skala Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 I am researching some of my Shaw family who were canal boat owners or Masters of Vessels on the canal in Swinton/Mexborough/Rotherham area in the 1800's.On the 1861census George Shaw Master of Vessel and his wife Ann were living at Old Holland ,Kimberworth Rotherham along with many other Owners and Masters. Does anyone have any information on these workers and was this address a Boarding house for the canal boatmen?I would be interested to know what they may have been transporting and names of vessels or anything regarding their working life. By 1881 he was a boat owner as his father Joseph Shaw had been according to the Swinton directory in 1860.Any info greatly appreciated Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmund Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Here's an 1852 map showing how close Old Holland is to the canal, And an article about the state of Old Holland, from 1848, The owner Mr Reed complained in 1858 that it had no street lights despite paying rates for them (which was rectified), and in 1864 Reed became a member of the Rotherham Board of Health. In 1846 George's son Joseph fell into the canal and was drowned, the burial was at Moorgate Cemetery on 16th August : In July 1848, at Rotherham Court House: Isaac Beavers was charged with absconding from the service of Joseph Shaw, boat owner, whom he had engaged to serve for a year. The defendant alleged that his master had assented to his leaving. On promising to return to his employment, he was discharged. In 1864 George was in court at Barnsley, obviously doing well in business, as he paid the 20s fine and costs: Here's a link to information about the 1841 boat disaster at Masbro: http://www.rotherhamweb.co.uk/h/botdis.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Skala, this is of interest (as I am a canal boater). May I suggest that you consider joining the Canal World Discussion Forum web site? Not everyone on there is interested in waterways history, but there are a few real experts on there who may have more information for you. (I am "Athy" on there too). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skala Posted December 17, 2016 Author Share Posted December 17, 2016 Many Thanks for your replies. Sounds as if Old Holland was not a very nice place to live at that time, though hopefully it may have improved a little by the time my Shaw family were there. Sounds as if it was a hard life on the canals and as it would appear the children often came to grief! Can't imagine how they brought up a family living in those conditions. Strangely I was born in Kimberworth in Hill Top Lane my parents returning there after living in Sheffield all their lives and when they married in the war they moved to Kimberworth. As a small child I remember walking down the hillside to Tinsley as there were no houses there then. We walked by the canal over a basket bridge and to Tinsley to catch a tram to Firth Park .From those days I was always scared of canals and deep water even though I learnt to swim. Must have registered with me as a rather foreboding place. Funny how I now find I have canal boat workers in my ancestors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Thanks for the term "basket bridge" which I had never heard before, but which makes perfect sense - a bridge with metal latticework, I guess? I wonder if it is a term peculiar to that part of the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jean Posted December 30, 2016 Share Posted December 30, 2016 Isaac Beavers in one of the stories was my gt.gt.uncle one of his sons my gt.uncle was a bargee too, I remember being a little girl going down on the barge with my father, it was so exciting to an 8 yr . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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