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Notes:

Thomas Dowley was born on 18 Sep 1749 at St Pauls, Shadwell, Stepney, ("Company of Thames Watermen and Lightermen"), London and was a waterman on the River Thames, ferrying boats North and South before the bridges were built. Thomas was apprenticed on 12th July 1764 aged 14 years and 10 months, to Master Constantine at Rotherhithe. Apprentices were taken on between 14 and 20 years of age and usually for 7 years. It was a very closely knit community and you were usually from a wateman family for several generations. Apprentices could not marry until they had served their time. Thomas gained freedom on 7th Feb 1772.

The tidal Thames was a very dangerous river. Over the years, ferrying passengers (watermen) became less important than moving goods and unloading ships (lightermen). This was because the number of bridges across the Thames increased over the years (reducing the need for ferrying) but the vloume of trade at the docks expanded greatly.

On 20th Nov 1774, Thomas Dowley married Elizabeth Gardner in Stepney. Elizabeth was the daughter of Constantine Gardner, probably the daughter of his master.

Thomas married Ann Wilson 28 Mar 1785, Rotherhithe, Surrey, England. [Group Sheet]

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Thomas — Mary. [Group Sheet]