i-l George Stephan 25 China Potter, Emma Morris 15, gs (George) Edward Stephan 4
1871: Trade Dir: Landlord of Werps Inn & Barge owner
1878: d of Mary Ann Beard 61 Jan-Mar 1878 Madeley 6a 488
1881: The 'William', Gloucester. Thomas Beard 63 wid Master, George Stephan 15 bargeman
1891: "William Canal Boat" Lower Mitton, Stourport. Thos Beard 73 widr, George Stephan 23
1901: 'The Gordon Inn', The Werps. Thomas Beard 83 wid Publican (own account), gs George Stephan 34 Publican, gd(il) Hannah 25, ggd Beatrice 5m
d:Thomas Beard 84 b:abt 1818 d:Jan-Feb-Mar 1902 Madeley 6a 471
By 1911 George had retired from Inn-keeping and the 'General Gordon' was being run by 28 yr old Emily Hammond (and her husband William - a china polisher). It was still a pub in 1927 (according to OS maps) but the building was a private residence on the death of its tenant/owner in 1937.
Thomas's father was probably:
bap:Thomas Beard Male 08 Dec 1771 Saint Leonard, Broseley f:Richard Beard m:Sarah (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J37C-329), he doesn't seem to be around for the 1851 census.
His mother was (probably) Ann Richards from Leighton:
Thomas Beard & Ann Richards 21 Jan 1812 Saint Leonard, Broseley M01155-2 (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/97WT-HBP/p4)
'Young' Thomas also had a younger brother, named after his grandfather, Richard. Here are my notes for him:
bap: Richard Beard Male 22 Jun 1823 Saint Leonard, Broseley f:Thomas Beard m:Ann C01155-4 England-Odm 992079 (b given as Jackfield in '51 and '81)
1841: Werps, Broseley. Thomas Beard 69 Barge owner, Ann 55, Thomas 20, Richard 18
1851: Werps, Jackfield. Richard Beard 28 Waterman, w Elizabeth 29, Sarah Anne 8, Winefred 6, Alice 4, Adelarde 3, Elizabeth 11m
[less likely:
1851: Barge on the Water, Tewkesbury. Benjamin Harris 26 b:Ironbridge Boatman, William Bolding 51 ditto, Richard Beard 30 mar ditto
]
1861: Near 'Duke of Wellington Inn', Werps. Richard Beard 38 Waterman, w Elizabeth 39, Alice 15, Adalaide 13, Elizabeth 11, Mary Ann* 9, Thomas 7, Ama 5
1871: 'The Shakespeare Inn', Upper Village Coalport. Richard Beard 48 Inn keeper & Barge owner, w Elizabeth 49, Thomas 16, Amy 14, Lucy 8
1881: Coalport. Richard Beard 58 wid Licensed Victualler, Thomas 26, Lucy Augusta 18, dau Sarah A. Watson 37 mar
*Mary Ann bap:8 May 1859 Broseley, d: Apr-Jun 1877 Madeley 6a 450
I'm not sure when Richard died. There is a Shakespeare Inn is still trading at Coalport - I assume that it's the same one.
It would appear that there was an older brother, John, too - also a 'waterman':
bap: John Beard Male 20 Mar 1813 Saint Leonard, Broseley f:Thomas Beard m:Ann C01155-4 England-Odm 992079
1851: Salthouse, Broseley. Ann Beard 64 b:Leighton wid Proprietor of houses, son John 38 Waterman
I haven't pursued John more than this.
Hope this is of some interest to someone.
There are records that a 'William' was build at Bentall in 1794 (a 70T, 66'x15'6x5'7", tuck stern trow) - did young Thomas inherit this from his father, I wonder?
Cheers,
Clive
PS. name spellings as given in Ancestry's transcriptions.
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Many thanks for your hard work posting the info. I only wish my lot were related.LOL
My Beards are all located near to Upton on Severn, Worcestershire.
Mike
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Clive,
Neither the William of the postcard or the one built in 1809 at Bower Yard are tuck stern. What is the source of this description?
Peter
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Hi Peter,
I wouldn't know a tuck-stern if one dropped on my head (probably wouldn't know anything). Here's where I picked up that tid-bit:
http://www.oldcopper.org.uk/Broseley/boat_building_in_the_ironbridge_gorge.htm
Cheers,
Clive
Edit: Thinking about it a more - although the vessels listed in the link above were built in the Ironbridge Gorge, they were registered in Chepstow - so that 'William' may well have been owned by a completely different family.
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The Beard family besides having the general Gordon pub also had the werps inn,they were also owners of barges and trows and were involved in the river trade for many years.
They also owned one of the earliest brick and tile making companys called the Holly Grove brick and tile works.
You will find grave stones for Beards in Broseley St Leonards Church,also at Benthall Church,but family vaults were at St Marys Church,known locally as the Red Church,which is no longer there but graves remain but badly over grown so not able to see many stones.
The Beards family home was on the Banks of the river severn at Coalford Jackfield,it was called The Old Hall,the last Beard to live there was an old man Lacon Beard,the family lived there for 237 years,the house was sold to the Willy estate,and was demolished by the Lord Foresters men.
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Hi all,
As my username mentions, I am a Beard descent and believe it or not through Thomas Beard as well! Multiple great grandfather's (6 or 7 maybe?)
My wife and I started the family tree back in October and we came to visit the village shortly after. It was incredible to read the transcripts in Jackfield Church and learn so much.
I can't recall at what point but through our family line they had moved to Wiltshire/Oxfordshire to work on the railway, it was then in the early 20th century that my great great grandfather Edwin Ernest moved upto Birmingham, had 12 children in total and we have lived around the city ever since.
Ant questions or if people have any pictures/details to share please get in touch.
Thanks,
Nathan
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Hi Nathan
I have one set of great grandparents x 4 who were both Beard decendants one from Thomas and one from William.
The old Red Church grave yard is presently having work to clear the site and preserve its heritage so some grave stones have been uncovered including Beard family vaults.
A list of burials can be found on Broseley local history societys website,there is also now a friends of the Red Church website too,also friends of red church is on facebook,so you may find it useful in your research,regards Mel