The following are extracts from 'The local records of Stockton and the neighbourhood or a Register of Memorable Events", by Thomas Richmond. Published by William Robinson (Stockton). E. Marlborough & Co 1868 (London) 1299 William le JETOUR, the master of hartlepool ship, with a crew of 27 men and 2 barges, were employed in the transport of provisions from Berwick for the use of the king's army at Stirling and Edinburgh; the master had sixpence, and the sailors threepence a day. 1637 William BUCK and Roger STAINTHORPE, two of Mr. Robert LAMPTON'sseamen, sitting on the side of the vessell, called 'Lampton Folly', fell backwards over into the river, and were both drowned. They were buried at Stockton July 9th. Feb 1650 An Irish frigat boarded a Newcastle ship near Hartlepool, which the Governor, capt Richard WEBB, seeing caused some of his guns to be so planted, that they shot the Irish frigat through and through, and caused her to hasten away, and leave her prize behind, which came in safe to Hartlepool. - Whitlock. 12/3/1651 Cpt John DENTON was charged before the bailiffs of Scarborough with piracy. William BATTY, mariner, deposited that the prisoner, 'capt of ketch, with one peece of ordinance and about 30 men,' took the 'AMITY' of Scarborough, between the roads of that port and Filey bay, in 1649, and kept her until Robert ROGERS, her master, gave him ransom. Leonard GREEN deposed, that in the same year, about Christmas, being a servant in a ship being in Tees water', the prisoner and his men came on board, and carried away a bag of money, several suits of apparel, and nearly 200 firkins of butter. We have here one of many cases of piracy that occurred about this time on our coast. 'The leading offender, Cpt DENTON, says the Rev. James RAINE (editor of Surtees Society's 40th volume), seems to have been another Paul Jones in these waters. In June 1651, having been allowed by the obliging gaolers of York castle to go into the city, accompanied by a keeper, to dine with Cpt William THORNTON, horses were waiting for him at Walmgate Bar, and he got clear away. 11/1/1690 A severe storm - two ships from Tease, one of them was lost, both men and passengers drowned, a sweet young man, the maister, named John HERON'. 26/2/1701 John THOMPSON of Stockton, with the whole of his ship's company, except one man, were cast away on the coast of Lincolnshire. 1718 In this year there entered the port of London, 75 corn ships from Stockton, 19 from Hartlepool, and 2 from Sunderland. 26/9/1734 The ship 'Eden' of Stockton, John HARRISON master, was wrecked near Harwich on her passage from London. 1/1/1758 Christopher ALLISON (a native of Stockton), master of the 'Adventurer', armed ship, distinguished himself in a most courageous manner, in the capture of the 'Machault' French Privateer (of 14 nine pounders and 182 men), in Duneness-road. The commander, Cpt BRAY, assumed the merit of the action and received the reward; but it was owing to the suggestions and order of Cpt ALLISON principally that the success was obtained. Cpt ALLISON died at Stockton 11/7/1808 aged 87. 5/6/1764 Died at Ayton age 80, Cpt William WILSON. A commodore and commander-in-chief of the marine force of the East India Company, he performed various distinguished services, for which he was presented by the directors with a gold medal, commemorative of the same. 16/1/1772 The 'Doe and Debby' of Stockton (John WATSON Master), was wrecked near Yarmouth Roads, on her passage from Gothenburg. All hands perished. 6/1/1774 The 'Thomas and Rebecca', Cpt. HOPPER, Hull for Newcastle with goods and cheese, was drove on shore near Hartlepool, and wrecked; the crew and part of the cargo were saved. A set of barbarians came down from the country, and in a savage manner plundered the ship, and carried off a great number of cheeses. 8/12/1778 'The Bellona' frigate, built at Stockton by Pye, for government was launched; she mounted 20 guns (6 pounders), and 12 swivels; left the Tees in October 1779, and was wrecked in the Texel in December following. 14/2/1779 Capt. James COOK, the celebrated circum-navigator, was murdered at Owhyhee. He was born at Marton in Cleveland, of honest industrious parents, Oct 27th 1728. Sep 1789 A life boat (suggested by the loss of the 'Adventurer' with her crew) was built by subscription at S. Shields, by H. GREATHEAD. It was first used on Jan 30th 1790, when several seamen were brought off in safety from a wreck in the offing. 