by 1790, he was working as an engineer, assisting his father and his brother thomas with surveys for the neath canal. his involvement with the construction of the glamorganshire canal is less certain, but quite likely. by 1792, he was working independently, surveying a route for a canal and tramway to connect the neath canal to the glamorganshire canal, and a route for a road along the aberdare valley. between 1792 and 1793 he was employed as a carrier on the glamorganshire canal.