Robert Thompson 1797

The first child of Robert Thompson and Elizabeth Beaney, Robert was born 21 September 1797 and Christened on 20 January 1799 at Holy Trinity Church of Sunderland. He married Sarah Lowes on 30 August 1818 at Bishopwearmouth Sunderland.

Robert worked for a short time on the traditional type of vessel for moving coal (the keel) and then became a shipwright's apprentice under James Allison, on the North Sands. Robert built several small craft on his own account in 1819, in the dock berth below Lambton Drops, with the usual technique of launching sideways. One ship was launched prematurely when on a rising tide, she was lifted from the blocks and carried into the river. As so frequently happened with such small scale shipbuilders, over the next twenty-six years Robert alternated between employment as a shipwright, working in small building partnerships, and acting as a shipyard foreman or manager on both the Tyne and Wear

rivers. He served for a period as foreman for John Brunton building ships at the Saltgrass Dock in the 1820's. His sons frequently moved with him as they learned the shipwright's trade. Robert built his first ship - the barque Wolsingham - at Jarrow, where he was manager at the Patent Slip and Sawmill. That was in 1834. In 1837, Robert was foreman for Mr. John Storey, on the North Sands, when Mr. Thomas Speeding, sailmaker and shipowner of Monkwearmouth, made arrangements with two bachelors of the name of Melvin, ropers of Chaytors Haugh, for the building of a small brig for him. They engaged Robert to build it, so along with his three sons, and brothers John and Thomas, he opened a yard at Washington Staiths (Coxgreen). Eldest son Robert became manager. Here a launching difficulty was experienced, for the vessel dropped over the quay and broke her rudder. A new one was made in a day, and the ship went down-river under the name Iona to be honored as the first ship to enter the North Dock, then known as Wearmouth Dock.

Another from the same Coxgreen yard was the 400-ton Barnard Castle, capable of doing the run from the Tees to the Thames and back in six weeks under favorable conditions. This ship, designed by John Watson, a Pallion builder, was owned by the Stockton and London Shipping Company, and was black hulled with gilt molding around the topsides.

The May, launched in May 1840 was the last ship from Thompson's Coxgreen yard. The industrial depression, known as the "Hungary Forties" was the reason for the closure not only of the Thompson's, but many more yards in the northeast. Robert went to sea as a carpenter on a Whitby ship trading to America (1841-44). Robert junior went into a Southwick yard which stood on the site later occupied by George Clark's engine works, and the two other sons, Joseph Lowes and John were employed by John Watson at Pallion.

When trade revived in 1844, Robert senior became foreman at the John Candlish yard, Southwick, and was quickly joined by his three sons. It was not until 13 February 1846 that Robert took over the old Harrison & Oliver yard on the North Sands, and with his three sons in partnership, started Robert Thompson & Sons. The lease for the yard stipulated that, for the haulage of timber, Thompsons should employ horses belonging to the ground landlord, Sir Hedworth Williamson (Bart.), who claimed manorial rights over the foreshore. On a sloping beach and a short quay on the North Sands, the Thompsons began building their first ship, the Pearl, a brig of 240 tons. They were all shipwrights , and working with four

employees, they had her finished in eleven weeks. She showed a profit of £200 on the contract. Soon 60 men and boys were employed and ships followed each other in quick succession. Seven were built in 1847, and again the following year. Steadily tonnages increased and in 1850 they launched their first big ship - the Grahams, of 668 tons, built for Edmund Graham, of Newcastle, and classed A.1 at Lloyds for 13 years. It is interesting to note that they accepted the Wolsingham, the first ship he built in 1834, as part payment.

In 1853 the firm was the builder of the first wooden vessel, built on the Wear, having iron diagonal straps. This was the 936 ton City of Carlisle, built for Edmund Graham, of Newcastle. She was a full rigged ship, the largest built by Thompsons up to that time, and was the fourth order received from the owner. In the next year they built the 1000 ton Edendale for the same line. She ran under government charter with troops and stores for the Crimea. Graham's next ship was the Eskdale, for which he paid Thompson £16 10s. per ton, the highest price they had ever received.

In 1854, son Robert left the firm to start his own shipbuilding yard. Son Joseph Lowes assumed his management position. Wood ships continued to be built in considerable numbers on the North Sands. Helvellyn (1,017 tons), launched in April, 1856, proved to be the largest they ever built. Among those built for William Nicholson and Sons, of Sunderland, was the copper-ore trader Vencedora, launched in 1860.

Robert died at West House, Fulwell, on 10 December 1860, at age 63. He was buried at Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery. Sons Joseph Lowes, and John took control of the business, but one year later, John left the firm and opened a yard at the North Dock.

