Hi Robert, While feeling to a degree impelled to mention that this thread would seem to have little connection with Warwickshire (beyond the unfortunate deceased having been High Bailiff of Birmingham some 20 years earlier) it's nevertheless Intriguing... While accepting that the Press Report was accurate ("It MUST be True - it was all in the Papers") the big question here is what he might be doing in Areley Kings "on his journey to London", when the only adress given for him was in South Wales. Areley Kings isn't on any 'sensible' route - by land or water; then or now - from either Ebbw Vale OR Birmingham to London... Water just *might* be feasible - with several transhipments - but it'd've been very slow and (in the earlier parts at any rate) dangerous and uncomfortable. The Monmouthshire Canal ran from just up the hill from Abercarne to Newport - but it didn't connect with the River Usk (and thence to the Severn Estuary) until 1818. I don't know when it opened, but its Enabling Acts were passed in 1792 and 1797. The Severn was navigable from Newport to beyond Stourport (WOR) by Sailing Trow - but the lower reaches are dangerous and treacherous, with fierce tides, and the Severn Bore. But, yes, he could've done it, although it'd probably've been an Interesting Experience. >From there, the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal would've taken him to Wolverhampton; and the Birmingham Canals navigations through to the East of Birmingham, and thence via the Coventry and then the Oxford Canals to Oxford. Finally, down the Thames to London. With fair wind and weather it'd've taken around 3 to 4 weeks, in probably minimal comfort! If he'd *really* wanted to go from Abercarne to London by water (involving Canals) his far better bet would've been to sail up the Severn Estuary and turn right at Saul/Framilode, taking the Thames and Severn Canal to Lechlade, and then down the Thames again. It'd've probably saved him a couple of weeks! [He couldn't've used the Kennet and Avon Canal [Bath to Newbury] as that didn't open until just over 2 years after his death...] Preliminary Conclusions... 1) he wasn't starting from South Wales; and 2) wherever he *did* start from, he'd've been unlikely to've gone by water. Gus ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Glover" <glovergen@gmail.com> To: <ct65as@yahoo.com>; <warwick@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 12:11 PM Subject: [WAR] mail coaches_GLOVER Hello Lynne, Hello list, Thank you all for the continued interest in my inquiry. My ancestor died on the 9th of September 1808 and The CAMBRIAN newspaper records it as follows "Suddenly, yesterday, se'nnight, at Arley-Hall, Worcestershire, on his journey to London, in his 72nd year, Samuel Glover, Esq. of Abercarne, Monmouthshire." and in the ATHENAEUM Magazine....... under the heading WORCESTERSHIRE "At Areley-hall, aged 72, Samuel Glover, Esq. of Abercarne, Monmouthshire" I'm now investigating if it was possible that he was travelling by canal boat to London. SG was a past High Bailiff of Birmingham (1786) and a member of the Birmingham Commercial Committee. regards .... Robert Glover ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WARWICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message