http://www.cotswoldcanalsheritage.org.uk/page_id__132_path__0p2p51p.aspx

"A Directory of Ships,
Connections with the Parishes around Saul Junction"
By Rachel Williams

My mother, a member of the Silvey family of Epney, was given these notes by the late Wilf Rowles in July 1979. She had been able to provide some information about various members of her family who had sailed on the ships which are listed here.

"FRIENDS
Trow. Ketch Rigged. Two Masts.
Official Number. 16341.
International Code. M. B. D. K.
Dimensions. 72.1 ft x 16.5 ft x 6.2 ft
Gross Tons. 85. Registered Tons. 70.
Port of Registry. Gloucester.
Built at Brockweir, River Wye, in 1844, by Thomas Swift.
Owner. Thomas Swift, Merchant, Monmouth. (64 shares)
Master. James Brown.

Registered anew as No 5, in 1848. Chepstow.
No. 5. 10.8.1848
Details, Owner and Master - as above.

Transactions. 1.1.1868.
Mary Sarah Hyam - Widow, James Davis - Jnr. maltster and William John Hyam - corn factor, all of Monmouth, executors of the late Benjamin Price Hyam, executor of the late Thomas Swift, sold the whole to Thomas Richard Hyam, Merchant and ship-owner, Monmouth

Trans. 17.4.1876.
The whole sold to Charles Brown, Ship-master, Brockweir.

Trans. 23.10.1878
The whole sold to Thomas Brown, Ship-master, Brockweir.

Trans. 21.1.1880
The whole sold to Charles Silvey, Ship-master, Epney, Glos.
Registered anew at Gloucester, 22.7.1882.
In 1882, the vessel was raised (ie built up) and lengthened by Benjamin Gardiner of Framilode. Her tonnage was altered thus:- Gross Tons - 110.
Reg Tons - 99.

Trans. - - 1917.
The whole sold to Lewis Bull, Ship-owner, Cardiff, who in August 1919, sold her to the Fairhaven Shipping Company Ltd. In September 1919, she was sold to Greek owners. The Gloucester Registry was then closed.

I have no evidence of her going to Greece, although this may have been so. I would rather think she was owned by the London Greeks, who operated a lot of craft up on the London River.

My Mercantile Navy List, for 1912, a publication which catered for the smaller type of vessel and similar to a Lloyds Register, gives the FRIENDS as being owned by Edwin J. T. Silvey, Epney, Nr. Stonehouse, Glos., and her R/T as 85.

These particulars do at times get crossed, due to the fact that the dear old boys did not always report a change of ownership. The schooner and ketch records have been a little more difficult to trace on account of change of name but, fortunately, the O.N. always remains the same, with the exception of one or two vessels."

The Silvey family is also shown as owners of these ketch-rigged trows;
"Effort", "Oliver" and "Gloucester"(pictured).

Also see http://www.friendsofpurton.org.uk/Docs/Saul_Ship_Archive.pdf

I wonder if the above mention of changes of name explains the census stating "Brothers", as there's no ship of that name on either account ?

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Again, probably nothing new but the aforementioned Felix Silvey is shown as a crew member of this ship during the 1881 Census, in Swansea port.

Vessel: "Hannah"
Richard HILLMAN M 44 M Framilode, Gloucester, England Master
Dennis HILLMAN M 34 M Framilode, Gloucester, England Mate
Felix SILVEY U 19 M Epney, Gloucester, England AB
Thomas SMITH U 19 M Epney, Gloucester, England OS
http://www.glamorganfamilyhistory.co.uk/maritime/Swansea81.html

This website from the far opposite coast of the UK discusses a Goole (Humberside) artist Reuben Chappell who painted the vessels using that busy port at the end of the C19th.
"a Reuben Chappell painting of the "Epney Lass" of Gloucester.... There was an Epney Lass which was a Severn barge of 64 tons net built at Saul Junction in 1860 reg no 27875 owned by Felix Silvey of Epney"
http://www.goole-on-the-web.org.uk/main.php?key=784

Be they Thames barges or Severn trows, "coasters" were so very important to Britain's everyday business even late into the C19th. This site gives some background. http://www.livinggloucester.co.uk/histories/river_severn/at_work/severn_trows/

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Altho strictly speaking not discussing trows, I feel I should share this great film I've just found, a delightful 1950s colour documentary showing the goods then being carried by barges up the Severn from Avonmouth to Worcester, including a great sequence of busy Gloucester docks with the heavy dockside crane in full steam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfmuQRrRp8

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Thanks Nigel for your interesting query, I do hope some of this is of interest.

Varian my name is Nigel Pell I have just started a search of the silvey family. My grandfather was Harold who was the son of Orlando master mariner who I think was the son of Charles. I have seen that a few of the family were at see and owned a ship named friends if you have any unfo that you think may be of use to me I would be very grateful. Kind regards Nigel

Name: Orlando Silvey
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1864
Registration district: Wheatenhurst
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 259

1871
Charles Silvey 39
Eliza Silvey 39
Clara Silvey 16
Eliza Silvey 14
Billota Silvey 12
Charles Silvey 10
Felisks Silvey 8
Orlando Silvey 5
Esabela C Silvey 4

1881 "Brothers"
Orlando Silvey abt 1865 Epney Nr Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England Vessels, Glamorgan

