In the 1861 census there is a small girl of 10 called Rosamond Evison and her sister Mary Ann in her uncle William’s hotel Laurences Commercial and Family Temperance and both are observing Williams father, Thomas, age 79 ruddy faced coal merchant from another era in deep discussion with his son.

Others present are her relatives: William Michaels wife, Francis Ann Laurence 42, Emily Laurence 19, Fanny Caroline Laurence 5, Charles Michael Laurence 4, and the hotel’s customers: William Davies 41, commercial traveller, David Bickerton 30, commercial traveller, and the hotel’s employees that later in life she will join Mary Milling 33, waitress, Helen Parsons 23, housemaid, Mary Ann Halliday 22, kitchen maid, Elizabeth Meakin 28, chambermaid, Jane Carson 47, cook , William Williams 21, boots. William Michael’s son Thomas Davy, her cousin is due to transfer to the Newcastle Quaker meeting on 28 August 1862 and live and work at 174 the High Street, Sunderland, age 14 training with Quakers Joshua Wilson & Brothers to be a wholesale grocers’ assistant. His future wife, Kate, age eleven, lived with her father Reverend William Parkes from 1855 to 1864 in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland. Maybe, they met. 

`Family and Commercial’ perfectly describe the Laurence family through the Nineteenth Century. 

Thomas Davy Laurence the later proprietor of the Temperance Hotel was born in Sheffield in 1846 to William Michael Laurence and Frances Davy. William Michael LAURENCE was a son, one of five children of coal merchant Thomas LAURENCE and his wife Mary TEFT who lived and worked in Louth, Lincolnshire. William moved to Sheffield where he married Frances Anne DAVY who came from a very respected Quaker family, originally from a small village outside Keighley.

 He married Kate on 6 July 1870 at Great Georges Street Chapel in a ceremony conducted by her father William Parkes who was an Independent Minister. They did not live at the hotel and over the years moved to various properties in the more prosperous areas of the city, accompanied by at least two servants and a monthly nurse. 

Thomas Davy returned to the Liverpool Quaker meeting on 25 April 1867. In his will his father William Michael added a codicil to his original. The codicil dated 19 August 1869 stated ” I have lately entered into Articles of partnership with my son Thomas Davy for the carrying on the business of Hotel Keeper at the Temperance Hotel, Clayton Square, Liverpool for a term of five years and have also sold unto him one half of all the household goods furniture and other effects in the said Hotel including one half of the Goodwill for the sum of three thousand pounds to be paid and secured to me with interest …” It also states that his son could purchase the Hotel for twenty thousand pounds or write a letter to his executors and purchase it for three thousand pounds. His father died on 3 February 1874. The five year term would have expired on 19 August 1874.

BACKGROUND 

Achitecturally, the hotel is made up of two early Victorian classically styled houses. They often had decorative French balconies on the first level. LAURENCES Temperance Hotel was made up of two properties, 20 and 21, Clayton Square. 

20, Clayton Square 

After four years William Brown moved his business here in 1841 to re-establish his Browns Commercial And Family Hotel. It had twelve rooms. One famous occupant was the American Frederick Douglass who wrote a letter to various English newspapers expressing his dismay at the racial prejudice he experienced from the Captain and crew of the ship, Cambria. 

March 1854, William was involved in a court case, involving theft. On Saturday in October 1853, Mr BEVERIDGE, a commercial traveller in confectionery, who had used the Hotel for four years, left his writing desk containing £64.00 some of it in gold, with other writing desks in the hotels commercial room. On Tuesday the desk had disappeared to be found later rifled through. The court found in favour of Mr. Brown, as Mr Beveridge had not properly looked after his property. 

By the 1851 census William Brown had moved to Sheffield, his wife’s birthplace, to take up the trade of Fruiterer. His hotel was now the home of John Arkwright, married, 50 (b 1811) who was a mariner from Liverpool, Lancashire and his wife Jane also from Liverpool and their son and daughter, James and Margaret Ann. William took over 21, Clayton Square first in May 1856, acquiring 20, Clayton Square between 3 May and 13 May 1864.

