Thomas Toward
of St. Peter's, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Middle Landing, South Shields, iron ship builders and builder of marine boilers
Thomas Toward junior was born in 1821 in Newcastle (baptised 4 Mar 1821), a son of Thomas Toward (1799-1845) and his wife Rebecca (née Wilson). His father was a boiler manufacturer and ship smith at North Shore. His grandfather, William Toward was in the same line of business. There were several William and Thomas Towards (and a John) involved in ship and boiler making on the Tyne during the 19th century, all related, but some more distantly than others. Source references need treating with care.
1840 Thomas Toward junior married Elizabeth Jackson Ormson on 16 Aug 1840 at All Saints’ Church, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[1]
1841 Census – Thomas Toward junior resided Smith’s Dock, Byker, described as a boiler builder, though whether in his own right, or working for his father or grandfather at North Shore has not emerged. His father, Thomas senior, died in 1845.
1844-1849 Thomas Toward junior resided South Shields, boiler maker.[2]
1848 Directory entry – Thomas Toward, Boiler and Iron Ship Builder at Middle Landing, South Shields and at St Peter’s, Newcastle.[3] The indications are that all the ship building activity was in Newcastle and South Shields was boiler manufacture only.
1849 On 31 Dec 1849 Thomas Toward launched at St Peter’s Quay, a steamer, named Independence and intended as a tug for the Mersey.[4] O/N 6018. This is believed to be Thomas’s first ship. Listed below are ships where this contributor has found a period reference to the launch. It is recognised that there were several other.
1850 In late August/early September Thomas Toward launched in at St Peter’s Quay, an iron screw steamer named Ivanhoe. Exact launch date not found, but made her trial trip on 27 Sep 1850 and was surveyed afloat at Leith on 31 Oct. [5]
1850 Directory entry – Thomas Toward, boiler and iron ship and tank builder, St. Peter's, Newcastle and at Middle Landing, Wapping Street, South Shields ; resided Heron Street, South Shields.[6]
1850 On 21 Sep 1850 Thomas Toward launched at St Peter’s Quay, an iron screw steamer named Earl of Douglas. Engines by Robert Stevenson and Co., reported to be the first marine engines they had built.[7]
1851 Census – Resided Shield Field, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Ship builder employing 95 men. Household included his 3 surviving daughters and sons Thomas (2) and William (1mo).
1851 On 16 Apr 1851 Thomas Toward launched at St Peter’s Quay an iron screw steamer named Keera. Intended for Sydney NSW. Engines by Robert Stephenson and Co. Owner H. G. Smith of London. O/N 31845.[8] Said to have been the first screw driven ship in Australia. Image
1851 On 3 May 1851 Thomas Toward launched at St Peter’s Quay an iron paddle steamer named Friend to All Nations.[9]
1852 On 16 Aug 1852 Thomas Toward launched at St Peter’s Quay an iron paddle steamer named Bergen. Engines by Robert Stephenson and Co. [10] This was the first steamship of the Bergen Steamship Co (Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab). Length 186 ft (57m). Model on display at Bergen Maritime Museum (see photo).
1852 Thomas Toward built a paddle wheel steamer named La Amparo for Valencia. Launch date not known but she was surveyed on the slip 9 Jul 1852.[11]
1852 Thomas Toward launched Dec 1852 at St Peter’s Quay, an iron screw steamer intended for Portugal named Duque de Porto. Engines by Robert Stephenson and Co.[12]
1853-4 Edward James Harland was manager of the yard
1853 Thomas Toward built a paddle wheel steamer named Saint Halvard for Norway. Launch date not known but she was surveyed on the slip 15 Jun 1853.[13]
1853 December, a tender in the sum of £4,000 by Thomas Toward to build the hull for a new dredger was accepted by the Tyne River Commission.[14]
1854 Reported in January that Messrs Toward were building 2 iron vessels for a Russian merchant house, though it was suspected that they were for the Russian government.[15] These vessels have not been identified and given the war with Russia may have been sold elsewhere..
