Robert Fawcus and his son, also Robert, owned and had shares in Hartlepool registered ships from 1845.
Other shareholders included: Ralph Ward Jackson; William Ramsey (master mariner, Hartlepool); Edward Turnbull (solicitor); James Stephenson (timber merchant, Bishopwearmouth); Thomas Wilkinson; Henry Fawcus (Stockton-on-Tees).
Family Histories:
Robert Fawcus was born on 13th July 1816 at Stepney, Middlesex to parents Ann (nee Evans) and Robert Fawcus. He married Anna Maria Speciall in April 1841 at Stockton-on-Tees and the couple had 14 children throughout their marriage. By 1845 the family were living at Seaton Carew. Robert became a coal merchant and shipbroker and was Swedish, Norwegian and Russian Vice-Consul for the Hartlepools. Anna died in May 1871 at Over Dinsdale Hall near Darlington. By 1881 Robert had retired and moved to South Eaton Place, London and by 1891 was living at Norbiton, Surrey.
Robert died aged 78 at Norbiton, Surrey on 2nd June 1894 leaving effects of £1,484.
Robert Speciall Fawcus and his twin Thomas Powell were born in 1845 at Hartlepool to parents Anna Maria (nee Speciall) and Robert Fawcus. He married Emily Best on 7th October 1869 at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Stockton-on-Tees. In 1871 the couple were living at North Road, Seaton Carew and by 1881 had moved to Front Street, Seaton Carew. Emily died in September 1889 at Norbiton, Surrey. On the probate in 1890 Robert was listed as a merchant at 23 Rood Street, London. By 1891 Robert was living at Norbiton, Surrey with his daughter Emily and sons Robert and Charles (coal merchant shipbrokers) and John (barrister).
Robert died aged 58 at Over Dinsdale, Norbiton, Surrey in March 1903 leaving effects of £2,234.
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Henry Fawcus was born in 1842 at Stockton-on-Tees to parents Anna Maria (nee Speciall) and Robert Fawcus. Henry became a solicitor and married Anne Share Lockwood on 7th January 1869 at the Parish Church, Stockton-on-Tees. The couple had four children. In 1868 he took over from his father as Swedish, Norwegian and Russian Vice-Consul for the Hartlepools. At this time the family were living at Seaton Carew. By 1881 the couple were living at Boldon, Durham and Henry was listed on the census as a coal-exporter. In 1891 the couple were living at Osborne Road, Jesmond, Newcastle-on-Tyne with his business premises at Queen Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne,
Henry died aged 60 on 28 January 1903 at Harley Street Infirmary, Middlesex He was crossing a busy road in London when he was knocked down by a cab and died of his injuries a short time later. Another account gives his death as suicide by shooting himself. He left effects of £3,122.
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Edward Turnbull was born in 1821 at Newcastle-on-Tyne to father Edward Turnbull. He married Ann (Annie) Galloway at Tynemouth on 26th January 1846. Edward began his career as a solicitor with Richard Wilson of Darlington. The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in January 1847 and Edward took T.H. Tilly as a partner at his premises at 13 Church Street, West Hartlepool. The firm became Turnbull & Tilly. Edward had studied ships and seafaring men and mastered the legal side of those and other matters. He was elected mayor of Hartlepool in 1849 and again in 1853. He lived most of his adult life at West Hartlepool.
Edward died on 27th July 1888 at 9 Belsize Park, Hampstead leaving effects of £16,076. His widow, Annie, died the following year.
Cruiser 1841-1868
Sunderland: Official No. 5130: Code Letters JGKW: one deck; two & trysail masts; square rigged; square stern; carvel built wood brig; fastened with iron bolts; 219g; 85.0 x 23.0 x 15.0.
Owners: 1841 Thomas Wilkinson, Sunderland; 1848 Thomas Wilkinson, Hartlepool; 1854 Thomas Wilkinson, Robert Fawcus, James Stephenson, Hartlepool & William Ramsey, West Hartlepool; 1860 George & Matthew Wilkinson, Hartlepool.
Masters: 1841-45 Doughty; 1845 Richard Errington (b. 1833 Nortumberland C.N. 10746 Newcastle-on-Tyne 1856); November 1847 William Bowles Dawes; June 1848 Doughty; 1848-55 Thomas Boyling (C.N. 11540 Shields 1855); April 1855 Samuel Ambrose (C.N. 8394 London 1853); 1865 Williamson; 1867 Garbutt; 1867 Shaw.
