Canal Boatmen and Women

[NEL]

My Great Grandfather Thomas Smith c 1852 was a boatman working from Hardingswood Kidsgrove, He was married to Sarah Archer, whose father Samuel Archer 1822 Leek, lived Hollins and Odd Rode, Cheshire, working as a boatman. Samuel Archer was married to Sarah Jones born Kidderminister, But her parents Thomas Jones and his wife Hannah and Sarah's siblings were all born Staffs. In 1841 The family was in Butt Lane, near Kidsgrove, Thomas Jones was a boatman. Samuel Archer's father was Joseph b1789 and was also a boatman.
Going back to The Smith's Thomas' father Henry b1828'ish Stoke was a boatman but I cannot find him in 1841, although by 1851 he was living near Shelton wharf. His father John on marriage certificate was a woodturner, can't find him in 1841 either?    Any links and will check out the website thanks Nel

[tony1439]

Hi Kerry

Just had a look at the website and here is some additional information for you

Fradley
William Fradley b: c1775 Stone, Staffordshire
father of
Benjamin Fradley b: 08/10/1795 Stone, Staffordshire, Chri: 13/10/1795 Married: Elizabeth Hassal
and
Solomon Fradley b: 1797 Bapt: 22/10/1797 Stone, Staffordshire Occ: Boatman

Children of Benjamin and Elizabeth

1.    Alice Fradley b: 03/05/1816 Bapt: 03/05/1816 d: c 09/1866 Age: 50y Registered in Stoke on Trent Mar: Henry Calkin b: 30/08/1811 Staffordshire Bapt: 31/08/1811 St Mary, Stafford Occ: Painter Mar: 21/08/1837 at Bucknall, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire d: c12/1874 Age: 63y Registered at Stone.
1841 Census
Lists Henry, wife Alice and children Harriet Age: 2y and James Age: 10mths living at Canal Bridge, Stone, Staffordshire
1851 Census his Occ: Painter and Glazier
1861 Census Henry Age 45y? living with wife and 5 children at 41 Stafford Street, Longton, Staffordshire
Alice Age:44y Occ: given as Painters wife

Henry and Alice had 7 Children (I have some details available)

2.  Benjamin Fradley b: 02/01/1818 Chr: 11/01/1818 Stone, Staffordshire. d: 28/01/1818 Stone, Staffordshire

3.  Anne Fradley b: 04/11/1819 Stone, Staffordshire Chr: 07/11/1819 Stone, Staffordshire

4.  Charles Fradley b: 23/01/1822 Stone, Staffordshire d: 1822

5.  Harriet Fradley b: 1826 Stone, Staffordshire Bapt: 08/10/1826 Stone, Staffordshire Mar:(1) Abraham Chadwick b: 1817 Goldenhill, Staffordshire Occ: Boatman Mar: (2) James Ashley b: 01/02/1822 Newcastle, Staffordshire Bapt: 04/03/1822 Lower Street Wesleyan, Newcastle, Staffordshire Married 12/06/1843 Stone, Staffordshire d: c 1844
4 Children from marriage (1)

6.  Mary Ann Fradley b: 1828 Bapt: 21/12/1828 Stone, Staffordshire

7.  Eliza Fradley b: 1831 Bapt: 30/01/1831 Stone, Staffordshire

8.  Sarah Fradley b: 1835 Bapt: 05/08/1835 Stone, Staffordshire

9.  Benjamin Fradley b: 1838 Bapt: 04/11/1838 Stone, Staffordshire Occ: Boatman
1861 Penkhill RG9 1938 41
1871 Middlewich  RG10 3700 52
1881 Odd Rode RG11 3536 74
1891 Odd Rode RG13 3345  16

10.  Charles Fradley b: 1847 Stone, Staffordshire

11.  Elizabeth Fradley b: 18/05/1823 Bapt: 25/05/1823  Stonefield, Stone, Staffordshire

I have also found Fradley burials in Middlewich, Cheshire, do you want these details.
Have plenty more Fradley information on paper.

Happy reading

Ann

Hi Ann,
I'm new to this site and have not previously been on any other chat line. I have concentrated more on my ancestry( on paper and as yet incomplete) the history is still in my head( I must write it down!) I see that you are related to the Fradley family. Charles the youngest son of Ben and Ann Fradley was my Grandfather. William, my ggg grandfather married Margaret (babtised Peggy, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Bloor,( bn/bbt 25.6.1762 at Stone) on 1.11.1778 at Stone. He and the Bloors are not natives of Stone. I traced William to Gayton where he was born to Thomas and Elizabeth Fradley on 16.4.1758. Thomas appeared to be an agricultural labourer as they moved around several adjacent parishes , I found no record of any more Marriages in the films of Parish records available to me at LDS family history library. but the I.G.I. has a record of the marriage of Thomas to Elizabeth Pritchard at Stowe by Chartley on 20.7.1755.I double checked the parish record with negative result. I was beginning to think that they were common law marriages and have now only tenuous links through another Thomas and Elizabeth to Nicholas and Jane and an other Nicholas and Jane whose earliest entry in Gayton was a birth in 1646.I do have more detail but it is likely that you have already researched this. If you have or Know of anyone who has I would be interested to hear if you have had more success with the early marriages. The Bloor name crops up again later linked to my grandmothers family.
I hope this is of interest.

tony1439

[Joybruin]

Hi Folks, I am new to the chatroom but I am trying to trace back my ancestors who are listed on some old marriage and birth certificates I have inhrited, as boatmen.

