Vulcan Gallery

Robert Fawcus and his son, also Robert, owned and had shares in Hartlepool registered ships from 1845.

Other shareholders included: Ralph Ward Jackson; William Ramsey (master mariner, Hartlepool); Edward Turnbull (solicitor); James Stephenson (timber merchant, Bishopwearmouth); Thomas Wilkinson; Henry Fawcus (Stockton-on-Tees).

Family Histories:

Robert Fawcus was born on 13^th July 1816 at Stepney, Middlesex to parents Ann (nee Evans) and Robert Fawcus.  He married Anna Maria Speciall in April 1841 at Stockton-on-Tees and the couple had 14 children throughout their marriage. By 1845 the family were living at Seaton Carew. Robert became a coal merchant and shipbroker and was Swedish, Norwegian and Russian Vice-Consul for the Hartlepools.  Anna died in May 1871 at Over Dinsdale Hall near Darlington. By 1881 Robert had retired and moved to South Eaton Place, London and by 1891 was living at Norbiton, Surrey.

Robert died aged 78 at Norbiton, Surrey on 2^nd June 1894 leaving effects of £1,484.

Robert Speciall Fawcus and his twin Thomas Powell were born in 1845 at Hartlepool to parents Anna Maria (nee Speciall) and Robert Fawcus. He married Emily Best on 7^th October 1869 at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Stockton-on-Tees. In 1871 the couple were living at North Road, Seaton Carew and by 1881 had moved to Front Street, Seaton Carew. Emily died in September 1889 at Norbiton, Surrey.  On the probate in 1890 Robert was listed as a merchant at 23 Rood Street, London.  By 1891 Robert was living at Norbiton, Surrey with his daughter Emily and sons Robert and Charles (coal merchant shipbrokers) and John (barrister).

Robert died aged 58 at Over Dinsdale, Norbiton, Surrey in March 1903 leaving effects of £2,234.

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Henry Fawcus was born in 1842 at Stockton-on-Tees to parents Anna Maria (nee Speciall) and Robert Fawcus. Henry became a solicitor and married Anne Share Lockwood on 7th January 1869 at the Parish Church, Stockton-on-Tees. The couple had four children. In 1868 he took over from his father as Swedish, Norwegian and Russian Vice-Consul for the Hartlepools. At this time the family were living at Seaton Carew. By 1881 the couple were living at Boldon, Durham and Henry was listed on the census as a coal-exporter. In 1891 the couple were living at Osborne Road, Jesmond, Newcastle-on-Tyne with his business premises at Queen Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne,

Henry died aged 60 on 28 January 1903 at Harley Street Infirmary, Middlesex He was crossing a busy road in London when he was knocked down by a cab and died of his injuries a short time later. Another account gives his death as suicide by shooting himself. He left effects of £3,122.

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Edward Turnbull was born in 1821 at Newcastle-on-Tyne to father Edward Turnbull. He married Ann (Annie) Galloway at Tynemouth on 26^th January 1846.  Edward began his career as a solicitor with Richard Wilson of Darlington. The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in January 1847 and Edward took T.H. Tilly as a partner at his premises at 13 Church Street, West Hartlepool. The firm became Turnbull & Tilly. Edward had studied ships and seafaring men and mastered the legal side of those and other matters. He was elected mayor of Hartlepool in 1849 and again in 1853. He lived most of his adult life at West Hartlepool.

Edward died on 27^th July 1888 at 9 Belsize Park, Hampstead leaving effects of £16,076. His widow, Annie, died the following year.

Built at Aberdeen: Official No. 23832: Code Letters NTGR.

Owners: 1840 Carron & Co, Grangemouth; 1840 Thomas Brown, John Harkley, Emmerson Fluschamp, James Vint & Ray Bell (Monkwearmouth) Newcastle-on-Tyne; 1840 Thomas Cumming Gibson & Thomas W Powell (London) Newcastle-on-Tyne; 1845 Thomas Cumming Gibson (London) Thomas & William Cargill, Edward & Jasper Capper Mounsey,  Newcastle-on-Tyne; 1851 Ralph Ward Jackson (Greatham) Robert Fawcus (Seaton Carew) William Ramsey (West Hartlepool) & Edward Turnbull, Hartlepool; 1854 Ralph Ward Jackson, Thomas Maughan & Thomas Walker, Hartlepool.