1790 Mark PYE and Thomas HAW, shipbuilders at Stockton built between 1782 and 1790, 24 vessels, of which the 'Aurora' appears to have been the largest, her length being 97 ft, breadth 30 ft and depth 19ft. Between 1790 and 1805, Thos HAW built 40 vessels, the largest of which were the 'Highland Lass' (556 tons), the 'Tottenham (517 tons), and the 'Experiment'. The first 2 were built for Capt W. CHRISTOPHER. From the early part of 1805 to April 1817, Mr HAW built 16 vessels, 10 of which were under 100 tons, and the remainder above 100 tons. The 'Lively'(104 tons), Westmorland (108), 'Billy' (136) and Aurora (186). The last named vessel was built for Cpt B. ROBINSON and the first 2 for the Merchants Shipping Co. The tonnage of the 16 vessels together were 1212 tons. 23/1/1796 In consequence of a violent storm of wind from the S.W. Thomas HUTCHINSON, of Stockton, was driven to sea in the afternoon in a small open boat, which he was loading with sand near Clement's Beacon; and on the evening of the following day he was taken up at sea, near Holy Island, by a Sunderland vessel. He had been employed the whole of this time in laving water from the boat, which sunk within ten minutes after he had left her. HUTCHINSON died in Sherburn Hospital. At the same time another sand boat, with decks, was driven to sea with an old man and his wife on board; the vessel was found near Whitby the next day, the old couple having perished through cold and fatigue. 5/4/1799 A dreadful gale, attended with much snow, took place this night. Upwards of 100 vessels took shelter in the Tees. The 'Experiment' of Stockton, was lost near Seaham, on the 6th the master John FOULSTONE with the crew all perished. 19/4/1802 A large vessel the 'Tottenham, 517 tons, intended for the East India Service, was launched at Stockton from T. HAW's yard. The ship ' Ranger' for the West India trade, was launced the same week from Melanby's yard. 19/3/1811 The 'Satisfaction', of Stockton, and two other vessels, all coal laden, were lost on the Gunfleet Sand. The crews were saved. Apr 1811 T. ROBINSON, pilot, lost in a small boat at the mouth of the Tees. 28/1/1814 The 'Betsy' of Sunderland, coal laden, came ashore at Seaton, and soon afterwards went to pieces. The crew were, with great difficulty, saved by the Hartlepool lifeboat. 27/11/1812 John GIBSON one of the Tees pilots, when returning to his boat at Stockton, fell into the river, and was drowned. 10/2/1814 The ice by which the Tees had been choked for the last 5 weeks broke up. The 'Hawk' (London trader) broke from her moorings at Stockton by the pressure of loose ice, passed through the new cut, and ran aground at Newport. 19/11/1814 Died at Stockton age 70, Vice Admiral BRUNTON. He was born at Stockton; and entered the navy in 1771, serving first on board the Marlborough as an able seaman, and afterwards as master's mate. He was promoted to be a Lieutenant, in 1777; a Commander, in 1782; a Post Captain, in 1783 a Rear-Admiral of the Blue, in 1805; a Vice Admiral of the Blue, in 1810; a Vice Admiral of the White, June 4th 1814. The infirmity of deafness was the cause of his not being employed in active service, in the latter period of his life. He sustained the honest character of a British sailor in the most honourable manner, and as the tablet erected to his memory in Stockton church express, ''He possessed the esteem of all with whom he served, whilst his conduct in private life procured him universal respect''. 22/11/1829 The brig 'General' belonging to the General Shipping Co. Stockton, lost at St. Agnes on the coast of Cornwall. The master SHIPLEY and the whole crew perished. 12/12/1830 A tremendous gale this morning, and several vessels wrecked near Seaton, amongst which were the 'Newcastle', vessel, with a crew of 9 men, 2 only of whom were saved; and the 'George' of Newry, laden with kelp, the crew drowned. 25/7/1831 A cargo of coals (the first) was shipped at Seaham amidst the firing of cannon and the cheering of the crowds. 