Occupation - Boatman

[Fotofunguy]

Hi All

I’m completely new to this situation and feel a little unsure of what to do first, but anyhow here goes.

I am trying to find details about my ancestors some of whom I believe were boat people; I assume they worked on the inland waterway systems.

I have recently obtained my great grandfather’s marriage certificate and on it his occupation is described as being a “Boatman”, also on that certificate his father’s occupation is recorded as being a “Boatman”.

My great grandfather was William Henry Glover and he was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, England in 1871, his father was Samuel Glover according to the marriage certificate and I have been unable to find any more information about him.

Can anyone please point me in the right direction, any help provided would be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes for Christmas

[canal woman]

Hello.
Cannot believe that no one has replied to you....so here goes..............

I have Boatmen in my Family going back to at least 1772.
It has taken me many years to find them but I have persevered and had huge success. All you need is stamina.

My grandfather was the son of a Boatman he was born in 1876 and all I had to go on was that his Father was a Boat steerer.  Since then I have been up and down the trent and Mersey,, the Shroppie the Staffs and Worcs, etc  just looking and I have found out so much.

  I would help you more if I knew more details but rest assured there is plenty of hope  you just need to get started!!!!

Regards             

[O1dgobbo]

Hi

Welcome to Rootschat.  Too much festive spirit seems to have left you alone for too long and I am sorry.

Freebmd shows one William Glover born in Dudley round about the early 1870s.  The reference is

Births Apr-Jun 1873 Glover William Henry Dudley 6c 152

It's not unusual for people to get their ages wrong on their wedding certificates so if you got his age off the wedding certificate this is probably your William.

This William is recorded in the 1881 census as living with his mother, Mary, married, age 35, a provision dealer, born in Baschurch.  Also in the family are her mother, Elizabeth Witton, widower, 73, born in Welshpool, and two siblings of William - Alice M, 5, and Bessie G, 3, both born in Dudley (census reference RG11/2797 24 p3).

Freebmd lists
Births Oct-Dec 1875 Glover Alice Margaret Dudley 6c 135
Births Jan-Mar 1878 Glover Bessie Gwendoline Dudley 6c 120

All the best

Gobbo

[Fotofunguy]

Hi

Happy New Year.

Many thanks for your suggestion but I have already discounted this one, my William was a boatman who was apparently born circa 1871 and definitely married Elizabeth Woodcock in St Michael's, Brierley Hill, (Dudley) on November 10th 1895. There are several birth dates listed for William Glover's around the 1971 date, I am almost at the point of buying all of the certificates to get the right guy.

It is his father Samuel, also a boatmen, who is very illusive.

My searches to date show that there were families of Glover's who were boat builders in Bewdley, Stourport and Worcester all on the River Severn and I have been amazed by the number of Glovers' who were working on the canals that have shown up over the past few days of my search, unfortunately not the right one so far.

I am hopeful that the culprit will turn up soon, once again many thanks for your suggestion.

Fotofunguy

[canal woman]

How do you know that his father is samuel?

 I have canal boatmen on the Staffs and Worcs and they live and breed in Stourport which was Lower Mitton in the time you are talking about.
 
The folk in Dudley would go to Stourport and then turn about and go to London or Chester or Middlewich or where ever,,
 my lot are just everywhere.
 I agree with you that Glovers turn up in lots of places I have found a Glover here in Cheshire marrying .................
Don't discount any Glovers   keep them close they might be yours eventually

sb

[Fotofunguy]

Hi

I have William & Elizabeth's marriage certificate, William's father is named as Samuel on it and his occupation is listed as being a boatman.

I will keep trying, once again many thanks.

Fotofunguy

[O1dgobbo]

Hi

How do you know that William Henry Glover was born in Dudley please?

Gobbo

[canal woman]

your welcome.

[CU]

I have an address you can try for an index of Canal and Boatman

I will PM you