21, Clayton Square

 In 1822 it was the home of Mr Hartley of the English Opera House who gave a series of lectures on poetry, and in the same year the residence of Mr Young who performed part of Shakespeares King Richard the Third. 

In the 1851 census the property was leased by a Joseph MARTIN, a Widower, aged 53, Hotel Keeper Kirby, Warwickshire MARTIN, Charles Son Unmarried M 23 1828 Clerk In An Office Liverpool, Lancashire BOOTHBY, Harriet Esther Servant Unmarried F 41 1810 House Keeper Treuddyn, Flintshire DIX, Sarah E Unmarried F 18 1833 Bar Maid Fenton, Staffordshire JONES, Catharine Unmarried F 28 1823 Cook North Wales WILLIAMS, Jane Unmarried F 24 1827 Chambermaid Welshpool, Montgomeryshire FOSTER, Jane Unmarried F 21 1830 Waitress Huyton, Lancashire IRVING, Mary Widow F 23 1828 Kitchenmaid Holyhead, Wales JONES, Mary Unmarried F 21 1830 Waitress Welshpool, Anglesey HEWETT, Ivar F 16 1835 Chamber Maid Flintshire, Wales BIRCHELL, Eliza F 23 1828 Chamber Maid Manchester, Lancashire RADCLIFFE, Sarah Servant Unmarried F 27 1824 Waitress Bedford, Lancashire, Anne Unmarried F 16 1835 Kitchen Maid Taplow, Flintshire, Wales EMMERY, Henry Servant Unmarried M 21 1830 Porter To Boots Stone, Staffordshire JONES, Thomas Servant Unmarried M 36 1815 Porter To Boots Kearn, Montgomeryshire, Walesn SHEEN, Charles Servant Unmarried M 14 1837 Porter To Boots Liverpool, Lancashire MOORE, Edward Widower M 47 1804 Agent Isle of Man GILL, William Visitor M 47 1804 Gentleman Isle of Man BRINSLEY, Richard Visitor Unmarried M 40 1811 Commercial Traveller Southport, Lancashire MORGAN, John M Visitor Married M 33 1818 Commercial Traveller Maiden, Essex HOGG, John F Visitor Married M 54 1797 Commercial Traveller Hull Kington Hall WHITE, Edward Visitor M 54 1797 Commercial Traveller Leicestershire nf BAKER, Joseph Visitor M 36 1815 Commercial Traveller Littleworth, Leicestershire PLUMLEY, Josiah F Visitor M 34 1817 Commercial Traveller Wolverhampton BLOGG, John Visitor M 45 1806 Commercial Traveller London

The Hotel in Manchester

In 1849, William bought the lease for a hotel at 30, Piccadilly, Manchester and moved to that city with wife and family. In the Leeds Mercury dated Saturday June 24 1843 A.H.Smith the new owner of 30, Piccadilly advertises the opening of his new hotel as a Temperance Hotel and family and commercial boarding house ‘within a few minutes walk of the Centre of the Town, and very favourably situate for those en route to and from London. Omnibuses pass the House to and from the the various Railway Stations. Private sitting rooms with cheerful aspects.’ His next advert in the Leeds Mercury, Saturday, May 11, 1844 describes the Hotel as ‘having been considerably enlarged’ and it provides ‘Breakfast on the Table upon the arrival of the London Early Train at Five a.m., and well-aired Beds always ready.’ I have not discovered why A.H.Smith decided to leave as Hotel Proprietor. In the Advertisements & Notices section of The Liverpool Mercury dated Tuesday, February 6, 1849 William Michael Laurence published his first advert for his new venture. It announced the opening of Laurences Temperance Hotel Family and Commercial Boarding House 30, Piccadilly (late Smiths). The Above house is within five minutes walk of the London and Birmingham and Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Station. The House has been thoroughly refitted and beatified, and every attention will be paid to the comfort of Commercial Gentlemen and Families who honour us with their patronage. Excellent Private sitting rooms and every attention has been paid to the comfort and cleanliness of the tied rooms. In the March edition there is a second and last advert exactly the same as the above. William and his young family lived at number 28, according to the water damaged 1851 census.

