Robert & Lydia were married
Sep 8 1839
at St Mary's Leigh.

The children of 'boatmen' could have been born
ANYWHERE along the canals,
as the family travelled with the boat.

The children would run ahead and set the locks
for when the boat,
pulled at first by horses, later with engines,
arrived at the locks.

The Weaver Navigation Canal
runs through Winsford to Runcorn.
It also connects to the Trent & Mersey Canal
at Northwich by the Anderton Boat Lift,
which was a lift (elevator)
which took the boats up and down about 70 feet
between the two canals.

The canal boats on which the families lived
were about 70 foot long but only 6'6" wide
(so called narrow boats)
with a small cabin at the rear
in which the family lived.
Usually they towed a second boat behind,
and this would be controlled by one of the sons.

Bridge Street - PENNINGTON
p 13 / Folio 26 (Taken Jun 7 1841)

Robert BILSBURY age 25 born in Lancashire
Occupation = Boatman
Lydia BILSBURY age 20 born Lancs
Ellen BILSBURY age 1 born Lancs
Mary BILSBURY age 2 months born Lancs

King Street - PENNINGTON
p 2 / Folio 68

Robert BILSBURY, Head, Marr, age 40, Boatman born Ince
Lydia BILSBURY, Wife, Marr, age 34, Housekeeper born Pennington
Ellen BILSBURY, Dau, age 12, At home, born Pennington
Mary BILSBURY, Dau, age 10, At home, born Pennington
Ann BILSBURY, Dau, age 6, At home, born Pennington
Ruth BILSBURY, Dau, age 4, At home, born Pennington
William BILSBURY, Son, age 3 months, born Pennington

73 Ellesmere Street, Pennington, p11 F83

Robert Bilsbury Head Marr age 58 Boatman born Ince
Lydia Bilsbury Wife Marr age 54 born Leigh
William Bilsbury Son unm age 20? Boat ?? born Leigh
Peter Bilsbury Son unm age 18 Boatman born Leigh
James Bilsbury Son unm age 11 School ?? born Leigh