Hello All, This is my first posting to your list. I had been wondering if there was such a list, but after watching 'Bloodties' on BBC2 last week, I decided to join your ranks. My great grandfather Barnabas BEAUMONT was, according to the 1851 census for Tipton, Staffs., a Boatman, aged 20, born in Madeley. (The 1881 census confirms this was the Shropshire Madeley). On the same census, his brother Philip, aged 12 was also a Boatman, born in Tipton. On the 1861 census for Tipton, Barnabas was still a Boatman, but had left the Waterways by the 1871 census. We know from my grandmothers Wedding Cert. ( being married in Scotland, there is more info. on their Certs.) that Barnabas married Elizabeth HOLDEN from West Bromwich. I have looked in the GRO marriage indexes for the marriage of Barnabas and Elizabeth but could only find reference to Barnabas and could not find an Elizabeth HOLDEN to match. Has anyone seen any reference to Barnabas elsewhere? Family oral tradition suggests that he may have been a bit too partial to alcohol, and relinquished his living on the Waterways. On the TV programme there was shown a 'Register of Canal Boats' and also a 'Guage Register'. Can anyone say where these are held, and are they accessible to researchers? Any information will be appreciated. Regards, Gil. Hall. Southampton, England Researching HALL, NBL / DUR; DENT, DUR; KING, BEW / NBL / DUR; STEWART, Edinburgh, MLN / DUR; WINTON, Musselburgh, MLN / STS; BEAUMONT, STS / SAL; HOLDEN (ING), STS; BEES, SOM. ANDERSON, NBL; DAVISON, NBL.