George Walker, my great grandfather was married to Mary Ann Pearton who's father George Pearton was also shown as a boatman.  Also my paternal Grandfather William Morris who married George Walkers daughter Caroline was listed on the marriage certificate as a boatman.  The all seem to have been in the Paddington area of London around the 1800's but might have been originally from the Tipton/Dudley area of Worcestershire.

Any further info would be appreciated.

Thanks

Joy

[janet smith]

Hi Tony,
I noticed your posting regarding the Fradleys, I dont know if this helps or if you already have this info.
Samuel Bloors wife her maiden name was Dix b 1742 Eccleshall, Staffordshire they married 28/7/1781. William Fradley who married Margaret (Peggy) b 1775 their daughter, they had a son Soloman b 1797. William is also said to have married a Jane B 1758 they had a Martha b 1783, George b 1788 and a Thomas b 1789.
The Benjamin and Ann you mentioned I take this to be Ann Stanworth and their son Charles b 1962 he married a Emma Barnett, well Charles's brother Benjamin Born 1861married a Eliza Ann Williams and they had a Thomas, who was my ggrandad, it's funny to see your posting as if this is right and Charles did marry a Emma, I was at All Saint Church Rode Heath yesterday and saw their grave, I photographed it.. anyway please get in touch  regards Janet

[vowles]

On my tree I have Robert Doughty and quite a few other Doughty,s who owned and worked on canal boats also John Doughty .  his wife Ann Geary made a will  in the 1700s
she states that she is having a trow built at Stodds yard ,which when finished
is to be named {The Three Brothers  }.
           Marie.

[tony1439]

to Janet Smith,

Hi Janet,
  thanks for the info on Elizabeth Bloor (nee Dix). I haven't started her line yet. From the parish records at Stone I traced half of
Elizabeth Hassall's line but lost her father Joshua due possibly to the poor state of the records or the fact that he came from elsewhere. I have leads but have not done anything on it for ages. I had more success with my grandmother Emma Barnet over the last few months. You g grandfather Thomas was my mother's cousin. We lived across the road from him until I was 17. We new him as uncle Tom
I knew your grandma Edith and her husband Frank, as I was growing up with Bill and Jim. Elizabeth I knew but she was younger. I remember Dru very well and her children Jean and John but lost track when they moved to Scholar Green( I think) Likewise Rhoda and her son Michael when they moved to Nuneaton( again I think that's right). I haven't seen any of them for a very long time. Bill was the last and that must be at least 15 years . I hope they are all well. I will keep in touch. kind regards Tony1439

[janet smith]

Hi Tony sorry it's taken me a bit of time to get back to you, I've only just seen it, we have been camping near to my mums caravan, near Wem. Bill and Joan have also been up and stayed for a few days, Auntie Rhoda died two years ago she was a lovely lady, I keep in touch with Rhoda's daughter Mary, she's trying to do the Garrett side of the family, Thomas's 1st wife was Drucilla Matilda Garrett, I don't know if you remember. I have a feeling Michael died a few years ago.
My nan Edith I don't remember as she died when I was only 1, uncle Jim now lives in Kidsgrove, very near to my mum. Uncle Bill and Auntie Joan still live in Rode Heath, Tony what's your full name (if you dont mind me asking so I can tell Uncle bill. Jean Druc's daughter changed her name by depole to drucilla.
Was I right about Charles and Emma Barnett being buried at All Saints then with their son? if so I have a photo of their grave if you want it, if you havent already got it.
anyway look forward to hearing from you Janet

[Samanthapom]

Hi, I'm new to all this so bear with me.

I've been researching my family tree & discovered that my ancestors were boatpeople. The family name is Betts, the furthest I've traced back is my Great Grandfather  - Abraham Betts but I believe his Father & Grandfather were also boat people from the Bilston/Stafford area.

[tony1439]

Hi Janet.
 yes you were right about my grand parents Charles and Emma Fradley, being buried at Rode church. There are quite a few buried there and also married there. They were mainly Methodists,though I do have a photo of my great grandfather Ben Fradley with Salvation Army cap. He is buried at Middlewich Cemetery  with his wife Ann and elder son Joshua as you probably know. My Grand father was a Trustee of the Primitive Methodist's Chapel in Thurlwood which was closed but reopened for his funeral in 1962.unfortunately I was doing my National Service in the Far East at the time. His older sister Elizabeth Price donated ( if that is the word) the Font ,your uncle Bill will remember it as he used to sing there as a boy and had a good voice as I recall. I think he will remember me being the only one with this Christian name at that time. I can't scan photos at the moment but you can have a copy if you haven't got one.There is a Portrait of him at my cousin's in Alsager but I haven't got one of Ann.I have a few photosof their children Charles, Rebecca, William, Sarah, Elizabeth and Joshua but not Ben, I'm sorry. If you have and can fill in the blanks I would be grateful for copies!
 regards Tony1439