Mobile

George Horsley was born on 22 June 1836, the eldest of three sons of Matthew Horsley. On leaving school he was apprenticed to E.S. Jobson and later became a partner in the company. The third partner was Ludwig August Stahle. George became an Alderman and was Mayor in 1875 and 1876. He was also Swedish Consul and a member of the Hartlepool's Shipowner Society along with William Maclean.

George married Alethia Ann Berry in 1866 and Matthew Henry, who became known as Harry, was born in June 1867.

On the death of Ebenezer Jobson in April 1877 at his home in Cliff Terrace George took over the company and it became George Horsley & Co. His son, Harry, eventually became a partner in his father’s company and by 1889 it had become George Horsley & Son. George died suddenly at his residence, Claremont House, in December 1895 leaving effects of £83,157.

Harry married Clara Maclean in April 1893. He died on 17 February 1925 at Sidmouth, Devon leaving effects of £274,009. Harry was interred at Stranton Grange Cemetery.

By 1900 the company had become the Horsley Line Ltd., with Harry as managing director. The company ceased trading in 1915.

The following information was compiled by Bert Spaldin and appeared in the 'Tees Packet' No.89, November 1986:
George Horsley was the son of Mathew Horsley, a local pilot who bought shares in sailing vessels and then branched out becoming a steamship owner, firstly in a partnership and then on his own. The company were also timber merchants, shipbrokers and coal exporters, and branches were opened at Hull, Manchester and Gothenburg.

Official No. 102737: Code Letters PDNH.

Owners: 1895 George Horsley & Son, West Hartlepool: 1900 Horsley Line Ltd (M.H. Horsley) West Hartlepool

Masters: 1897 Wilson: 1899 T Whittingham.

Notes: Named Mobile after the port of that name for Horsley’s liner service between Mobile & Liverpool. On Monday 9th February 1896 the Mobile left the port of Mobile for Europe carrying “the largest & most valuable cargo that has ever left the port”, the cargo included  8,849 bales of cotton, 10,000 sacks of flour, 2,849 Oak staves and 500 loads of timber. A magnificent silver service had been presented to Capt. Wilson two days after the ships arrival & a personal present of a handsome gold locket encrusted with diamonds in the form of an anchor was made to Capt. Wilson.
The Mobile sailed from Fort Morgan with a cargo of grain, cotton and a crew of 26, on 28^th December, 1900, bound for Bremen but was not seen again. The Board of Trade Inquiry came to the conclusion that she had been sent to sea in an unseaworthy condition. All 26 lives lost.

Hull Daily Mail, Tuesday, February 19^th, 1901:
THE OVERDUE WEST HARTLEPOOL STEAMER. There is still no news of the s.s. Mobile, of the Horsley Line (Limited), West Hartlepool, which is now 26 days overdue in a voyage from the port Mobile to Bremen, and all hopes of her safety are practically abandoned.