Thames-side and Medway records
This collection of records comprises two main sections:
- Thames-side and Medway parish baptism, marriage and burial records
- Occupational records of Thames watermen and lightermen
These records are licensed from local specialist Rob Cottrell.
Parish records
We have published approximately 312,830 baptism records for Thames-side and Medway parishes on findmypast.co.uk. These records cover the period 1721 to 1970 and are transcriptions, not indexes. The areas these records cover include, among others, Brentford, Deptford, Ealing, Greenwich and Rotherhithe.
You can search approximately 133,420 indexed Thames-side and Medway marriage records on findmypast.co.uk. These records cover Essex, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey for the period 1750 to 1984.
We have also published approximately 174,340 new Thames-side and Medway parish burial records. These burial records cover Middlesex, Essex, Surrey and Kent for the period 1702 to 1997.
Search the Thames-side and Medway parish records
Thames watermen and lightermen
You can search 99,140 occupational records of Thames watermen and lightermen for the period 1688-2010 on findmypast.co.uk
This collection comprises the following records:
- The Company of Watermen & Lightermen of the River Thames binding records 1692-1949 – 82,238 records
- The Company of Watermen & Lightermen of the River Thames reassignments 1688-1908: a list of apprentices who were reassigned from one master to another – 12,410 records, including information about both masters and apprentices
- Thomas Doggett Coat & Badge, 'The Hanover Prize': a record of all known competitors who rowed in the annual race 1715-2010 – 4,402 records
- Corporation of Trinity House: a register of licences granted to ex-mariners to work as watermen on the River Thames 1829-1864 – 90 records
The history of the Thames watermen and lightermen
An Act of Parliament established the Company of Watermen and Lightermen in 1555. Its purpose was to control the watermen on the River Thames who were responsible for the movement of goods and passengers. It is the only ancient City Guild that an Act of Parliament has formed and controlled.
Watermen were highly skilled boatmen who carried passengers across and up and down the Thames in row boats, sailing boats, steam boats and vessels.
Lightermen worked on cargo boats rather than passenger vessels and were originally members of the Woodmongers Company. In 1700 they successfully petitioned Parliament to join their watermen colleagues.
The watermen and lightermen still work on the River Thames to this day. The watermen remain responsible for passenger transport and the lightermen deal with the carriage of goods.
If you've found one waterman or lighterman ancestor it's likely that you'll find more; this tended to be an occupation that ran in families.
You can read more information about the watermen and lightermen in an article by Rob Cottrell (PDF).