Where did Thomas Find The Money To Buy A Hotel?

In the Manchester Examiner for Saturday, December 20th, 1851 are advertised THE BRITISH MUTUAL LOAN ASSURANCE CLASSES FOR MANCHESTER. It states “The FOURTH MEETING of Class no.1. and the FIRST MEETING OF Class B, no.9, will be held at Laurences Hotel, 30, Piccadilly, on Friday evening, the 26th instant, at six o’clock, when a SALE of SHARES will take place. These loan classes afford great opportunity to the borrower, for return of capital, by easy payments spread through a term of four years, whilst they secure a most ample return to the investor. Applications for shares, and other information, may be obtained on application to Mr.Laurence, at the hotel.”

The same interest in providing financial services continued when he moved to Clayton Square. The Liverpool.Mercury for Monday, December, 30, 1861 has William as one of five trustees of the SECOND ROCK PERMANENT building society and in an advert in the Liverpool Mercury, Monday, April 6, 1863, W. M. Laurence is quoted as the President of the CROMWELL PERMANENT BENEFIT BUILDING SOCIETY and Mutual Investment Fund. In the Daily Post, Thursday, December 19, 1867, he is quoted as one of the persons to communicate with if you wish to join the THIRD PRUDENTIAL BUILDING SOCIETY. In the Daily Post, Wednesday, March 11, 1868 for the EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING of NESTOR PERMANENT BUILDING SOCIETY W.M.Laurence is president.

In 1864 when Thomas purchased the other half of the hotel he began to develop it. The best description of what it became is in an advertising article called “A Century of Progress” published in 1900. It states, “the number of rooms was increased from tweve to “boast of no less than eighty. The premises, as they at present stand , consist of an exceedingly handsome four-storeyed brick building, with a bold frontage of seventy feet, and having an ornamental balcony running the whole length of the first storey. On the ground floor there is a capital billiard saloon, perfectly equipped, and provided with a first-cla

1915 Advert

THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT 

At Preston in 1833 Joseph Livesey opened the first temperance hotel. In simplistic terms the battle in Liverpool was between Cain, a Conservative who owned breweries, pubs and hotels and the Liberal party that promoted temperance. Thomas Davy was an elected member of the Liberal party. He promoted temperance through encouraging speakers such as the American Neal Dhow, who was also a Quaker. Neal Dhow on his visit to England to promote ‘The Maine Liquor Law’ had a public breakfast at Laurences. In 1857, J B Gough, recently disembarked from The Niagara steamship, the eloquent temperance advocate’, also had a public breakfast at Laurences, before delivering a two hour lecture promoting the ‘Maine Law’. 

THE LIBERAL PARTY 

In July 1865, a crowd gathered in Clayton Square awaiting Liberal candidates who had been defeated in the local election to appear and make speeches from the elaborately decorated balcony of Laurences Hotel. Thomas Davy was elected to the Lime Street ward in 1890, having in 1877 been a Liberal member of the Liverpool Select Vestry that managed the cities Workhouse. 

STAFF 

The longest serving staff member was linenkeeper Rosamond EVISON, a niece of William Michael LAURENCE. She was born in Quarry Lane Louth on 1 August 1850 the daughter of Mary Ann LAURENCE and John EVISON, a local butcher. Mary Ann was one of the daughters of Thomas Laurence and sister to William Michael Laurence. From 1861 she is registered on the census as living and from 1871 as working at Laurences Temperance Hotel. She never married and the last reference to her I can find is at the age of 61 in the 1911 census performing the same job she began about 40 years ago. Her sister worked briefly there too, as Housekeeper. There were a succession of housekeepers, the last one I can find is Alice S BINNS in 1911. The earliest advert for staff at the hotel was in the May 2nd 1856 Liverpool Mercury and requests a plain cook. Other adverts ask for an Under Boots, Ostrich Feather Hands and Laundress. On each census the staff differ, apart from Rosamond. 

