William Dalton and Sarah Travally

St Mary & Holy Trinity, Bow Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3616000

William Dalton (b. 26 Dec 1742, bap. 16 Jan 1743 at St Paul's Church, Shadwell), son of Thomas Dalton and Mary Tyggall, married Sarah Travally (b. 5 Aug 1739), daughter of Winnall Travally and Elizabeth Benbow. Although I've yet to see the marriage record, it's said to have taken place at St Marys, Stratford Bow (St Mary & Holy Trinity, Bow Church), on 15 May 1763. 

This couple had seven children: 

1. Elizabeth Dalton b. Friday, 13 July 1764, bap. 5 Aug 1764 (at 23 days old) at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney
2. Winnall Travally Dalton b. Monday, 28 July 1766, bap. 24 Aug 1766 (the record says he was 27 days old) at St Anne's, Limehouse
3. William Benbow Dalton b. Sunday, 22 Nov 1767, bap. 20 Dec 1767 (at 28 days old) at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney. He was buried on 14 Jan 1768, also at St Dunstan and All Saints
4. Thomas Benbow Dalton b. 6 May 1770
5. Sarah Dalton b. 22 May 1778
6. Martha Dalton b. 2 Oct 1780
7. Ebenezer Dalton b. 16 Aug 1782

The baptism records list their father's occupation as Caulker, a person who caulks the seams of boats; to make (a vessel) watertight by filling the seams between the planks with oakum or other material driven snug. In the Hebrew Bible, the prophet Ezekiel refers to the caulking of ships as a specialist skill.

The records for the last four are unusual. Those in the set, 'England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975' do mention Saint Dunstan and All Saints Church, Stepney (as in parish), but they do not follow the usual format of Christian baptisms and specify the dates as birth dates, not the dates of christenings. They each also include the information: Maternal Grandfather's Name, Winnal Travaly and Maternal Grandmother's Name, Elizabeth, so we can have no doubt that these are the children of this couple and their pedigree. There were witnesses to all these birth records too, which in all four cases were Elizabeth Gabbedey and Esther Travally, both of whom were Sarah's sisters. 

Repeated in the record set, 'England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977', which specified each child's birthplace as "White Horse Street, St Dunstans Stepney, Middlesex." "White Horse Street was the main street of the medieval village of Stepney, centred around St Dunstan’s Church. Until the nineteenth century, although there were buildings along White Horse Street itself, the surrounding area was mainly open fields." [Source] These records are from Dr Williams' Library Registry; Registers of certificates, an early birth register of Protestant dissenters. 

William Dalton from Poplar died in his 57th year and was buried, on 9 Jul 1799, at St Anne's Limehouse. Probate was granted on 15 Jul 1799. The Will of William Dalton of Naval Row [1] Hamlet [of] Poplar Stepney, Middlesex tells us that he was leaving "to my loving wife Sarah Dalton all my household furniture, plate, silver, china and whatsoever else shall be in my house at my [unreadable] for her sole use and for her disposal as she may think fit, likewise all the interest arising from my property in the Funds at the Bank of England." He also mentions his children by name, viz: Elizabeth, Winnall Travally Dalton, Thomas Benbow Dalton, Sarah, Martha and Ebeneezer. 

[1] The Naval Row Conservation Area was designated in January 1987 by the London Docklands Development Corporation. It is defined to the north by the listed perimeter wall of the former East India Docks. Laid out in the early 19th century, Naval Row takes its name from a small terrace constructed c.1782 by John Perry (1743-1810), owner of Blackwall Yard, where he built ships largely for the East India Company. To live at that address then, one assumes it likely that Dalton worked for Perry. Caulking was certainly a skill he will have needed to employ in building and maintaining ships.

NB: Many family trees at Ancestry wrongly claim that Sarah Dalton died in 1792 in Lambeth. Wrong area. Secondly, William Dalton wouldn't be leaving his property to "his loving wife", if she'd died several years before him.

The Will of Sarah Dalton of the Hamlet of Poplar in the Parish of St Dunstans, Stepney, Middlesex, Widow - so we absolutely know William died first - also confirms this. Her Will is dated 15 Mar 1813 and the Probate date is 19 Feb 1818, so we can be pretty sure she died between Mar 1813 and Feb 1818, although, in her case, I haven't [yet] been able to find a corresponding burial. Sarah requests "to be directly buried as near to the remains of my late husband as possible and my funeral to be in the same manner" [one hopes therefore that she's also buried at St Anne's Limehouse); directs her goods and chattels to be sold; the property of her late husband William Dalton as it stands in the Bank of England viz one thousand four hundred pounds in the five per cents ... and one hundred pounds in the three per cents .... [2]  to be equally divided between my five children [3], namely Winnall Travally Dalton, Thomas Benbow Dalton, Ebenezer Dalton and my daughters Sarah Dent and Martha Butterfield also give and bequeath my watch and rings to the said Martha Butterfield and five pieces of [unreadable] work to the said Sarah Dent also my wearing apparel and household linen to be equally divided between my said daughters Sarah Dent and Martha Butterfield. Lastly also nominate and appoint my said sons Winnall Travally Dalton, Thomas Benbow Dalton and my son-in-law William Butterfield to be joint Executors.

[2] These funds in the five percents and three percents, may be reasonably assumed to have been Consols (originally short for consolidated annuities, but subsequently taken to mean consolidated stock) were government debt issues in the form of perpetual bonds, redeemable at the option of the government. The first British consols were issued by the Bank of England in 1751. 

[3] Sarah names five children, which suggests Elizabeth pre-deceased her.

Augustine Wynnall and Elizabeth Knighte

Great St Helen's Street, London, EC3
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Hallam-Jones - geograph.org.uk/p/3406231
The Grade II-listed 12th century Church of "St Helen's, Bishopsgate" occupies the centre space. This was William Shakespeare's parish church when he lived in the area in the 1590s.

Augustine Wynnoll (sic) and Elizabeth Knighte (though I suspect the final 'e' is superfluous) - who were a pair of my 9th great-grandparents - married on 12 May 1634 at St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate (one of only a few churches in the City of London to survive both the Great Fire of 1666 and The Blitz). 

