Elba Technical Specification

John Coverdale purchased shares in sailing vessels from about 1852 and by the 1860’s had become the sole owner of a fleet of sailing vessels.

John entered into partnership with Charles Scotson Todd under the company name of Coverdale, Todd & Co. On 30 June 1882 this partnership was dissolved and on the same day John went into business with his son, Robert Hauxwell Coverdale, as his partner. The company became Coverdale & Son with their business premises at Victoria Terrace, West Hartlepool.

Robert took over the company when his father died and it became R.H. Coverdale. When Robert died the company reverted back to John Coverdale & Son which eventually ceased trading in 1914. The company of Coverdale Bros. carried on until 1917.

Family History:

John Coverdale was born in 1814 at Sneaton, near Whitby, in Yorkshire. John became a master mariner and in the early 1850's he moved to Hartlepool from Sneaton already part owner and master of the sailing vessel Madonna in which he had invested in October 1852. In 1854 he was part owner and master of the Schofield. John had married Mary Hauxwell at Stockton-on-Tees in 1852 and by the 1860's the couple were living at Radcliffe Terrace with their two children Jane and Robert. He retired from the sea and became owner and manager of a fleet of sailing vessels. When iron constructed ships became the new revolution he sold his wooden vessels and went into steam shipping.

During his lifetime he took an active interest in municipal life and was the people’s warden at St Hilda’s Church, a member and then chairman of the Hartlepool Pilotage Commissioners, a lifetime trustee of Henry Smith’s charity, a member of the Hartlepool School Board and one of the governors of the Hartlepools Hospital.

John died aged 70 at his residence, South Crescent, Hartlepool, on 15th February 1885 leaving effects of £21,330.

Robert Coverdale was born in December 1858 to parents John and Mary (nee Hauxwell) Coverdale. He married Catherine Sanderson in 1878 and they lived at 18 Cliff Terrace, Hartlepool.

Robert died aged 47 on 20th February 1906 at Hartlepool leaving effects of £101,046. He was interred at Spion Kop Cemetery.

Wooden vessels in John’s fleet other than those listed below were; brig Albion built 1811 owned from about 1855 to 1857; snow Come On built 1854 owned from 1866 to 1872; barque Sarepta built 1856 owned from 1866 to 1872.

Steamships owned by the Coverdale companies other than those listed below were; Muriel Coverdale built 1905 owned from 1905 to 1913; Frank Coverdale built 1903 owned from 1903 to August 1912; Gladys built 1890 owned from 1890 to 1906.

Peter Otto Eduard Trechmann (Otto) as well as owning a successful cement manufacturing company had shares in sailing vessels from 1859. He purchased his first two steamships, the Emma Trechmann and the Wilster, in 1871. Two of his sons, Otto and Albert, became involved in the shipping business and in 1895 the company became Trechmann Bros. In 1897 the company name changed to Trechmann S.S. Co. Ltd., with the Trechmann brothers as managers. There were other partnerships as can be seen below.

'Notice is hereby given that the partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, Robert Hayes Carrick, of Bute Docks, Cardiff, in the county of Glamorgan; Otto Kramer Trechmann, of West Hartlepool, in the county of Durham; Albert Frederick Trechmann, of West Hartlepool aforesaid; and Robert Morton Middleton (the younger), formerly of West Hartlepool aforesaid, but now of Ealing, in the county of Middlesex, carrying on business as Ship and Steamship Owners, Ship and Steamship Managers, Ship and Insurance Brokers, Coal Exporters, and Commission Agents, at Cardiff and Barry Dock, in the county of Glamorgan, and Newport, in the county of Monmouth, under the style of "Trechmann, Carrick & Company," has by mutual consent been dissolved by the retirement of the said Robert Morton Middleton from the said Partnership, as from the 12th day of November, 1897. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Robert Hayes Carrick, Otto Kramer Trechmann, and Albert Frederick Trechmann, who will continue to carry on the said partnership business of Trechmann, Carrick, and Company" at Cardiff, Barry Dock, and Newport aforesaid. 12th November, 1897.'

'Notice is hereby given that the partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Otto Kramer Trechmann, Albert Frederick Trechmann, Robert Hayes Carrick and John Edward Moorhead, carrying on business as Ship Brokers and Coal Exporters at Cardiff Barry Dock and Newport under the style or firm of Trechmann, Carrick and Co., has been dissolved by mutual consent as and from 31^st December 1898. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Otto Kramer Trechmann, Albert Frederick Trechmann and Robert Hayes Carrick who will continue to carry on the said business as heretofore. 14^th January 1899.'

At the beginning of the First World War the company had four steamers. They lost the Hartdale in 1915, the Hudworth in 1916 and the Numina in January 1918. The Kingfield was sold and the company ceased trading in May 1918.

Family History:

Peter Otto Eduard Trechmann (known as Otto) was born at Wilster, Holstein, Germany in 1819. He married Emma Dorothea Wilhelmine (nee Kramer) who was born in Hamburg. They arrived in England between 1841 and 1850 and became British Nationals. Otto never forgot his roots as three of the Trechmann steamers were named Wilster. The couple had eight sons, Charles, Henry, Otto, Albert, Emil, John, Adolphus and Maximillian and two daughters, Amanda and Emma. By 1851 Otto was living with his family at Cliff Terrace, Hartlepool and was listed in the census as a merchant and ship broker. In the 1861 census he was listed as a coal exporter, steam ship owner, cement manufacturer employer of 90 men and in 1871 his profession was listed as a coal exporter, steam ship owner, cement manufacturer employer of 100 men and German Consul for Hartlepool. By 1891 the couple had moved from Cliff Terrace and were living at Norton Lodge, Norton-on-Tees with one of their sons, John, a marine engineer.

Otto died aged 72 at Norton on 17 May 1892 leaving effects of £95,583.

Otto Kramer Trechmann was born at Stockton-on-Tees in July 1854 to parents Peter Otto Eduard and Emma Dorothea Wilhelmine (nee Kramer).  He was married at Kendal on 14 June 1881 to Dora Webster and they had a son and two daughters during their marriage. Otto was appointed German Consul for Hartlepool in 1894 and his brother, Albert, appointed German Vice-Consul.

Otto died aged 63 at Hartlepool on 14 January 1917 leaving effects of £151,078.

Albert Frederick Trechmann was born at on 17th September 1857 to parents Peter Otto Eduard and Emma Dorothea Wilhelmine (nee Kramer). He married Maria Anna Jachmann in Wurtzberg, Germany in 1882. The couple had six sons and four daughters.  In 1891 they were living in Station Lane, Seaton Carew. Albert was the director of five companies, a Justice of the Peace and he was a member of four provincial Philatelic Societies.

Albert died aged 80 at Stockton-on-Tees on 11 December 1937 leaving effects of £104,243. Maria, his widow, died in May 1857 aged 90.