Walby & Gardiner families of whitchurch, boatmen, Yat. (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Tuesday, March 08, 2016, 16:09 (3176 days ago) @ philrmoon11

I suspect you know this Phil, but a quick search shows you may gain some help from a Bill Walby who was on the local Parish Council c2013;
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=267498809984307&story_fbid=366444496756404
http://www.whazelton.wyenet.co.uk/wagpc/details.html

Similarly as Fred says lots of Gardiners still active in the area; Tony Gardiner was working the Yat ferry, Andrew was a District Councillor, plus many other Yat Gardiners in the links below;
http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/historic-Symonds-Yat-hand-ferries-cross-River-Wye/st...
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/richard-d-north-1592207.html
http://www.wyenot.com/kingfisher01.htm
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/uk.rec.waterways/-mgXfO3CUz8

It may be well-worth contacting these family members unless, of course, you're researching on their behalf.

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The same search shows activities of both families in the Victorian newspapers, which may be of interest despite clearly not being the same era you're researching;

Cardiff Times, 14th February 1885

MONMOUTH.
CASE OF SUPPOSED DROWNING.
A labourer, named Thomas Walby, of Symonds' Yat, was seen near the river Wye, on Wednesday night, and having not since been heard of, it is feared he has fallen into the river, which is greatly flooded, and drowned. He was a single, middle-aged man.
http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3422528/3422530/34/

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A possible straying relative ?

Stroud News, 7 January 1893

POLICE COURT, YESTERDAY
Joseph Gardiner, boatman, was charged with stealing 32 lbs of coal, value 4d, the property of Messrs Wood and Rowe, coal merchants. Prosecutors had missed coal from Walbridge Canal wharf, and on Thursday set a man to watch. Shortly after eleven, he stated in evidence, he saw prisoner take some coal from the wharf and take it aboard a boat lying in the canal. The watcher fetched PC Clutterbuck, and the two went aboard the boat and found that prisoner had just put some of the coal on the fire. Prisoner denied that he put the coal in the cabin, and said he did not know who did. He was sentenced to seven days imprisonment.
http://static.premiersite.co.uk/23415/docs/6447599_1.pdf
http://www.digitalstroud.co.uk/landmarks-wallbridge/
http://www.stroudlocalhistorysociety.org.uk/research/wood-rowe/