Hello,
How do you know where to start looking with canal families. My mothers maternal side of the family were boat people many years ago. I've been able to trace my great grandmother(Hannah Prudence Jones born 12/5/1872 at Etruria Wharf,Shelton,Stoke on Trent)parents Abel Jones-boatman and Sarah Jones nee Jasper. I found the marriage cert of these in 1864 in Dudley and Abels father is George Jones-boatman whilst Sarahs father is John Jasper - banksman? I can't find them(Abel&Sarah) in either the 1871 or 1881 census and Hannah Prudence is only found in 1890 when she marries before dissapearing from the 1891 census. Would it be common for boaties not to register. I would like to find them and their named barges someday but where to look I've no idea.
Regards
Brian. 
Oh wow - I am hoping that this can help me trace 'my' Abel Jones! My GG grandfather was George Samuel Jones, born 16 Apr 1892 Leabrook Rd Tipton, parents Abel Jones boatman & Catherine Mary Bennett (her name's wrong on the birth cert though). Haven't been able to trace Catherine or Abel, though i've found Catherine's family up to the 1901 census, when her sister Lucy Buller (nee Bennett) was looking after him. My dad says he thinks that George's parents pretty much abandoned him at a young age and he was brought up by his aunt. This is the biggest brick wall on my tree!!