Hi Janet - re records of "water people." The following describes the four main sources of information unique to waterways from "Canal Miscellany - A compilation of records and memories of canal family life in and around Warwickshire and The Midlands". Warwickshire Family History Society 1998. WFHS 7 Mersey Road, Bulkington, Warwickshire CV12 9QB 1. Register of Boats and Barges. Inland Waterway craft were required to be registered by the Clerk of the Peace from 1795. Registers are usually deposited in local record offices. 2. Public Health Registers. Kept under the Canal Boat Acts 1877 to 1844 and administered by the Local or Port Authority through whose district a canal or river navigation passed. The Acts were introduced to prevent overcrowding and to improve living standards on the cabin boats. Boats with living accommodation had to be registered and were issued with a numbered certificate. The number together with the town was usually painted on the cabin side. These registers may be deposited at the local record office, but some are still with the Authority concerned. 3. Gauging Tables. Kept by each Navigation Company, show the carrying capacity of the boat. Other details vary but they usually contain the owners name and address. Registers may be at the National Waterways Museum, Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester GL1 2EL 4. British Transport Historical Records. A collection of documents, canal company minute books, maps, etc. kept at the Public Record Office, Kew, London. Hope this helps. Elaine -----Original Message----- From: Janet Corbett <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: 04 April 2000 16:03 Subject: [CANAL-PEOPLE] Waterman >Dear Listers > We see a lot about boatman/waterman. I am searching for details of Thomas Corbett a waterman in 1834-45 Worcester. He is always described as a waterman and I am of the opinion that he may have been a ferryman rather than a canal boatman as I had originally thought, that is rowing across a river. Could anybody on the list tell me if this may be a correct assumption and if so where I would look for details of such. Are there any records kept of these water people. Thanking you in advance. Janet Corbett > > >============================== >The RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: >Tens of millions of individuals... and counting. >http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ > >