Hi Eve B
Hmm, a bit difficult isn't it...
In 1841, William would be about 16, or maybe 15 at the least. And possibly already apprenticed?
There's a Thomas KING wife Isabella, in Morpeth 1841 & 1851 - he's a builder & stone merchant.
No son name William on either.
There's a THOMAS KING, Shoe maker in Tynemouth in 1841. Who looks like the one 2zPool references above.
He has a son name William age 15, a Smiths Apprentice The wife's name is Margaret. But there is a gap of 6 years in the children, which might suggest Margaret is a 2nd wife and is mother only of a daughter named Margaret, b 1838 (on IGI) By 1851, Thomas & Margaret are still in Tynemouth, he's still a Shoemaker. Son William is gone, and next son Ralph, is a Whitesmith apprentice.
There's a Thomas KING in Alnwick, an Ag Lab, wife Ann. No son named William with them 1841. And I think, there was a Coal Miner Thomas KING in Seghill with a son of right age, wife Ann. Son William also a Coal Miner.
As your William was a Waterman, it's possible this trade will help identify him...going by this website and the section :
TRACING YOUR WATERMEN & LIGHTERMEN ANCESTORS http://www.parishregister.com/aboutstp.html#ancestors"If you have a Waterman or Lighterman Ancestor then you are very fortunate indeed. The surviving records .....are rich and varied, and date back to the late 17th Century.
The Bindings books (recording when and to whom an apprentice was 'bound') and the Affidavit birth proof records (noting the date and place of birth of an apprentice) provide a straightforward source of genealogical information.
The Quarterage books (recording license payments), Court of Complaint books (recording complaints to the Company about Watermen and Lightermen and the action taken) and the many other records showing names, plying places, fees charged, etc. can add colour and detail to an Ancestors life.
...No one could work on the river without being licensed. And to get a license you had to become an apprentice and serve under a master. The Apprentice Bindings books (which record the name of the apprentice, the date of binding, the master's name and mooring, and the date of freedom (i.e when the apprentice having learned his trade, qualified to get his own license) cover the period 1688 to 1949.
The original records are held in the Guildhall Library in London. ..........
The binding records entries (over 65,000 of them) have been transcribed by Rob Cottrell and are available in a PDF searchable format on CD-ROM...."Cheers
AMBLY
