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My Great Great Grandfather was a barge master on the River Medway in Maidstone Kent- he drowned falling off the barge going through East Farleigh Locks Maidstone 4-11-1892 body found 24-11-1892. I want to know more about him and the Barge "The Elizabeth" what he transported and circumstances of death. Can anyone help. I believe others close to him worked on barges.

I would imagine that there would have been an inquest into his death and you should find newspaper reports giving details of the accident at the library closest to where the death occurred.

Is this his death record:-


Name: WILSON, Robert
Registration district: Maidstone
County: Kent
Year of registration: 1892
Quarter of registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at death: 46
Volume no: 2A
Page no: 411

Kath. x

Thanks Kath.

Will try that.
Derek

Yes Kathleen, same man. Left quite a large family, so must have been a struggle for wife Elizabeth. My nan Kesiah was farmed out to others in family.

Derek

a bit of history
http://www.medwaypilots.co.uk/page2.htm

guess you have him on previous census's .

just for our info the 1881

1881 England Census about Robert Wilson
Name: Robert Wilson
Age: 31
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Wilson
Gender: Male
Where born: Holbrook, Suffolk, England
Civil parish: Maidstone
County/Island: Kent
Country: England
Street Address: 2 Havock Place
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View image
Occupation: Captain Of Barge
Registration district: Maidstone
Sub-registration district: West Maidstone
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 927
Folio: 29
Page Number: 23
Household Members:
Name Age
Robert Wilson 31
Elizabeth Wilson 28
Jesse James Paul Honey May Wilson 10
Robert John May Wilson 4
Thomas Wilson 2
Elizabeth Eliza Wilson

Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 927; Folio: 29; Page: 23; GSU roll: 1341221.

doesnt give the Barge name

Interesting info re Barges


http://tsbtcharters.org/25.html

I know it's a few years on but I wondered if you ever found the inquest report into Robert Wilsons drowning. It was published in the Maidstone and Kentish journal dated 29/11/1892. Quite a long piece and detailed, he was knocked down by the tiller, stood up & hit again going overboard. Had trouble swimming to shore then barge hit him again and he disappeared. His body wasn't found but after his wife's pleading they drew the river off, whatever that means, and his decomposing body was found close to the timber wharf. The body was covered with sand & it would never have been found if this last attempt wasn't made. A collection was made for the widow who had large family, they were my great great grandparents by their daughter Elizabeth Eliza Wilson.

Welcome to the boards, Barbara.

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