Hello Tony, Sam Deeley would have worked at a stop lock. So called because this was were the boat had to stop to pay the tolls that were due. It was a single lock on a flat stretch of water as opposed to a pair with a pound between.The boat could only pass when Sam opened it. Being employed by the BCN, he may have lived in one of their cottages (when and if available). You should be able to pick them up in the census returns. When you've got an address, take a look at a canal map and you will see the nearest stop lock. That's not to say that this was his but may well have been. There is the Bromford Stop just south of Oldbury, Sam may have worked here. Phil in Hales Owen -- > >Two members of my Deeley family worked for the Birmingham Canal Navigation Company as lock keepers /toll collectors. This was during the 1800s and they were both named Samuel. They worked in the Oldbury/West Bromwich are of the West Midlands. > >I would be grateful for any information on the nature of their job, etc. > >Regards, Tony Peace