Augustine and Elizabeth appear to have five children:

1. Mary Winnall b. Monday, 17 Feb 1634, Mary daughter of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman bap. 20 Feb 1634 at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney (at 3 days old).
2. Elizabeth Winnall b. Tuesday, 29 Aug 1637, Elizabeth daughter of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman bap. 6 Sep 1637 at St Dunstan's (at 8 days old). Elizabeth daughter of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman, was buried at St Dunstan's on 24 Feb 1640.
3. Amy Winnall b. Friday, 1 Nov 1639, Amy daughter of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman & Elizabeth bap. 6 Nov 1639 (at 5 days old)
4. John Winnall b. Wednesday, 23 Mar 1642, John son of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman and Eliz., bap. 31 Mar 1642 at St Dunstan's (at 8 days old).
5. Rachell Winnall bap. 19 Oct 1643. Rachel daughter of Augustine Winnall of Blackwall, Waterman & Elizabeth, buried 20 Nov 1643.

Sadly, almost all the records of the Company of Watermen prior to 1666 were destroyed in the Great Fire of London so finding these records of a waterman from before that time, is gold. That it's my direct ancestor, breath-taking.

Their only son, John Winnall, who was my 8th great-grandfather, therefore, was born in the same year as the start of the English Civil War.

Augustine Wynnall of Blackwall, Waterman was buried, on 2 Feb 1642, at St Dunstan's, Stepney. (Which either means Rachel was a posthumous child, baptised very late, or (more likely) the date of her baptism, which only appears on the transcript of her burial, is incorrect. Perhaps it was 1641?)

Anthony Tompson of Blackwall, Sawyer, aged 26 years married Mary Winnall aged 20 years, at St Dunstan, Stepney, on 13 Feb 1654.

Buried on page 408 of the Calendar of the Quarter Sessions Papers: pt. 1. 1591-1621, is the following item: 

If this is the same Augustine Wynnall (and, with the same fairly unusual name, just seven years before the above marriage, I imagine it must be), then several conclusions may be drawn: he appears to have been wanted to appear before the Quarter Sessions for some reason that I have yet to discover; he probably originally hails from Buckland, Gloucestershire and he was a Labourer.

More interestingly, however, is that among the notable burials at St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate is the tomb of Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-1579), royal agent to King Edward VI (1547–1553) and Queens Mary I (1553–1558) and Elizabeth I (1558–1603) and founder of the Royal Exchange, whose father, Sir Richard Gresham (1485-1549), Lord Mayor of London, and Member of Parliament, who served as a commissioner under Henry VIII, had both held the manor of Buckland. One imagines, therefore, that Augustine Wynnall may have come to London in the service of their descendants.

Blackwall and the Watermen

Samuel Pepys, who commuted by water from his home to his job at the Admiralty, refers to the death of his waterman in his diaries of 1665 revealing the particular vulnerability of Thames watermen to infection. 

On Sunday 20 August 1665, he writes, "And I could not get my waterman to go elsewhere for fear of the plague."

Thames watermen and ferries: "Wherries could be hired at many stairs that led down to the Thames. Watermen gathered at each, jostling for custom, crying “oars oars sculls”. Working a passenger wherry, ferry, or barge on the Thames in all weathers and tides required knowledge and skill, with tides used to achieve remarkably quick journeys up and down river. The men who operated such craft, as well as those who transported goods by barge or lighter, were a special breed, whose families undertook the same work for generations."

Blackwall had a proud maritime tradition and both Raleigh and Nelson are said to have had homes here. The first colonists of Virginia sailed from Blackwall in 1606 and later the East India Docks - a group of docks in Blackwall, east London - brought thriving inter­na­tional trade.

Blackwall Yard was famous for building East Indiamen, which vessels were often called Blackwallers. Built in 1614, it was the first wet dock in the port of London and was the East India Company's principal shipyard, "... residential development at Blackwall commenced in earnest during the 1620s and 1630s, and it continued throughout the century as both the shipyard and overseas trade prospered and the demand for labour in the area increased." 

John Sweney and Alice Taylor

Pentonville Prison
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/6643449

John Sweney (b. 12 Dec 1867) son of John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey married Alice Taylor (18) daughter of Frederick Taylor, Plumber, Deceased, at Saint Matthew, Salmon Lane, Limehouse Fields, Tower Hamlets, on 29 Mar 1886. Witnesses were George Taylor and Annie Taylor.

John and Alice had seven children:

1. Frederic Sweney (sic) b. 1887 J Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 435. Died aged 17 in 1904 J Quarter in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 37
2. John Sweney b. 1889 M Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C Page 554. Died age 1 in 1890 D Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page
3. Alice Sweney b. 1891 J Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page 506
4. Emma Sweney b. 1893 S Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page 522
5. John Sweney b. 1896 S Quarter in FULHAM Vol 01A Page 272
6. Thomas Sweney b. 1899 S Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 6
7. Rose Sweney b. 1903 M Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 35

TAYLOR is the mother's maiden name on the births of all of their children.

In 1891, at 79, St Ann's Road, Mile End Old Town we find John Sweney (24) Slater; Alice Sweney (24); Frederick Sweney (4) and Alice Sweney (3 mts).

The Globe of 29 Mar 1901 reported:

ALLEGED ATTACK ON A WIFE

At the West Ham Police Court today, John Sweeney, 36, a tiler, of 3 Shaftesbury Avenue, Plaistow, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on his wife Alice. Mr F Stern prosecuted. The wife, who attended for the first time, said her husband came home in the small hours of the morning of March 22 and was the worse for liquor. He threw on the table 3s 6d, saying that that was all the had got left out of half a sovereign, and she would have none of it. He threw a tumbler at her, then a pair of boots and a chair, but these articles missed her. He went on to punch her about the body and hit her across the arm with a chair. He told her to "Sling her hook" and threatened to finish her. She screamed, but though other people were in the house, no one went to her help. She became dazed, and the last thing she remembered was seeing him lifting a mahogany table over his head. When she recovered she found herself half-way through the window (on the ground floor), and when she moved she fell on the pavement. At the station she was seen by the divisional surgeon. He had been convicted before for assaulting her. Prisoner, who alleged that his wife was addicted to drink and neglected the house, was remanded.