30/5/1832 The 'Mary Hall' of Stockton, seized at Sunderland, with 10 tons of tobacco (smuggled), value £3000. The master DRYDEN ad mate were committed t Durham Gaol, and afterwards sentenced to one months imprisonment and to serve in the navy 5 years. 5/5/1833 The 'Paragon' a vessel belonging to the Stockton Shipping Co, took fire about 7pm, when at anchor near the Nore, and was totally destroyed. The crew and passengers, together 16 persons, saved their ives by taking to the boat, but no part of the property was saved. 1/9/1833 The gale from the NE which commenced the previous night, continued the whole of this day, with the most tremendous seas remembered, and incessant torrents of rain, occasioning, on the whole of the eastern coast, an immense loss of life and property. The woks of Hartlepool fortunately escaped injury, but considerable damage was don to those at Seahma Harbour, and at Sunderland the breast work of the South pier was washed away. 'The EAGLE', Cpt CLAWSON from Stockton to Rotterdam, with coals and earthenware, was totally lost near Hornsey. The crew saved. 3/4/1834 The 'Hawk Packet' of Newcastle, and the sloop 'Sisters' of Whitby, came in contact off Hartlepool early this morning. The 'Sisters sunk, and 3 out of 4 men were drowned. 9/12/1834 George ROBINSON, a Redcar pilot, at imminent peril,, put to sea in a small boat, and succeeded in saving the lives of 2 boys who had been left by the life boat (when it rescued the rest of the crew), lashed to the rigging of the brig 'Mowbray' which had been wrecked near Redcar. For this noble act a subscription was etered into at Stockton, and (in the following May) a silver tankard presented to him by Mr. Rd DICKSON, in the names of the subscribers. 7/5/1836 The 'Englishman' Cpt SHARP, in leaving the river Tees, went aground on the Bar, and became a total wreck. 1837 Shipbuilding commenced at Hartlepool by Messrs Richardson and Parkin building this year the 'Castle Eden', 258 tons; the 'Richmond Lass' 281 tons; and the 'Victoria 182 tons. This was followed by the establishment of the slip-way on the Middleton Shore. 44 ships built in 1851. 3/2/1837 The first ship the 'Coundon', 340 tons, built in Spence's new shipyard, Thornaby, was launched. 20/2/1837 A Mutual Marine Association formed at Stockton. At this time there were nearly 200 vessels connected with the port. 22/7/1837 Two men and 2 boys belonging to the 'James' a Perth vessel, which was lying with a cargo of coals at the Clarence Staithes, Stockton, were suffocated in consequence of the coals taking fire during the night from negligence of the coal trimmers in placing their candles against the ceiling of the vessel. 20/8/1837 The brig 'Fanny' of Stockton, took fire, when off Filey, and was totally destroyed. She belonged to Stockton shipping Co, which lost a vessel in a similar manner in Nov 1833. 6/11/1837 As the steam vessel 'Freedom' was towing 2 ships out of the river Tees, the boiler burst, and the vessels were blown up, and immediately sunk. There were 3 men on board, 2 of whom were much injured; but the master, John WHITE, lost his life by the accident. 9/11/1837 The ship 'Stafford' Cpt HASWELL, with flax, from Rotterdam to Stockton, run down near Flamborough Head by a loaden collier. Crew saved. 13/8/1838 As the brig 'Mary' Cpt ROBSON, was proceeding out of the Tees this night, she struck heavily on the bar. A steamer of Hartlepool came to her assistance, but the water increased so much on her that she could not be kept afloat, and eventually sunk in about 4 fathoms at low water. 1839 This year there were at Hartlepool 90 vessels, measuring about 22,050 tons, and representing a capital of £208,800. At the close of 1854 there were registered in the port 173 sailing vessels, measuring 35,993 tons. 13/7/1839 The 'South Stockton' launched, being the first vessel from the building yard at South Stockton, situated opposite to Cleveland Row. 18/7/1839 The first cargo of coals from Cornforth Colliery, the property of Messrs Ripon, of North Shields, shipped at Hartlepool. 14/11/1841 The brig 'Susannah' the property of the Commercial Shipping Co, Stockton, wrecked during a storm, opposite to Coatham, and all hands (nine) lost. 11 other vessels came on shore near the same place, 2 of which went to pieces. 