keelmen

These craft were skilfully managed by two men called keelmen, who worked them up and down the stream with the tide and manipulated them with long oars.

The Shellback's Progress In the Nineteenth Century Walter Runciman 1892

The keelmen kept their ranks as far as possible intact.

The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore

Thames watermen and Tyne keelmen in particular acquired an astounding proficiency in the choice and application of abusive epithets, but of the two the keelman carried off the palm.

The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore

These were the wherry or watermen, the lightermen, bargemen, keelmen, trowmen and canal-boat dwellers frequenting mainly the inland waterways of the country.

The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore

The Tyne keelmen, while ostensibly consenting to buy immunity on this basis, seldom levied the quota upon themselves.

The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore

Long before, as early, indeed, as 1742, the keelmen frequenting Sunderland had set them an example in that respect by endeavouring, some hundreds strong, to haul the tender ashore -- an attempt coupled with threats so dire that the officer in command trembled in his shoes lest he and his men should all "be made sacrifices of."

The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore

Wesley preached from its steps to the keelmen and fishermen of the town.

Northumberland Yesterday and To-day 1908

Its present appearance is very different from the green slope and sandy shore of former days; the keelmen, too, have vanished, and their place in the commercial economy of the Tyne is taken by waggon-ways and coal-shoots.

Northumberland Yesterday and To-day 1908

The keelmen slid their deck-boat overside, and presently all embarked and were tided back to shore, the boat taking ground about fifty yards above the bend where Bounce stood shivering, caked in mud to her withers.

Hetty Wesley Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

The Rector thanked the keelmen in few words while Johnny ran to fetch the mare.

Hetty Wesley Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903