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Author Topic: Boatmen/Watermen - what is a "Gold Duster"  (Read 498 times)

Offline johnb_tampa

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Boatmen/Watermen - what is a "Gold Duster"
« on: Friday 11 September 20 16:56 BST (UK) »
I have found a report on a relative who drowned at Hull in 1850 he was a boatman but described as a "gold-duster".  I have done the normal Google thing but cannot find any references.  Any ideas?
Surnames - Beaumont, Bousfield, Dixon, Tidmas.  Locations - Orton, Hull, Watford, Silvertown.

Offline Kay99

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Re: Boatmen/Watermen - what is a "Gold Duster"
« Reply #1 on: Friday 11 September 20 17:08 BST (UK) »
A watermans boat was known as a duster or gold duster https://goole-on-the-web.azurewebsites.net/main.php?key=672

Offline gaffy

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Re: Boatmen/Watermen - what is a "Gold Duster"
« Reply #2 on: Friday 11 September 20 17:11 BST (UK) »
From the Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser (London) of 9 November 1824:

A fatal accident occurred on Thursday afternoon, near the entrance of the New Dock basin, Hull.  Three men in a small boat were assisting to haul in a brig, one of them belonging to the crew of the vessel, and the other two, named Heighley and Wray, being what are called gold dusters - persons who lend assistance to vessels passing in and out of dock...

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