2/2/1842 Died in Stockton aged 86, Ralph STODDART, the oldest seaman in the port. He fought under Nelson at the battle of the nile. 12/5/1842 The dock at Middlesbrough, which had water admitted into it first time on 19th March, was this day opened for business. It has an area of 9 acres of water surface, and is entered by channel rather more than a quarter of a mile in length. There is capacity for 150 sail of large sized vessels, and in moderate spring-tides there is 25 ft of water in the dock, and 19 in the channel. 18/2/1843 The brig 'Mary' (Mellanby), belonging to the Stockton Gen. Ship Co., was lost on the Maplin, on her way to Rochester. 18/2/1843 The 'English Rose', the first steamboat built in the port of Stockton, made her first experiment. She was built by Y. LANE & Co., South Stockton, and her engines made by Bolckow & Vaughan, Middlesbrough. 11/7/1843 Died at Bellvue, Harrogate, aged 82. Thomas THRUSH Esq. justly honoured for his conscientious resignation of rank and emolument in the Royal Navy, on account of his conviction of the unlawfulness of war according to Christian principles. Mr. THRUSH was a native of Stockton, and son of William THRUSH, iron monger there. On the removal of the family to Richmond, he was placed in the grammar school under the tuition of the Rev. Anthony Temple. In 1782 he obtained his mothers reluctant consent for his entering the sea service, his original desire. In 1787, through Cpt. BRUNTON's interest with Lord Mulgrave, he was appointed master's mate on board the 'Ariel', a sloop of war. In 1802 he became commander. 27/10/1843 Severe storm at sea. The 'Alonzo' of Stockton, lost on the Cornwall coast, with all hands, and the 'Cygnet', a vessel belonging to the Commercial Sipping Co, lost on the Gunfleet sands, 11/10/1844 The 'Normanby', a Stockton vessel, coal laden, run into by another vessel, off Whitby, and sunk soon after. The crew were saved. 2/11/1844 Two vessels wrecked near to Seaton, during a storm; one a Gothenburg vessel, the other the 'Celia', from Memel to Hull, which lost 6 hands out of a crew of 12. Several vessels in addition to these came on shore. 21/12/1845 The vessel 'Commerce' Cpt. LISTER was wrecked on making for the Tees during a storm this morning. 21/6/1846 Three brothers, William, Chas and Thom TRAVIS were, with a waterman (T. WESTALL), unfortunately drowned by the upsetting of the boat in which they were proceeding from Hartlepool to Middlesbrough. 6/12/1847 A severe storm at sea. Two Stockton vessels were lost in Yarmouth Roads. One of them, the 'Durham Packet' Cpt GREEN, belonging to the Merchants Shipping Co, was lost on the Scroby Sand; the crew were saved. The other, the schooner 'Northallerton' Cpt GAUDIE, belonging to the London and Stockton Shipping Co, was lost on Winterton Ridge, but the crew 8 in number unfortunately perished. 6/9/1848 The 'Thirsk Packet' a vessel belonging to the Merchants Shipping Co, was run into by a Shoreham light collier, near Staithes, and so severely shattered in the midships, that she sunk in about 10 minutes, but the crew were saved. The loss of the cargo mounted to £4000, and the ship £2000. 27/11/1848 A fire broke out this evening in the wet dock at Hartlepool on board the brig 'John and Richard', of Sunderland. The vessel was burnt to the waters edge. March 1852 The 'Olive Branch' from Stockton to Canada, loaded with coals and earthenware, was lost in the St. Lawrence. The crew and 36 passengers were saved, but the ship was a total wreck. 6/2/1853 The 'Fox', of Stockton, cast on shore within a few miles of Boulogne by the fury of the gale. The whole crew (numbering 8 or 10) perished. 26/1/1854 The 'Advance', the first Iron ship built on the banks of the Tees, was launched from the yard of the Iron Shipbuilding Co, South Stockton. She was a screw steamer of 336 tons, and intended for the London and Middlesbrough trade. The shipyard shortly after passed into the hands of Messrs Richardson, Duck & Co. 28/8/1855 The "Westminster" (731 tons), the largest vessel ever built on the banks of the Tees, launched from the ship-yard of Messrs. TURNBULL & Co., South Stockton. Her dimensions were:- length and rake, 165 feet; extreme breadth, 30 1/2 feet; and depth, 19 3/4 feet. The "Osprey," an iron steamer, 386 tons, was launched the same day from the building yard of Messrs. PEARSE & Co. Her dimensions were:- length of keel and fore rake, 170 feet; extreme breadth, 28 1/3 feet; and depth of hold 15 feet. 5/2/1856 The 'Demetrius' 600 tons, the first iron vessel built at West Hartlepool, launched from the building yard of Mr. John PILE. 6/2/1856 A Stockton trader the 'Darlington', loaded with iron &c, came into collision with a Sunderland vessel, on her voyage to London and almost immediately sunk. Crew saved. 