One employee, Elizabeth VIGGER, a ‘young woman’ appeared in Liverpool Police Court accused of stealing from the hotel a leather bag, worth £4.00. Using the census material there are approximately 20 Staff to 15 customers. 

CUSTOMERS 

There are families mentioned as staying at the hotel, but lone commercial travellers are the most common. Some customers, such as John White used the hotel as a contact address for his business selling leases for property or, advertising their services, as A Gentleman Wants an engagement as a selector of cheese and butter in America. Others wrote letters quoting the address of the hotel. 

In1880 one customer, Thomas JONES, is given the headline An Madman At An Hotel. He was a gentlemanly looking man who formerly had been an officer in the London & Westminster Bank, Lothbury. At the time he was a pensioner of that institution on £87.10 a year. He had left home on Sunday 8th August, after having assaulted his mother-in-law, and physically threatened his wife. Since then his family had been trying to have him placed under necessary restraint. The necessary steps were being taken, but on Friday he was lost sight of . He had been confined in the Bethlehem Hospital and was discharged as it was thought he was on the point of death. Thomas recovered his health and mind. After booking into the Hotel, he cut up bedlinen (Rosamond would not have been pleased), threw a brick at the pier glass, doing damage to the cost of £30.00. In todays money this amounts to more than a thousand pounds worth of damage. He stated he had been tipsy from drinking champagne. The Court submitted him to the care of the workhouse. Curiously, Thomas was Chairman of the Liverpool Select Vestry who managed the City workhouse. 

1880 was an eventful year for the Hotel as it also featured in a jewellery robbery. In The Morning Post November 6th it was reported that The London and North Western Railway Company was entrusted on the 29th January with the delivery from Birmingham to Liverpool of three cases of jewellery. A commercial traveller called Mr. Holland, staying at Lawrences Hotel was to take the delivery. Two of the parcels arrived either on the 29th or the morning of the 30th, and were received by Miss Beresford, the clerk of the hotel. She had signed the van drivers note as if there were three, and realising her mistake spoke to the van driver who promised to go back and get it. This parcel consisted of gold pins, signet rings, and other articles. At the last Warwick Assizes the jury had ruled that the Railway Company should pay 1 shilling for the delay, and the value of the missing parcel £47.00. The Railway Company contended that Mr. Hindley, the van driver was not their employee, but the servant of Mr. Thurston, who was employed to collect all such parcels and goods for the Railway Company. Nothing was heard of the missing parcel until the 10th February, when Inspector Allenson of the Liverpool Police was called in by a pawnbroker (not I suspect a Laurence ancestor from Bridgewater Street) and shown several articles of the missing jewellery, which had been pawned by two men named Ralph and Buchanan, who were thereupon arrested on a charge of felony. However, there was no evidence to connect them with the Railway Company or their servants. 

In 1891, a five foot copper circulating boiler tank attached to the back of the hotel exploded. It rose into the air and over the surrounding buildings to land in the courtyard of the Central Railway Station. Thomas Davy was in his ground floor office at the time and came out to find out what caused the noise. The explosion caused extensive internal damage to the kitchen and scullery. Surprisingly, no one was hurt, but there were some close escapes. 

T.D. LAURENCE PRESIDENT OF LIVERPOOL INVESTMENT BUILDING SOCIETY

In the annual report of the Liverpool Investment Buiding Society stated January 1st. 1924 states

” The retiring Directors are…Mr. Thomas D. Laurence. Mr. Laurence does not seek re-election, owing to his having removed to Devonshire. He was the senior member , having been elected to the Board in 1893, and for several.years he filled the office of President.”