The Eastern Counties Times on 30 Mar 1901, also carried the story:

FORGIVEN HIM TOO MANY TIMES

At the West Ham Police Court on Saturday, John Sweeney, 36, a tiler, of 3 Shaftesbury Avenue, Plaistow, was charged with assaulting his wife, Alice, by kicking her, striking her with some blunt instrument, and throwing her through a window. PC Butcher 711K, was on duty in High Street, Plaistow, early on Saturday morning, when he heard screams proceeding from Shaftesbury Avenue. On the way to the house he saw a woman, bleeding, and calling for help. From what she said to him, he went into No. 3, Shaftesbury Avenue, and saw the furniture all broken up, and prisoner sitting in the room. The officer made him put on his things, and go to the station, as his wife accused him of assaulting her. When at the station he said to his wife, "Don't charge me this time, Alice, and I will never chastise you again." The woman replied that she had forgiven him too many times. She was too ill to appear that morning, and a remand was asked.

John Sweeney, who had been received into custody on 23 Mar 1901, appeared again at West Ham Police Court on 19 Apr 1901, charged with Maliciously wounding Alice Sweeney. He pleaded guilty to Common Assault and was handed a 3 Calendar Month sentence in Pentonville Prison.

At the time of the 1901 Census on 31 March 1901, therefore, John Sweeney (36) Prisoner, Married, Slater from Plaistow was clearly on remand and indeed was listed at His Majesty's Prison in Holloway, Islington. 

Nevertheless, at 3 Shaftesbury Avenue, [Plaistow], West Ham there was an entry which appears to say "family removed", but this is crossed through and the following people are said to be present: James [John] Sweney (35) House tiler (Slater); Alice Sweney (35), Fred Sweney (14) Tiler's labourer; Alice Sweney (10), Ethel [Emma] Sweney (8), James [John] Sweney (5) - birthplace Fulham - and Tom Sweney (2). Obviously, John (who was not called James) couldn't be in two places at once - and somehow I trust the prison to know who they had under their roof - and I cannot speculate why Alice may have been trying to show that her husband was still at home, but along with the other errors, one does have to wonder who was 'on the sauce'.

In 1911, John Sweeney (41) Slater from Limehouse was living at 33 Heckfield Place, Fulham, with Alice Sweeney (41), John Sweeney (14), Thomas Sweeney (12) and Rose Sweeney (7). This census confirms that the couple had seven children, of whom five were then still living and two had died. 

In 1921, John Sweney (54) Slater was at 107, Lawrence Avenue, East Ham with Alice Sweney (54), Rose Sweney (18) and Thomas Sweney (24) Slater.

Alice Sweeney died, aged 65, in 1931 M Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A 233.

In 1939, at 107a Lawrence Avenue, Manor Park, Newham, East Ham, listed as Charles J Sweeney, Slater Tiler (Retired) - this is clearly John and even quotes his birthdate of 12 Dec 1867 - with a John J Watson (assume Lodger).

John Sweeney died, aged 77, in 1944 S Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 248. Interestingly, at FindMyPast this same record, with the same references, has been transcribed twice: once as Charles Sweeney and once more as John Sweeney, so I am convinced this is our man. 

Charles Hoile Baker and Amelia Young

St John's Church, Waterloo Tom Morris, CC BY-SA 3.0

Charles Hoile Baker (b. 23 Aug 1825, bap. 9 Oct 1825 at St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch), son of Charles Baker and Sarah Hoile, married Amelia Young (b. 6 May 1823, bap. 14 Sep 1823 at Southwark St Saviour), daughter of Richard and Sarah Young, at St John's Church, Waterloo (interior) a..k.a. Lambeth St John the Evangelist, Surrey on 28 Mar 1847. 

Charles and Amelia Baker, it would appear, had six children:

1. Charles Richard Baker b. 1848 M Quarter in SHOREDITCH Vol 02 Page 399, bap. 4 Jun 1848 at St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch
2. Frederick Hoile Baker b. 21 Nov 1849 D Quarter in ST GILES IN THE FIELDS & ST GEORGE BLOOMSBURY Volume 01 Page 65, bap. 9 Dec 1849 at St Anne's Church, Soho. Died, aged 7, in 1856 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 295 and was buried on 21 Dec 1856 at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery.
3. Sarah Jane Baker b. 1 Feb 1852 M Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 01B Page 395, bap. 1852 at Lambeth St John.
4. Amelia Elizabeth Baker b. 1854 J Quarter in HOLBORN Vol 01B 421
5. Sophia Baker b. 1858 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 426
6. Ellen Rosina Baker b. 1866 S Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 398. Registered as Ellen Susannah, the mother's maiden name is also shown as Young. Always known as Ellen Rosina, it appears the registration was listed or transcribed incorrectly.

In 1851, in Kingsgate Street, Holborn (celebrated by Dickens as the address of Mrs. Gamp's Lodging) were Charles Hoile Baker (25) Plumber, Amelia Baker (27), Charles Richard Baker (3), Frederick Hoile Baker (1) and Eliza Sandall (19) Dressmaker, who I can only assume was a Lodger.

By 1861, in Cowley Street, St George-In-The-East (which ran north-south just east of Shadwell Station), the household comprised: Charles Baker (39) Mechanic Plumber, Amelia Baker (40), Charles Baker (13), Sarah Baker (9), Amelia Baker (7) and Sophia Baker (2).

Once more in Cowley Street, St George in the East in 1871 were Charles H Baker (45), Amelia Baker (47), Sarah J Baker (20), Amelia Baker (17), Sophia Baker (13) and Ellen Baker (4). (Charles Richard had married in 1867.)

And in 1881, at 75, Cowley Street, St George in the East, were Charles Baker (54) Plumber, Amelia Baker (58) and Ellen Baker (14).

Amelia Baker died, aged 61, in 1883 M Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 300.

Charles Hoile Baker died on 20 Sep 1883 at 75, Cowley St, Stepney. (1883 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 283).

Job Sweeney and Eliza Louisa Tompson

Globe Road, Bethnal Green
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/4697355
Very much a part of the traditional East End, Globe Road runs north from Stepney Green station to Roman Road, and then on to this northern stretch up to Old Ford Road. 

Job Sweeney (b. 6 Feb 1870), son of John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey, married Eliza Louisa Tompson (b. 24 Aug 1868), daughter of Dan Tompson and Mary Ann Green, on 5 Jan 1893, at the Parish Church of St Anthony, Globe Road, Stepney. (The church of Saint Anthony stood in the borough of Bethnal Green, but was part of the rural deanery of Stepney. It closed in 1936 and the building was demolished in 1937.) Both claimed to be 24 and both gave their address as 3 Monteagle Street, Stepney. 

