Marmora Technical Specification

As well as being a shipbuilder John Punshon Denton kept ownership of some of the ships he built and also owned and had shares in ships that were registered but not built in Hartlepool. Records that survive show vessels he at least partly owned from 1839. Some would have been for repair which he would then have sold on.

Other shareholders included: George Denton (John’s brother) Robert Elstob Hutton (master mariner & shipowner); John Elstob Hutton (insurance agent); George Wilkinson; Robert Wilson; Edward Lowden; James Winks; William Gray; Robert Gray; Thomas Rowell (bank agent); Thomas Sanderson (grocer); William Garrick (shipowner); Henry and James Proctor (master mariners); John Meldrum; (sailmaker); Jane Eden; Thomas Appleby; Robert Ropner; George Moon (shipowner, Sunderland); Thomas Belk; Robert Lawson Watson; William Huntingdon & Thomas Bell (Sunderland); Robert & William Ord (Sunderland); Elizabeth Hutton Wilkinson &  John Wilkinson (Craythorne); William Marsingdale Wilkinson (Manchester)

Brief Family Histories of some of the above mentioned shipowners:

George Denton was born on 6th September 1804 at Bishopwearmouth to parents Barbara (nee Punshon) and Richard Copeland Denton. He married Susanna Robinson (daughter of John Robinson) at Great Driffield, Yorkshire on 16^th October 1849 and they had five children:  George Robinson born 16^th August 1852; Arthur Copeland born c1853; Alfred born c1855; Ida Preston born c1857; Ernest born c1859. By 1861 the family were living at St Hilda Street, Hartlepool and by 1871 Victoria Place, Hartlepool.

George died aged 73 at Hartlepool on 30^th December 1877 leaving effects of under £300. His widow, Susanna, died in 1908.

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James Winks was born on 19^th April 1800 at North Shields to parents Margaret (nee Fenwick) and John Winks.  He married Alice Allen at Tynemouth in 1824 and they had one daughter. James was a shipwright and the family lived at Middleton.

James died aged 66 at Hartlepool on 28^th July 1866 leaving effects of under £300. His widow, Alice, died in 1888.

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Edward Lowden (also spelt Lowdon) was born in 1810 at Gosforth, Northumberland to parents Elizabeth (nee Nicholson) and Edward Lowden. He became a butcher and was also a lay-preacher.  By 1851 he was recorded as being a widower and in that year and 1861 he was boarding with James Winks and his wife at Middleton. In 1881 he was retired and living at Hanover Street, Stranton. Alice, James Winks widow, was living with him as a servant.

Edward died aged 78 on 28^th August 1888 at Farndale Terrace, Hartlepool.

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George Moon was born 21^st January 1812 at Sunderland to parents Elizabeth (nee Yule) and Henry Moon. He married Mary Ann Ord at Sunderland in 1842 and they had three daughters. In 1849 the family were living at Marine Terrace, Hartlepool. By 1861 they had moved to Hampstead.

George died age 81 at Windsor on 4^th November 1893 leaving effects of £19,676.

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Thomas Rowell was born c1808 at Weetslade, Northumberland to parents William and Catherine Rowell. He married Elizabeth Rowley and they had one daughter, Catherine, born in 1837. Thomas was a bank agent and was mayor of Hartlepool from 1842 to 1843. In 1851 the couple and their daughter were living at Southgate, Hartlepool with Thomas listed as a landed proprietor.

Thomas died aged 48 on 27^th March 1859 at Sedgewick House, Hartlepool leaving effects of under £100.

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John Meldrum was born on 10^th April 1794 at Sunderland to parents Mary (nee Pearson) and John Meldrum. He became a master sailmaker. John married Margaret White in 1842 at Sunderland and by 1851 the couple were living at Hartlepool.

John died aged 65 on 22^nd November 1859 at Hartlepool leaving effects of under £2,000.

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William Garrick was born on 17^th November 1798 at Orkney, Scotland to parents Margaret (nee Matteson) and John Garrick. He married Elizabeth Porteous on 14^th October 1828 at Sunderland. William became a shipping agent and shipowner.

William died on 1^st December 1847 at Hartlepool.

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Henry Proctor was born on 22^nd July 1822 at Lynn, Norfolk to parents Mary (nee Rudland) and James Proctor. He married Bell Watson on 31^st March 1846 at Bishopwearmouth. Henry first went to sea in 1836 and worked his way up to become a master mariner. He was mate of the Margaret of Hartlepool from 1843 to 1845 and was then master of several Sunderland registered ships.

Henry died aged 49 at Sunderland in 1871.

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Thomas Sanderson was born 21 January 1812 at Sunderland to parents Ann (nee Sandal) and Joseph Sanderson. He went to sea in 1823 as an apprentice and worked his way up to become a master mariner.  Thomas married Margaret Mary Sanderson in 1840 at Sunderland. Margaret died in 1847 and he married for the second time to Mary Wayman in 1854 at South Shields. When Thomas retired he became a grocer and provision Dealer.

