Confirmation has arrived that Alice Hill, Fred’s grandmother, was born as Alice Dyer. This provide a crucial link to the Dyer family – who, born in Stratford on Avon – worked on canal boats during the 19th Century.

The first trace of Thomas Dyer is in the 1841 Census when he is listed as a ‘boatman’ working at Old Stratford, Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire. Next to his name in the left margin of the census is the word “William” – presumably the boat on which he was working.

Thomas’s age is listed as 20 – although he was actually born in 1820. Enumerators working on the census were instructed to round down ages to the nearest five years.

The Census data reads:

1841 Old Stratford, Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire

William( in margin)Thomas Dyer, 20, Boatman

Thomas seems to have been staying on the boat alone as no others are listed within the household.

By 1851, as we would expect from a boatman, the family is on the move.

Thomas has married Hannah and they have four children listed as being born at Middx (Middlesex?), Buckinhums (sic, Buckinghamshire) and Thestfords (?). Thomas and Hannah’s birth places are listed as not known which suggests that whoever was giving the enumerator the data, it was NOT one of these two. Sadly the name of the boat is not recorded.

1851 Paddington, All Saints, Marylebone

Canal South Way

Thomas Dyer,31, Head, Canal boatman, not known

Hannah Dyer, 29, Wife, not known

William Dyer, 8, Son, Mddx

Frederick Dyer, 6, Son, Middx

Sarh Dyer 2, daughter, Buckinhums

Emma Dyer 3 months, daughter, Thestfords

By 1861 the family are now on “The Leeds” at Marsworth, Buckinghamshire

Alice, Fred’s grandmother, has now been born.

Thomas Dyer, Head, Married, 41, Master, Warwick, Stratford on Avon

Hannah Dyer, Wife, Married, 40, Warwick, Stratford on Avon

Frederick Dyer, Son, 16, Mater, Warwick, Stratford on Avon

Elizabeth Dyer, Daughter, 9, Warwick, Stratford on Avon

Alice Dyer, daughter, 7, Warwick, Stratford on Avon

Thomas Dyer, Son, 4, Warwick, Stratford on Avon

Joseph Dyer, Son, 2, Warwick, Stratford on Avon

The canal at Marsworth, Buckinghamshire (grev16, Google Earth)
 

By 1871, the last Census before Alice married Arthur Hill, the family is moored at Tardibigge. Alice, though, is not present and despite searches I cannot find where she is. The rest of the family on the Leeds are:

Thomas Dyer, Head, Married, 50, Captain of Canal Boat, Worcester, Stratford on Avon

Hannah Dyer, Wife, Married, 49, Worcester, Stratford on Avon

Thomas Dyer, Son, Unmarried 14 , Apprentice (?), Worcester, Stratford on Avon

Charles H Dyer, Son, Unmarried, 8 Worcester, Stratford on Avon

Waller Dyer, Son, unmarried, 4 Worcester, Stratford on Avon

Perhaps a clue to the location of 14 years old Alice is that also at Tardebigge, a few boats away, are some more Dyers:

Francis Dyer, Heard, Married, 24, Captain of canl both, Worcester, Stratford on Avon

Emma Jane Dyer, Married 20,Worcester, Stratford on Avon

William Dyer, Unmarried, 16, Assistant

John Learson, 14, Assistant

Could it be that she has been left with relatives?

This is the earliest Census data availalbe.  It is 1841 and again the Sunter family is strong in Lodge Green.

• Thomas Sunter, 60, Lead miner

• Mary Sunter, 60

• Thomas Sunter, 30, Lead miner

• Christopher Sunter,25 Lead miner

• William Sunter,  15, Lead miner

• Ruth Peacock 15

There has to be a question mark over this William Sunter.  If the 1841 Census is correct then William should have been about 17 in 1841.  But have a look at the ages of all the residents.  They are all given to the nearest 5 years.  If this is the case then it is a strong possibility that this William is ours.  And if that is the case what is the betting that Thomas and Mary are my great, great, great grandparents?