Their only son, Job Thomas Sweeney (right), was born at 25 Monteagle Street, Stepney (which further research suggests was a boarding house) on 27 Aug 1897 and baptised at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, on 19 Sep 1897.

In 1901, Job Sweney (sic) (33) Warehouseman, Eliza Sweney (sic) (32) and Job Sweney (sic) (3), were living at 8, Repton Street, Limehouse. 

My mother always claimed that her father and grandmother, Eliza Louisa, had been living in Sidney Street at the time of the Siege of Sidney Street, or Battle of Stepney that took place in January 1911. It's not impossible, but I can find no records to support this. Eliza Louisa was well away from the area when Cable Street (where she was born) had it's own battle in 1936.

By the time of the census on 2 April 1911, the family were living at 102 Fore Street, in the City of London. They lived in a flat above the warehouse that came with the job, where Job Sweeney (41) was employed as Packer and Caretaker; Eliza Louisa Sweeney (41), Job Thomas Sweeney (13) and Amy Dobson (19) Domestic Servant, Friend (Amy Dobson b. 1892, was the sister of Ruth Christmas Dobson, wife of Job's brother Charles Sweeney.) 

In 1921, Job Sweeney (51) Packer, was still living and working at 102, Fore Street, City of London, for Hoffnung & Co Shipping Merchants; with wife, Eliza L Sweeney (52) and son, Job T Sweeney (23) Warehouseman, working for Wills & Co (W.D. & H.O. Wills) at their Holborn Viaduct factory (for whom he eventually worked for around 36 years.) (Calling herself Amy Margaret Dobson (29) Charwoman, in 1921 - no idea where the Margaret came from - living at 102, Hind Street, Poplar, this census tells us she was working for Messrs Hoffnung & Co Ltd at 102 Fore Street, City, E C.)

Press Gangs and the King’s Shilling: Job Sweney (sic) died, on 6 December 1924, aged 54 (1924 D Quarter in HENDON Volume 03A Page 374), and as family stories go, this has to be one of the best (as in the myth is about as far away from the truth as it's possible to get), but also one of the saddest. 

My mother won't have known her grandfather, as he had died when she was only a few months old, but throughout her life, she recounted this story so many times it would be impossible to count: The story went that Job Sweeney had been "press ganged" into the navy no less than three times. Once would be unlucky, you'd have thought. Anyway, this account, undoubtedly passed down to her by her grandmother, Eliza Louisa Sweeney, was further embellished with the assertion that Job liked his drink rather too much, hence was always in the pub and the worse for wear and, therefore, had been tricked, in serial fashion, into taking the King's Shilling. 

All absolute poppycock, of course, like most family stories are.

As I say, I'd heard and nodded along to the retelling of this story umpteen times, but never really considered or questioned it. It wasn't until I met the current 'him indoors' who knows his military history, who immediately said "wrong century", that it became obvious the whole thing was invention.

With hindsight, I can see where it will have come from. Job's father was a dock labourer (sometimes listed as a stevedore); his great-grandfather a mariner and many of their ancestors were sailors, ship's carpenters and shipwrights. Eliza Louisa's family ran pubs around the London docks. They'll have grown up with 'press gang' stories and other seafaring folklore.

Having spent his entire life in the East End, it was finding that his death had been registered in Hendon that made me dig further in order to solve the mystery. It even crossed my mind that holidays 'At His Majesty's Pleasure' might well have explained these absences that we were all led to believe were when he was 'at sea', but it was not so. Having ordered his death certificate, this confirmed that the actual place of death was Colindale Hospital.

Built originally as the The Central London District Sick Asylum in 1898-1900 - to provide care for the sick poor in London, separate from the workhouse - in 1919, it was taken over by The Metropolitan Asylums Board and used as male TB sanatorium. The cause of Job Sweeney's death was given as 'Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Certified by Marcus Patterson MD.' 

Dr. Marcus Sinclair Paterson (1870–1932) was the medical superintendent of the Colindale Hospital for Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Hendon. "Here Paterson made valuable innovations in the symptomatic treatment of advanced cases", says his obituary in the BMJ. He developed a system of treatment called 'graduated labour'. "He has described how his observations on out-patients led him to the idea of introducing manual work, as well as walking, into the sanatorium regime, with the hope of fitting his patients for immediate return to their work, and of successfully meeting the charge that sanatoriums turned out work-shy loafers." (Not unlike attitudes today, because victim blaming is a whole lot cheaper than doing research and actually treating the sick. Looks like we can see who was originally responsible for ideas that led to the much maligned, ineffective and harmful Graded exercise therapy (GET) too.)

So, we can deduce that the "press gang" story was made up to explain a series of absences, which were probably stays for 'treatment' - forced work when you're already too ill to do your normal work - at the sanatorium. And the saddest part is this tells us that, so strong was the social stigma attached to TB that families preferred to paint their nearest and dearest as 'feckless, drunken, work-shy', etc., rather than admit they had an infectious, then incurable, disease undoubtedly contracted through no fault of their own. 

Eliza Louisa Sweeney with her granddaughter, Ivy. Edited with ImageColorizer

The internet isn't just useful for looking up dry-and-dusty old genealogy records, there is so much more to discover. Take this for example. Among lots of family photos I inherited from my mother and hers before her was one of my mother and her grandmother, Eliza Louisa Sweeney (née Tompson), taken in the 1930s (my mother was 15 in 1939, so I estimate this is close to then). Only because there was a distinctive looking window on a building that looked like a church in the background behind them, it peaked my interest and I thought I would try to find out where the photo had been taken.

At that time, my mother, her parents and grandmother, still lived in the City of London, in Fore Street. It didn't look like anywhere I knew around there, but then it got a bit altered in the interim. I'd also tried the facility to Search with an image on Google, but it just told me it was a snapshot. Duh! 

Eventually, I asked the The East of London Family History Society Group for help, but whilst they weren't able to answer, members made many useful suggestions that led to more searches ... that finally turned up images of the Trinity Methodist Church, Clacton-on-Sea, which perfectly fit the round window, as well as other elements of the architecture. As confirmation, they sent me a link to this map of Clacton (Revision of 1939), which shows the position of the post box (marked L.B.) that you can see behind them. 

