Braithwaite: Lightermen in London

I have a line of Braithwaites in London (Stepney/Limehouse/Poplar area) who were connected to the Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames.Lightermen operated small boats carrying cargo - often unloading larger ships that came up the river.I've not been able to trace back before the family moved to London.

This is the farthest back I've been able to research...

John & Ann Braithwaite had these children:
James (1809); Charles (1811); Thomas Walter (1813); Eliza (1817).At least the first 3 may have been born in Ratcliffe.