If you have family members connected with the Purton area, or local waterways, and wish us to try and help to find out more about them, or you can help others seeking similar information, then please contact us. The "Friends" will pass on the information.

Genealogy@friendsofpurton.org.uk

See also Purton Genealogy database

Information sought -

William Holding/Houlding 'Industry' - Bridgewater

Clementine.Mortelman, researcher
I am writing from the UK TV BBC programme “Who Do You Think You Are?”
I came across your Society while researching an individual named William Holding/Houlding. He was a master mariner at Bridgewater (please find specifics below). A boat named the Industry is listed with an owner William Holding of Bridgewater in 1912, I found an entry in Gloucestershire archive’s catalogue that mentions the Industry but these records only go up to 1906. Any advice you could offer would be greatly received.
William Holding/Houlding Born: c. 1837, Knottingley, Yorkshire Died: 10th Jan 1919, Bridgewater, Somerset Occup: Master Mariner NB: Believed to have worked on boats: Claire Felicia, The Charles, Rose Vean along with two brothers. Is also linked to Irene.

John Dowle - Aylburton

From Griff Delwyn - My very distant relative was John Dowle (1856-1922). He was born (and probably died) in Aylburton near Lydney, Gloucestershire. Looking at his dates, I suppose he would have been active in the last quarter of the 19th century up to the First World War. If you can find anything relating to his time on the River Severn, I'd be most interested to hear.

Griff also has information on the Sharpness outdoor education centre used during 1970's. Anyone wanting more information of this centre please contact us at above e-mail

Captain William Charles - Easton in Gordano working from Bristol

I am trying to trace my family history with in Bristol, who all seem to be attached to the sea in some way or another. I was wondering if you can shed any light on this gentleman.
Regards Lynne Charles

The Hodgetts - John, George, Thomas and Samuel

Pam Horsfield is seeking information on John Hodgetts born 1815 was Captain of Sebruna Pam writes "I think working Gloucester to Worcester and certainly living around Ledbury later. My great grandfather was captain of George. I think he lived on board til there were too many children then they moved into a place at Upton ( which now gets flooded a lot as it's at the side of the river.) My mother remembered him having a stove hat. His brother Thomas also worked on the boats from Worcester, as did Samuel. I guess it was a massive industry until motor vehicles came along. I found it fascinating to realise that coal was transported one way and china clay, pig iron and massive quantities of wine the other way - was this the sherry from Bristol?"

Silvery - vessel owner

I'm writing as advised to ask for any information you have on the Silvey family. My grand-father Charles James Silvey born in 1885, great grand-father Edwin John Thomas born 1852, great uncle Charles Silvey his brother born 1860 and great great grandfather Charles Silvey born 1832. Charles being a very popular name and very confusing for me! Any other seafaring information on the Silveys would also be very welcome. We enjoyed your Lydney presentation and look forward to the next installment.
Many thanks, Rachel Williams

 

 

Pilot Cutter 'Peggy'

About 30 years ago I met Graham Farr to discuss the history of my Pilot Cutter 'Peggy' built 1903 at Edwin Rowles yard Pill. Her first Pilot was Richard Arthur Case who had her built for his new cutter , his grave is in St. Georges churchyard Easton in Gordano. If you have old photographs of cutters or Pill I would be interested to see them.
Diccon Pridie.

Job Jackson - Saul

Hello Thank you for helping me in my research. Its just I dont know how to start looking.
The person I'm looking for is Job Jackson, in some records it has Jacksons.
He was born in Saul abt 1838 His father was Thomas Jackson and his job was a waterman Job's mother was Ann Jackson nee Banks.
The only information I have about Job is from the census, wedding certificate and his death certificate, they either say Bargeman, Coal merchant or mairner.
The only other piece of information i have I found in Bristol Records office and it was a crew list. it says surname name age birthplace rating ships name off no date jackson job 25 Gloster seaman avon 65307 01/1871
Anna Jackson