Trinity Methodist Church, Clacton-on-Sea
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © JThomas - geograph.org.uk/p/2944160

Then and now: Clacton's Trinity Church in Rosemary Road in 1881 and 2015

So, from this, we can deduce that, since this church is in the background, then they must be walking down Pier Avenue (shown here in c. 1925), in the direction of the sea front and pier and, as they lived in the East End, they can only have been on a day trip (no, I don't suppose they were flush enough for a whole holiday!) to Clacton-on-Sea. I'd wondered what they were up to that was special enough - in those pre-selfie days - for a photo. Now I know.

Mind you, "... if you stood where they were walking now you'd get mown down by the traffic, those trees, hedges and post box long gone too."

In 1939, Eliza Louisa was still living at 102 Fore Street with her son Job and his wife, Elizabeth (Bet) and granddaughter, Ivy, and remained there until their home was destroyed in WWII, thought to have been on or around the night of 29–30 Dec 1940, the so-called Second Great Fire of London.

Eliza Louisa Sweeney, otherwise Sweney (as it says on her death certificate), died on 13 Feb 1953 (1953 M Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 05A Page 846) from coronary thrombosis, influenza, chronic bronchitis and old age, at 84.

Richard Ford and Maria Eliza Isabella Sweeney

St Matthew, St Matthew's Row, Bethnal Green
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2636777

Richard Ford (b. ~1834 in Limehouse), married Maria Eliza Isabella Sweeney (b. 1834), daughter of John Sweeney and Anne Elizabeth Gabbaday, at St Matthew's, Bethnal Green on 25 Dec 1857. Both gave their address as 127 North Street. Witnesses were James Richardson and William Ames. Richard Ford listed his occupation as Smith and his father as Richard Ford, Carpenter, however, he appears to have been the son of John Robert Ford, Shipwright, and Harriet Showell. His father died in 1837 when he was a small boy.

Richard and Maria had ten children:

1. Richard John Ford b. 26 Sep 1860 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 506, bap. 24 Jan 1861 in Limehouse, London
2. Maria Ford b. 12 Mar 1862 J Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 501, bap. 8 May 1862 at St John the Evangelist, Limehouse (St John's Church, Halley Street). Died aged 1 in 1863 J Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 364
3. Ellen Eliza Ford b. 12 Sep 1863 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 481, bap. 5 Nov 1863 in Limehouse
4. Robert Charles Ford b. 3 Nov 1866 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 507, bap. 31 Jan 1867 in Limehouse. Died aged 1 in 1867 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 366
5. Arthur James Ford b. 3 Sep 1868 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 485, bap. 13 Feb 1871 in Limehouse
6. Matilda Elizabeth Ford b. 1870 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 483. Died at 11 months in 1871 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 407 and was buried on 17 Feb 1871 at Victoria Park Cemetery, Hackney (family's address, 6 Manning Street, Hackney.) ('The Resort of Thieves and Harlots'; Victoria Park Cemetery, Bethnal Green.)
7. Mary Ann Elizabeth b. 1872 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 505
8. Elizabeth Ford b. 1874 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 486
9. Charles Ford b. 1 Nov 1876 D Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 497
10. Jane Ford b. 1 Nov 1876 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 497. Died aged 4 in 1881 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 353

All of the birth registrations give the mother's maiden name as SWEENEY and all of the baptisms lists the parents a Richard and Maria. They appear to give up on baptisms after 1871. The last two, born in 1876, were clearly twins.

In 1861, Richard Ford (27) Labourer Blacksmith from Limehouse, Middlesex and Maria Ford (24) birthplace St George in the East and Richard Ford (6 months) were living at 107, North Street, Limehouse, Stepney, with Maria's widowed father and her two sisters Mary Ann (13) and Matilda (10).

In 1871, Richard Ford (34) Blacksmith was living in Manning Street, St Anne Limehouse, Stepney with Maria Ford (34) Laundress; Richard Ford (10), Eleanor [Ellen Eliza] Ford (7) and Arthur Ford (2).

Eldest son, John Richard Ford, then 19, joined the British Army on 12 Jul 1879. He was 5ft 5½in with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair and his service record lists his father as Richard Ford of North Street, Limehouse. Richard John Ford served in the East Indies (India) from 20 Dec 1879 until 29 Nov 1884, where (like every other soldier) he acquired gonorrhea in Madras, in 1882. He was discharged from the army on 10 July 1891.

In 1881, at 135, North Street, Limehouse, Stepney were Richard Ford (44) Labourer in iron works; Maria Ford (43), Ellen Ford (18), Arthur Ford (13), Eliza [Elizabeth] Ford (7) and Charles Ford (4). 

In 1891, Richard Ford (57) Dock Labourer was at 17, Whitethorn Street, Bromley, Poplar, with Maria Ford (54) and Charles Ford (14) Van Boy.

Richard Ford died, age estimated as 68, in 1900 S Quarter in STEPNEY.

In 1901, Maria Ford (65) Widow, was living at 65, Conder Street, Limehouse, Stepney with her youngest son, Charles Ford (25) General Carman.

Maria Ford died at 72, in 1906 J Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 327.

Charles Albert Gardner and Susannah Sweney

St Anne, Limehouse - Entrance
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/4559397

Charles Albert Gardner (b. 31 Mar 1859, bap. 7 May 1859 at St George's, Hanover Square), son of Thomas Henry Richards Gardner and Mary Ann Watkins, married Susan Sweney (sic) (b. 5 Jun 1862 in Mile End), daughter of John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey, at St Matthew, Salmon Lane, Limehouse Fields (the church was gutted by an incendiary bomb in 1941 and demolished) on 25 Dec 1884. Both gave their address as 1 Condor Street. Witnesses were John Sweney and Mary Ann Gardner.

Charles and Susannah had eight children:

1. John Charles Gardner b. 1885 D Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 420
2. Henry Gardner b. 1888 J Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 420
3. Florence Rose Gardner b. 1890 J Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 412
4. Thomas Albert Gardner b. 1892 J Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 440
5. James Gardner b. 1894 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 439
6. Arthur Gardner b. 1896 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 431
7. Rose Lily Gardner b. 1898 S Qtr in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 411
8. May Matilda Louisa Gardner b. 1901 J Qtr Vol 01C Page 420

The mother's maiden name on all the birth records is SWENEY.

In 1891, the family living at 13, Maroon Street, Limehouse, Stepney, were Charles Gardner (32) Slater; Susannah Gardner (29), John Charles Gardner (5), Henry Gardner (2) and Florence Rose Gardner (1).

