Somes/Soames Family

Search for John Somes, Waterman

I wanted to find out more about a potential ancestor John Somes but did not appreciate just how many John Somes/Soames there were!

In 1783, a John Somes was living in Fashion Street, Spitalfields.

Christ Church, Spitalfields

John Somes bp 5.10.1783 (21 days old)
(Parents John Somes, Victualler of Fashion Street & Elizabeth)

This is of great importance and interest as Henry Brecht had married Mary Somes in 1808 and they lived in Fashion Street, where Henry had a colour-making business.

I have selected a number of references to a John Somes and set them out in a timeline which may help to link some of them together:

1. John Somes born c 1719

2. St Lukes, Old Street, Finsbury

John Somes b c 1725
married 13.6.1748
Mary Timbrall

3. St Paul, Shadwell

Richard Somes bp 15.8.1750 (25 days old)
(Parents John Somes, Blacksmith of  Love Lane & Elizabeth)

4. St George in the East

John Somes bp 18.11.1750 (14 days old)
(Parents John Somes, Waterman of  Virginia St & Mary)

5. St George in the East

William Somes bp 2.4.1758
(Parents John Somes, Waterman of  Virginia Street & Mary

6. St George in the East

William Somes bp 9.1.1763 (28 days old)
(Parents John Somes, Waterman of  Virginia Street, Shadwell & Mary)

7. Company of Watermen & Lightermen of River Thames Binding Records 1692-1949

Apprenticeship Records

John Somes, Master Waterman 1776-1824

8. John Somes, Apprentice Waterman
Free Date 9.12.1776

9. St George, Hanover Square

John Somes
married 5.7.1779
Elizabeth Reynolds

10. St Mary, Lambeth

Sarah Somes bp 21.10.1781
(Parents John & Elizabeth Somes)

11. St George in the East

John Stanley Somes bp 16.2.1783 (33 days old)
(Parents William Somes, Waterman, Lime Yard, Virginia Street, Shadwell & Elizabeth)

12. Christ Church, Spitalfields

John Somes bp 5.10.1783 (21 days old)
(parents John Somes, Victualler of Fashion Street & Elizabeth)

13. John Somes, Apprentice Waterman
Free Date 29.9.1791

14. St George in the East

John Somes of Pennington Street
Buried 16.4.1797 (age 78) born c 1719

Conclusions

Potential Links

A. There are 6 references to John Somes, Waterman:

4. bp 1750
5. bp 1758
6. bp 1763
7. 1776-1824 (Master Waterman) - Could be John Somes who married Mary
8. 1776 Apprentice - could be John bp 1750 or 1758 (age 18)
13. 1781 Apprentice - could be John bp 1763 (age 18)

I have summarised details of Thames Watermen named Somes

Thames Watermen named Somes

B. There are 4 references to John & Mary Somes

2. 1748 Potential Marriage
4. bp 1750
5. bp 1758 William Somes
6. bp 1763

C. There are 3 references to John & Elizabeth Somes

9. 1779 Potential Marriage
10. bp 1781
12 bp 1783

D. There are 4 references to Virginia Street, Shadwell

4. 1750
5. 1758
6. 1763
11 1783

E. Timeline - John & Mary Somes

A It does seem that John & Mary are our ancestors. A Timeline tells us more about them:

2. St Lukes, Old Street, Finsbury

John Somes b c 1725
married 13.6.1748
Mary Timbrall

4. St George in the East

John Somes bp 18.11.1750 (14 days old)
(Parents John Somes, Waterman of Virginia St & Mary)

5. St George in the East

William Somes bp 2.4.1758
(Parents John Somes, Waterman of Virginia Street & Mary

6. St George in the East

William Somes bp 9.1.1763 (28 days old)
(Parents John Somes, Waterman of Virginia Street, Shadwell & Mary)

Things we wish we knew

1. Which John Somes died 1797 (age 78) born c 1719 (14. above)

2. Further details of the Apprenticeships of Thames Watermen (7, 8 and 13 above). Such as is held by the London Metropolitan Archives and London's Guidhall.

Colin Bower
11 April 2023

Somes Index