bg Nancy Reg #3616

[patrexjax]

Hello Rootschatters! I am totally out of my element and an seeking further information about this ship and the owner.  In Christie's Shipping Compendium on line I found an entry showing William George Spoor as the registered owner of bg "Nancy" - 1842 - France - #3616.  Can any kind soul please help me? Thank you kindly! patrexjax

[seaweed]

 She was registered in Newcastle upon Tyne, built in France in 1842,  tonnage 87 tons. The number 3616 is erroneous and belongs to the vessel NANCY owned by William Boutland. Your "NANCY" was of a small tonnage and probably did not have an Official Number. Tyne and Wear Archives may have more.
http://www.crewlist.org.uk/registers/registerlist.php?organisationid=468
Her registration papers may give you further details of him such an address.
Do you have an ancestor who served on the Brig NANCY owned by William George Spoor in 1858? If so can you give us the year/s you are interested in.

[patrexjax]

Hello seaweed!     THANK YOU so much for your help in this matter!  The information you provided is really helpful.  I am a relative of this William George Spoor - I think.  Virtually all of the Spoor family from the Newcastle area are "mine" as my paternal grandmother was a Spoor.  Many of this family were involved in metals work and manufacturing in Whickham Co, Durham and Newcastle. I strongly suspect that the owner of this vessel - William George Spoor may have been a child of Amor Spoor and Ann Armstrong; this particular Amor Spoor owned a series of bonded warehouses along the Tyne.  Ann's Father was in a mariner family from London.  So, it does fit neatly into the scheme of things.  Problem is that I cannot find a William George Spoor in any census.  This couple had a son named William and a son named George who were both baptised the same day in 1817 in Newcastle. That is why this entire thing is so mysterious.    I hope this isn't too confusing to you.  If you need any more specifics, please do not hesitate to ask.  Solving this mystery about the Nancy may help solve the entire mystery of the owner...  Thank you so much for your most valuable assistance!  Sincerely, patrexjax

[seaweed]

Get in touch with Tyne and Wear Archives, see my amended post.

[patrexjax]

Hello seaweed, I will see if I can find someone who lives in the UK to help me with a visit to Tyne & Wear Archives.  Thank you.  patrexjax

[seaweed]

https://twmuseums.org.uk/collections/research

[patrexjax]

Hello seaweed, Thank you for the link and the information.  patrexjax

[Westoe]

Hello Patrexjax,

The information in Christie's (1858) was out of date.

Your NANCY was ex-ESTHER of Caen, France. Her dimensions were 67.6 ft X 18.7 ft X 8.9 ft.

Your William George Spoor bought her in partnership with Christopher Heslop 18 July 1850. On 29 September 1850 WGS became sole owner. He apparently was in financial straits. NANCY had repairs done by A. & R. Hopper of Newcastle and they placed a lien on her, then apparently mortgaged her to Benjamin Plummer to get their money.

Sometime early in the period 1850 - 1869, NANCY sailed for San Francisco with her owner on board and was never heard of since. That is probably why you cannot find him in the census-es. Did your man do a runner to escape his creditors?

Have you any interest in these other three, all involved in shipping?
a) John Spoors (note 's' at end of name), joiner, South Shields
b) John Spoor, ship broker, South Shields
c) Martin Spoor, master mariner, South Shields

Source: "Dictionary of Tyne Sailing Ships" by Richard Keys.

Cheers,
Westoe

[patrexjax]

Hello Westoe! Thank you so much for this new information! I will pursue the thought that WGS may have come to the USA to live. Also, all three of the other Spoor(s) men you cite are related to me.  I would be interested in any snippets on their occupations.  Sincerely, patrexjax