Thomas died aged 66 on 24^th December 1878 at Sunderland.

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Joseph Nixon Eden was born 30^th April 1806 at South Shields to parents Jane Nixon and John Eden. He went to sea in 1819 as an apprentice and worked his way up to become a master mariner. Joseph married Jane Rennoldson on 1^st September 1831 at Devon.

Joseph died in 1855 at Stockton leaving his shares in the Voyager of Hartlepool to his widow, Jane Eden.

Fritz Herskind owned ships from the early 1870's. Herksind & Woods was formed in 1884 between Fritz and Peter Herskind and James Jabez Woods. The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent on the 20th August 1892. On 31st August 1892 the Company became known as Herskind & Co. with the main shareholders Fritz and his father Peter.

Five of Fritz's early ships were built by Matthew Pearse and two by Ropner. All of his subsequent ships were built in West Hartlepool and all appear to have been purchased new.

Official No. 58753: Code Letters HLRK.

Owners: 1868 John Punshon Denton & Co, Hartlepool: 1872 William Gray & Co, West Hartlepool: 1874 Fritz Herskind & Co, Hartlepool

Masters: 1868-69 Robinson: 1869-73 F Murrel: 1874-75 Staniland: 1876-81 G Veale: 1881-85 Charles Tornquist.

Miscellaneous: she sailed from Cardiff on 5 December 1868 bound for Bangor, USA with a cargo of railway iron.  Up to the 14 December the crew encountered the worst storm they could remember. Their lifeboats were floated by the high seas, the bridge & deckhouse were carried away & there was other severe damage. Somehow they managed to escape the storm & came to anchor at Tarbert Roads. Four of the crew were seriously injured. John Dunn had a skull & leg fractures, Araman Farancais, a native of Martinique, had a skull fracture & a broken thigh. They were sent to Barrington Hospital & the others were cared for in private lodging houses.

S.S. Marmora

This is an investigation into the circumstances attending the stranding of the S.S. "Marmora," of Hartlepool, on Huelva Bar, on the 12th of November 1885, held at the Town Hall, North Shields, on the 31st of December 1885, and the 2nd day of March 1886, before Thomas Jackson and John Robson, Esquires, two of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace, assisted by Captains Curling and Hyde (Nautical Assessors). Mr. De Hamel appeared on behalf of the Board of Trade, Mr. Tilley, of Hartlepool, represented the owners, and Mr. W. O. Forster acted for the master. The "Marmora," official number 58,753, was a screw steamer built of iron in 1868 at Hartlepool, of the following dimensions:-Length 214 ft. 2, breadth, 28 ft. 2, and depth 14 ft. 2. She was schooner rigged, and fitted with two engines of 98 horse-power (combined), and was owned by Mr. Fritz Herskind, of Seaton Carew, near West Hartlepool, and several others, Mr. Herskind being appointed managing owner on the 13th of March 1885. From the evidence adduced it appears that the "Marmora" left Huelva on the 12th of November 1885, about 3 p.m., with a cargo of 1,000 tons of ore, having a crew of 20 hands all told, under the command of Charles Tornquist, who holds a certificate of competency, No. 89,587, drawing 17 feet 9 inches forward, and 17 feet 10 inches aft, and proceeded down the river in charge of a pilot, reaching the quarantine ground at 5 p.m., when the pilot left, as he stated he would not take the vessel further, the sea on the bar being dangerous. The master proceeded on, and after rounding the Black Buoy, which marked the approach to the bar, the vessel commenced to strike and after doing so two or three times she struck heavily, carrying away her rudder, and turned broadside on to the breakers, beating up on to the beach, where she ultimately became a total wreck, the crew leaving her in their boats, no lives being lost. The Court was adjourned for a month, and then again until the 2nd of March for the purpose of obtaining the pilot's evidence taken before the British Consul at Huelva. On the 2nd of March the Court reassembled, and the evidence of the pilot was produced and read to the Court by Mr. De Hamel. It appears that there were two pilots on different occasions discussing the question with the master of the propriety of his attempting to take the vessel over the bar in the then state of the weather. On the 11th of November, the day before she left, the first pilot, who had some conversation with the master, and he declined to take the vessel to sea unless the weather improved. On the morning of the 12th when the ship had finished her loading the second pilot who had just come in from sea offered to take the vessel to the quarantine ground, but not beyond as the bar was too dangerous to attempt to cross, and warned the master of the risk he was about to run who against the pilot's advice determined to proceed to sea. The master proceeded to the bar, the result being the total loss of the vessel.

At the conclusion of the evidence, the following questions were submitted to the Court on behalf of the Board of Trade:-

1. What was the cause of the stranding of the "Marmora" on Huelva Bar on the 12th November?

2. Whether the sea on the bar on the afternoon of the 12th November was such as to render it probable that the vessel could not pass over it in safety? Whether the master was acquainted with this circumstance, and if so whether he was justified in attempting to proceed to sea?

