Agenoria Gallery

Painting showing ship flying signal code flags. Letter G on funnel.

Completed October 1883; Official No. 86974: Code Letters JBMQ.

Owners: 1883 M Rickinson, Son & Co, West Hartlepool: 1895 West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Co (JE Guthe & Co) West Hartlepool: 1899 F Childs & Co, Cardiff

Masters: 1885-86 Brackenbury: 1887-94 GH Sergent: 1896-98 LM Wie: 1899 J Merrix.

Bound from Grangemouth for Hamburg with a cargo of coal & a crew of 20 Agenoria went ashore off Heligoland in the German Bight on 28 November 1899. She was refloated but leaking & sank. One life lost.

In January 1900 the Board of Trade awarded a Silver Medal to Martin Bartz, pilot officer of Heligoland, in recognition of his services in rescuing the shipwrecked crew of Agenoria. The Board also awarded £2 each to the crew of the rescue boat: Hinrich Stoldt; Jasper Heickens; Jasper Friedrichs; Detlef Friedrichs; Henrich Friedrichs; Peter Haas; Peter Bauch; Michel Michels; Broder Kroger; Friedrich Koopman; Daniel Franz; Peter Koopman; Jacob Friedrichs; Henrich Jansen; Hinrich Kanie.

The following appeared in an issue of the Tees Packet, Journal of the Teesside Branch of the World Ship Society:

Julius Ernst Guthe was born at Leipzig, Saxony, in 1856. He came to West Hartlepool in 1875 and joined the local shipping and coal exporting firm of Cory, Lohden & Co., where he gained invaluable experience.

In 1889 he formed, with Mr. Murdoch, Guthe, Murdoch & Co., shipowners, agents and coal exporters. They purchased the steamships Brunswick, 1389 gross tons, built by W. Pickersgill in 1881, from C. Furness, and the Sara, 1642 gross tons, built by E. Withy in 1883, from W. Hamilton of Glasgow. However, this venture did not last very long, for the company was disbanded and the ships sold the following year.

At this time Mr. Guthe left the country, rumour has it to South America, but he returned in 1892 and formed J.E. Guthe & Co., purchasing the steamship Belair from Cardiff owners. In 1894 he acquired the May, also from Cardiff owners, the Croesus and Cyrus from owners in Sunderland. Christopher Furness sold him the Inchulva in the same year and also held shares in Mr. Guthe’s ships. By the end of 1895 Mr. Guthe had acquired the Agenoria from local owners Rickinsons, and the Harlyn, from London owners. In 1896 he acquired the Heighington, Ashlands and Kirkstall, all from local owners, and had also acquired shares in the Killingworth, owned by J. Sinclair of Church Street, West Hartlepool. 

From 1897 until the Guthe fleet was amalgamated with the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Co. to form the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., a succession of newbuildings were added to the fleet. Miss Barbara Guthe launched the Barbara from Furness Withy’s yard and later Miss Annie Guthe launched the Annie from the same shipyard, both girls being daughters of Mr. Guthe. The Edenhall was built by Irvines Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. in 1898, the first ship to be launched after the yard had been extended and modernised. At this time there were two ships building on the Tyne for owners in Spain. Through the intervention and brokerage of of Christopher Furness they were acquired by Mr. Guthe and named Guildhall and Haddonhall. Again, C. Furness took a number of shares in each ship. The Whitehall had been delivered in 1897 by Craig Taylor as a further unit of the fleet.

In 1899 Mr. Guthe’s fleet was amalgamated with that of the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., with Christopher Furness as Chairman of the new company and Mr. Guthe as Managing Director.

Matthew Rickinson was the principal owner and manager of a small fleet of sailing vessels from about 1857. Other shareholders included his brothers, Valentine and William, George R. Ellison, Benjamin Gales, M. & James Gray. Eventually the sailing ships gave way to steam and, in conjunction with his son John, he established a fleet of steamers in about 1880. Matthew also had a successful wine and spirit business and small brewery which were merged with J.W. Cameron & Co. in about 1894.

