Armenia

The following has been extracted from a short article by Bert Spaldin which appeared in the May/June 1990, No.109 issue of the ‘Tees Packet’:
On 6^th February, 1890, one of William Gray’s daughters, Mrs. McMordie of Greatham, was the sponsor at the launch of the weel deck vessel Armenia. She was built to Gray’s own order, was schooner-rigged on two iron masts and had two state rooms for passengers.

Upon completion of fitting-out, she sailed on trials on 8^th March and did 11 knots at 78 r.p.m. She then proceeded to Cardiff to load for Rangoon, owned 64/64ths by W.C. Gray.

On 6^th October, 1898 she was re-registered to the Armenia S.S. co. (Murrell Pal(?) & Co., managers), and in 1903 B.B. Murrell & Co. took over management. In that same year she was sold to Cross S.S. Co. Ltd., Newcastle (A. Richter & Co., managers), and then in 1914 to Cia. Begonesa de Nav., Bilbao, and re-named Nuestra Senora de Begona.

Leeds Mercury, December 20^th, 1902:
Five Fully Paid Shares (£100) in Armenia Steamship Co. Limited, West Hartlepool. Dividends paid over three years 25%, 20%, 11%, average per annum nearly 19%. Has good reserve fund. No debentures. Price £85, for one or more shores. Apply W. T. Walton and Sun, Incorporated Accountants, West Hartlepool.

Shields Daily News, July 19^th, 1905:
HARTLEPOOL STEAMER SALVED. The West Hartlepool s.s. Armenia left Greenock on 8^th July for Genoa. On Friday last she was towed into Lisbon by the German s.s. Nestor, in a disabled condition.
While the Armenia was proceeding down the Portuguese coast her high pressure cylinder cover snapped.
It is expected that repairs will occupy about 14 days. No agreement was made between the respective captains for the salvage services rendered, although Capt. Klofkern claims £1,500, but the matter will probably be settled between the owners.
The Armenia is steel screw steamship of 2,330 tons gross and 1,515 tons nett register, built in 1901 by Messrs W. Gray and Co., of West Hartlepool, and owned by the Armenian Steamship Company, Messrs B. B. Murrell and Co., Central Buildings, Church Street, West Hartlepool.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, November 3^rd, 1906:
Cables received from Odessa to-day state that the West Hartlepool steamer Armenia has gone ashore near that port. The vessel has only a small portion outward cargo on board, which may make the work refloating difficult. The Armenia is 3,880 tons gross, owned by Messrs. D. B. Murrell and Co., of West Hartlepool.

Aberdeen Press and Journal, Thursday, December 19^th, 1912:
The steamer ashore is the West Hartlepool boat the Armenia, of 2330 tons gross register, owned by Messrs B. B. Murrell and Co. She went ashore near Eupatoria on her outward voyage for that port in ballast. The vessel is insured on the London market at a valuation of £14,000.

Newcastle Journal, August 17^th, 1914:
The West Hartlepool steamer Armenia, of 2,330 tons gross, 1,515 tons net register, has been sold to Spanish buyers. She was built West Hartlepool in 1890, and was owned by Messrs A. Richter and Co., West Hartlepool.

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.

B.B. Murrell & Co., purchased the S.S. Armenia from William Gray in 1898 trading under the name of Armenia Steam Ship Co. of West Hartlepool. The steamer was sold in 1913.

Family History:
Benjamin Bray Murrell was born on 24^th April 1841 at Wivenhoe, Essex to parents William and Eliza (nee Harvey).
In 1861 he was mate aboard the United of Colchester. He received his mate’s certificate in 1862 and his master’s certificate No. 25232 in May 1867. 

Benjamin married Anne Eliza Heath in August 1871 at Wivenhoe. The couple had six daughters, all born at Wivenhoe between 1872 and 1883, and one son born at Hartlepool in 1884. Eliza died aged 41 at Hartlepool in 1887 and was interred at Spion Kop Cemetery.
In the 1891 census Benjamin was employed as a marine superintendent for Otto Trechmann & Co., and was living at ‘Neon House’ Stranton with his four daughters.  
In 1909 he sailed on the Empress of Ireland to Quebec as a tourist.
By 1911 he was living at ‘Heathlands’ 24 Clifton Avenue, West Hartlepool with two of his daughters.

Benjamin died, aged 79, at Hartlepool on 12^th August, 1920, leaving effects of £8,902.