Voyages: 1841-46 Sunderland for London; 1847-48 Hartlepool for Hull; 17 April 1866 anchored at Deal; 3 December 1867 On a voyage from Hartlepool for London with a crew of six, during a heavy gale, she became distressed close to the Goodwin Sands. She sent out signals which were answered by the Bradford lifeboat & a steam tug. The crew were saved by the lifeboat & with difficulty the vessel was eventually towed into Ramsgate Harbour.
Bound for Pillau Cruiser foundered off Mandal on or about 14 March 1868. Crew & part of the rigging was saved. The vessel was insured.
More detail »Currah ?-1855
Foreign built, place & date unknown: previously Emer: Official No. 630: Code Letters HDPW: one deck; two masts; carvel built wood schooner; 66g; 68.9 x 14.4 x 6.9.
Owners: 1853 Robert Fawcus, James Stephenson, & William Ramsey, Hartlepool; 1854 Peter Cutler, Hartlepool.
Masters: 1853 John Work; June 1854 Lancelot Bell; 1855 John Work.
Currah was wrecked near Tynemouth on 21 December 1855. Lloyds’ agents, R Popplewell & Co, were the overseers for the stripping of the wreck.
More detail »Dispatch 1801-?
Leith, Edinburgh: Official No. 8968: Code Letters KFGT: one deck; one mast; square stern; carvel built wood sloop; 66g; 50.5 x 15.8 x 8.0; new wales & upperworks 1824; good repairs 1825; new keelson & large repairs 1835; repair to damage 1840.
Owners: 1804 McCunn, Scotland; 1809-13 Campbell, Scotland; 1827 R Dobie & Co, Leith; 1843 David Peacock, Dundee; 1845 sold by Henry & Robert Fawcus, Stockton-on-Tees on behalf of David Peacock to James Stephenson (merchant) Hartlepool; February 1847 sold to Whitby; by 1867-68 George Westgarth (Ridge House, Easington) Whitby; by 1870-83 Henry Hobson (Brunswick Street) Whitby.
Masters: 1804-06 Bannantine; 1807-08 J Campbell; 1809-13 McClean; 1827-44 R Dobie; 1845 Samuel Lee; December 1846 James Bentley; 1864 Hobson; 1883-84 Knaggs; 1885-March 1886 Coward.
Not on the British Register as Dispatch by 1888.
More detail »Dove 1847 -1866
Pictou, Nova Scotia: Official No. 3767: one deck; two masts; square stern; carvel built wood snow; 173g; 89.1 x 23.0 x 12.0.
Owners: by 1852-1861 Newcastle-on-Tyne; by 1863 London; August 1864 William Mowbray, Church St. West Hartlepool; March 1866 Robert Fawcus, West Hartlepool; April 1866 William Mowbray & Edward Prodham, West Hartlepool.
Masters: 1866 Edward Prodham.
On a voyage from Shields for Dieppe with a cargo of coal & a crew of six Dove sprang a leak & was abandoned 15 miles off Hartlepool on 24 September 1866. A few minutes after the crew took to the longboat, Dove was seen to founder. The crew were picked up by the Maid of Erin & taken to the Longscar Buoy where they took to their longboat again & rowed to West Hartlepool. The vessel was insured in a Stockton-on-Tees club.
More detail »Emmy 1872-1872
Matthew Pearse & Co, Stockton-on-Tees: Yard No. 120: launched August 1872; Official No. 67533: 962g.
Owners: 1872 Henry Fawcus, West Hartlepool.
On a voyage from the Tyne for Cronstadt with a cargo of coal Emmy was driven ashore & wrecked at Agger near Thisted on 24 October 1872. Earl Percylanded ten of the crew at Shields. This was only her second voyage & she was valued at £20,000.
Crew 1872: Jackson, William
More detail »Hope ?-1872
Unknown place & date of build: condemned as a Prize in the Court of Admiralty at Inverness on 6 December 1797: previously Family Concordia: Official No. 4867: Code Letters JFHM: one & a break deck; two masts; round stern; carvel built wood ketch/schooner; 66g; 56.5 x 17.5 x 8.0.
Owners: 1845 James Stephenson, Hartlepool & Robert Fawcus, Hartlepool; February 1846 Hull; 1854 London; 1860-70 William Holman (Whitstable, Kent) Faversham
Masters: 1845 Richard Cust.
On a voyage from Shields with a cargo of coal Hope stranded a mile west of Burnam Harbour & was wrecked on 22 March 1872. No lives lost.
More detail »Ida 1871-1876
M Pearse, Stockton-on-Tees: Yard No. 111: launched August 1871: Official No. 65516: Code Letters KPND: iron screw steamer; 618g; 220.1 x 29.1 x 16.5; engine 98hp.
