Abeona

Official No. 92906: Code Letters KHMG.

Owners: 1886 M Rickinson & Son & Co, West Hartlepool: 1888 Rickinson & Sons, West Hartlepool: 1905 Danske Russiske (P Morch) Copenhagen–renamed Excellence Pleske: 1914 Shipping Controller British Government (Lambert Bros) London.

Masters: 1886-88 J Corner: 1889-92 Lewis: 1892-1902 TS Ayers: 1904 PF Perry: 1905-06 O Thorsoe: 1907 HC Christensen: 1908-09 Brandt: 1910 RFC Rasmussen: 1913-17 L Tannebeck: 1918 J Jenkins.

Bound from Bilbao for Middlesbrough with a cargo of iron-ore & a total crew of 26 the defensively armed Excellence Pleske was torpedoed without warning by German submarine (UB-57 Johannes Lohs) & sank 2 ½ miles SSE of Dungeness, Kent in 53.53.10N/1.0.46E on 31 March 1918. 15 lives lost.

The wreck was identified in 1982 when the ship’s bell was recovered.

Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, Friday, August 27^th, 1886:
Fatal Accident at West Hartlepool. This morning a man named William Goodwin died in the Hospital at Hartlepool from the effects of injuries sustained by falling from the deck of the steamer Abeona. Deceased was employed as watchman, and whilst the vessel was being removed from the Central Dock he slipped as he was in the act of using a cork fender, and alighted on the back of his head. He was an elderly man, and resided at West Hartlepool.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, Wednesday, September 15^th, 1886:
TRIAL TRIP OF THE S.S. ABEONA. The fine new screw-steamer Abeona which has just been built to the order of Messrs. Rickinson, Son and Co., of West Hartlepool, by Messrs. W. Gray and Co., of that place, left the port for her trial trip on Monday afternoon for Sunderland, to load a cargo of coal for Constantinople.
As the day was fine a large number of friends of the owners and builders accepted the invitation to be present, amongst whom were Mr. and Miss Kickinson, Mr. and Mrs. J. Rickinson, Mr. Jno. Hutton and Miss Burnip (Castle Eden), Mr. C. Furness, Mr. T.S. Hudson, Dr. Scott, Mr. G.H. Haines, Mr. and Mrs. T.B. Wilson, Captain V. Rickinson, Mr. and Mrs. E. Corner, Mr. Geo. Hutton, Mr. M. Dring, Rev. H.E. Savage, Rev. F.L. Cope, Rev. W.T. Jupp, Mr. Eltringham and Mr. Howlett (H. M. Inspectors Schools), Mrs. Howlett, Mrs. Mudd, Mr. M. Dixon; Mr. G. Jupp, Mr. G. Burlinson, Mr. L. Barron, Mr. W. Pulvane, and Mr. Sheldon (Darlington), and others.
After adjusting compasses in the bay, the vessel was put full speed ahead, and a most successful and pleasant run to Sunderland was made, the log showing, although there was a two knot tide against the ship, a distance of 13½knots in an hour and ten minutes, equalling 11.568 knots per hour. The triple expansion engines 900 h.p., supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Company, of West Hartlepool, who were represented by Mr. Thos. Mudd, M.T.M.E., the manager of the company, worked beautifully, running from 72 to 76 revolutions with perfect regularity and ease, not the slightest heating of any of the parts being perceptible at that high speed. The engines of this company are known for their great length of bearing surface, which gives in conjunction with the equilibrium piston valves a particularly smooth working, conducing to the life of the engines.
The boilers are of Siemen Martin steel, work at 150lb. pressure, and are excellent specimens of workmanship. The engine-room and stoke-hole were particularly cool, both boilers and engines being covered with a special non-conducting composition, which has reduced the temperature much below the usual heat of triple expansion engine-rooms. The finish of the workmanship the engines and their working were much admired by the visitors present.
Luncheon was served on board, and at its conclusion the toast of "Success to the Abeona" was proposed by Major Gray, who with Mr. Jones, general manager, represented the builders, and responded to by Messrs. Matthew and Jno. Rickinson; other toasts followed. The party reached Sunderland about four o'clock. The Abeona is commanded by Captain Corner, and during construction has been superintended by Captain V. Rickinson.
The following is a brief description of the ship: Length, 275 feet; breadth, 37 feet 2 inches; moulded depth, 19 feet 11 inches ; gross tonnage, 2,152; will carry over 3,060 tons of dead weight on 20 feet 9 inches draft. Built of steel, classed 100 A1 at Lloyds, and of the well-decked type, with all the latest improvements in construction which modern experience has suggested, and finished in the most complete manner for general trading.

This section will, in time, contain the stories of more than 450 merchant ships built or owned in the Hartlepools, and which were lost during the First World War. As an illustration of the truly global nature of shipbuilding, these ships were owned by companies from 22 different countries, including more than 30 sailing under the German flag at the outbreak of war.