3. Whether in any event the master was justified in attempting to proceed to sea without a pilot, and particularly having regard to the fact that the pilot refused to take the vessel over the bar, and that the pilot boat was moored inside?

4. Whether having regard to the fact that the vessel had struck two or three times before reaching the bar, the master was justified in attempting to cross it?

5. Whether the vessel was navigated with proper and seamanlike care?

In the opinion of the Board of Trade the certificate of the master should be dealt with.

Dated this 31st day of December 1885.

 

(Signed)

LANCEL DE HAMEL,

for the Board of Trade.

Judgment.

1. The stranding of the "Marmora" on Huelva Bar on the 12th of November 1885 was caused by the master proceeding to sea against the advice of the pilot.

2. The sea on Huelva Bar on the 12th of November 1885 was such as to render it probable that the steamship "Marmora" could not pass over it in safety.

3. Having regard to the condition of the sea the master should not have proceeded, particularly when the pilot refused to take the vessel over the bar or beyond the quarantine ground.

4. When the vessel struck two or three times immediately before reaching the bar, according to the master's evidence, he was then unable to bring up or return, and had no alternative but to proceed to sea; the Court however does not consider this to be sufficiently clear.

5. After the warning received from the pilot the vessel was not navigated with proper and seamanlike care.

The Court finds the master, Charles Tornquist, in default, and suspends his certificate, No. 89,587, for a period of four calendar months from the date hereof.

(Signed)

THOMAS JACKSON

Justices.

JOHN ROBSON,

We concur in the above judgment.

(Signed)

WILLM. CURLING,

R.N.R.,

Assessor.

GEORGE HYDE,

William Gray established a woollen & linen drapery business in Hartlepool in 1843. Also having an interest in shipping he acquired shares in sailing vessels from 1844.

Some of the other shareholders included: Robert (draper) & John Gray (Blyth); Matthew Gray (North Blyth); James Robson (Newcastle-on-Tyne); Henry Taylor (Liverpool); James Monks (Durham); Alexander Robertson (solicitor, Peterhead.

Henry Taylor Purvis; John Callender (draper); Phillip Howard (master mariner); James McBeath (master mariner); James Smith (master mariner); Jane Hall; John Fothergill; Jens Christian Nielsen; William Coward; William Horner; Frederick & Joseph Edward Murrell; all of Hartlepool.

William also had shares in sailing vessels along with John Punshon Denton. Eventually the two formed a partnership in shipbuilding with their first ship, Dalhousie, laid down on 4 July 1863. In December 1871 John Denton died. A dispute arose over the company’s profits which was eventually resolved in 1874 with the firm becoming William Gray & Company. In August 1874 the company’s first ship, Sexta, was launched.

William Gray was born on 18 January 1823 at Blyth, Northumberland to parents Anne Jane (nee Bryham) & Matthew Gray. He married Dorothy Wilson Hall on 15 May 1849 at St. Mary, Lewisham, Kent. In the 1851 census the couple were living at 2 Marine Terrace, Hartlepool. By 1861 the census recorded William as being a linen & woollen draper & shipowner & by 1871 as a shipbuilder. The couple had five daughters and two sons. Their eldest son, Matthew, died suddenly of pneumonia in June 1896 aged just 41.

William died aged 76 on 12 September 1898 leaving effects of £1500422. His widow, Dorothy died aged 81 on 7 September 1906.

William Cresswell Gray was born in 1867 at Tunstall Manor to parents Dorothy (nee Hall) & William Gray. He married Kate Casebourne in 1891 and they had four daughters and one son.

William took over as chairman of the company after the death of his father. He was created a baronet in 1917 and was given the freedom of Hartlepool and West Hartlepool in 1920.

William died aged 57 on 1 November 1924 at Bedale, Yorkshire leaving effects of £417347.

William Gray (3^rd generation) was born on 18 August 1895 at Hartlepool to parents Kate (nee Casebourne) & William Cresswell Gray. He was educated at Loretto School in Scotland, and passed direct from the school in 1914 to the Green Howards, where he rose to the rank of captain. He was several times mentioned in despatches, but was subsequently wounded and taken prisoner in 1915. He returned safely in 1918 following the Armistice. He married Mary Leigh at London in 1929.

Following the death of his father William took over the company in 1925. The recession and interest on money borrowed for development had left the company in financial difficulties but this was overcome and shipbuilding continued. The company made a substantial contribution to the war effort during WW2. After the war the company held its own with shipbuilding and repair work. In 1956 William Talbot Gray, the third William Gray’s son, became a joint managing director. He was killed in a car accident in 1971 aged 40. The company went into voluntary liquidation in 1962 and closed completely in 1963. William retired to Orchard Cottage, The Drive, Egglestone, Barnard Castle.

William died aged 82 on 28 January 1978 at Barnard Castle leaving effects of £116121.

Ships owned by William Gray & Co. that were not built in Hartlepool are recorded below under 'a general history'.