Glendale Voyage History

Official No. 67551: Code Letters NCMS.

Owners: 1874 Steel, Young & Co, West Hartlepool: 1887 W. Whitehead, West Hartlepool: 1888 G.B. Harland & Co, West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1874-75 Whiteman: 1876-79 W Speck: 1880-81 W Doherty: 1882-83 J James: 1883-86 Gansden: 1888 Evans: 1888-89 WR Willis: 1890 G Harland: 1891-98 D Morgan: 1899 Edward Witten.

Voyages: July 1895 left Holmsund for Amsterdam.

Dundee Courier, Wednesday, August 16^th, 1899:
LOSS OF A WEST HARTLEPOOL STEAMER. Part the crew of the West Hartlepool steamer Glendale have arrived at Shields, having had a thrilling experience. The Glendale, which was timber laden, from Archangel, was abandoned in the White Sea full of water, after striking rock.
For two days and nights the crew were obliged remain on board the wreck, which was kept partially afloat by the cargo, during which time the men slept in the lifeboats, the forecastle and cabins were full of water. The distressed crew were ultimately picked by a Russian mail steamer, and landed in Norway, being unable to save a particle of clothing.

The company of G.B. Harland & Co. was formed in 1883 with their first steamer Duchess. As well as owning eleven ships throughout the time the company traded they also managed ships.

Family History:

George Blenkhorn Harland was born in 1848 at Sandsend, Yorkshire to parents Thomas and Mary (nee Blenkhorn). He married Isabella Marshall at Hinderwell in 1874. On the 1881 census he was listed as a commercial clerk and the family were living at Milton Road, Stranton. By 1891, still living at the same address, he was listed as being a shipowner. At the time of his death on 6 August 1924 aged 76 George was living at ‘Brooklyn’ Grange Road, West Hartlepool. The family also owned a house at Glaisdale where they spent much of their time. He was survived by his widow and five children. On his death he did not leave a will but his effects amounted to £171,577.

Robert Livingston and George Steel traded as managers and shipbrokers under the title of G. Steel & Co. The partnership was dissolved in April 1889 with George continuing to trade under G. Steel & Co.

In 1873 he formed a partnership with William Young establishing Steel, Young & Co. They eventually moved the company to London. Almost all the ships they owned were built in Hartlepool. George purchased the Para built by Withy in 1875. This was the first steel steamer to be built at Hartlepool.

Included in their fleet at different times were two ships named Para, two named Kennett and three named Blenheim.

Family History:

George Steel was born at Annan, Dumfriesshire in April 1828. In 1856 he set up business in West Hartlepool as an ironmonger. By the 1881 census he was an ironmonger, shipowner and farmer of 366 acres at Owton Manor. He lived at Owton Manor House with his wife Margaret, two of their sons George Carlyle and Henry Foster and their daughter Jesse.

George died on 11 October 1899 at the age of 71 leaving assets of £83,842.

William Young was born in April 1827 at Chatton, Northumberland. By 1861 he was living at Stranton, West Hartlepool with his wife Mary. By 1891 he was living at Foxgrove Road, Beckenham, Kent and managing the ships from offices at Fenchurch Street, London.

William died on 25 November 1916 leaving effects of £208,376.