Find Ancestors

Many Thanks Jacqueline. Yes difficult, have tried several research sources, but they need to know barge reg number and owner. There are about 20 possible barges called "elizabeth"

You may find a general idea of what river barges looked like, and what sort of cargoes they carried, by googling for them

It's probably unrealistic to think you'd be able to get details about one specific vessel, although don't rule that out until you've tried

My Great Grandfather - Robert Wilson 1849 -1892

I am researching my family tree and am trying to understand what vessel and working life was undertaken by my Great Grandfather.

Robert Wilson was born 5-8-1849 in Holbrook Suffolk. He died on 4-11-1892 by drowning, falling from his barge the “Elisabeth” whilst travelling through locks at East Farleigh on the river Medway, near Maidstone in Kent. His body was discovered on 24-11-1892. I was trying to find out some of the history about this vessel , what it looked like and what he would have been carrying. Details of barge and crew. Sadly he left a wife and large family and life must have been very difficult for them. My Grandmother Kesiah was farmed out to family. One Son Robert junior born 1874 was a mate on the Barge “Dorothy” in 1911 census living at the lower horseway Maidstone.

I wonder if you had any details that my help my quest.