Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone, my gggrandfather born in 1859 in Islington went to the Barge House pub near the river Lea on boxing day ,and drunk with his cronies(as described to me) took a dive from the bridge into the river which was iced over .He was rescued onto a barge after nearly drowning but was crippled after for life.He was described as "still a fairly young man" and died in c1927.Do es anyone know where this place was and would it be in any newspaper? How do I find out?Not able to give a date for this event so would have to guess.Could I find out when the river was frozen over?Would really love to find some evidence of this. Thankyou all.

Thanks Jonesey! Will take a look.

\t\hanks Moonglow,will give it a go. I find it really hard to find info on family places in London as I don,t know where all the areas they lived in are or hoew close together they are.\p\retty useless really!

Hi again,just to say I looked up site Jonesey gave me for the barge pub near river lea but the site was too modern I think.Although I am not familiar with london at all so have no idea where this pub could have been or if it still exists.

There is always the possibility he went on a pleasure cruise up to Hertford. There is a pub on the Lea called the barge here. (Currently my local) There is a bridge over the river at this point too.

The barge in Hertford would certainly be old enough.
Heres a link to their website

http://www.theoldbarge.co.uk

I've googled to no avail. Every picture i can find of the Barge has been taken from the bridge. Not a single one with the pub and bridge in!

Thanks for looking Janet.It does sound promising.Maybe I could contact the pub and see if they have any old photos or have heard anything from the "good old days!" A long shot but worth a try.

In 1881, there was a pub called The Barge House at Woolwich - which I believe is on the river Lea.
http://www.1881pubs.com/results.asp

What was your ancestor's name?

Hi Maggie,my ancestors name was Thomas Joshua McGee born in 1859 in Islington.Not sure where he lived during his Barge House pub escapade,I think it was Edmonton.Where is Woolwhich in relation to Edmonton? Thanks very much for the web for the pub,it does sound promising.I will take a look now. Do you know what newspaper it may have been in for that area ? Thanks again for help.

Me again! Have tried the web site Maggie has given for the pubs but can,t get anywhere with it .I am obviously doing something wrong but don,t know what. I put the name, then Woolwhich,then London. I couldn,t put a name for "person living there" because my relative didn,t live there! Help please !!

If your ancestor lived in the Edmonton area, you could try writing to Graham Dalling, the Local History Officer for Enfield Council. He has published some books on Edmonton history with photographs of interesting buildings, etc. He was very helpful to me and actually carried out a search of the Tottenham & Edmonton Herald local newspaper for an incident involving my g.grandfather. If the Barge House pub exists anywhere in the vicinity of Edmonton, I'm sure he will find it. Incidentally, the River Lea runs right through that area. Woolwich is south of the River Thames whereas Edmonton is North London. The address to write to is: Graham Dalling, Local History Unit, Town Hall, Green Lanes, London N13 4XD.
Good luck.
Pam

The following website might help

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Lea

got the following from googling:

Edmonton is 8.6 miles (13.8 km) north-north-east of Charing Cross.

Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, United Kingdom with a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield. The man-made River Lee Diversion adjoins the east of Edmonton and forms the boundaries between Enfield and Waltham Forest.[1]

Woolwich is south east London, near Greenwich. I think Edmonton is North London. Using google again it says about 14/15 miles. You would have to cross the river Thames.

Perhaps the river is the river Lee mentioned above?

The river Lea runs from Luton to Bow creek eventually meeting the Thames.
It flows through Bedfordshire,Hertfordshire and on to Greater London/ Middlesex.

I only know all this cos I went to a slide show about the Lea a couple of weeks ago!

BTW it is known as the Lea in unofficial sources but anything official it is the Lee. (Something to do with a spelling mistake in parliament!)

1891 England Census
Name: Thomas McGee
Age: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1859
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Hannah
Gender: Male
Where born: Islington, London, England
Civil Parish: Edmonton
Ecclesiastical parish: St James
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England
Street address: 30 Linton Cottage

Occupation: Hammerman

Registration district: Edmonton
Sub registration district: Edmonton
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas McGee 32
Hannah McGee 33
Thomas McGee 12
Alice McGee 10
Kate McGee 8
Rose McGee 5
Amelia McGee 3
Alfred McGee 1
Kate Webb 15 - sister-in-law

Hi Lindsay, have you tried pubcensus.co.uk/essex or wherever in the south of England you want.They are very good and give the innkeeper etc. Rob.

Hi everyone, sorry not been in touch. I have been "off air"! for a while . Thankyou soooo much for all your wonderful help and advise . Ozibird you have found my relations on the 1891, thankyou for the adress. I have to find where it is/was in relation to the river Lea incident on boxing day. Thomas would have walked to the pub ,he was too poor to have any means of transport. Anyone know what a hammerman was ? I will get on to the other stuff as sugested by Pam ,Selena and Robert. Thanks, you are all brill!!

A hammerman was a blacksmith's offsider. I think his occupation was blacksmith in another census?

Happy hunting. Ozi.

HI Ozi, thanks a lot., happy hunting to you too.

Hi Lindsey

I think the Bargeman pub you are looking for is up river (north)
Although the lea ran through Edmonton, it also runs through
the neighbouring areas going north, Enfield/ Waltham Abbey
Cheshunt and so on.....I can recall this pub further up stream
and for a boy it was walkable

Waltham Abbey and Cheshunt are in Essex and Hertfordshire
but the both came under the Edmonton District in the past

hope this is of some help

Cockney Rebel

Thanks very much cockney rebel . Sorry to be so thick, but when you say up river north where exactly do you mean? All this geography is doing my head in!! I think I must visit the area to sort it all out in my mind.Was the pub in edmonton then or Enfield? Maybe I should give up now before I get totally confused and get carted away in a straight jacket!!