HOTEL DEMOLITION

The hotel was demolished in June 1921. In the council demolition records the owner of the property is a Mr. Brown. On the back of the two photos of the demolition taken by the chief librarian of the day is a note stating that the demolition was due to the expansion of Browns Drapers. The Liverpool Echo for Tuesday, August 22, 1916 has an advert for Brown’s Drapers Rebuiding and Extension SALE advises “…To afford their thousands of customers every facility and comfort Brown’s have acquired the adjoining building at the corner of Clayton Square and Parker Street and it is now being ‘re-constructed for them.” The address for Brown’s was 12-14-16-18 Parker Street. Parker Street was immediately behind the hotel, so when it was sold Brown’s attachment_37″ align=”alignnone” width=”300″] Demolition, 1922 was enlarged, enabling entrance via Clayton Square

Thomas Laurence, Coal Merchant and sloop owner

Thomas LAURENCE owned shares in a sloop, called ‘Alpha’, that exported corn to Hull, importing coal on the return journey. 

According to local newspaper reports the sloop “Alpha” under Mark AARON’s Captainship also transported coal and goods to Wisbech, Cambridgeshire from Goole returning with corn and fruit. Goole to Wisbech converted to statutory miles is 127.16. Hull to Louth is 32.86. Both would take a few days I reckon. Then there is loading time to add.

One example I have found in the local newspapers. The Alpha under Mark AARON in the Leeds Intelligencer, 18/06/1842, for period June 9-16 coasters inwards for Wisbech with coal, then Lincolnshire Chronicle, 24/06/1842, sailed for Goole with corn and fruit.      

         The `Alpha`, official number (14410) In the Goole shipping register, NSG/3 page 11, entry relating to ‘Alpha’ dated Jul 1841, the Registration number/year is 30/1841 and name of master: Mark AARON. It states it was built in Thorne in 1841 by William ATKINSON as a sloop. The names of owners at time of registration were Mark AARON, Thorne, master mariner, Thomas LAWRENCE, Louth, merchant, John Booth SHARPLEY, Louth, merchant. Last entry: includes entries to 1854.

Other sections include: burthen: 43 2481 over 3500 tons, Surveying Officer: Thomas Parry TIDE, number of decks: one, number of masts: one, length from inner part of the Main Stem to the fore part of the Stern aloft is 5 feet, breadth in Midships is 13 feet, depth in the hold at Midships is 6 feet one tenth, type of bowsprit: round, number of shares for each owner: Mark had 22, Thomas and John 21 each to make up the 64
shares that were had in a vessel.

Mark had the controlling shares, so Goole to Wisbech and back may well have been his own.

William Atkinson (19 Mar 1787-Sept 1854) was from a shipbuilding family, canal side, Thorne, nr. Doncaster. Mark AARON (1791-6 July 1865), also had a son of same name (1828-1874), who took over captainship of ‘Alpha’.

In 1848, Thomas sold his shares back to John Booth SHARPLEY, who in turn in 1867, sold the ship to William BELL of Hull. Tom LAURENCE became insolvent in 1851.

Sloops mainly handled bulk cargoes between the Humber ports, carrying farm produce from Lincolnshire, coal from the West Riding, bricks and tiles between both sides, cement and chalk stone from Barton and South Ferriby to Hull and transhipping phosphates back to the fertiliser works. In summer the sea going trade would be to Louth, Saltfleet, the ports of the Wash and on south to the Thames, to the north trade would be to Bridlington, the Tyne and all ports between.

