Canal Boatmen and Women

[Valigene]

Hi I am new, to this site but have done a lot with my family tree. I have always thought we had a barge/canal link and finding this site is brilliant.
My grandfather was one of the many John Fradleys(1),
his dad was John Fradley(2)
and his dad was John Fradley,(3)
brother of Edward Fradley who was the father of
 John Fradley(4) 1858 from Stone married to Eliza.  Still with me!
Now John Fradley(2) married a Mary ann Burditt from Lubenham, Leicester, the only way we feel they could have met was through canal links as the canal is close to both places.Many of my Fradleys were farmers, John(1) and John(2) were.
My tree is on ancestry.com, if any family member would like to view it please let me know as I need an e mail address to send you an invitation otherwise its a paid subscription site.
Any further information I will be watching for
Look forward to getting to know you all.
Val

[Valigene]

Hi Lindarhead
I haven;t got a John Fradley 1807 but some of my lot came from Gayton, any more names that may link?
I have a John Fradley(yes another!!)1775 in Gayton, his dad was John !! 1741 also was born in Gayton. Would be interesting to hear from you
Val

[JoTH]

Hi
I have a John Johnson c1820 as a boatman in my family, his father might have been Thomas also a boatman. John had a daughter Sarah (1857ish) but I can't find a baptism for her or find them in the census.

Do you know where I can find any info on boatmen from Staffordshire, did they register in the census if they were on the canal and would they have registered births?
Joanna

[jacquelineve]

1871 census Burslem Staffs RG10/2850  folio 18   page 27

John Johnson    50  boatman          Staffs Talk o'the Hill
Mary                  45                          Shrop.Madeley
John                  16                          salop Tunstall
Hannah              8                                    ......
Thomas (father) 88 boatman           Staffs Stoke

Jackie.

[JoTH]

Thanks Jackie

[ann cooper]

iS THIS ONE A
NY CONNECTION

Walter Johnson Head Age: 29 b: London Occ: Boatman Barge
E Johnson wife Age: 25 Alrewas, Staffordshire
Arthur Johnson Son Age: 5 b: Alrewas, Staffs
Eliza Johnson Dau Age: 3 b: Alrewas, Staffordshire
William Johnson Son Age 1 b: Alrewas, Staffordshire
Source: 1881 Census 1341645 RG11 2691/31 19
Residence: Boat moored at Little Heywood Wharf, Colwich, Staffordshire

Burials at Middlewich Cemetery, Cheshire
ID: 79
Entry No. 79
Name: Edward Johnson
Description of Person Buried: Son of Joseph Johnson, Boatman
Age: 3yrs
Place of Death: Newton
Date of Burial: 26/10/1868
Grave No. 374

Ann

[JoTH]

Hi Anne

I don't know.  As I can't find Sarah with her parents I haven't been able to trace her siblings. 

I noticed that the census you found it says "moored at" - does that mean that if they weren't moored they might not have completed the census - although I guess if they were just going up and down a canal they would have to moor overnight.

Joanna

[ann cooper]

Hi

If you look at various census records for boatmen, they moored up for the night in some cases they give the name of the boat.
In this case they had moored up on the night of the census.

Ann

[ann cooper]

How old was Sarah, she may not have been travelling with her family but on another boat. Restrictions on the number of people living on a Boat ie number of cabins.
You could try checking the boat records at the county archives. Stoke (Hanley)archieves have records, Stafford possibly as well.

Ann