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