Welcome to the Watermen's Hall Electronic Archive
In February 2004 the archives of the Company of Watermen & Lightermen were thoroughly examined and catalogued. Some documents were thought to be of sufficient interest to be copied on to the Internet and can be found here in Microsoft Word format. The index of the entire archive held at the Hall has now been added. To return to this page from a document, please use the "Back" button on your browser.
A Brief History of the Company
Notable Dates in the Company's History
Interesting Events on the River Thames
(Many of the Thames dates have been taken from a 1907 Seamen's Almanac - some of the choices are a little surprising!)
Archive Index
Item Index (Subject and Date Order)
Documents
Early Petitions
Watermen's Petition against the Gravesend Corporation (1770)
Watermen's Company Petition to Parliament 1772
The Port of London Expands
Company Petition against Dock Expansion 1796
Petition from Matthias Lucas regarding the 1796 Docks Scheme
Lord Mayor's Memorial regarding Legal Quays Development
Committee Minutes on the Bill for the Improvement of the Port of London 1797
Company Petition against Wapping Docks 1800
Naval Matters
Letter to John Barrow at the Admiralty regarding Impressment
Court Cases
Case against William Sparks for operating a barge despite not being a Company Freeman 1831
Case against William Alexander, accused of failing to register his boat 1848
Police Proceedings against Richard Kelsey, accused of posing as a Waterman 1851
Steam Boats reach the Thames
Steam Boat Racing 1832 (Recommended!)
Minutes of the House of Lords Select Committee on Steam Navigation on the River Thames 1837
The Royal Almshouses
Appeal for the Royal Watermen's Almshouses 1839
The Queen Dowager agrees to become of the Almshouses 1839
Royal Almshouse Prospectus 1844
Royal Almshouse Prospectus 1852
List of Toasts for the 1854 Almshouse Dinner
List of Almshouse Rules and Regulations
The 1859 Watermen's and Lightermen's Act
Petition on the Right of Watermen to Act as Pilots 1858
Letter to the Admiralty from Henry Humpherus regarding the 1859 Bill
Considerations in favour of the 1859 Bill
Objections and Responses to the 1859 Bill
Wharf Owners Petition against the Company 1859
"The Era" criticises the 1859 Bill
"The Penny Bells Life" supports the Watermen's Company 1859
The Thames Conservators
Thames Conservators Report 1858
Thames Conservators Report 1871
Further Petitions
Bum Boatmen ask for the Right to Sell Alcohol to Ships 1844
River Traffic
The Dangers of a Crowded Thames 1861
A Harbour Master's Opinion 1864
House of Lords Inquiry into the Thames Navigation Bill 1870
Article in Lloyds List Supporting Licensed Watermen 1885
Coroner's Report after the Sinking of a Dubious Boat 1893
Barges
Case against Barge Owners not Employing Sufficient Lightermen
Coal Stealing on the Barges 1859
Case against George Martin, Accused of Setting Barges Adrift 1908
Various Bills
Objections to the 1881 Thames River Bill
Union Matters
Letter by an Angry Lighterman 1891
Reforms to the Port of London
Deputation to the Port of Trade 1902
"What the Company Does" - Article in the "City Press" 1903
Villains
Prosecution of James Lynch for Assault 1824
Assault and Kidnapping at Waterman's Hall 1832(Recommended!)
The Company Beadles are Assaulted 1833
Indictment against Henry Colcomb for Assault
Burglary in Watermen's Hall 1842
Concerns about Vandalism in Battersea 1890
Heroes
Baby Rescued by a Waterman 1774
Presentation to Samuel Williams for 31 Years of Service 1897
Unfortunate Incidents
Matthias Lucas (The Lord Mayor) is Hit on the Head by an Anchor 1827 (Recommended!)
The Queen's Waterman Fails to Find His Licence 1894
Rowing and the Doggett's Coat and Badge Wager
A London Watermen takes on Five Flemings in Ostend (Recommended!)
Family History
Speech to Mark 300 Years of Watermen in the Layton Family 1965
These are Microsoft Excel files of family collections of watermen's indentures, licences and other memorabilia
The Goldsmith Family 1834 - 1949
Created by Julian Coy March 2004