Mersey Flats
As some of my Barrow ancestors were Mersey Flatmen I have decided to devote some pages to this area of canal history.
The Flat was a flat-bottomed sailing barge that could go on the canal but also with the use of 2 sails could venture along the coast (k/a Costal Trade) to areas such as the Flintshire coal fields or to the Grimsby / Fleetwood areas. I have even seen it documented that they sailed over to Ireland but I would imagine this to be very dangerous and the crew highly skilled. This occupation was regulated and in later years the flatmen even wore a uniform. They carried cargo's such as coal, wool & clay.
Mersey Flats and Master's in the 1861 Census, Liverpool.
In the following, due to the amount of information: crew and families etc. Only the details of the master are given. For additional information you will need to consult the original census image via a library, a paid website or request a lookup from one of the mailing lists.
Location for all listed below is Howard Street, Liverpool Canal.
Flat: Hero (1)
Adam Ashcroft 27 Master of Flat. B/P: Burscough.
RG9/2664, Folio 62.
Flat: Hannah (1)
Henry Ashcroft 63 Master of Flat. B/P: Burscough
RG9/2664, Folio 72
Flat: Sam Slick
James Ashcroft 25 Master of Flat. B/P: Newburgh
RG9/2664, Folio 47
Flat: Cybele
William Sharrock 48 Master of Flat. B/P: Burscough
RG9/2664, Folio 70
Flat: Mars
William Bamber 33 Master of Flat. B/P: Burscough
RG9/2664, Folio 54
Flat: Willie
Henry Blundell 59 Master of Flat. B/P: Scarisbrick.
RG9/2664, Folio 83
Flat: Isis (could be Iris)
John Buchannan 30 Master of Flat. B/P: Liverpool.
RG9/2664, Folio 56
Flat: Euphemia
Thos Carriton (could be Carrington) 22 Master of Flat. B/P: Lathom
RG9/2664, Folio 33
Flat Fanny (1)
Henry Cheetham 45 master of Flat. B/P: Downholland
RG9/2664, Folio 41.
Flat: Jane (1)
James Cheetham 21 Master of Flat. B/P: Lydiate
RG9/2664, Folio 52
Flat: Star (1)
Richard Forshaw 34 Master of Flat. B/P: Burscough
GR9/2664, Folio 53
Flat: Reaper
John Gill 18 Master of Flat. B/P: Liverpool.
RG9/2664, Folio 78
Flat: Charley
Henry Harrison 30 Master of Flat. B/P: Newburgh
RG9/2664, Folio 55
Flat: Alfred
Robert Lamb 48 Mastr of Flat. B/P: Latham (prob Lathom)
RG9/2664, Folio 75
Flat: Satelite
William Lamb 39 Master of Flat. B/P: Latham (prob Lathom)
RG9/2664, Folio 76
Flat: Blythe
William Rankin 46 Master of Flat. B/P: Latham (prob Lathom)
RG9/2664, Folio 51
Flat: Robert (1)
Peter Riley 29 Master of Flat. B/P: Liverpool
RG9/2664, Folio 31
Flat: Cybele
William Sharrock Master of Flat. B/P: Burscough
RG9/2664, Folio 70
Flat: Ellen (2)
John Shaw Master of Flat. B/P: Scarisbrick
RG9/2664, Folio 64
Flat: Reaper
Robert Smytham (difficult to read) 26 Master of Flat. B/P: Scarisbrick
RG9/2664, Folio 78
Flat: Jane (1)
George Turner 20 Master of Flat. B/P: Liverpool
RG9/2664, Folio 52
Flat: Ann (1)
John Waring 30 Master of Flat. B/P: Aintree
RG9/2664, Folio 65
Other's found on these and other vessels, in brief:
Joseph Babbot 1843 Burscough, mate.
James Bradley 1847 Liverpool, mate
William Disley 1836 Burscough, mate
James Hateley 1841 Lydiate, waterman
Mark Lamb 1850 Haskayne, mate
Thos Lamb 1850 Lydiate, mate
Thomas mason 1833 Liverpool, flatman
William Moffat 1849 Liverpool, boy on flat
Henry Prescot 1802 Burscough, flatman
Mary Prescot 1804 Kilshaw, flatwoman
Henry Prescot 1847 Burscough, flatman
Isick prescot 1841 Burscough, flatman
Robert Shaw 1830 Scarisbrick, mate
William Tune 1841 Lydiate, mate.
END
All Information is Crown Copyright
3 Mersey Flats in Prince's Dock, Liverpool, one with it's sail up.
Image supplied by Geoff Topp a retired Liverpool Pilot from his personal collection, used here with grateful thanks!
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