SILVEY Orlando
COOKE Ellen
Gloucester Framilode St Peter
1888 19 No 1 81

1891
Orlando Silvey abt 1865 Epney, Gloucestershire, England Head Canton, Glamorgan
Ellen Silvey abt 1868 Epney, Gloucestershire, England Wife Canton, Glamorgan
Harold James Silvey abt 1890 Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Son Canton, Glamorgan

1901
Orlando Silvey abt 1865 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Head Canton, Glamorgan
Ellen Silvey abt 1868 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Wife Canton, Glamorgan
Harold Silvey abt 1890 Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Son Canton, Glamorgan
Oscar Silvey abt 1892 Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Son Canton, Glamorgan
Wallace Silvey Oabt 1894 Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Son Canton, Glamorgan
Stanley Silvey abt 1897 Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Son Canton, Glamorgan

1911 Northumberland St Canton Cardiff
Olando Silvey 47
Ellen Silvey 44
Harold Silvey 21
Oscar Silvey 19
Wallace Silvey 17
Stanley Silvey 14

Name: Orlando Silvey
Birth Date: abt 1865
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1931
Age at Death: 66
Registration district: Wheatenhurst
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 514

Name: Orlando Silvey
Probate Date: 14 Mar 1938
Death Date: 26 Jan 1931
Death Place: Gloucestershire, England
Registry: Llandaff

Name: Ellen Silvey
Probate Date: 12 Feb 1938
Death Date: 23 Jan 1938
Death Place: Gloucestershire, England
Registry: Llandaff

<><><><><><><><>

Name: Harold J Silvey & Lillian M Toop
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1916
Registration district: Cardiff
Inferred County: Glamorgan
Volume Number: 11a
Page Number: 529

Name: Valerie M Silvey
Mother's Maiden Surname: Toop
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1925
Registration district: Cardiff
Inferred County: Wales
Volume Number: 11a
Page Number: 661

Name: Valerie M Silvey & Arthur B Pell
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1948
Registration district: Newport
Inferred County: Monmouthshire, Shropshire
Volume Number: 8c
Page Number: 583

Name: Harold J Silvey
Birth Date: abt 1890
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1963
Age at Death: 73
Registration district: East Glamorgan
Inferred County: Glamorganshire
Volume: 8b
Page: 306

Name: Harold James Silvey
Probate Date: 6 Jun 1963
Death Date: 11 May 1963
Death Place: Llandaff
Registry: Gloucestershire, England

1851
Charles Silvey abt 1833 Stroud, Gloucestershire, England Head Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Eliza Silvey abt 1834 Saul, Gloucestershire, England Wife Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Mary Jane Silvey abt 1851 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire

1861
Charles Silvey abt 1833 Stroud, Gloucestershire, England Head Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Eliza Silvey abt 1833 Saul, Gloucestershire, England Wife Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Mary Jane Silvey abt 1851 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Edwin J Silvey abt 1853 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Son Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Clara Silvey abt 1855 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Eliza Silvey abt 1857 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Velitia Silvey abt 1859 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Charles Silvey abt 1861 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Son Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire

1871
Charles Silvey 39
Eliza Silvey 39
Clara Silvey 16
Eliza Silvey 14
Billota Silvey 12
Charles Silvey 10
Felisks Silvey 8
Orlando Silvey 5
Esabela C Silvey 4

1881 Epney
Charles Silvey abt 1833 Stroud, Gloucestershire, England Head Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire Vessel Owner
Eliza Silvey abt 1833 Saul, Gloucestershire, England Wife Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Violetta Silvey abt 1859 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Charles Silvey abt 1861 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Son Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
Isabella Silvey abt 1867 Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire

Name: Charles Silvey
Estimated birth year: abt 1832
Year of Registration: 1884
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at Death: 52
District: Gloucester (1837-1937)
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 190

Framilode, Gloucestershire
St Peter's Churchyard

Charles h/o Eliza SILVEY of Epney,
7 Nov 1881, 52
Mary Jane, d, 19 Nov 1826, 25
Eliza, w/o 16 April 1905, 75

Felix, h/o Susannah SILVEY,
Of Epney, 28 Aug 1922, 60
Susannah, w, 11 Sep 1939, 78

Orlando h/o Ellen SILVEY,
26 Jan 1931, 66
Helen, w, 23 Jan 1938, 70

Reginald Granville, s/o
Edwin & Emma SILVEY,
27 July 1909, 17

Charles SILVEY, 29 Sep 1914, 54
Harriet, w, 25 Sep 1938, 70

Edwin J. T SILVEY,
16 April 1918, 65
Emma J. SILVEY, w, 15 March 1919, 65
Stewart, s, 24 April 1916, 33

some backgrond on SILVEY family
http://www.longneyandepney.co.uk/History/orington.html

< The ( Samuel Knight and Felix) SIlvey buses were a familiar sight to me >
http://www.junctionheritage.org.uk/page_id__135.aspx

My Ancestor is last child of William and Anne :-
John b 16 Dec 1798 Moreton Valence.

John Silvey married Mary Hobbs b 28 Sep 1812 Frampton-o-S.
Their daughter Mary Ann Silvey b 13 May 1837, Epney is my G.Grandmother.
I believe Mary Ann had 2 brothers, Charles (I think c 1833 Stroud)
and William 26 july 1835 Epney.

Would really appreciate any details on William and Ann Silvy, William and 2nd Wife Mary, and/or Charles Silvey. I have plenty on Mary Ann.
Internet is great, but nothing beats local knowledge!
regards, Varian