Hughenden

Thomas Hudson purchased his first ship, Hudson, in 1878 and went on to found the Hudson Shipping Co. Ltd. which was registered in May 1884. The company was wound up in 1896.

Family History:

Thomas Sharp Hudson was born in 1847 at Sunderland to parents Joseph and Mary (nee Sharp). Between at least 1851 and 1871 he lived with his family at Seaton Carew. In 1871 his occupation was listed as a commercial clerk. By 1889 he was living at Victoria Terrace, Hartlepool.

He was chairman of the Seaton Carew Local Board from 1879 to 1881 and was also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Thomas travelled to the U.S.A. in 1881/82 and returned there in 1889. He died at Runnymede, Harper County, Kansas, U.S.A. on 31 January 1890 leaving a personal estate of £1,146.

Official No. 84531: Code Letters WDVB.

Owners: 1881 TS Hudson & Co, West Hartlepool: 1884 Hudson Shipping Co Ltd, West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1881-85 WH Hull: 1887-88 D Bews.She sailed from Newport on 26 August 1888 bound for Savona with a cargo of coal when she sunk after a collision 56 miles off Cape Sagres on 1 September 1888 with the Spanish steamer Ibizabal, which was run ashore to prevent her also sinking.  Five lives lost.

South Durham Herald 8 September 1888:

‘Mr Morison, manager of the Hudson Shipping Company, on Saturday night received a telegram stating that their streamer Hughenden had been sunk as a result of being run into by the Spanish steamer Ibizabal, off Cape St Vincent. Captain Bews & part of the crew landed at Albufiera, on the coast of Portugal, but unfortunately five were drowned.’

South Durham & Cleveland Mercury 15 September 1888:

‘The Hudson Shipping Company Limited, the owners of the steamer Hughenden, on Monday afternoon received a letter from Captain Bews which gave some particulars of the disaster recently reported in our columns. The captain states that the collision occurred about forty miles SE by E from Cape St Vincent at 3.30am on Saturday week. Hughenden was sailing down the coast when she was run into by the Spanish steamer Ibizabal which struck her nearly ? on the starboard side in the way of the ? bunker & tore the plates out down to the water’s edge. Continuing he said all hands might have been saved had they gone into the boat when he told them. Seven of the crew, however, endeavoured to put another boat off when five, whose names have already been printed, were drowned. Every effort was made to save their drowning comrades, but unfortunately they never rose to the surface or they would have been able to save themselves by clinging to the wreckage which was plentiful. Those who were saved were taken aboard the Spanish steamer, which was bound from Reval to Vigo with a general cargo & passengers. The vessel had to be run ashore at a small fishing village in order to save her from sinking.’

Lives lost September 1888:

Abbot, 3rd engineer

Kabos, able seaman

Newton, David, chief engineer, Garden Street, Northgate, Darlington, married, two children

McDaid, fireman

Worley, Thomas, steward, 9 Stainton Street, West Hartlepool, married, eight children

Built in 1881. Sank after a collision in September 1888 with the loss of five lives.