Owners: 1871 Henry Fawcus, West Hartlepool; 1876 Richard C Denton, Hartlepool.
Masters: 1866 Moller; 1875 Charles Barrett Darling (C. N. 31305); 1876 Gray.
Voyages: 27 April 1875 stranded near the Rosetta Lighthouse on the coast of Egypt. The inquiry found that the vessel stranded through the master neglecting to verify his position by cross bearings. He also grossly neglected his duty in not using the lead when in proximity to dangerous shoals so his certificate was suspended for six months.
On a voyage from Ibrail for Rotterdam with a cargo of maize & a crew of 19 Ida was wrecked on Point Corsen about 30 miles north of Brest off the French coast on 19 September 1876. The crew landed on shore in the ship’s boats.
The inquiry resulted in the mate being admonished. The total cost of the two day inquiry came to £38 18s 6d.
More detail »Lumley 1839-1855
Sunderland: one deck; two masts; carvel built wood brig; 240g; 229nt; 82.9 x 23.4 x 15.0; male bust figurehead; repairs to damage 1846; part new deck & some repairs 1848.
Owners: 1840 C Wilson, Sunderland; 1848 Stevenson, Quebec; Liverpool; 1854 Robert Fawcus (Hartlepool) & Henry Fawcus (Stockton-on-Tees) Hartlepool.
Masters: 1840 W Topliff; 1845-47 Jones; 1848-50 Brennan; 1853 J Scott; 1854 George Wells.
Voyages: 1844 Bristol for Hamburg; 1845 Sunderland for the Mediterranian; 1847 Sunderland for the Baltic; 1848 Liverpool for the Mediterranian; 1853 Quebec for India.
Lumley was lost on 7 April 1855.
More detail »Morning Star 1845-?
Rye: Official No. 7686: Code Letters JVBK: one deck; one mast; square stern; carvel built wood smack; 39g; 48.7 x 15.7 x 8.1.
Owners: by 1849 Sandwich; by 1858 Peter Lawrence, Hull; by June 1863 Enoch Waller, Hull; by June 1863 Williamson Thorp (fish merchant) West Hartlepool; June 1863 Robert Fawcus, West Hartlepool; September 1863 James Tweedy, Hartlepool; November 1863 James Tweedy & Thomas Wood, Hartlepool; by 1870-80 Robert Brown, Yarmouth.
More detail »Nelson 1834-1876
James Dowey, North Shields: Official No. 31650: Code Letters QRTW: one deck; two masts; clincher & double over built wood schooner; 117g; 113nt; 80.5 x 17.2 x 9.6.
Owners: November 1834 William Wilkinson, John Sunley, John Roome, Charles Barry & Charles Moss, London; August 1846 George Gray, Newcastle-on-Tyne; Stockton-on-Tees; 1850 Robert Fawcus, Hartlepool; 1860 William Locke, Thomas Thorpe & Henry Moss, Melbourne, Australia.
Masters: 1853 William Ferguson.
Nelson was broken up in 1876.
More detail »Spring 1807-1856
Whitby: Official No. 6235: Code Letters JMWP: one deck with beams; two masts; carvel built wood brigantine; 90g; 59.8 x 17.1 x 9.0; new deck & some repairs 1819; repairs to damage 1825; new deck 1838; part new deck 1838; new keelson & some repairs 1842.
Owners: 1811 T Mitchell; 1812 R Clark; 1814-20 Jefferson & Co; 1827-29 J Dowson, Yarmouth; 1835-36 Cubitt & Co, London; 1837 Longridge, London; 1848 ??Seab., London; 1854 John Hunton (Stockton-on-Tees) Robert Fawcus & John Cummings, Hartlepool; July 1854 John Hunton & John Cummings, Hartlepool.
Masters: 1811 T Mitchell; 1812-13 R Clark; 1814-15 G Paxton; 1817-21 W Raper; 1821 A Proctor; 1825 H Gale; 1827 J Knight; 1829-32 J Brown; 1835-36 J Lingham; 1837 W Batt; 1848-54 Thompson; 1854-56 John Cummings.
Voyages: from Gothenburg for Hull on 22 October 1854 she was in Yarmouth Roads with her sails split, leaky, boats washed away & other damage having encountered bad weather. She had also lost a man overboard.
On a voyage from Middlesbrough for Altona with a cargo of railway iron, Springwent ashore on Scarhorn, off Hamburg, & filled with water on 8 November 1856. No lives lost.
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