The launch of the Vencedora in 1860

Sarah Lowes 1796-1863

Sarah was born in West Boldon, County Durham about 1796, of Joseph Lowes and Sarah Willey. She was Christened 6 November 1796 in Whitburn. She married Robert Thompson

at Bishopwearmouth on 30 August 1818. She died on 15 December 1863, at age 67, and was buried at Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery.

They had the following children:

Robert	Born 23 Nov 1819	Monkwearmouth Shore	Married Sarah Barbar - Lillias Simpson
Sarah	Born 14 April 1821	Monkwearmouth	Married James Brown
Joseph Lowes	Born 16 Oct 1824	Monkwearmouth	Married Thomasin Elliott - Hannah Swan
John	Born 11 Jan 1826	Monkwearmouth	Married Harriet Johnson
Elizabeth	Born 1 Jun 1828	Monkwearmouth	Married John Bell - James Robertson
Margaret	Born 13 Jun 1831	Monkwearmouth	Married Walter Scott Russell
Ann	Born abt 1833	South Shields	Died 19 Oct 1835 Age 2
Jane	Born 8 Aug 1833	South Shields	Married George Wood
Benjamin Lowes	Born 19 Nov 1837	Cox Green	Suffered from epilepsy
Mary Ann	Born 28 Sep 1840	Coxgreen
Martha Ann Lowes	Born 15 Jun 1843	Coxgreen	Married Matthew Dodds - Charles Stevens

Birth of Parents

Robert Thompson

b: 21 Sep 1797 c: 20 Jan 1799 Holy Trinity, Sunderland
1st son of Robert Thompson, Keelman, of this Parish, and Elizabeth Bieney, of this Parish County Durham

Sarah Lowes

b: abt 1796 c: 6 Nov 1796 Whitburn, County Durham
daughter of Joseph Lowes and Sarah Willey

Marriage

30 Aug 1818

Marriage
Robert Thompson
Sarah Lowes

Bishopwearmouth, County Durham
Both of this parish, by Banns
Wit: Joseph Lowes, and ??

Children

Robert Thompson

b: 23 Nov 1819 c: 16 Jan 1820 Monkwearmouth, St Peter's Parish, County Durham
son of Robert and Sarah Thompson, Monkwearmouth, Shipwright

Sarah Thompson

b: 14 Apr 1821 c: 25 Dec 1821 Monkwearmouth, St Peter's Parish, County Durham
first daughter of Robert and Sarah Thompson, Monkwearmouth, Shipwright

Joseph Lowes Thompson

b: 16 Oct 1824 c: 26 Dec 1824 Monkwearmouth, St Peter's Parish, County Durham
son of Robert and Sarah Thompson, Monkwearmouth Shore, shipwright

John Thompson

b: 11 Jan 1826 c: 3 Feb 1826 Monkwearmouth, St Peters Parish, County Durham
son of Robert and Sarah Thompson, Monkwearmouth, Shipwright

Elizabeth Thompson

b: 1 Jun 1828 c: 25 Jun 1828 Monkwearmouth, St Peters Parish, County Durham
second daughter of Robert and Sarah Thompson, Monkwearmouth, Shipwright

Margaret Thompson

b: 13 Jun 1831 c: 2 Nov 1831 Monkwearmouth St Peter's Parish, County Durham
daughter of Robert and Sarah Thompson, Monkwearmouth Shore, shipwright

Ann Thompson

c: 22 Sep 1833 St. Paul's, Jarrow, South Shields, County Durham
daughter of Robert and Sarah Thompson, Shipwright, Dunkirk Place
Ann Thompson Died 19 Oct 1835, Age 2, Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery

Jane Thompson

b: 8 Aug 1833 c: 21 Oct 1835 Holy Trinity, South Shields, County Durham
daughter of Robert and Sarah Thompson, Shipwright, West Docks County Durham

Benjamin Lowes Thompson

b: 19 Nov 1837 c: 25 Dec 1837 All Saints, Cox Green, Painshaw, County Durham
son of Robert and Sarah Thompson 1837 4Q Houghton le Spring 24 112

Mary Ann Thompson

b: 28 Sep 1840 c: 30 Dec 1840 All Saints, Cox Green, Painshaw, County Durham
daughter of Robert and Sarah Thompson