Masters: 1840 James Thompson; July 1840 Edward Devey; December 1842-48 Josehp Minnikin; 1851 John Robson; December 1851 George Bryson; June 1852 Michael Brown; July 1852 James Doyle; 1852-53 A Graham; June 1853 Matthew Appleton; February 1854-58 William Hall; 1859 Robinson.

As well as being known as the founder of West Hartlepool, Ralph Ward Jackson had many business and property interests. He had shares in several sailing vessels both with individuals and companies. He was involved with the West Hartlepool Shipping Company formed in 1849 and when that ceased trading he transferred his interests in 1854 to the West Hartlepool Harbour and Railway Company and bought a small fleet of ships. This Company was the forerunner to the WHSNC which was formed in 1856. Between 1867 and 1870 he co-owned vessels with the North Eastern Railway Company.

Originally registered on 17 June 1848 and began trading in June 1849, the Company ceased trading under the name West Hartlepool Shipping Company in March 1853. The primary shareholder, Ralph Ward Jackson, transferred his interests to the West Hartlepool Harbour and Railway Company which was the forerunner of the WHSNC. The newspapers of the day when publishing information on shipping, on occasion, still referred to ships being owned by the WHSC after it ceased trading.

The promotors of the West Hartlepool Shipping Company on 17 June 1848 were John Grafton, contractor of London, Ralph Ward Jackson Esquire of Greatham Hall, John Lawrenson, brewer of Hartlepool, John Jobs, ship owner of West Hartlepool and John Sheraton, miller of West Hartlepool.

The complete registration of the Company was set up on 23 June 1849 the purpose of which was ‘the buying and selling of ships and navigating the same.’ The capital was £12,000 divided into 1,200 shares of £10 each.

25 June 1849: Registered Solicitor for the Company: Edward Turnbull. Trustees: Ralph Ward Jackson, William Lisle and John Sheraton. Directors: Ralph Ward Jackson, William Lisle, John Lawrenson, John Brewer and John Sheraton. Auditors: Thomas Wilde Powell and Robert Ward Jackson of Holme Lodge, Greatham.

Shareholders:

Ralph Ward Jackson Esquire of Greatham - 200 shares

John Brewer, gentleman of Seaton Carew - 70 shares

Edward Turnbull, solicitor of Hartlepool - 20 shares

John Lawrenson, brewer of Hartlepool - 10 shares

John Jobs, ship owner of West Hartlepool - 15 shares

John George Marshall, painter of West Hartlepool - 1 share

John White, contractor of West Hartlepool - 4 shares

Melville Proud, mason of West Hartlepool - 3 shares

William Ramsey, farmer of West Hartlepool - 3 shares

James Rachley, master mariner of Middlesbrough - 2 shares

Benjamin Thomas Ord, printer of Hartlepool - 1 share

John Proctor, bookseller of Hartlepool - 1 share

John Meldrum, sailmaker of Hartlepool – 2 shares

Richard Fishwick, master mariner of West Hartlepool – 2 shares

William Lisle, miller of Middleton – 10 shares

Thomas Cummings Gibson, merchant of Gracechurch St. London – 25 shares

8 April 1851: Directors: William Lisle, John Lawrenson, John Sheraton, John Brewer, Thomas Wilde Powell, Robert Fawcus, Jacob Allison, butcher of West Hartlepool,  and Samuel Bastow, iron founder of West Hartlepool. Trustees: William Lisle, John Sheraton, Thomas Wilde Powell and Edward Turnbull. Auditors: Thomas Wilde Powell and Thomas Young, grocer of Hartlepool.

Shareholders:

Robert Fawcus, colliery agent of Byers Green - 35 shares

Thomas Young of Hartlepool – 15 shares

John White of West Hartlepool – 11 shares

Thomas Wilde Powell of Holme Lodge near Thirsk – 20 shares

Jacob Allison, butcher of West Hartlepool – 10 shares

James McKenzie of West Hartlepool – 5 shares

Samuel Bastow of West Hartlepool – 15 shares

John Fawcus of West Hartlepool – 5 shares

John Thompson junior of West Hartlepool – 5 shares

Joshua Hodgson of West Hartlepool – 10 shares

Allison Chapman of West Hartlepool – 5 shares

Thomas Cockburn of West Hartlepool – 2 shares

William Sheraton of West Hartlepool – 5 shares

Robert Robinson of Hunwick – 3 shares

Edward Johnson of Hunwick – 3 shares

Thomas Dickenson of Newcastle-on-Tyne – 10 shares