Medway Barges

[Mogsmum]

I'm searching for information on Medway barges and Maidstone barge builders in particular.

My grt.grt.grandfather (Henry Swain abt. 1795- 13.3.1833 and his wife Martha abt. 1796 - 11.9.1881) had a barge building yard in what is now Museum Gardens, Maidstone.

Through my grandmother, I have inherited a rummer glass which was engraved 'for' the Swains.  In this instance (as it was told to me by my Gran) 'for' is used in the context of they arranged for its engraving (supposedly 1 of only 6) as opposed to it being given to them - although this may be incorrect.

For some years the glass was on loan to Maidstone Museum and I have from them a handwritten note deciphering the initials engraved on the glass, together with the information on where the yard was located.   I also remember being shown a typewritten letter from the Museum containing more information, although of course, this hasn't survived.  When my grandmother died in 1978 the glass was returned to the family.

I now want to find out more about the Swains and their business so obviously went back to the Museum.   Unfortunately despite keeping the glass for some weeks, they told me there is no record of it having been loaned to the museum (not totally surprising perhaps), but more strangely, they also told me they have no knowledge of any barge yard which I find baffling given that it's location would have been in such close proximity to the museum.

The question is .... where do I go from here?   I'd be grateful if someone with local knowledge would know if there were registers etc., for the Medway (in the same as Thames builders etc., were required to be licensed), or any books which relate specifically to Maidstone barges.

Unfortunately, I'm not able to visit the Centre for Kentish Studies, so any suggestions would be most gratefully received.

[bearkat]

Try searching Maureen Rawson's Kent Genealogy website

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mrawson/

There are several mentions of SWAINS living at Waterside, Maidstone.

[bearkat]

The 1841 census for Maidstone has several SWAINS who were Watermen of Mariners living near the River Medway.

[Mogsmum]

Many thanks for the links bearkat.   

I was aware of Maureen Rawson's site and had found the Swains to which it refers, I'm still trying to make a positive connection between them and my Swains.   I'm almost convinced there must be one - just not found it yet!

I've also followed some (admittedly not all) of the Swains in the census.   By 1841, my Henry was dead and his wife Martha had remarried Edward Finch.

Despite not finding the exact Swains however, I did come across some wills and, on the off-chance I seached for some of my other Kent names that I've only discovered in the last 18 months or so. 

What joy - I found the will of my 4xgrt.grandfather - dated 1824 - it mentions his wife (whose name I already knew), confirmed the names of those children I already knew about but also mentioned children I hadn't known about, plus some of their spouses and children.  Best of all, it had already been transcribed so 'thank you' to whoever that person was.

Needless to say, I got seriously sidetracked!

So, whilst the Swains currently remain unresolved, I'm off to chip a bigger hole in a different brick wall and chase after some missing Greens instead!

Of course, if anyone can help with anything else on the Swains, I am still searching.

Thanks bearkat.

PS - Even deeper joy - for once I've found people who weren't AgLabs.  The Greens were publicans (for at least 3 generations).   I don't care how disreputable their hostelry might have been, it's just nice for once, not to have to type in AgLab 

[bearkat]

Bagshaw's Directory of 1847 for Maidstone list 3 boatbuilders:

A BAISDEN Water side
Joseph LAINES & Sons Westborough
Philip Walter Water side

Pigot's Directory of 1824 lists 'wharfingers' and 'conveyors by water' but I can't see any 'boatbuilders' or SWAINS.

[bearkat]

A couple of websites that might help:

The Society for Sailing Barge Research

http://www.sailingbargeresearch.org.uk/index.htm

Thames Sailing Barges

http://www.thamesbarge.org.uk/

[Mogsmum]

Thanks - again - bearkat, I'll certainly have a look at those (unfortunately I've got a pile of ironing so it will have to wait until later today  ).

Just as a BTW.   A friend has just informed me that he's managed to extract from what I thought was a totally 'kaput' old computer, some previous research I'd done on Henry Swain.

Henry Swain (son of John and Ann), was baptised on 23.10.1795 (from Maidstone baptism records). He moved at some point to Hampshire and on 24.12.1817 married Martha Farndell (from marriage entry in Warblington parish register). The marriage was by banns and both bride and groom are shown as being of the parish (of Warblington).

He must have returned to Maidstone very shortly after his marriage because in the index of Maidstone freemen there is a 'freeman by patrimony' (i.e. by birth), Henry Swain, son of John, waterman, 1817 (this would make Henry 21-22, which would be appropriate).

When his daughter, (Anne Amelia Swain) was baptised in Maidstone, the baptismal entry in 1822, describes Henry as a 'waterman', and on her (Ann's) marriage certificate in 1848 he is described as a 'mariner'.

On the Maidstone electoral roll for 1832 there is also a Henry Swain, [of]Waterside, freeman.

Henry died in Maidstone and the All Saints Church, burial entry reads: 1833 Mar 13 Henry Swain, Water-side, [aged] 37 yrs.

Subsequently Martha remarried (an Edward Finch). So for Henry and Martha's barge building yard I'm looking at a 16 year period between 1817 and 1833.

Moral - paperless research ... not a good idea 

[CLIVEAnjean]

Hi Mogsmum
I think I have finally found a connection with the Maidstone Building and barge bussiness. My 2x Great grandmothers name was Harriett Finch who maried a James White.  Her father was Thomas Finch he may well be the brother of your Edward Finch. I have been searching for a long time trying to find the connection. The story that we have is that my Great grandmother Mary Emily daughter of Harriett and James knew all the waterman etc on the Maidstone warf. we knew there was a barge business there at medow bank about where Edward and Martha were living in Medway street. but the story that we were told that the Council or Goverment diddle them out of the land so that the elcetric company could have the land. Have you ever heard of this story.
It would be another brick wall distroyed if only I could make this connection . I think it is a strong possiblity that Edward and Thomas were brothers as they were both in Maidstone, Thomas living at King Street  with his wife Mary. and they had a son Edward.
Hope you may be able to shed some light. alas I have no more information than this or where to go for it.

[bearkat]

Do you have an approximate date & place of birth for Thomas FINCH?