Somes/Soames Family

Thames Watermen named Somes

Contents

A. Entries in Apprenticeship Records
B. Entries in record of Thames Watermen 1688-2010
C. Entries in list of Free Watermen 1827
D. Entries on Tombstone
E. Conclusions

A number of the Somes Family were Thames Watermen and are listed in the records of the Company of Watermen & Lightermen of the River Thames.

l already had some information:

A. Thames Watermen & Lightermen
Apprentices 1692-1949

Master John Somes – Apprentice John Somes free date 19.12.1776
Master John Somes – Apprentice William Somes free date 22.1.1784
Master John Somes – Apprentice John Somes free date 29.9.1791
Master John Somes – Apprentice Francis Somes free date 27.5.1824

But I went into Find My Past and obtained some more:

Note: It is not clear what the dates below are but thet are not dates of birth and may be date of freedom from the Company.

B. Thames Watermen & Lightermen 1688 - 2010

1. Edwin Somes - Date: 1825 Place: -
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

2. Francis Somes - Date: 1746 Place: St George, Middlesex
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

3. Francis Somes - Date: 1816 Place: Hermitage
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

4. Jno Stanley Somes - Date: 1797 Place: St George in the East
(Master's Last Name - Somes Junior)

5. John Somes - Date: 1735 Place: St Geo, Middx
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

6. John Somes - Date: 1766 Place: St George in the East
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

7. John Somes - Date: 1784 Place: Bermondsey
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

8. Joseph Somes - Date: 1802 Place: Hermitage
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

9. Major Somes - Date: 1822 Place: Hermitage
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

10. Richard Somes - Date: 1710 Place: St Kathrines
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

11. Samuel Francis Somes - Date: 1800 Place: Hermitage
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

12. William Somes - Date: 1776 Place: St George, Middlesex
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

13 William Somes - Date: 1816 Place: Hermitage
(Master's Last Name - Somes)

Note: Reference is made online to Hermitage Moorings near Wapping.

C. London Watermen
List of Free Watermen 1827

There were 4 entries:

1. Francis Somes born 1756

2. Francis Somes born 1800

3. John Hanly Somes born 1794

4. William Somes born 1800

D. Entries on Tombstone

In investigating a Tombstone at St George in the East, I found 3 references to Thames Watermen named Somes:

1717 Samuel Somes, his marriage

1763 William Somes, bp of one of his children

1809 Francis Somes, bp of one of his children

Entries on Tombstone

E. Conclusions

1. Timeline

It may be useful to set the above information in date order:

1710 Richard Somes
(Place: St Kathrines)

1717 Samuel Somes marriage

1735 John Somes
(Place: St Geo, Middx )

1746 Francis Somes
(Place: St George, Middlesex )

1763 William Somes, bp of one of his children

1766 John Somes
(Place: St George in the East )

1776 William Somes
(Place: St George, Middlesex )

1776
John Somes Free Date 19.12.1776

1784 John Somes
(Place: Bermondsey)

1784
William Somes Free Date 22.1.1784

1791
John Somes Free Date 29.9.1791

1797 Jno Stanley Somes
(Place: St George in the East )

1800 Samuel Francis Somes
(Place: Hermitage )

1802 Joseph Somes
(Place: Hermitage )

1809 Francis Somes, bp of one of his children

1816 William Somes
(Place: Hermitage )

1816 Francis Somes
(Place: Hermitage )

1822 Major Somes
(Place: Hermitage )

1824
Francis Somes Free date 27.5.1824

1825 Edwin Somes
(Place: - )

1827
Free Watermen

Francis Somes (born 1756)

John Hanly Somes (born 1794)

William Somes (born 1800)

Francis Somes (born 1800)

2. From the List of Free Watermen 1827 it is posible to trace some parents:

Francis Somes born 1756

Francis Somes born 1800 (Francis & Mary)

John Hanly (may be Stanley) Somes born 1794

William Somes born 1800

Colin Bower
11 April 2023

Somes Index