Carol Orr wrote: ><snip> > >P.S. What would a "Boatman" have been or done. > > >From <http://web.ukonline.co.uk/thursday.handleigh/demography/occupations-wages-money/old-occupations/oldocc-b.htm> > A person who worked on a boat, predominately on rivers and canals. > Also the name > given to a boat repairer. From Rodney Hall's Old Occupations <http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/b.html>: > 1) Worked on river and canal boats 2) Boat repairer also found this at John Roberts' Waterway Index <http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/jim.shead/FamilyHistory.htm>: > SOURCES OF INFORMATION UNIOUE TO WATERWAYS > > REGISTER OF BOATS AND BARGES - 1795 - Inland waterway craft were > required to be registered by the Clerk of the Peace from 1795. > Registers are usually deposited at local record offices. > > PUBLIC HEALTH REGISTERS - Kept under the Canal Boat Acts 1877 to 1884 > 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 accomodation 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. > > GAUGING TABLES - Kept by each Navigation Company showing details of a > boats carrying capacity. 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. > > BRITISH TRANSPORT HISTORICAL RECORDS - A collection of documents, > canal company minute books, maps etc, etc, - kept at the Public Record > Office, Kew, London. > Hope that helps a little! Best wishes, Lynne