In 1901, at 34, Maroon Street, Limehouse, were Charles Gardner (41) Slater and tiler; Susan Gardner (39), John C Gardner (15) Credit draper's assistant (Tallymen and ‘Perambulating Scotchmen’ to Credit Drapers' Associations, c.1840–1914); Henry Gardner (12), Florence R Gardner (11), Thomas A Gardner (9), James Gardner (7), Arthur Gardner (5) and Rose L Gardner (3).

Charles Gardner died, aged 42, in Q4 1901, in Whitechapel (Vol 1C 192).

In 1911, Susan Gardner (47) Charwoman at the London Hospital, Widow, was living at 37 St Thomas's Road, Mile End Old Town, London with Thomas Gardner (19) Printer's cutter; James Gardner (17) Clerk; Arthur Gardner (15) Errand Boy; Rose Gardner (13) and May Gardner (10). The census confirms that Susannah had eight children, all then living. Also living at 37 St Thomas's Road, Mile End Old Town in 1991 were Archibald Campbell (39) Slater and tiler, Widower, along with his four surviving daughters: Jessie Campbell (16), Lizzie Campbell (14), Millie [Amelia] Campbell (12) and Esther Campbell (10). Seemingly, at least at this time, these were two separate households.

Susan Gardner (47) Widow, daughter of John Sweney, Dock Labourer, remarried to Archibald Campbell (39), Widower, who listed his father as Archibald Campbell, Cooper, at St Anne, Limehouse, on 5 Jun 1911. Archibald Campbell had previously married Ellen Keating in Mile End, in 1893, with whom, according to the 1911 Census, he had ten children (found records for nine), of whom six had died. Ellen Campbell died, at 38, in 1909.

Archibald's daughter, Esther Campbell died, aged 10, in 1912.

In 1921, still at 37, St Thomas Road, Mile End Old Town were Archibald Campbell (49) General Labourer for Stepney Borough Council; Susan Campbell (56), Thomas Gardner (29) Step-son, Disabled General Labourer "Under Young Treatment Hospital"; May Gardner (20) Step-daughter; Amelia Campbell (21) daughter; Violet Gardner (11) Adopted Daughter (Violet was purportedly born in Stepney in 1910, but I've no idea if that was her birth name); plus Elizabeth Bryant (20) and Kate Bryant (15) both Visitors.

Susannah Campbell (formerly Gardner, née Sweney), pictured left, clearly lived "to an age". There was a death of a Susannah Campbell (63) who died in 1925, in Lewisham, which may relate, but is not confirmed.

William Edward Burton and Ellen Rosina Baker

St Dunstan & All Saints, Stepney
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3477079

William Edward Burton (b. 7 Jan 1865, bap. 18 Oct 1871 at St Luke, Millwall, West Ferry Road, Isle of Dogs), son of William Burton and Elizabeth Martin, married Ellen Rosina Baker, daughter of Charles Hoile Baker and Amelia Young, at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney on 25 Dec 1888. Both gave their address as 46 Silver Street [Stepney] and witnesses were C R Baker (Ellen's elder brother, Charles Richard) and Louisa Burton.

William and Ellen had four children:

1. Ellen Louisa Burton b. 1891 J Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 606
2. Ethel May Burton b. 1895 M Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 627
3. William Harry Burton b. 1897 D Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 595
4. Stanley Burton b. 1899 J Quarter in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 624

In 1891, William E Burton (26) Auctioneer's Clerk, Ellen R Burton (24) and Ellen L Burton (0) were living in Knapp Road, Bromley, Poplar. Staying with them also was Eliza L Tompson (22) Fancy Box Maker, listed as their niece. (She was Ellen's sister Sarah Jane's step-daughter.)

In 1901, in nearby Fairfoot Road, Bow were William E Burton (36) Commercial Clerk, Ellen R Burton (35), Ellen L Burton (10), Ethel M Burton (6), William H Burton (3) and Stanley Burton (1).

In 1911, William Edward Burton (46) Brewer's Delivery Clerk; Ellen Rosina Burton (45), Ellen Louisa Burton (20), Ethel May Burton (16), William Harry Burton (13) and Stanley Burton (11) were living in Bow Common.

In 1921, William Edward Burton (56) Brewery Clerk for Taylor Walker & Co, Brewers, was living at 119, Fairfoot Road, Poplar with Ellen Rosina Burton (55), Ellen Louisa Burton (30) Ladies Clothing Machinist; William Harry Burton (24) and Stanley Burton (22) Coppersmiths.

William Edward Burton died, at 65, in 1930 M Quarter in Poplar.

Ellen Rosina Burton died on 23 July 1948 S Quarter in POPLAR Volume 05D Page 197, with Probate being granted to her youngest child, Stanley Burton.

Arthur Woodham and Mary Matilda Sweeney

St Dunstan's Church, Stepney
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/6294631

Arthur Woodham (b. 30 Nov 1878 in Limehouse), son of William Wesley Woodham and Mary Ann Poole, married Mary Matilda Sweeney (b. 11 Mar 1878), daughter of John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey, at the Parish Church of Stepney - St Dunstan's, Stepney - on 25 Dec 1904. Witnesses to their marriage were J Sweney (looks like the signature of the bride's father) and Alfred Woodham, the bridegroom's twin brother.

Arthur and Mary Matilda had four children:

1. Arthur Alfred Wesley Woodham b. 1906 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 409. Died 1906 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 267
2. Elsie Woodham b. 1907 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 380. Died 1907 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 237
3. Lilian Susannah Woodham b. 21 Sep 1908 Vol 01C Page 318
4. Ivy Maud Woodham b. 20 Jul 1910 S Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C 339

All four birth registrations have the mother's maiden name SWEENEY.

In 1911, Arthur Woodham (32) French Polisher; Mary Matilda Woodham (33), Lilian Susannah Woodham (2 yrs 6 mths) and Ivy Maud Woodham (8 mths), were living at 58 Conder Street, Limehouse, London. The information they provide on this census return confirms that they had four children, two who were living and two had died, during their six year marriage.

In 1921, and still at 58, Conder Street, Limehouse, London, were Arthur Woodham (42) Labourer working for Messrs Stein Ltd, Wharfingers at Grosvenor Wharf, Newcastle Street, Cubitt Town; Mary Matilda Woodham (43), Lilian Susannah Woodham (12) and Ivy Maud Woodham (10).

In 1937, Henry Thomas Morris (b. 19 Jan 1909) married Ivy Maud Woodham.

