Vera Voyage History

Hessler Shipping Co., was founded in 1901 with the main owner being Jacob Hessler. He had entered into a partnership with Furness, Withy & Co., in that year. The company was later known as the Swift Steam Ship Co. Ltd., then as the Hartlepools Seatonia S.S. Co.

The original Seatonia S.S. Co., directors were J.K.M. Hessler, Victor Nilson, Thomas Fallows Thompson and Wilfred John Atley.

The company managed ships for the M.O.W.T. during WW1.

Family History:

Jacob Kruse Muller Hessler was born on 3 January, 1859 at Skein, Norway to parents Nils Julius Johansen Hessler and Anne Maria Muller. He came to West Hartlepool when he was about twelve years of age and lived with a relative.
He first worked for Groves, Maclean & Co., shipowners then for V. Nilson & Co., timber merchants. In 1881, living at Stranton, Jacob was listed as a shipbroker’s clerk. He married May Bastow in 1883 at Sunderland and they had one daughter born in September 1884.
He remarried at Oslo, Norway in December 1891 to Christiane (Kitty) Johanne Andersen. They had a further five children. By 1891 Jacob had started his own business as a shipbroker and the family were living in Rium Terrace Stranton. He became a naturalised British subject on 10 July, 1899. At that time he was living at Thistlewood, Clifton Avenue, Hartlepool.
By 1901 the family were living at Wooler Avenue, West Hartlepool, with Jacob listed as a shipowner and timber merchant.  In the 1911 census the family were living at Seaton Carew and Jacob was listed as a timber agent.

Jacob was Vice-Consul for Norway for many years and in 1919 was made a Knight of St. Olav in recognition of his services.

Two of their sons were killed during WW1 serving with the Durham Light Infantry. Captain Jacob (Jackie) Kruse Muller Hessler lost his life on 23 March, 1918, aged 21. Captain Jacob Andrew Norman Hessler lost his life on 27 May, 1918, aged 25.

Jacob died at his home, Esk House, Elm Grove, West Hartlepool, on March 22nd, 1938, aged 79.

The steamship Vera.

Shields Daily Gazette, Tuesday, November 6^th, 1900:
STEAMERS IN COLLISION AT HARTLEPOOL. As the screw-steamer Sprite was leaving Hartlepool for West Hartlepool, early on Sunday morning, she collided, opposite the Customs Watch-house, with the screw steamer Vera, owned by Messrs Hessler and Co., of the same port. The Vera was ripped open almost to her load line. The Sprite had to put back for temporary repairs, but was able to proceed to Hamburg on the next tide.