Louth Navigation Trust (http://www.louthcanal.org.uk/)
are doing a brilliant job of researching the canal, recording its history and looking after the canal itself

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Thomas as Coal Merchant (1826-1868)

Thomas Laurence was my fourth great grandfather. In an earlier article I spoke of his move from his birthplace at Langton by Partney to Louth and his employment as Collector of tolls for the Louth Navigation which went from the Riverhead at Louth to Tetney. This article covers the rest of his life.
In the plan of the Riverhead made by Padley in 1828 on the previous page it shows two properties, one owned by the partnership of Sharpley and Lawrence and the other by Thomas Lawrence. As a Collector of Tolls for the Navigation it would have made sense for Thomas to rent property at the Riverhead. The 1830 and 1832 Returns give a description of Thomas property. In 1830 he still leases land from CHAPLIN F & G for 4s, but as a Coal Merchant and no longer employed by the Chaplin family he has moved away from the Riverhead and owns and leases a House and Shop for 1 shilling. In 1832 he owns a house in Goospool (todays Gospelgate) at 1 shilling and leases land at the River Head from CHAPLIN F & G for 4 shillings and also land from STEPHENSON & WRIGHT at £2.4ad.
The CHAPLIN family seem to have exercised considerable influence from the inception of the canal. Despite the terms of the 1763 Act, Charles CHAPLIN managed to obtain a lease for 99 years, and successful in getting their Bill through parliament in 1828.
Also note that James Pulteney CHAPLIN and the Rev. Henry CHAPLIN were major shareholders in 1840, and would still exert considerable influence.
Control of the management & tolls became virtually hereditary within the Tathwell branch of the CHAPLIN family. When Charles died, he was succeeded by his son Thomas, who in turn was succeeded by a George CHAPLIN, a legatee of Thomas.
Why Did Tom Become A Coal Merchant?
Louth was a growing town, with plenty of coal needed to supply the tanneries, a soapery and several breweries. A carpet and blanket factory needed coal for its steam engine introduced in 1834. By 1835 there were three agricultural machine makers in the town, and by 1855 six. By 1842 there were nine lime kilns. In 1826 it had more corn and coal merchants than Grimsby. In the decade of the 1850 Louth became the third largest town in the county after Lincoln.
In The Lincolnshire Chronicle, dated 1838, 28, December ‘ the tender was accepted Mr. Thos. LAWRENCES, for coals, -WILSONS Silkstone’s, 19s 6d.per ton: good common, 16s. 6d. per ditto.’ to be provided to Louth Workhouse. This is not recorded in the Workhouse Minutes.
In The Lincolnshire Chronicle dated 3 May, 1839, there is recorded the Trust Account of Bolles Charity 1838-1839. In the payments for 1838 are one to Messrs. SHARPLEY and LAWRENCE for £7 17s 2d. In The Lincolnshire Chronicle dated 24, June 1842 for Louth Union Workhouse, best coals at 17s. per ton, common coals at 13s. However, no mention is made of their name in the Louth Workhouse minutes of the time. Only that of George SUTTON.
On 23 April 1847 the Lincolnshire Chronicle records that Sharpley and LAWRENCE were granted a contract to supply Louth prison with coal. In William Browns Louth Panorama of 1844, see picture there is a warehouse at the Riverhead that shows the name of ‘LAURENCE’.
Who was John Booth Sharpley?
The first trade directory reference to the partnership between Tom and John Booth SHARPLEY occurs in 1826.
John Booth SHARPLEY was born 27 March 1800 and died 4 June 1872. His father was Anthony SHARPLEY b. 1771, d. Oct 1834. His mother Ann BOOTH born on 27 March 1800 in Louth, Lincolnshire.
He became a magistrate in 1849 and was a Corn & Coal Merchant. He married Elizabeth HAY on 23 September 1824 at Waltham, Lincolnshire. He was mayor of Louth three times, 1840,1849,1854 He was buried on 24 June 1872 at Louth, Lincolnshire and in 1874 a plaque was erected to his memory in Louth Methodist Chapel.