In 1939, Arthur Woodham, General Labourer; Mary M Woodham, Lilian S Woodham and Henry Thomas Morris, Lead Smelter, were living at 11 Maroon Street, Limehouse. Ivy Maud Morris, Married, Evacuee, was staying in the household of Cuthbert Templeman, Retired Grocer, at Kingswood New Bristol Road, Worle, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, with their daughter b. 1938.

Arthur Woodham died, at 70, in 1949 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 05D 757.

Mary Matilda Woodham died, at 78, in 1956 S Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 05D 522.

• Henry Thomas Morris died, in Tower Hamlets, in 1983
• Lilian Susannah Woodham died, in Tower Hamlets, in 2004
• Ivy Maud Morris died, in Tower Hamlets, in 2005

Edward/Edmond Taylor and Ann Thompson

Mile End Lock, Regent's Canal
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/4514511

Edward Taylor, bricklayer, who listed his father as Thomas Taylor, Gentleman, married Ann Thompson, daughter of Solomon Thompson Jnr and Maria Willis, at Christ Church Watney Street, St George in the East, historically known as Wapping-Stepney, on 18 Nov 1847. Witnesses were Solomon Thompson, Ann's brother, and Harriet Brown. Not found a baptism for Edward/Edmond Taylor, who gives his birthplace as Newington, Surrey, however there was a marriage of a Thomas Taylor and Elizabeth Saveall on 11 Apr 1823 at St Mary's Newington, who I believe to have been his parents.

There are records for four children that I believe are of this family:

1. Thomas Saveall Taylor b. 1848 D Quarter in Stepney Volume 2 Page 495 (A transcription of this exists at FindMyPast, but not at the GRO.)
2. John Taylor b. 1853 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 489. Died 1854 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 388.
3. John Daniel Taylor b. 1855 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 525. Died, aged 2, in 1857 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 373
4. George Taylor b. 1858 D Qtr in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C 507

The 3 GRO records confirm the mothers maiden name as THOMPSON.

In 1851 Edmond Taylor (30) Bricklayer from Newington, Surrey; wife Ann Taylor (36) from Cransley, Northamptonshre and son Thomas Taylor (2), were living at Webbs Nursery Ground, Jacksons Rent, Stepney, London. (This is the third time I've found cases in different parts of the tree, where Edward and Edmond/Edmund have been used as if interchangeable.)

In 1861, living at Regent Cottage, Rhodeswell Rd, Limehouse, Stepney (almost parallel to the Regent's Canal), were Edmond Taylor (39) Master Bricklayer; Ann Taylor (40), Thomas Taylor (12) and George Taylor (2).

There is a death of an Ann Taylor in the 3rd quarter of 1864, in Stepney (Vol 1C Page 409), again curiously not found at the GRO, which may relate.

There are no further census listings for an Edmond/Edward Taylor, Bricklayer, anywhere so he may have died too, but I cannot identify a death record.

In 1871, listed as George S Taylor (12), the younger son was living with his aunt, Maria Blackett, his mother's sister, in Bermondsey. (It hasn't been possible to isolate relevant further records for Thomas S Taylor.)

In 1881, listed as George S Saville (22) Schoolmaster, still living with his aunt, Maria Kenward who had remarried, at 17, Douglas Street, Deptford. It is George continuing to live with his aunt that leads me to believe that his mother may have died and to consider the probable death in 1864.

Originally, I though that Saveall was a mis-transcription of Saville and it could well be, but it could equally be the other way around. However, I do think this is the clue to the continuity and that holds this family together.

John Cowtley and Mary Pateman

John Cowtley (b. 1670), bachelor, married Mary Pateman (bap. 20 Mar 1669 at St Dunstan's), spinster, daughter of Thomas and Mary Pateman, at the church of St James Duke's Place, Aldgate, City of London on 18 Nov 1691.

Apparently, this tiny little parish church was a very popular place to get wed during the 17th century. Some 40,000 marriages were recorded as having taken place here between 1644 and 1691. Described a "Aldgate’s own version of Gretna Green", it was famous for performing irregular marriages. It's clear that St Dunstan's, Stepney was their home parish, so it's perhaps reasonable to surmise that John and Mary's marriage in this parish was one of the irregular ones, for whatever intriguing reason (that the records don't explain). 

John and Mary had two daughters, both baptised at St Dunstan's:

1. Susanna Cowtley b. 24 Aug 1692, Susanna daughter of John Cowtley of Ratcliffe, Brewer's Servant and Mary bap. 28 Aug 1692 at St Dunstan, Stepney (at 4 days old)
2. Elizabeth Cowtley b. 3 Oct 1696, Elizabeth daughter of John Cowtly (sic) of White Horse Street, Labourer & Mary bap. 4 Oct 1696 at Saint Dunstan, Stepney (1 day old)

Found no further records of John or Mary Cowtley nor of their deaths.

Winnall Travally and Elizabeth Benbow

St Dunstan's Church, Stepney
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/6294631

Winnall Travally (bap. 15 May 1715 at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney), son of Thomas Travally and Rachel Winnall, married Elizabeth Benbow (bap. 5 Aug 1716 at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney), daughter of Richard Benbow and Elizabeth Cowtley by Licence granted on 14 Oct 1738.

Winnall Travally and Elizabeth Benbow, it appears, had four children; 

1. Sarah Travaly b. Sunday, 5 Aug 1739, Sarah Trevelly (sic) daughter of Winnall Trevelly (sic) Waterman of White Horse Street and Elizabeth, bap. 19 Aug 1739 (at 14 days old) at St Anne's Limehouse
2. Winnall Travally b. Tuesday, 11 Aug 1741, Winnall son of Winnall Travally, Waterman of White Horse Street, Ratt & Elizabeth, bap. 6 Sep 1741 (at 26 days old) at St Anne's Limehouse. Winnall son of Winnall Travally, Waterman was buried 8 Nov 1741, at St Anne's Limehouse
3. Elizabeth Travally b. Sunday, 3 Oct 1742, Elizabeth daughter of Winnall Travally, Waterman of White Horse Street & Elizabeth bap. 14 Nov 1742 (at 42 days old) at St Anne's Limehouse
4. Esther Travally b. Thursday, 27 Sep 1744, Hestor (sic) daughter of Winnall Travally, Lighterman of White Horse Street and Elizabeth bap. 21 Oct 1744 (at 24 days old) at St Anne's Limehouse

Winnall Travally, was a Waterman on the Thames, as was his father, Thomas Travally. With their only son not surviving infancy, sadly, that looks like the end of the line for the Travally name's association with the river.

