Sailor or Boatman?

[jukey]

Hi,

The children of my ancestor John Womersley (1780-1841) refer to his occupation on certificates as `Sailor` but I have a hunch that he may have been a `boatman` because during my research on John I have discovered that some other members of his family were employed  and lived around the Aire Calder Navigation.

Are there any records that would be available now that would give me a clue as to what John Womersley was employed as?

I have no knowledge as yet as to where John was born or who his parents were or any siblings.

He and his children lived  mainly in the Wakefield, Sandal  areas which I am not too familiar with and I know very little about the Aire Calder Navigation.

I am anxious to find out a little more about John Womersley and any help in to his history would be fantastic. It is a mystery  to me where he came from although Wakefield area looks a good bet I need to prove it.

I am very greatful fo any help at all.

jukey

[tomkin]

Hi Jukey,
              It is possible that he was a sailor. If my memory serves me
correctly, the Aire and Calder navigation extended to Goole docks.
Try this site and put in canals in the search box. You will find loads of
photo's and info' of wakefield etc.

Tomkin

[tomkin]

Hi Jukey,
                 Guess who forgot to include the link.

www.twixtaireandcalder.org.uk
Tomkin

[tomkin]

Hi Jukey,
               Try again with this link.

   www.twixtaireandcalder.org.uk

( I wish I could type)

Tomkin

[jukey]

Hi Tomkin,

Thank you very much for that information.

I will try the site tomorrow and look forward in eager anticipation. It sounds interesting. I probably will not sleep tonight thinking about it.

Best Wishes,

Jukey

[tomkin]

Hi Jukey,
                 Also try this.
www.jim-shead.com

There is more information etc on canals than most other sites. Click
on the links at the top of the page. Somebody on Rootschat also has links
to lists of people who used to work on the canals (boatmen etc.)
I am sure they will be able to help you even more.

Tomkin

[woodydog]

Mornin' Jukey,
You could try these :-
http://townsleyb.members.beeb.net/Boatmen/namesa.htm this is a site dedicated to names of workers on northern waterways, looks as if it will be a fantastic site & quite a number of names on there already.
Also  http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/aire/acn2.htm  this address is for the Aire & Calder Navigation part of the site but there's lots more & some great links.
Good luck
Rose

[jukey]

Hi Rose,

Iwas very grateful to receive your response to my query the other day. but haven`t had a lot of time to check the mentioned sites out until now, however I have to say I am having problems trying to get into them which is very frustrating as both sites look as if they could be very interesting.

Thank you anyway,

Best wishes,

Jukey

[jukey]

Hi Tomkin,

Just to let you know that I have found www.twixtaireandcalder.org.uk and www.jim-shead.com both great sites and very interesting even though I haven`t as yet managed to turn anything up on John Womersley . You just never know though do you. It usually hits you in the eye when you least expect it.

Thanks again,

Regards,

Jukey