Boats of Gloucester

I know that my grandfather and two generations before him worked on the boats out of Gloucester, and am trying to find out some more information about the boats.. On the 1881 census it shows Henry Jackson was the Master of the 'Mary' and his son Lewis was a seaman. By 1891 only Lewis shows on the 'Mary' and by now he is the Master. In 1901 Lewis and Albert Jackson are shown on the 'Mary' and in 1911 Lewis and Joseph (my grandfather) are on the 'Ely of Bristol'. We also know from my late fathers memories that Joseph was the Master of the 'Atalanta' and 'Osric'. I hope you will be able to help me or let me know where & how I can find out more - I live in Somerset so cannot just pop into records offices very easily.
Barbara Jackson

Purton School

Please can you help, I am trying to locate the position of Purton School as it would have been during the 2nd World War, a postcode or grid reference would be brilliant. Many thanks in anticipation.
Peter Winter

Briton Ferry

'Friend of Purton' Janet Presley

One of the fairly inconspicuous remains on the site of The Purton Hulks
Through the auspices of the Nautical Archaeological Society, I have adopted the remains of the Briton Ferry with the intention of recording her current condition and any changes which might occur in future, in order to maintain interest in the rôle she played in the history of the area. I am also pleased to be the sponsor of the plaque, on behalf of the Friends of Purton.
I have spent nine months recording what remains of the pontoon for the grab dredging crane and am currently documenting the findings. This, however, will be an on-going process and, as I work on site, I meet people who have interesting pieces of relevant information about this or similar craft which all help to widen the research findings. Details and information concerning the history of Briton Ferry can be found on www.friendsofpurton.org.uk/vessels/britonferry
I should be interested to hear, through this forum, from anyone who may know something about the vessel, or a relative of someone employed on her, during the working life at Briton Ferry 1903-1911, on the Glos. Sharpness Canal or Tewkesbury area 1911-1956.

Purton Children's Home - 1919

Does anyone remember Purton Children's Home which was in existance in 1919? My Dad was put in the home round about 1920. We have been told there were about 15 children in the home and the Matron retired to Thatcham near Newbury in approximately the 1970's and she remember my dad. Does a register exist of names?
Any information would be very welcome.
Thank you. Christine Fairbrother.

Petheram boats - 1881

Joseph and his son Joseph Edmund Petheram – the "George"
John Petheram and William Petheram (b.5.8.1831) – the "Neptune" at Cardiff
Charles (Chas) William Petheram – the "Ada" at Roath, Glamorgan
Joseph Edmund Petheram also sailed in the "Providence"
Joseph (the elder) was at one stage, captain of the old Aust Ferry, the "Worcester"
Charles William was also captain of the "Staunch"

Canal Boat ‘Heather Bell’

Alan Keef is interested in the origin of the name of the craft 'Heather Bell'. Rowbottom mentions the canal boat in his book on the Severn Bore but he mistakenly has her as 'Heather Belle'. All the other instances are as in ding dong bell! My present boat of the same name is a 30ft steel motor sailer. Any information gratefully recieved. Heather Bell history (a.Keef) ...

Captain Thomas Maule of Saul

John Taylor

"Captain Thomas Maule of Saul my grandfather who had spent most of his life sailing deep sea and in later life was involved in the coastal trade of the Severn and Bristol channel. He was also tug skipper of the Mayflower which I remembered being tied up in Victoria basin in Gloucester Docks during the 1970’s. She is now restored at Bristol. Thomas Maule is related to the White’s and the Butt’s. I think one was his step father and the other his father in law but I have no further details. Thomas Maule’s brother in law was Captain Arthur Jones I believe owner and skipper of the Isabella. There is mention of the Isabella and Capt Jones on page 23 of “The last of the Sailing Coasters” by Edmund Eglinton. My mother read the book and has highlighted the relevant pages on page 23. My mother has also annotated page 41 regarding Plate 19 showing the rigging of the trow “Safety”. My mother indicates that the crew of the Safety was Frank Maule (Thomas’s son), E Eglinton and Vince Aldridge. I cannot confirm this or the dates when they sailed on her. Thomas’s sons were – Frank, Gwynne, Geoffrey, Terry, Jim and Darrell. There were also 6 daughters. The only surviving sons and Jim and Darrell but I am not in regular contact. They do however live in the Stroud area. You mentioned the Seven River Board Engineer – Rowbottom and showed a slide of a narrow boat used for placing stone pitching on the river bank. I know that later the River Board purchased a much larger vessel the Riparian which was in use until the Severn Trent Water Authority was formed around 1974 after which she lay in Gloucester docks until she was sold. Jim Maule was skipper of the Riparian for many years and was often tied up at Elmore Back. During bore tides Jim had to take he out to meet the bore to prevent her from being dragged from her moorings. There are tales that during flood on the River Severn above Gloucester Jim with Rowbottom aboard would shoot the river weirs saving time locking through much to the anger of British Waterways. I believe all Thomas’s sons were involved with the sea except Darrell the youngest who went into the Army".