1854 On 26 Aug 1854 Thomas Toward launched a screw steamer named Cumbria for the Maryport Steam Shipping Co.[16]
1855 On 6 Jan 1855 Thomas Toward launched at St Peter’s Quay, an iron steamer (tug) named Universe.[17]
1855 Directory entry – Thomas Toward, boiler maker, iron founder, steam engine manufacturer and iron ship builder at St Peter’s Quay, Newcastle and boiler maker at Middle Landing, Wapping Street, South Shields.[18]
1855 Thomas Toward died 21 Jan 1855 at Tynemouth, aged 34. His executors moved promptly to sell the business [19] and their advert ran regularly until October. However, the indications are that the firm continued to trade under his executors, as indicated below. His sons, Thomas and William were only 5 and 4 years old, so there was no family succession.
1855 On 24 May 1855 an iron paddle steamer (tug for the Mersey) named Great Conquest was launched from the yard of Thomas Toward at St Peter’s Quay.[20]
1855 A vessel name United States is said to have been built by E Jackson Toward (ie his widow), but original source and launch date are not known.
1856 Directory entry – E Toward, iron ship builder, St Peter’s, Newcastle and Elizabeth Toward, boiler builder, Wapping Street, South Shields.[21]
1856 Another attempt was made to sell the St Peter’s yard in January 1856, the advert saying it was in the occupation of Mrs Toward.[22]
1856 In May, Thomas Toward’s St. Peter’s site was taken over by Lancelot Kirkup and Co.[23] This was to be a short-lived venture, Kirkup being declared bankrupt in 1858, though he did build 3 ships.
What became of the South Shields boiler shop in the immediate future is not known, though in 1858 Kelly's Directory listed Toward & Co. boiler & tank builders & ship smiths, Middle landing, Wapping street.[24] In about 1873 the site was taken over by Hepple and Co., ship builders formely of Low Walker.[25]
The South Shields works can be seen on an 1855 survey map, top left, at this link. No equivalent map found for the St Peter's site.
Orders from the Russian Government, from China, and the Continent, as well as from British shipowners.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Parish register
- ↑ Children’s baptism records
- ↑ Slater’s Directory of Durham 1848.
- ↑ Newcastle Courant - 4 Jan 1850
- ↑ Newcastle Journal - 5 Oct 1850 and Lloyd's survey report 15 Jun 1853
- ↑ Ward's Directory of Northumberland and Durham 1850
- ↑ Newcastle Courant - 27 Sep 1850
- ↑ Newcastle Journal - 19 Apr 1851
- ↑ Newcastle Courant - 9 May 1851
- ↑ Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury - 4 Sep 1852
- ↑ Lloyd's survey report 9 Jul 1852
- ↑ Newcastle Journal - 18 Dec 1852
- ↑ Lloyd's survey report 15 Jun 1853
- ↑ Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury - 10 Dec 1853
- ↑ North & South Shields Gazette and Northumberland and Durham Advertiser - 27 Jan 1854
- ↑ Carlisle Patriot - 2 Sep 1854
- ↑ North & South Shields Gazette and Northumberland and Durham Advertiser - 12 Jan 1855
- ↑ Slater's Directory of Northumberland & Durham 1855
- ↑ Newcastle Chronicle - 26 Jan 1855
- ↑ Newcastle Journal - 26 May 1855
- ↑ Whellan's Directory of County Durham 1856
- ↑ Gateshead Observer - 19 Jan 1856
- ↑ Newcastle Courant - 30 May 1856
- ↑ Kelly's Directory of Northumberland & Durham 1858
- ↑ Shields Daily Gazette - 25 Feb 1881 (states that Hepple and Co occupied Thos Toward's business in Wapping Street); Kelly's Directory of Northumberland & Durham 1878; Tyne Built Ships