Dear Sharon, Christine & Tony got it right. In nineteenth century Brighton, the terms Boatmen and Watermen were commonly used to describe those who worked pleasure boats rather than fishing boats. The occupations of fisherman and boatmen were in some degree interchangeable as demonstrated by Sharon's ancestor. I could send you a listing of all Newington and Newinton fishing folk in Brighton from the 1851 and 1891 censuses if you haven't already got that. You should definitely contact Brighton Fishing Museum (you'll find it online) which has an extensive database of documents and newspaper clippings that might well include references to members of your family. MikeS (formerly researcher etc at Brighton Fishing Museum). On 9 Jul 2012, at 19:36, Sharon Newman wrote: Hi Listers My Great Grandfather, Charles Newington, is described in baptisemal records as 'Fisherman' at the birth of his daughter, Rosina, in 1851 as 'Waterman', at the birth of a daughter, Elizabeth, in 1861 and again at the birth of his son Charles, in 1868 as a 'Fisherman' Could anyone please tell me the difference between: Fisherman, Boatman and Waterman as applied to the Brighton seagoing folk and what the occupations actually entailed. He lived in 'Shooters Gardens (1858 -1865) and 'Sun Street' (1868 - ?) Brighton during this time. Regards Peter Newman SFHG Member 12209