The shipping company was founded in 1883 as M. Rickinson & Son, soon becoming Rickinson, Sons & Co. The company owned seventeen ships, twelve of which were built in West Hartlepool, all their names beginning with the letter 'A'. The funnel colours were black with a red band, carrying a white 'R'. The flag was a white St. Andrew's cross on a red field with the letters 'R&S' across it in white, red and white respectively.

The company reached its peak in 1902, when it owned a dozen ships, but steadily declined after that. Between 1904 and 1907, four ships were sold and not replaced, followed by a further two before the outbreak of the First World War.
Three ships were sold in 1915, and two were lost to enemy action in 1918, leaving just one in the fleet, the Astraea. She was sold in 1920, bringing to an end Rickinson's shipowning venture.

Family History:

Valentine Rickinson was born at Robin Hood’s Bay on 13 October 1812 to parents John and Elizabeth (nee Granger). He became a master mariner and had a mate’s and master’s certificate no. 46085 issued at Stockton in 1851. He married Ann Petty in March 1836 at Stockton. Ann died in January 1838 aged 23. Valentine remarried on 17 July 1847 at London to Elizabeth Peacock. In 1851 he was at sea and his wife and three children were living at Clarence Terrace, Stockton. The family moved to Hartlepool in 1854. From 1859 until 1862 he was master and part owner of the barque Eclipse and, in 1862, master and part owner of the brig John Rickinson. By 1871 Valentine had retired from the sea-faring life and was living at Church Street with his wife and their four children and listed as a shipowner. By 1891 the couple were living at 7 Bellerby Terrace, Stranton.

Valentine died aged 85 at Bellerby Terrace, Hartlepool on 25 September 1897 leaving effects of £978. He was interred at West Hartlepool cemetery.

William Rickinson was born at Robin Hood’s Bay on 16 August 1814 to parents John and Elizabeth (nee Granger). He also became a mariner and a ship’s master certificate no. 46175 issued at Stockton in 1851. William married Ann Wellburn at York on 8 January 1853. They had five children throughout their marriage. Ann died in March 1891.

William died aged 49 on 7 February 1864 at Thorpe, Fylingdales leaving effects of less than £3,000.

Matthew Rickinson was born at Robin Hood’s Bay on 29 April 1817 to parents John and Elizabeth (nee Granger). He married Elizabeth Gray in 1840. In 1851 the couple were living in Robin Hood’s Bay and Matthew was listed in the census as a grocer. By 1861 the couple were living at Victoria Road, Hartlepool and Matthew was listed as a shipowner. His wife, Elizabeth, died at Hartlepool in 1865. The 1871, 1881 and 1891 census had Matthew listed as a wine and spirit merchant. By 1891 Matthew was living at Havelock House, Stranton.

Matthew died aged 80 at Hartlepool 12 September 1897 leaving effects of £68,935.

John Rickinson was born on 8 December 1844 at Robin Hood’s Bay to parents Matthew and Elizabeth. He started his working life as a grocer but later went into the business of ship owning with his father. John was married at York to Diana Wood on 4 January 1871. In the 1891 census John was listed as a wine merchant, brewer and steamship owner. Diana died in 1902 at Hartlepool.

John died aged 39 at West Hartlepool on 30 January 1904 leaving effects of £ 105,798.

Matthew Rickinson was born at West Hartlepool in November 1871 to parents John and Diana. In the 1891 census Matthew was listed as a secretary, this was presumably in his father’s business. Matthew married Edith Ann Plant at Christ Church, Hartlepool on 14 February 1905. By 1911 the family were living at Stafford House, Harrogate with Matthew now listed as a ship owner.

Matthew died aged 55 at Harrogate on 7 November 1926 leaving effects of £82,978.

