Thanks for all the replies.
What I don't yet know, is whether John Hood, Mariner who married Elizabeth Gibson, December 1779 is the same, as the one:-
i) at Newcastle Quay in November 1782 with the vessel - MARY of Inverness?
ii) who was a Publican of the Ship, South Shore, Gateshead, in the 1787 Directory?
If George's father John Hood was Gateshead based in 1786, then he could be the Publican of the "Ship", hopefully there are some Victuallers Registers, or Licences, to determine when and how long John Hood was Publican of the Ship, somewhere?
Two of the Hoods at Gateshead checked ...
A Gateshead, 7th October 1792 Baptism for Sarah Hood, gives her father as Francis Hood.
A later 1st October 1810 burial at Gateshead for Rebecca Hood age 23 [birth about 1787], is also a daughter of Francis Hood, pitman.
Click the cross on the menu window, covering the Register underneath it and see images 140 & 789
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCQ9-Y8H?mode=g&i=91&owc=collection%2F1309819%2Fwaypoints&wc=9K5S-PTL%3A13618101%2C24866801%2C24866802%3Fcc%3D1309819&cc=1309819Hoods of Gateshead1808, Jane Hood of Gateshead, marriage ...
The Rev. Robert Stodhart, of Stepney, Middlesex, to Miss Jane Hood, of Gateshead.(not checked marriage, her age, or possible parentage)
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MU0oAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA382&lpg=PA382&dq=%22Hood+of+Gateshead%22&source=bl&ots=h0-xGupdtP&sig=3HR3eUWuuWP7L9YMNfsMYiAOY4Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiMn7WA-dbOAhXqLsAKHfIpBrEQ6AEIIjABWhether, George Hood's parents were Gateshead based and whether the other Hoods at Gateshead are linked to my George Hood, remains to be seen.
Kind regards, Mark