Guernsey Gallery

This section will, in time, contain the stories of more than 450 merchant ships built or owned in the Hartlepools, and which were lost during the First World War. As an illustration of the truly global nature of shipbuilding, these ships were owned by companies from 22 different countries, including more than 30 sailing under the German flag at the outbreak of war.

Jens Christian Nielsen established his business in 1852 as a coal exporter and timber merchant so it was a natural progression to purchase shares in sailing vessels from about 1862. Some of the shares were owned by William Gray and John Denton. In 1872 he formed his company C. Nielsen & Co., with the purchase of his first steamer, Saint Hilda, built by Withy, Alexander & Co. By 1882 the company had become C. Nielson & Son then in 1888 C. Nielsen & Sons. After his death the company became Hans C. Nielson & Co. The Luis was lost in 1918 and no further ships were registered at West Hartlepool. As most of their ships traded to the Scandinavian countries they were registered in those ports.

Family History:

Jens Christian Nielson was born in 1824 at Nordby, Fano in Denmark. He moved to England and by the 1851 census was living at Picton, Place, Newcastle-on-Tyne with his wife, Fanny/Fannie, and his son, Hans Christian. The family moved to Hartlepool soon after and Jens, usually known as Christian, established his business. Fanny passed away at Hartlepool in early 1866 and Christian was remarried in 1867 at Hartlepool to Eliza Frances Taylor. The couple had two sons and two daughters. By the 1881 census Christian had become a naturalised British Subject and the family were living at 15 Cliff Terrace, Hartlepool. During his lifetime Christian was Danish vice-consul and was created a Knight of Danneborg by the King of Denmark. He was also a consular agent for the U.S.A., a Justice of the Peace and a mayor of Hartlepool in 1870-71. He was a vice-chairman of the Hartlepools Shipowners Society, chairman of the Hartlepool Pilotage Board and a representative on the Port and Harbour Commission. Christian was also a warden of St Hilda’s Church for many years.

Christian died aged 76 at ‘Nordby’, Norton-on-Tees on 23 December 1896 leaving effects of £22,367. He was interred at St. Hilda's.

Hans Christian was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1851 to parents Jen Christian Nielsen and Fanny/Fannie. He was married at Stockton in 1877 to Elfrida Julia Hay. They had one son, Hans Rupert, who was born at Norton-on-Tees in 1885. Elfrida Julia Nielsen died at Hartlepool in 1914. After his father’s death Hans became Danish vice-consul. He was also a member of the Port and Harbour Commission the Hartlepool Pilotage Commission, and was a Justice of the Peace for Hartlepool. The family lived at 12 Cliff Terrace, Hartlepool until the outbreak of the war when Charles moved to Norton-on-Tees. Hans spent his summers at Norton and his winters in Denmark.

Hans died at the age of 88 while visiting one of his daughters at Birkerod, Denmark on 28 January 1939 leaving effects of £58,010.

Charles Nielson was born at Hartlepool in 1858 to parents Jen Christian Nielsen and Eliza Frances (nee Taylor).  In 1871 he and his brother Frederick were pupils at a boarding school in Knaresbrough. Charles became a timber merchant and was married at Wakefield in 1886 to Margaret Luis Fernandes.  They had a son and a daughter. In 1901 the family were living at 15 Cliff Terrace. By 1911 they were living at Billingham Hall, Stockton-on-Tees and later moved to ‘Hartburn Lodge’, Stockton-on-Tees. Margaret Luis Nielsen died in 1934.

Charles was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Charles died aged 81 at Stockton-on-Tees on 7 June 1939 leaving effects of £79,699.