Matthew Rickinson was the principal owner and manager of a small fleet of sailing vessels from about 1857. Other shareholders included his brothers, Valentine and William, George R. Ellison, Benjamin Gales, M. & James Gray. Eventually the sailing ships gave way to steam and, in conjunction with his son John, he established a fleet of steamers in about 1880. Matthew also had a successful wine and spirit business and small brewery which were merged with J.W. Cameron & Co. in about 1894.

The shipping company was founded in 1883 as M. Rickinson & Son, soon becoming Rickinson, Sons & Co. The company owned seventeen ships, twelve of which were built in West Hartlepool, all their names beginning with the letter 'A'. The funnel colours were black with a red band, carrying a white 'R'. The flag was a white St. Andrew's cross on a red field with the letters 'R&S' across it in white, red and white respectively.

The company reached its peak in 1902, when it owned a dozen ships, but steadily declined after that. Between 1904 and 1907, four ships were sold and not replaced, followed by a further two before the outbreak of the First World War.
Three ships were sold in 1915, and two were lost to enemy action in 1918, leaving just one in the fleet, the Astraea. She was sold in 1920, bringing to an end Rickinson's shipowning venture.

Family History:

Valentine Rickinson was born at Robin Hood’s Bay on 13 October 1812 to parents John and Elizabeth (nee Granger). He became a master mariner and had a mate’s and master’s certificate no. 46085 issued at Stockton in 1851. He married Ann Petty in March 1836 at Stockton. Ann died in January 1838 aged 23. Valentine remarried on 17 July 1847 at London to Elizabeth Peacock. In 1851 he was at sea and his wife and three children were living at Clarence Terrace, Stockton. The family moved to Hartlepool in 1854. From 1859 until 1862 he was master and part owner of the barque Eclipse and, in 1862, master and part owner of the brig John Rickinson. By 1871 Valentine had retired from the sea-faring life and was living at Church Street with his wife and their four children and listed as a shipowner. By 1891 the couple were living at 7 Bellerby Terrace, Stranton.

Valentine died aged 85 at Bellerby Terrace, Hartlepool on 25 September 1897 leaving effects of £978. He was interred at West Hartlepool cemetery.

William Rickinson was born at Robin Hood’s Bay on 16 August 1814 to parents John and Elizabeth (nee Granger). He also became a mariner and a ship’s master certificate no. 46175 issued at Stockton in 1851. William married Ann Wellburn at York on 8 January 1853. They had five children throughout their marriage. Ann died in March 1891.

William died aged 49 on 7 February 1864 at Thorpe, Fylingdales leaving effects of less than £3,000.

Matthew Rickinson was born at Robin Hood’s Bay on 29 April 1817 to parents John and Elizabeth (nee Granger). He married Elizabeth Gray in 1840. In 1851 the couple were living in Robin Hood’s Bay and Matthew was listed in the census as a grocer. By 1861 the couple were living at Victoria Road, Hartlepool and Matthew was listed as a shipowner. His wife, Elizabeth, died at Hartlepool in 1865. The 1871, 1881 and 1891 census had Matthew listed as a wine and spirit merchant. By 1891 Matthew was living at Havelock House, Stranton.

Matthew died aged 80 at Hartlepool 12 September 1897 leaving effects of £68,935.

John Rickinson was born on 8 December 1844 at Robin Hood’s Bay to parents Matthew and Elizabeth. He started his working life as a grocer but later went into the business of ship owning with his father. John was married at York to Diana Wood on 4 January 1871. In the 1891 census John was listed as a wine merchant, brewer and steamship owner. Diana died in 1902 at Hartlepool.

John died aged 39 at West Hartlepool on 30 January 1904 leaving effects of £ 105,798.

Matthew Rickinson was born at West Hartlepool in November 1871 to parents John and Diana. In the 1891 census Matthew was listed as a secretary, this was presumably in his father’s business. Matthew married Edith Ann Plant at Christ Church, Hartlepool on 14 February 1905. By 1911 the family were living at Stafford House, Harrogate with Matthew now listed as a ship owner.

Matthew died aged 55 at Harrogate on 7 November 1926 leaving effects of £82,978.

Archibald Gray Rickinson was born at Hartlepool in July 1874 to parents John and Diana (nee Wood). Archibald married Rose Temple Jackson at Willesden in April 1900. In 1901 the couple were living at Granton House, Grange Road and by 1911 West Park, West Hartlepool with their four children. In the 1901 and 1911 census Archibald was listed as a steamship manager and owner.

Archibald died aged 75 at Hurworth-on-Tees on 31 January 1950. He left effects of £168.

Fleet List
Agenoria    1883-1895
Aeolus        1884-1886
Abeona      1886-1904
Astraea      1886-1898
Amphitrite  1887-1916
Ariel           1889-1897
Aurora       1889-1906
Albion        1892-1906
Aeolus       1894-1907 (second ship of that name)
Arion          1895-1913
Aries          1895-1915
Argo           1895-1915
Atlas          1897-1918
Astraea      1898-1920 (second ship of that name)
Agenoria    1902-1915 (second ship of that name)
Ariel           1902-1918 (second ship of that name)
Arachne     1912-1917