John Grimes and the Lydney Packet.

"My great great grandfather was John Grimes who was recorded as the master of the Lydney Packet in the 1861 and 1871 census's. I unfortunately have little information on the Lydney Packet. I have been wondering now what she looked like, what she carried, where she carried it, where and how she met her final end. I am wondering if you might have any further information on her or where I might obtain it."

Pete Grimes

John & Rebecca WESTAWAY of Purton

Barbara Noble writes -

"I have been looking recently at the 1911 census website, and found my great grandparents John and Rebecca Westaway who were famers living at Purton, Berkeley. I found your website when I googled Purton and was interested to hear about the ships- beached only two years before in 1909. It is possible that their land was protected in this way. I wonder if the name Westaway is familiar to you or anyone in your society? The family was headed by John, a farmer aged 72 in 1911. They had 6 children - only my grandmother Nellie was still at home then".

Bristol Channel steam ship 'Emlyndene'

A collier working out of several of the South Wales ports and was known to have visited Bristol also. Built by Murdoch and Murray of Glasgow. Yard number 198. Launched Thursday 13 - 10 - 1904 Type steamship Engine triple expansion compound Tonnage 495 grt Length 170.6 ft Breadth 23.6 ft Owner history, Initially owned by Micheal Murphy, Cardiff. Then sold to Wilson and Reid, Belfast. Finally to Emlyn Line, (Jones and Wilson), Cardiff. Notes:- Went missing after 11 - 12 - 1917. Went missing after sailing from Cardiff to Granville with coal. Recorded as being sunk by torpedo from U55C
Vessel Names:- Launched as SS Llandaff Then named SS Kilroot for a short time in 1913. Finally named SS Emlyndene.

Any help would be very gratefully received.

John Stickland

WILLIAMS, EDDELL & PIDLER of Purton

Ian Acocks

"Even though I live in Nottingham, I have by chance walked the Purton to Sharpness canal a couple of times, not realising that my great great grandfather was a canal channel pilot out of Purton. His name was James Williams and I believe that he was born in 1799. He married a Sarah (weeb?) Eddell (b1809) and they had a daughter Mary Sarah Williams (b 1847 my great grandmother) who was living at Pockington Farm, Purton in 1881. Mary Sarah married a 'Master Mariner' William Pidler (b 1814?? in Gatcombe Lydney??, father named Alexander Pidler) in 1873. but there is no evidence of his being at Pockington Farm at the 1881 census A list on the Channel Pilots web site states that a James Williams was an active pilot between 1833 and 1866 and that he died on his cutter. It is not clear however if his death happened in 1866 and I can find no record of his, death (nor that of William Pidler) The above just may be of interest and if anyone can fill in any gaps I would be grateful. Thanks"

Oswald & Thomas JENKINS of Arlingham

Bob Jenkins is seeking information on his great grandfather Oswald and great great grandfather Thomas

The information he has so far is as follows:

Oswald Jenkins born 4/6/1854 in Arlingham.  In the 1881 census he was living in Bedminster, Bristol with his wife Lucy and 3 children, and listed as a 'mariner'.  By 1891 he had 6 children and was listed as 'captain of a vessel'.  He drowned at Welsh Back in Bristol docks on 29th November 1899 when he fell between a steamer the Enid and the quay.  At that time he was a mariner on the Emma Ellen of Newport. 

Thomas Jenkins born 21/10/1804 Arlingham.  He married an Arlingham girl Hannah Golding and lived in Arlingham all his life.  In the 1841 census he was listed as a waterman.  In the 1851 census he was not listed with his family so was perhaps at sea somewhere.  In the 1861 there is an entry I can't decipher fully in which he is mentioned as aboard "listed of Calgrouster" ??  He died in 1891 in the workhouse at Eastington.

Any info you could provide would be gratefully received!