strays on the canals

[Ianjones65]

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!!

DId you manage to fine any ionformation I am alos trying to chace the descendants of George Samual Jones 1892 -1971 who married Alice Hough 1892-1974
George is may Great Grandfather

Regards

ian

[Jennie Jay]

Hi Ian - I think you're my dad's 2nd  cousin (Barrie) - George Samuel junior was my grandfather (who was your grandfather?). I've got quite a lot of information on our family tree (apart from this branch). I'll send you a message with contact details! Look forward to hearing from you 

[potteries]

Members of the Buttress family worked the canals between Oakamoor (Staffs) and Oldbury and Liverpool throughout the 1800's; the ones on the Liverpool run later became known as Butters.  I can find William Buttress (b.1835) and his wife Elizabeth (b.1836) (not to be confused with William and Harriet who were of similar ages) at Oldbury in 1851 and 1861 but can't find them again until 1901 when they left the canals and appear in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.  They only had one child, William James (b.1876) who again I can't find in a census return until 1901.
Can anyone help?

[fishweb]

Hi Potteries,

Welcome to Rootschat.

In 1871

RG10 Piece 3692 folio 121A
transcribed as Watvess

No 30 Canal Boat in Runcorn Cheshire

William Buttress age 33 married  boatman canal born Etruria
Elizabeth Buttress  age 32  wife born Wolverhampton

Cathy

[fishweb]

In 1881

RG11 Piece 3792 Folio 94  page 23

In Warrington transcribed as Bathess

105  Catherine Street

William Buttress head married  age 43 Pudler in Ironworks b Eutruria
Elizabeth  "        wife age 43 born Bushbury Staffordshire
William Jas    son age 5 born  Shelton Staffordshire

Cathy

[fishweb]

1891

RG12 Piece 2152 Folio 11 Page 18

Audley

Under the surname Butters

Grocers shop Queen St

William Butters Head married age 53 Grocer and Gas Stoker born Hanley
Elizabeth Butters wife age 53 shopkeeper grocer born Wolverhampton
William James Butters    son single age 15 shop assistant born Shelton Hanley
Clara Sherratt servant single age 14 dom general servant born Stoke on Trent

 

[potteries]

Many thanks.  I had come across the 1891 entry before but wasn't sure as they had no connection with Audley and there is no canal there.  With regard to the other two census returns I thought that I had tried all variants of the name but wouldn't have thought of the recorded surnames in a hundred years. 

[familysurfer]

Re Abel Jones - boatman
I have been trying to find Abel via Emily Jones b1912 (Salford), George Samuel Jones b1893 (Leebrook Staffs) and then Abel b c1838.

I have found Abel (boatman) with Sarah (Jasper) and 4 children in 1871 Census.  Also marriage to Sarah in 1864 with Abels father George Jones boatman.  Also found George Samuel Jones b1893 - father Abel and mother Mary Ann (but probably Catherine Mary Bennett) I have not been able to find Abel in any other Census, remarriages or death.  Nor his father George Jones boatman.

I have found references to an Abel Jones boatman in 1875, 1878 and 1881 but cannot link my Abel to these.  In 1875 an Abel Jones boatman (regents Canal) given 18 month sentence for unlawful assault and causing actual bodily harm.  In 1878 Abel Jones boatman accuses 2 men of theft from his boat at Etruria.  In 1881 at Runcorn an Abel Jones boatman given 1 month for theft.

Looks like this Abel could be the same as yours so hoping you have found similar info/tie ups to my Abel.  Any help would be appreciated
Les Hawke

[jacquelineve]

Hello Les

         and Welcome to "Rootschat"

Can we start with "your" Abel.... birthdate/where ? .....marriage?.found on census.?

If anything like my boatmen..buggers to track dowm!!!

Jsackie