Hi I have two birth certificates dated 1857 & 1859, showing the father as being Boatman on Canal. The births took place at Dykehead and the Registration district is in the Western District of Old Monkland, Lanark. There is also another father listed also as a Boatman on Canal on the same page as the 1859 birth, but his child's birth took place at Baillieston. My questions are: Would these Canals be running off the River Clyde or where these Canals the actual River Clyde.? What would the boatman actually be doing ? Would a boatman still be dealing with the coal mines, eg. loading coal onto the boats perhaps ? Would this Dykehead be the one near Shotts or the one North of Glasgow near Lake Menteith ? or is there or was there another place called Dykehead near Baillieston and Old Monkland that I cannot locate on a map ? Around where Crosshill is.? The 1861 Census lists lots of families including mine, all at Dykehead, Quoad Sacra Parish of Crosshill and Parish of Old Monkland. I have the family via the Census etc, living in places like Govan, Barony, Old Monkland, Blantyre and finally in Bothwell as the districts. Alexander, the father's occupation varies over the time, from Carter, Pit Bottomer, Boatman on Canal, Watchman, and when he died he was listed as Colliery - Pitheadman. Any help with the place of Dykehead and especially about the occupation of Boatman around that time frame would be appreciated. Thanks Ailsa Ailsa Corlett [email protected] www.st.net.au/~ailsa alternative email if having trouble sending to my normal email is: [email protected]