Elizabeth Travally reportedly "Inherited three houses on White Horse Street, Ratcliff, left to her in the Will of her uncle James Bendbow (sic) (died 1761), on the death of his widow Frances in 1766." In fact, James' Will specifies "give unto Elizabeth Travally my cousin three houses freehold in White Horse Street ...", but she was his niece as James was her father's brother.

Elizabeth Travally of Poplar died, aged 63, from 'mortification' and was buried on Thursday, 24 Jun 1779, at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney. (Mortification is more technically called gangrene or necrosis.)

Winnall Travally of Poplar died, aged 68, of Consumption (Tuberculosis) and was buried, on 18 Jul 1783, in the Rector's Grounds at St Dunstan's, Stepney.

Thomas Travally and Rachel Winnall

St Dunstan & All Saints, Stepney - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3477011

Thomas Travally (b. ~1676) [1] and Rachel Winnall (b. ~1680), daughter of John Winnall and Alice Woodin, married at the church of St Dunstan & All Saints, Stepney, on 20 Sep 1704. The record lists Thomas Trevalle (sic) of Ratcliff, Waterman and Rachel Winnall of Blackwall, where her father was also a Thames Waterman. (St Dunstan's, known as the "Church of the high seas" because of the great number of sailors who lived there and "The Mother Church of the East End" has had an important role in my family history, from baptisms in the 1630s, to the baptism of my own grandfather in 1897.)

Thomas Travally and Rachel Winnall had six children:

1. Elizabeth Travally b. Monday, 6 Aug 1705, Elizabeth daughter of Thomas and Rachel Travally of Ratcliff, Waterman was bap. 26 Aug 1705 (at 20 days old) at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney [2] 
2. Esther Travally daughter of Thomas and Rachell Travally of Ratc[liff] Waterman bap. 18 Jul 1709 at St Dunstan and All Saints (the edge of the page is missing that would have shown the number of days old) [3]
3. Mary Travally b. Tuesday, 22 Jan 1712, Mary of Thomas and Rachel Travally Ratt Waterman bap. 30 Jan 1712 at St Dunstan (at 8 days old)
4. Winnall Travally b. Tuesday, 26 Apr 1715, Winnall of Thomas and Rachel Travally Ratt Waterman bap. 15 May 1715 at St Dunstan (at 19 days old)
5. Martha Trevally (sic) b. Sunday, 29 Jan 1716, Martha of Thomas and Rachel Travally Ratc Waterman bap. 17 Feb 1716 (at 19 days old)
6. Warden Travally b. Saturday, 1 Feb 1718 Warden son of Thos Travally of Ratt Waterman and Rachel bap. 10 Feb 1718 at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney (at 9 days old). As Warding (sic) son of Thomas Travally of Rat was buried at St Dunstan and All Saints on 1 Nov 1719.

"If watermen were the river’s taxi drivers, then lightermen drove the lorries."

According to the Binding Records of the Thames Watermen & Lightermen, Winnall Travally was apprenticed and therefore bound to his father, Thomas, on 18 Jul 1729. He would then have been around 14 and would be free on 20 Jan 1743, by which time he would have been 28 years old. That seems an inordinately long time. Did Thomas just not trust his son? Apprenticeships are still completed for those wanting to work on the river, offered through the Company of Watermen and Lightermen, lasting 5 years.   

Race for Doggett's Coat and Badge 

The World's Oldest Boat Race

Since 1715 the Race for Doggett’s Coat and Badge has been passionately rowed by apprentice river workers on the Thames. It is believed to be the oldest continually competed sporting event in the world. Thames Watermen compete to earn a coveted red Waterman's coat and badge. The race therefore dates, coincidentally, to the year of Winnall Travally's birth. Thomas and Winnall must surely have known about it. Could they even have taken part? 

(And little did I think I might have been 'following family tradition' when I took part in the Dongola Race at Sunbury Amateur Regatta one year.)

Land Tax Records in 1736 and 1738 place Thomas Travally in Butcher Row and Ratcliff Cross, respectively. (Butcher Row on a 1795 map, The Lost Hamlet Of Ratcliff, In Search of Old Ratcliffe, Ratcliffe Cross Stairs.)

On 22 Dec 1741, Martha Travally of Ratcliffe Cross, Master Milliner, is listed in the Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures (Premium £4 0s 0d), having taken an apprentice, Elizabeth Goffe, daughter of Joseph Goffe. (Apprentices usually being 14, there was indeed an Elizabeth Goffe, daughter of Joseph & Susannah Goffe, baptised at St Dunstan's, on 17 Dec 1727.)

Thomas Travally of Pump Yard [Ratcliff] (parallel to Narrow Street) was buried at St Anne, Limehouse on 14 Mar 1744 - St Anne's, Limehouse was consecrated in 1730. Prior to 1730, the parishioners were included in Stepney St Dunstan Parish. The parish includes Limehouse, the Regent's and ship building docks, and until 1838, part of the hamlet of Ratcliff.

Rachel Travally, Widow, also listed as being of Pump Yard, was also buried at St Anne, Limehouse, on 15 July 1755.

1. A year of 1676 has been suggested for Thomas' birth and there's a baptism of a Thomas Travell (sic), son of Thomas and Mary Travell, on 24 Jul 1676, at St Botolph without Aldgate. Elsewhere, a 1685 birth has been inferred and the baptism that has been associated, at St James, Westminster, was for Thomas the son of Sr Thomas Travell - Sr is Sir - who was a Member of Parliament from the 1690s. Not impossible, but highly improbable that the son of an MP and knight of the realm, would become a waterman in the east end. However, there are no records to corroborate either and no indication of his age at death, but I'm more inclined to accept the former. It could, of course, be neither.
2. It has been inferred that Elizabeth Travally died in 1709, however, the burial referred to is for an Elisabeth Travell of Wapp (Wapping) Spinster. Name has inconsistencies, wrong area and a four year old would not be considered a Spinster, therefore I'm unable to accept this record.
3. In 1764, Esther Travally was listed in the Land Tax records at Painters Rents. There is a burial of an Esther Travally of Ratcliff, with age given as 65, at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, on 3 Feb 1779.