Archibald Gray Rickinson was born at Hartlepool in July 1874 to parents John and Diana (nee Wood). Archibald married Rose Temple Jackson at Willesden in April 1900. In 1901 the couple were living at Granton House, Grange Road and by 1911 West Park, West Hartlepool with their four children. In the 1901 and 1911 census Archibald was listed as a steamship manager and owner.

Archibald died aged 75 at Hurworth-on-Tees on 31 January 1950. He left effects of £168.

Fleet List
Agenoria    1883-1895
Aeolus        1884-1886
Abeona      1886-1904
Astraea      1886-1898
Amphitrite  1887-1916
Ariel           1889-1897
Aurora       1889-1906
Albion        1892-1906
Aeolus       1894-1907 (second ship of that name)
Arion          1895-1913
Aries          1895-1915
Argo           1895-1915
Atlas          1897-1918
Astraea      1898-1920 (second ship of that name)
Agenoria    1902-1915 (second ship of that name)
Ariel           1902-1918 (second ship of that name)
Arachne     1912-1917

The West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company (WHSNC), was founded in 1856 by Ralph Ward Jackson and Robinson Watson and was controlled by the West Hartlepool Harbour & Railway Company. The company was primarily engaged in the North-East coal trade, but also operated a twice weekly service to Hamburg, and a fortnightly service to St. Petersburg.

In 1862, a power struggle between “Railway King” George Hudson and Ralph Ward Jackson, effectively resulted in the company being taken over by local shipbuilders Pile, Spence & Co.

When they went bankrupt in 1866, the WHSNC was taken over by Christopher Maling Webster (of Pallion Hall, Sunderland), with Management of the fleet being given to his son-in-law, Captain W.J. Young, who subsequently became a partner. When Captain Young died in 1886, Thomas Barraclough became the company's Manager. Christopher Webster died in 1893, and was succeeded by his son Ernest Alfred.

In 1899, the Company merged with that of J.E. Guthe under the amended name of West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company Limited, (though still referred to as the WHSNC), with Sir Christopher Furness as Chairman, and J.E. Guthe as Managing Director.
Ernest Webster and Thomas Barraclough now formed their own company as Webster & Barraclough.

Over subsequent years, the WHSNC owned or managed more than a hundred different vessels, and although still in existence today, the Company no longer operates ships.
For a more detailed history of the WHSNC, see 'The West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company Limited', by B.G. Spaldin and H.S. Appleyard, published by the World Ship Society in 1980.

Family Histories:

Captain William Joseph Young was born on 2nd September 1828 at Tynemouth, Northumberland to parents Joseph and Phillis Young. He became an attorney in the firm of Young, Harrison & Young of which his father was head. He eventually became Clerk to the Borough Bench of Justices before steering his interests to shipping. William married Mary Frances Webster (daughter of Christopher Maling Webster) at Bishopwearmouth on 24 May 1864. The couple had five children in their ten years of marriage. Mary died in July 1876.

Amongst other achievements William was one of the earliest commanders of the Fourth Durham Artillery Volunteers, a chairman of the Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners and a director of the North Eastern Railway Company from 1882 until his death in 1885.

William died aged 58 on 3 November 1885 at ‘Roseville’ Wolviston leaving effects of £41,423.

Obituary in the Yorkshire Gazette – Saturday 7 November 1885.

We regret to have to announce the death, on Tuesday, at his residence, Wolviston, near Stockton, of W. J. Young, after a lingering illness. The deceased gentleman, who was born in 1826, was a lawyer profession, and succeeded his father, the late Mr Joseph Young, who retired from legal practice at Sunderland, to live at Hartford House, Northumberland, as a country gentleman. Mr William Joseph Young entered early into the firm of which his father was the head—that of Young, Harrison, and Young—and in due time became clerk to the Sunderland magistrates. He married the daughter of C. M. Webster, of Pallion. On the failure of Pile, 'Spence, and Co., Limited, the fleet of steamer's owned by the firm and engaged in the Hamburg, Gothenburg, and other trades, were sold to Messrs. Webster and Young, and Mr Young left Sunderland for the West Hartlepool district, settling at Wolviston. For nearly twenty years Mr Young has been connected with the commerce of West Hartlepool, and has given largely of his time and ability to promote its interests. He was appointed chairman of the Port and Harbour Commission, a magistrate for the county, and representative of the West Hartlepool section at the board of directors of the North-Eastern Railway and only one honour that the Hartlepools could give was denied to him. On the retirement of Mr Thomas Richardson from the representation of the borough, Mr Young became the Conservative candidate, his opponents being (now Sir) Isaac Lothian Bell aud A. Kenealev ; and after an exciting contest Bell was elected.

