Saint Hilda

Jens Christian Nielsen established his business in 1852 as a coal exporter and timber merchant so it was a natural progression to purchase shares in sailing vessels from about 1862. Some of the shares were owned by William Gray and John Denton. In 1872 he formed his company C. Nielsen & Co., with the purchase of his first steamer, Saint Hilda, built by Withy, Alexander & Co. By 1882 the company had become C. Nielson & Son then in 1888 C. Nielsen & Sons. After his death the company became Hans C. Nielson & Co. The Luis was lost in 1918 and no further ships were registered at West Hartlepool. As most of their ships traded to the Scandinavian countries they were registered in those ports.

Family History:

Jens Christian Nielson was born in 1824 at Nordby, Fano in Denmark. He moved to England and by the 1851 census was living at Picton, Place, Newcastle-on-Tyne with his wife, Fanny/Fannie, and his son, Hans Christian. The family moved to Hartlepool soon after and Jens, usually known as Christian, established his business. Fanny passed away at Hartlepool in early 1866 and Christian was remarried in 1867 at Hartlepool to Eliza Frances Taylor. The couple had two sons and two daughters. By the 1881 census Christian had become a naturalised British Subject and the family were living at 15 Cliff Terrace, Hartlepool. During his lifetime Christian was Danish vice-consul and was created a Knight of Danneborg by the King of Denmark. He was also a consular agent for the U.S.A., a Justice of the Peace and a mayor of Hartlepool in 1870-71. He was a vice-chairman of the Hartlepools Shipowners Society, chairman of the Hartlepool Pilotage Board and a representative on the Port and Harbour Commission. Christian was also a warden of St Hilda’s Church for many years.

Christian died aged 76 at ‘Nordby’, Norton-on-Tees on 23 December 1896 leaving effects of £22,367. He was interred at St. Hilda's.

Hans Christian was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1851 to parents Jen Christian Nielsen and Fanny/Fannie. He was married at Stockton in 1877 to Elfrida Julia Hay. They had one son, Hans Rupert, who was born at Norton-on-Tees in 1885. Elfrida Julia Nielsen died at Hartlepool in 1914. After his father’s death Hans became Danish vice-consul. He was also a member of the Port and Harbour Commission the Hartlepool Pilotage Commission, and was a Justice of the Peace for Hartlepool. The family lived at 12 Cliff Terrace, Hartlepool until the outbreak of the war when Charles moved to Norton-on-Tees. Hans spent his summers at Norton and his winters in Denmark.

Hans died at the age of 88 while visiting one of his daughters at Birkerod, Denmark on 28 January 1939 leaving effects of £58,010.

Charles Nielson was born at Hartlepool in 1858 to parents Jen Christian Nielsen and Eliza Frances (nee Taylor).  In 1871 he and his brother Frederick were pupils at a boarding school in Knaresbrough. Charles became a timber merchant and was married at Wakefield in 1886 to Margaret Luis Fernandes.  They had a son and a daughter. In 1901 the family were living at 15 Cliff Terrace. By 1911 they were living at Billingham Hall, Stockton-on-Tees and later moved to ‘Hartburn Lodge’, Stockton-on-Tees. Margaret Luis Nielsen died in 1934.

Charles was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Charles died aged 81 at Stockton-on-Tees on 7 June 1939 leaving effects of £79,699.

Completed October 1872; Official No. 58765: Code Letters LMBG.

Owners: 1872 Jens C. Nielson, Hartlepool: 1876 Christian Nielson & Co, Hartlepool: 1889 Christian Nielsen & Son, West Hartlepool; 1895 AS DS Vesterhavet (J. Lauritzen) Esbjerg, Denmark–renamed Neptun

Masters: 1872-73 C Neilson: 1873-74 H Rodgaard (C.N. 97182): 1874 C Neilson: 1878-81 H Rodgaard: 1882 M Wandless: 1883 J Robinson: 1887-89 W Harrison: 1891-92 Norby: 1892-94 AJ Edwards: 1895-97 H Jessen: 1899-1900 ME Jorgensen: 1902 CN Gram: 1903 PL Winther; 1906 Knudsen.

Saint Hilda left Newport on 29 March 1874 bound for Taganrog & stranded at Cape Takil on 23 April. She was in danger of breaking up & salvage operations were extremely difficult.

‘Inquiry held at the Naval Court, Kertch on 30 April 1874.

Saint Hilda was bound from Constantinople for Taganrog, & when at the entrance to Kertch Strait, Black Sea on 23 April 1873, struck on some unknown danger, damaging 12 of her plates & making a hole on the port side. She was run on the beach for safety & after being lightened was taken to Kertch for repairs.

The Court came to the conclusion that, according to the bearings & distances given in the evidence, Saint Hilda must have struck upon some sunken rock or wreck not specified in the chart or book of instructions. They suggested that the British Government should request the Government of Russia to order a more accurate survey of sunken rocks from Cape Takli upwards.’

On 28 November 1874 Saint Hilda sank after a collision with the Dublin vessel Cymba in the Thames. She was refloated.