North Star Gallery

Dixon Taylor Sharper, and his son of the same name, owned a number of small sailing ships, all of which were pre-owned. Very few of these vessels were re-registered at Hartlepool and many came to grief under their ownership. Dixon senior had shares in ships from about 1869 and owned his first ship in about 1879.

The list of the vessels below are those currently known to have been owned at some time by Dixon Taylor Sharper senior and junior.

Family History:

Dixon Taylor Sharper (Senior), was born at South Shields in 1825 to parents John and Mary Ann. He became a sail maker. He married Barbara Ridley Allen on 23 August 1847 at St Hilda’s Church.
The Durham County Advertiser of November 30th, 1849, records the death (on the 24th), in Shadwell Street, South Shields, of Andrew Allen (aged 4 months), infant son of Mr. Dixon Taylor Sharper, mariner.
By 1861 Dixon and Barbara had moved to Hartlepool and were living at Harbour Terrace with their son and three daughters. By 1871 they were living at Tower Street, West Hartlepool with their son and two daughters. Barbara died in 1880 aged 55. Dixon was remarried in 1881 to Susannah Fox and by the time of the 1881 census they were living at 17 Thornton Street. On the 1891 census they were visitors at Doncaster.
Dixon died aged 69 at Doncaster on 18 March 1895 leaving effects of £1,409.

Dixon and Susannah’s son, John Henry Sharper, joined the Royal Garrison Artillery and was killed in France on 22 March 1917 aged 31.

Dixon Taylor Sharper (Junior), was born on 19th April, 1855, at West Hartlepool to parents Dixon and Barbara. Following the trade of his father he became a sail maker.  He married Mary Alice Burgess at Hartlepool in 1874. In 1881 they were living at Brunswick Street, Stranton with their daughter. By 1901 the family were living at ‘Ardrossan’ No. 40. Clifton Avenue.
Dixon died at Hartlepool aged 58 on 16 April 1913 leaving effects of £7349.

Built at Sunderland: Official No. 24477: Code Letters NWVQ.

Owners:
1839-43 Hayton, Sunderland
1843-1868 Henry Fowler, Scarborough
by 1874 Benjamin Fowler, Scarborough
1875 John Harland (St Hilda Street) Hartlepool
March 1875 John Tucker, Hartlepool
1876 John Harland, Hartlepool
December 1883 Dixon T Sharper, West Hartlepool
March 1884 Dixon T Sharper, George Barnes (died 23 October 1884)
Mark Dring & John Pattison, West Hartlepool
July 1888 Dixon T Sharper, Sarah Barnes, Mark Dring & John Pattison, West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1839 J Legende; 1865 Daviett; 1884 S Arnold.

Bound from Hartlepool for London with a cargo of coal she stranded on the Gunfleet Sand & was assisted into Harwich very leaky on 6 November 1883; January 1888 she was in collision with the schooner Forager which was towed into Yarmouth with head gear damage.

Advertised for sale by auction on 17 April 1888 at Dring & Pattison’s Slipway, Middleton, Hartlepool.

North Star was broken up & her British Register closed on 6 November 1888.

Although the document gives the ship name as Hewson this is incorrect & this is the Hartlepool Custom House Registration document for the North Star.

Although the document gives the ship name as Hewson this is incorrect & this is the Hartlepool Custom House Registration document for the North Star.