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Christopher Maling Webster was born at Bishopwearmouth on 17^th May 1812 to parents Rowland and Mary (nee Maling) Webster. He was married at Bishopwearmouth on 14^th August 1839 to Mary Laing. (Daughter of James Laing, Sunderland shipbuilder)  They had ten children during their 22 years of marriage.

Christopher died aged 82 at Sunderland on 7 August 1894 leaving effects of £258,019.

Obituary in the Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette  - Wednesday 8 August 1894.

We regret to announce the death of Mr Christopher Maling Webster, J.P., of Pallion Hall, which took place at a quarter seven o'clock last night at the advanced age of 82. Deceased enjoyed remarkably good health up to the last two or three years, and never became seriously ill until about three weeks ago, when the natural decay consequent  on old age manifested itself, and resulted in his death. During his illness was constantly attended by Dr Maling and Dr Robinson, and everything that medical skill could suggest to prolong life was taken advantage of.  The deceased, who was the son of the late Rowland Webster, and, on his mother's side, descended from the same family as the Burdons of Castle Eden, was formerly in business in Sunderland as a wire rope manufacturer at Deptford, when he amassed a considerable fortune.  He retired many years ago and the business is now conducted by his two nephews, Mr Webster, J.P., and Mr Herbert Webster who are the sons of the deceased’s late brother, Mr Henry Robert Webster.  He married a sister of Mr James Laing, J.P., D.L., and had a family of ten children, of whom three sons and four daughters survive him.  His eldest daughter married the late Mr W.J. Young, formerly a solicitor in Sunderland and borough justices' clerk. Both of them died some years ago. The late Mr Webster was one of the oldest J.P.’s for the county of Durham, having been appointed on the 3^rd of February 1855, and we believe that only one other county magistrate now living (Mr Pemberton) was appointed prior to that date. His chief activity in public affairs was centred on the operations of the River Wear 'Commission, to which body he was elected as a representative of the landowners on the 16th November, 1842. He took a conspicuous part in the amalgamation of the docks in 1859, and on the 14^th March1866, was elected chairman of the Commission. This important position he continued to occupy position he continued to occupy till the 11^th March 1868, when he was succeeded by the present chairman, Mr James Laing. Mr Webster still remained a member of that body, and was in periodical attendance at the meetings up till a little over a year ago, when he practically ceased to attend.  For several years he was the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Commission, and during an honourable connection with that body he brought to bear upon its deliberations the excellent business ability which had always distinguished him in his own undertakings. Deceased also had not fulfilled any magisterial duties for some years, and, apart from his connection with the River Wear Commission and the magisterial bench, took no active part in public affairs. Though leading the life of a retired gentleman he was much interested in shipping, and was the sole owner of the shipping firm known as the known the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company, All his vessels being registered at Hartlepool. Some years ago he purchased the Pallion estate from the representatives of the late Mr John Goodchild, the well-known Sunderland banker, and has resided there ever since.  He was one of the old-fashioned Whigs, but in the political cleavage of recent years embraced the Unionist creed, though he always called himself a Liberal. However, he at no time took a prominent part in party politics. In religion he was a staunch son of the Church of England. He was well-known throughout the town and district, more especially among the old standards, and was widely respected. His son is Mr C.M. Webster.