7/3/1859 The 'Margaret', of London, in ballast, struck on the rocks off Redcar, and was lost. The crew took to the boats, and were saved. 30/7/1859 The "Euphrosyne", an iron screw steamer, the largest vessel built at Stockton, launched from Messrs. PEARSE & Co's yard. She will carry 1400 tons, her engines being 120 horse power. Registered tonnage 999 3/4 o.m. Extreme length 228 feet. 22/8/1859 Cpt Phillip BARKER of Stockton, on his voyage in the ship 'Margaret', from Lisbon to America, was murdered by the cook (a Portuguese). The ship was brought to Falmouth by the mate, and the murderer delivered up into the hands of the police. He was tried at the Central Criminal Court, London (in Oct), found guilty, and sentenced to death. There being grounds, however, for suspecting that the man was insane when he committed the offence, he was respited to give an opportunity for inquiry at Lisbon and other places as to his state of mind. The result was that, in May 1860, his sentence was changed to that of penal servitude for life. 10/10/1859 A heavy gale from the North East, and various losses at sea. 'The Era' of Whitby, whilst attempting to take the west harbour, Hartlepool, was totally wrecked. 28/5/1860 The 'Corra Linn' of Stockton, a small vessel laden with guano, was lost with all hands at the mouth of the Tees. 13/11/1860 A screw steamer ("The Zaire") the largest of the kind that has been built on the Tees, launched from the yard of Messrs,PEARSE & Co., Stockton. Her tonnage 1193 o.m; horese power, 120; accomodation, 40 first class, 36 second class, and 60 third class passengers. She was built for trade between Spain and Africa. 16/12/1860 The brig 'Eliza' Cpt PINKNEY of Stockton wrecked on the North Gare near Redcar; crew saved. 16/1/1861 The 'Theodore' laden with coals and bricks, from Dieppe for Hartlepool, was lost near Skinningrove. The crew (8 men) took to their boat, which was instantly swamped; the captain alone, who had a lifebuoy, on was saved. 9/2/1861 A storm on the east coast, which commenced the evening before, increased this morning to a fearful extent, and was the most disastrous of any gale within the memory of the oldest seafaring man resident in the vicinity of the Tees Bay. From 60 - 70 vessels were wrecked at or near Hartlepool, besides many others along the coast; and upwards of 50 seamen lost their lives between Hartlepool and Huntcliff. At Whitby, the life boat was upset, and 12 lives were lost. The river Tees rose 18 inches higher than the ordinary spring tides, the highest seen for several years past. 5/10/1861 A barge launched from the yard of PEARSE & Co., Stockton, for the use of the Cleveland and Normanby Railway, capable of carrying 24 waggons, containing 13 1/4 tons each, across the River Tees. 20/3/1862 The steamship 'Onward', of Middlesbrough, wrecked on her passage to London, 14 miles west of Flamborough Head. The crew and 17 passengers had scarcely left the vessel 10 minutes when she sank. 13/2/1863 The brig 'Sceptre', of Middlesbrough, bound for London with coal, whilst lying at single anchor, near to the Lower Hope Point, was run into by the screw steamer 'Scotia', which carried away her foremast. The ship almost immediately sank, and 3 of the crew, who were asleep in the forecastle, were drowned; the master and other 5 of the crew were saved. 25/11/1864 A violent gale on the east coast. Several wrecks at Tynemouth. The 'Juniata' of Hartlepool went on shore at Harwich, with the loss of 4 men. 1/12/1864 Early this morning, as a number of workmen were crossing by the Hartlepool Ferry to their daily employment, the boat, by injudicious management, came in contact with a steam tug, and half filled with water, when the greater part of the passengers were thrown out; all got safely landed, with the exception of John LAING, a smith, who was drowned. An inquest on the 4th Jan, accidentally drowned.Back to Index Page