What premises did they own at the River head?
In the 1828 survey of the LOUTH Navigation by Padley, he gives the following description, the numbers refer to his plan of the Riverhead:
“No.13.A. Warehouse at the River Head, length 85 feet 6 inches, breadth 24 feet 24 inches, height of walls 22 feet 6 inches, gable ends, built of brick , and covered with slate; consists of a Ground floor and two others, in good repair, in the occupation if Messrs. LAWRENCE and SHARPLEY.- No. 13.B consists of an Office, Stable, and Tenement; width of North end 15 feet 5 inches, West side 42 feet 7 inches, width of South end 16 feet 4 inches, brick-work, 1 feet 6 inches high, and wall 9 feet high, North wall 7 feet high, built of brick, and covered with boards 8 feet above the brick-work, built of wood on the East side, brick and wood on the West side; going to decay.-No.13.c. part of the above building, length of South wall 29 feet 9 inches, brick-work 4 feet high, wood-work 4 feet 6 inches high, width of ends 14 feet.-13.D. consists of a Shoemakers Shop and a Tailors Shop, length 22 feet 6 inches, width 7 feet 6 inches, South pantiles; in good repair. From No.12 to No.13.D. inclusive are in the occupation of Messrs LAWRENCE and SHARPLEY, and contain 2 roods and 20 perches
Louth Navigation
Padley’s 1828 survey and the 1841 Census shows The Riverhead as a clearly a community in its own right. It had two public houses, the Woolpack and the Ship, a butcher’s shop and a druggist (Thomas son Charles who had moved there in 1836) who also functioned as a grocer. It was a busy place with the arrival and departure of boats, goods being loaded and unloaded and grain being prepared for the brewing trade in the drying kilns.
For the craftsmen and labourers there were rows of small terraced houses known as tenements.The artisans who lived here mostly had trades or skills linked to the work of the canal. The largest group were mariners, followed by ship’s carpenters and rope makers. Thomas LAURENCE owned shares in a sloop, called ‘Alpha’, that exported corn to Hull, importing coal on the return journey. According to local newspaper reports the sloop “Alpha” under Mark AARON’s Captainship also transported coal and goods to Wisbech, Cambridgeshire from Goole returning with corn and fruit. Goole to Wisbech converted to statutory miles is 127.16. Hull to Louth is 32.86. Both would take a few days I reckon. Then there is loading time to add. One example I have found in the local newspapers. The Alpha under Mark AARON in the Leeds Intelligencer, 18/06/1842, for period June 9-16 coasters inwards for Wisbech with coal, then Lincolnshire Chronicle, 24/06/1842, sailed for Goole with corn and fruit.
The `Alpha`, official number (14410)
In the Goole shipping register, NSG/3 page 11, entry relating to ‘Alpha’ dated Jul 1841, the Registration number/year is 30/1841 and name of master: Mark AARON. It states it was built in Thorne in 1841 by William ATKINSON as a sloop.
The names of owners at time of registration were Mark AARON, Thorne, master mariner, Thomas LAWRENCE, Louth, merchant, John Booth SHARPLEY, Louth, merchant. Last entry: includes entries to 1854
Other sections include: burthen: 43 2481 over 3500 tons, Surveying Officer: Thomas Parry TIDE, number of decks: one, number of masts: one, length from inner part of the Main Stem to the fore part of the Stern aloft is 5 feet, breadth in Midships is 13 feet, depth in the hold at Midships is 6 feet one tenth, type of bowsprit: round, number of shares for each owner: Mark had 22, Thomas and John 21 each to make up the 64 shares that were had in a vessel. Mark had the controlling shares, so Goole to Wisbech and back may well have been his own.
William Atkinson (19 Mar 1787-Sept 1854) was from a shipbuilding family, canal side, Thorne, nr. Doncaster.
