Watermen and lightermen Apprenticeships Bindings and licences

[bobfilm]

I am researching Essex Photographers and have a Edward Arthur Doo (b.Jul 1888 in Finsbury Park, Middlesex - d.16 Mar 1948 in Truro, Cornwall). He was a photographer in Southend and later owned the 'The Plume of Feathers, Scorrier, Cornwall (circa 1948).

He seems to have come from a family of Lightermen.
His father, George John Doo (b. abt 1852 in Blackfriars, London - d. 18 May 1908) was a Lighterman as was his father, George Doo (b. 1822 in Lewisham, Kent - d. 25 Apr 1888 in Lambeth) both at St Mary Overie Dock, Southwark (1871). I beleive his father, Henry Doo was a Boat Builder/Shipwright. Kellys Post Office London Directory 1853: List of Lightermen has a George Doo.

I wonder if anybody knows anything about them as Lightermen.
Any details welcome
Regards - Bobfilm

[Lynn Poll]

I have a James Rugg in my family tree, but according to my information he was born 1819 , lived in Limehouse, married to Amelia Emily Rugg. He was described as a Coal Whipper. he was my gg grandfather. I would also like to know what happened to William Rugg who died in January 1869 in the River Thames.

[Ruthmez]

Hello,
I hope someone can help me make sense of the Binding records I've found for Robert SOPER at findmypast.  He appears in two records as being bound 04 May 1733 at Twickenham. One (Source: Binding Records 1692-1949) shows Master Thomas Soper and a free date of 18 April 1760.  The other (Source: Reassignments 1688-1908) shows Master William Wadbrook and that he was bound to 26 May 1737.  I would assume that the second record is the original given the 1737 end date, but why is it in Reassignments?  Re the other record, doesn't a free date of 1760 make for an awfully long apprenticeship?

Sorry if I am being dense here; I would appreciate any insight please!

thankyou 

[numberfour]

Hi there,this is not really a reply,but a question regarding this topic.

My Day family has a long line of Watermen on the Thames.
Going back to 1805 Joseph Day's father is reported to be a "porter" on Joseph's Birth and christening record.I was surprised to see this occupation.
Does anyone know if  a "porter" was related to the river?

Thxs

[Timasina]

It looks like there were specific Porters for all sorts of things at the docks...

http://historicaleye.com/other-features/top-of-the-docks.html

"Historian Ed Gilnert noted that below the stevedores, watermen and lightermen were the ‘interminable levels of skilled workers’, such as the ‘corn porters, deal porters, coopers, riggers, those who specialised in short-stay docks, tallymen, warehousemen, pilers, baulkers and blenders.’7 He continued: ‘At the bottom of the heap, and reviled by all the other waterside workers, were the ordinary dockers’.8 But here there was a further split between the regulars and the casuals, with the latter sub-dividing themselves into their own complex hierarchy."

There is probably a family connection to Joseph's master somewhere, however distant.

Chris
 

[numberfour]

Thxs Chris for your help.

[jackella]

Does anyone know where I can buy/see the affidavits for Thames Watermen? The binding records are available on FindmyPast but I am hoping to find dates and places of baptism for watermen ancestors.  Many thanks

[Bookbox]

The affidavit birth proof books are held at Guildhall Library in London.

If you can't get there yourself, Trueflare offers a lookup service from their transcripts, at modest cost.
http://www.trueflaregenealogy.co.uk/trueflare.html

[jackella]

Bookbox
Thanks for the info.
jackella