Magdala Gallery

In 1866, Thomas Appleby and Robert Ropner founded the shipping company of Appleby, Ropner & Co. This partnership was dissolved in 1874, with each partner establishing their own companies: T. Appleby & Co., and R. Ropner & Co.

The vessels listed below under ship are those that were built at West Hartlepool and those that were built elsewhere are listed under a general history.

Family History:

Thomas Appleby was born at Garmondsway, Durham in 1839 to parents John (farmer) and Elizabeth Davison (nee Richardson) Appleby. He married Harriet Wearmouth at Pittington on 9^th December 1868. In 1871 the family were living at Seaton Carew. By 1881 the couple were living at Ashfield House, Greatham with their five children. Harriet died in December 1904.

Thomas was chairman of the Hartlepool Gas Company, president of the South East Durham Conservative Association and a J.P.

Thomas died at Greatham aged 69 on 24^th November 1909 leaving effects of £116,954.

Official No. 63037
Masters: 1870 Bowman: 1871 T Robinson: 1871-73 T Barnard: 1872 Harland

South Durham Herald 5 October 1872:

‘News has been received by Messrs Appleby, Ropner & Co, of West Hartlepool, of the stranding of their screw, steamer, Magdala, Captain Harland, which was built at Hartlepool by Messrs Withy, Alexander & Co in April 1870. The steamer was homeward On a voyage from Cronstadt to London with a cargo of about 1,000 tons of wheat, &, on Sunday night, she drove ashore upon the Dutch coast at Arneland. The crew saved themselves by means of the lifeboats; but the steamer is so badly injured that she is expected to become a total wreck, & her cargo will be completely destroyed by the action of the water. Both vessel & cargo were insured.’