1841 Census	HO107-312	7 June 1841	Cox Green, Painshaw, County Durham
Cox Green			Born in this County?
Robert Thompson Sarah Joseph John Elizabeth Margaret Jane Benjamin Mary Ann Elizabeth Mason	Age 40 Age 45 Age 15 Age 15 Age 13 Age 10 Age 6 Age 3 Age 9 Mo.'s Age 14	Shipbuilder ~~Servant~~	Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes	21 Sep 1797 abt 1796 16 Oct 1824 11 Jan 1826 1 Jun 1828 13 Jun 1831 abt 1835 19 Nov 1837 28 Sep 1840 22 Sep 1827

Martha Ann Lowes Thompson

b: 14 Jun 1843 c: 25 Dec 1844 Cox Green, Painshaw, County Durham
daughter of Robert and Sarah Thompson

1851 Census	HO107-2398	31 March 1851	Monkwearmouth Shore, County Durham
14 Charles Street
Robert Thompson Sarah (Wife) Margaret Jane Mary Ann Martha Ann Lowes Elizabeth Ann Brown Plus 1 Servant	Age 52 Age 53 Age 19 Age 16 Age 10 Age 7 Age 10	Master Shipbuilder Employing 20 men and 15 boys Visitor (Gr-dau)	Sunderland West Bolden Monkwearmouth South Shields Cox Green Cox Green Cox Green	Durham Durham Durham Durham Durham Durham Durham	21 Sep 1797 abt 1796 13 Jun 1831 abt 1835 28 Sep 1840 14 Jun 1843 14 Mar 1841

Death

Robert Thompson

Died 10 Dec 1860 Age 63
at West House, Fulwell, Buried at Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery

DURHAM 16 January 1861 Probate

THOMPSON, Robert - The will of Robert Thompson, late of Fulwell, West House, in the County of Durham, Shipbuilder, deceased, who died on 10 December 1860 at Fulwell West House, aforesaid, was proved at Durham by the oaths of Robert Thompson, son, of Monkwearmouth Shore, in the said county, Shipbuilder, and John Thompson of the same place, Shipbuilder, the sons, and Walter Scott Russell, of the same place, Commercial Traveler, the Executors. Effects under £2,000.

Summary of the Will of Mr. Robert Thompson of Fulwell West House, County Durham		1797 - 1860 Dated 10 February 1860
Trustees and Executors:		Sons Robert and John Thompson, and Son in-law Walter Scott Russell
Wife	Sarah	The residence, all household items, and income from Trust Estate, for life.
Son:	Benjamin	Twenty Shillings per week, for life, and also such reasonable sums necessary for clothing, medicine, medical attendance, and advice.
After the death of my wife, and son Benjamin, all remaining funds in Trust whose proceeds are in six equal shares;
Daughters:	Mary Ann Martha Ann Lowes Sarah, wife of James Brown Margaret, wife of Walter Scott Russell Elizabeth, wife of James Robson* Jane, wife of George Wood	£ 70 per year. At age 40, or marriage, full proceeds from one share. £ 70 per year. At age 40, or marriage, full proceeds from one share. Full proceeds from one share. Full proceeds from one share. Full proceeds from one share. Full proceeds from one share.

* Robson should be Robertson

1861 Census	RG9-3784	8 April 1861	Monkwearmouth Shore, County Durham
Roker Road back of Terrace
Sarah Thompson (Widow) Mary Ann Martha L. George Bell (GrSon) Plus 2 Servants	Age 64 Age 20 Age 17 Age 13	Proprietor of Houses Office Boy	Boldon Cox Green Cox Green Sunderland	Durham Durham Durham Durham	abt 1796 28 Sep 1840 14 Jun 1843 24 Jun 1847

Death

Sarah (Lowes) Thompson

Died 15 Dec 1863 Age 67
Buried at Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery

		ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT THOMPSON OF FULWELL WEST HOUSE WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE DECEMBER 10TH 1860 AGED 63 YEARS SARAH THOMPSON WIFE OF THE ABOVE DEPARTED THIS LIFE DECEMBER 15TH 1863 AGED 67 YEARS ALSO BENJAMIN L. THOMPSON SON OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED FEBURARY 14 1877 AGED 39 YEARS
ALSO ANN THOMPSON WHO DIED THE 19TH OF OCTOBER 1835 AGED 2 YEARS
Monkwearmouth MERE KNOLLS CEMETERY PHOTOS BY T.G. WHITE

PICTURE CREDIT
The photos of the launch of the Vencedora are from the book
"WHERE SHIPS ARE BORN, SUNDERLAND 1346-1946, A History of Shipbuilding on the River Wear" by J. W. SMITH and T. S. Holden. Published by Thomas Reed and Company Limited, Sunderland 1946,
and also from the Tyne and Wear Archives.