Watermen and lighter-men Apprenticeships Bindings Look up Please?

[Rosie J]

Hello Arronroots

Sorry but I don't have any BAYFORDs in my tree.

Good luck.  Rosie

[Arranroots]

Hello Arronroots

Sorry but I don't have any BAYFORDs in my tree.

Good luck.  Rosie

Hi Rosie

Some confusion - I was hoping Suzey would be able to do an apprenticeship look-up for me.

Sorry not to be related to you, just the same!

kind regards, Arranroots 

[Arranroots]

Hi Sue

Do you have any BAYFORDs in your records please?

Specifically a William BAYFORD who (family story says) drowned around 1932 but had been working on the Thames.  I have a photo which might or might not be a lighterman's boat, with William in it.

He was born about 1908 we believe.

I hope this is still within the scope of your records.

kind regards, Arranroots 

Update: William BAYFORD was born in 1904 (illegitimately as William Bayford ROGERS).  His occupation on his marriage is "motor barge engineer" suggesting he is time-served apprentice Edit - looked again & I got it wrong - its motor, not master!

His grandfather was a lighterman - Alfred JONES who lived in Wapping, who had his own boat according to the 1891 census - can anyone throw any light on their occupational records please?

kind regards, Arranroots 

[girtbysea]

Hello Sue

I'm another hopeful.  I would be very pleased if you would be kind enough to look up Charles Wooderson  (slight chance he was called Robert and even slighter that the name is Woodson ) who was born in either 1809 or 1815 and worked as a waterman sometime prior to being sentenced to transportation for life from Surrey Assizes in 1832.  He may have come from Carlisle or Bermondsey.  Much appreciated. 

Girtbysea Australia.

Since posting this, someone has most kindly searched the records for me unfortunately without success.  Thanks very much to that person and other would be helpers.

Girtbysea

[suzey68]

Hi Arranroots

Sorry for the delay I have not been getting my rootchats emails.

Anyway no Bayford I'm afraid.
There are some Alfred Jones so I have listed them below.

Alfred Jones bound 07/11/1848 at Rotherhithe to William Blackhead Hobbs freedom 13/03/1856
Alfred Jones bound 11/06/1840 at St George-East to James Jones freedom 14/10/1847
Alfred Jones bound 10/03/1868 at Rotherhithe to Henry James Apsey freedom 11/11/1873
Alfred George Jones bound 10/10/1876 at Greenwich to John Samuel Jones freedom 14/07/1891
Alfred George Jones bound 13/12/1881 at Gravesend to George Tansley freedom 11/01/1887
Alfred Robert Wild Jones bound 09/05/1865 at Gravesend to John Thomas Jones freedom 10/10/1871
Edward Alexander Knibbs bound 08/02/1870 at St George-East to Alfred Jones freedom 14/03/1876
Alfred Jones bound 09/05/1899 at Old Ford to John Brind did not finish
Reuben Jones bound 13/04/1886 at Stepney to Alfred Jones did not finish
Alfred Leonard Jones bound 08/02/1921 at Blackheath  to Alfred George Jones NOT ENTERED


The Company Of Watermen & Lightermen Of The River Thames Reassignments 1688-1908

Alfred Jones bound 09/05/1876 Reassigned 11/11/1879 to Thomas Jones


Hope this helps.

Regards Sue





Hi Girtbysea

I had a look as well but like the other person no joy.

Regards Sue

Once again sorry for the delay to you both.

[girtbysea]

Your efforts are appreciated anyway.

Thanks Sue!

Happy hunting,
Girtbysea

[Arranroots]

Thanks Suzy - lots to work on there!

Can you tell me whether the bindings lists are comprehensive?  And was an engineer likely to serve such an apprenticeship, or maybe something different?

Any opinion welcome

Kind regards, Arranroots 

[suzey68]

Hi Arranroots

The information I have is just an index of the bindings.  Your best bet is to go or contact the Guildhall library in London who hold the originals of the waterman and lighterman bindings to get further information about anyone who appears in the indexes.

The Guildhall Libary may also be the place to check out documents for other guilds and I am sure they may be able to help point you in the right direction for engineers.

Today once someone has passed a degree in engineering they are invited to join the Institute of Engineers but I am not sure when this institute was formed or if they have the ability to check historical records (sorry never come across any engineers in my research).

Kind Regards
Sue

[Arranroots]

Thanks once again Sue!

I will try to follow up on your clues - quite exciting to have something "different" to explore!

kind regards, Arranroots