Sophia

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 Belfast. Official No. 20075 Code Letters MPVG.

Owners: 1841 Thompson, Belfast; 1848 C Pybus, Maidstone, Kent; 1861 Sam Woodward Teasel & Co, King’s Lynn; 1881 Dixon Taylor Sharper junior (Brunswick Street) West Hartlepool; 1896 Mrs S Sharper (Highfield Road, Doncaster) West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1841-43 W Crum; 1845 R Ritchie; 1847 Blyth; 1848-53 R Allen; 1855-57 J James; 1861-95 J Teasel.

Voyages: 1846 Liverpool for Messina; 1847 Liverpool for Naples; 1849-50 Dartmouth for London; from Hartlepool for London with a cargo of coal she was run into by the Grimsby fishing smack Arthur & Ernest on 23 February 1886. Sophiareceived damage to her stem, bows & had her bowsprit broken.

Sophia had a hole cut into her starboard quarter just above the load line during a collision with a Conservancy lighter in Blackwall Reach in November 1897. While lying off Huntley’s Wharf, Greenwich after the collision she heeled over & sunk on 16 November 1897. Crew saved.