Charles John Mare (1815-1898) Shipbuilder.
Born in Staffordshire in 1815 he was placed with a firm of solicitors in Doctors' Commons but turned to other interests.
1835 When his father died he leased the house in Cheshire and used the money to form Ditchburn and Mare at Millwall with Thomas Joseph Ditchburn
1846 Mare ran the works after the retirement of Ditchburn; he expanded by building on the west side of Bow Creek.
1847 September. The parnership dissolved [1]
1848 May He appears in court charged with threatening his former partner but appears there were threats on the other side also. Case dismissed. [2]
1851 Living at Eastern Terrace, Brighton (age 35 born Cheshire), Landowner. With his wife Mary (age 26 born Lewisham) and their son Charles J. (age 7 weeks born Paddington). Also visitor Peter Rolt (age 52 born Deptford), Timber merchant and Widower, and Annie Rolt (age 20 born Blackheath). Plus seven servants. [3]
1852 Listed as Mare, Charles John and Co, manufactures of scrap iron forgings of all descriptions, scrap iron slabs, bars etc. wrought iron box girders for bridges and buildings, also of iron and brass castings of the largest descriptions. Orchard Iron Works and Foundry, Bow Creek, Blackwall' [4]
1852 Listed as 'Mare, Charles John and Co, iron and wood ship and steamboat builders. Orchard Yard, Blackwall' [5]
1856 The works failed after producing many famous vessels for mercantile and fighting fleets.
1857 The firm was taken over by Mare's father-in-law, Peter Rolt, and renamed Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co
1858 Mare formed the Millwall Iron and Shipbuilding Co
1861 Living at Mills Terrace, Hove (age 46 born Basford, Staffs), Ship Builder. With his wife Mary (age 36 born Lewisham) and their sons Charles (age 10 born Paddington) and John (age 7 born Paddington). Also three servants. [6]
1881 His wife and son Charles are listed at 7 Osbourne Villas, Brighton and she is shown as an Annuitant and married [7]
1891 CJM is listed as a lodger at Clapham Road, Lambeth (age 76 born Wybunbury, Nantwich, Cheshire), of private means. In the house of George and Ellen Beck. [8]
1898 February 9th. Died. Late of The Broomlands, Hatherton, Cheshire. Age 83. [9]
After his death a memorial was placed in the entrance to West Ham Municipal College recalling his work and the Vulcan, an early Iron warship.
See Also
Sources of Information
- A Short History of Naval and Marine Engineering by E. C. Smith. Published 1937