Details about West Hartlepool Shipping Company
Originally registered on 17 June 1848 and began trading in June 1849, the Company ceased trading under the name West Hartlepool Shipping Company in March 1853. The primary shareholder, Ralph Ward Jackson, transferred his interests to the West Hartlepool Harbour and Railway Company which was the forerunner of the WHSNC. The newspapers of the day when publishing information on shipping, on occasion, still referred to ships being owned by the WHSC after it ceased trading.
The promotors of the West Hartlepool Shipping Company on 17 June 1848 were John Grafton, contractor of London, Ralph Ward Jackson Esquire of Greatham Hall, John Lawrenson, brewer of Hartlepool, John Jobs, ship owner of West Hartlepool and John Sheraton, miller of West Hartlepool.
The complete registration of the Company was set up on 23 June 1849 the purpose of which was ‘the buying and selling of ships and navigating the same.’ The capital was £12,000 divided into 1,200 shares of £10 each.
25 June 1849: Registered Solicitor for the Company: Edward Turnbull. Trustees: Ralph Ward Jackson, William Lisle and John Sheraton. Directors: Ralph Ward Jackson, William Lisle, John Lawrenson, John Brewer and John Sheraton. Auditors: Thomas Wilde Powell and Robert Ward Jackson of Holme Lodge, Greatham.
Shareholders:
Ralph Ward Jackson Esquire of Greatham - 200 shares
John Brewer, gentleman of Seaton Carew - 70 shares
Edward Turnbull, solicitor of Hartlepool - 20 shares
John Lawrenson, brewer of Hartlepool - 10 shares
John Jobs, ship owner of West Hartlepool - 15 shares
John George Marshall, painter of West Hartlepool - 1 share
John White, contractor of West Hartlepool - 4 shares
Melville Proud, mason of West Hartlepool - 3 shares
William Ramsey, farmer of West Hartlepool - 3 shares
James Rachley, master mariner of Middlesbrough - 2 shares
Benjamin Thomas Ord, printer of Hartlepool - 1 share
John Proctor, bookseller of Hartlepool - 1 share
John Meldrum, sailmaker of Hartlepool – 2 shares
Richard Fishwick, master mariner of West Hartlepool – 2 shares
William Lisle, miller of Middleton – 10 shares
Thomas Cummings Gibson, merchant of Gracechurch St. London – 25 shares
8 April 1851: Directors: William Lisle, John Lawrenson, John Sheraton, John Brewer, Thomas Wilde Powell, Robert Fawcus, Jacob Allison, butcher of West Hartlepool, and Samuel Bastow, iron founder of West Hartlepool. Trustees: William Lisle, John Sheraton, Thomas Wilde Powell and Edward Turnbull. Auditors: Thomas Wilde Powell and Thomas Young, grocer of Hartlepool.
Shareholders:
Robert Fawcus, colliery agent of Byers Green - 35 shares
Thomas Young of Hartlepool – 15 shares
John White of West Hartlepool – 11 shares
Thomas Wilde Powell of Holme Lodge near Thirsk – 20 shares
Jacob Allison, butcher of West Hartlepool – 10 shares
James McKenzie of West Hartlepool – 5 shares
Samuel Bastow of West Hartlepool – 15 shares
John Fawcus of West Hartlepool – 5 shares
John Thompson junior of West Hartlepool – 5 shares
Joshua Hodgson of West Hartlepool – 10 shares
Allison Chapman of West Hartlepool – 5 shares
Thomas Cockburn of West Hartlepool – 2 shares
William Sheraton of West Hartlepool – 5 shares
Robert Robinson of Hunwick – 3 shares
Edward Johnson of Hunwick – 3 shares
Thomas Dickenson of Newcastle-on-Tyne – 10 shares
Admiral Benbow