Mark AARON (1791-6 July 1865), also had a son of same name (1828-1874), who took over captainship of ‘Alpha’.
In 1848, Thomas sold his shares back to John Booth SHARPLEY, who in turn in 1867, sold the ship to William BELL of Hull. Tom LAURENCE became insolvent in 1851.
Sloops mainly handled bulk cargoes between the Humber ports, carrying farm produce from Lincolnshire, coal from the West Riding, bricks and tiles between both sides, cement and chalk stone from Barton and South Ferriby to Hull and transhipping phosphates back to the fertiliser works. In a summer the sea going trade would be to Louth, Saltfleet, the ports of the Wash and on south to the Thames, to the north trade would be to Bridlington, the Tyne and all ports between.
Toms sons also became active in the town, and his daughter married into the EVISON family that became entwined with the history of the LAURENCEs.
Mary Ann LAURENCE, born 1820 in Louth and baptised 29 Jul 1820. She married John EVISON (born 1820, in Louth) in the June quarter of 1846. They had three daughters: 1848 Helen EVISON, 1849 Mary Ann EVISON, 1850 Rosamond EVISON. All born in Louth. The census of 30 Mar 1851 has them living on Quarry Lane.
SHARPLEY And LAWRENCE Partnership Dissolved
In Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, Friday, December 20, 1850 and quoted in the London Gazette of the time.
Insolvency
In Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, Friday, January 31, 1851 and the London Gazette:
LAWRENCES ASSIGNMENT
Notice, is hereby given, that THOMAS LAWRENCE, of Louth, in the county of Lincoln, coal merchant, hath, by Indenture bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty one, conveyed and assigned all his, real and personal estate and effects unto FREDERICK CHAPLIN, of Tathwell, in the said county, Esquire, and WILLIAM ALLINSON DUNN, of Louth aforesaid, gentleman, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, upon trust for the equal benefit of all such of the Creditors of the said Thomas LAWRENCE as shall execute the said Indenture within two calendar months from the date thereof; which said Indenture was executed by the said Thomas LAWRENCE and William Allison DUNN on the day of the date thereof, and by the said Frederick CHAPLIN on the 25th day of January instant, and is attested as to the execution thereof by the said Thomas LAWRENCE, Frederick CHAPLIN, and William Allison Dunn, by Field FLOWERS or, of Louth, aforesaid, attorney-at-law, and John PORTER of the same place, his clerk. And Notice is hereby also given, that the said Indenture is now lying at our office for execution by the Creditors of the said Thomas LAWRENCE:-and that all persons indebted to the estate of the said Thomas LAWRENCE, are to pay the amount of their respective debts to the said William Allison DUNN.
Dated the 27th day of January, 1851.
By order, for and WILSON, Solicitors, Louth
In the 1851 census we find Thomas and Mary living with John & Mary Ann EVISON in Quarry Lane, Louth:
EVISON, John Head Married M 30 1821 Butcher (Master 1 Ap)
Louth, Lincolnshire
EVISON, Mary A Wife Married F 30 1821
Louth, Lincolnshire
EVISON, Helen Daughter Unmarried F 3 1848 Louth, Lincolnshire
EVISON, Mary Ann Daughter Unmarried F 2 1849 Louth, Lincolnshire
EVISON, Rosamond Daughter F 0 (6 MOS) 1851 Louth, Lincolnshire
LAWRENCE, Thomas Father-In-Law Married M 69 1782 Coal Merchant Langton, Lincolnshire
LAWRENCE, Mary Mother-In-Law Married F 67 1784 Alvingham, Lincolnshire
LAWRENCE, TEFT Brother-In-Law Unmarried M 28 1823 Watch Maker, Louth, Lincolnshire
FLETCHER, Samuel Apprentice Unmarried M 18 1833 Ap Butcher
Yaxley, Northamptonshire
WRIGHT, Kate Servant Unmarried F 22 1829 House Serv, Louth
STUBBS, Elizabeth Servant Unmarried F 14 1837 House Servant, Grainthorpe, Lincolnshire
Why Did Tom Become Insolvent?
In simple terms, the railway arrived in Louth in 1848 and bought the lease for the Louth Navigation. Also, there was the added competition of more coal merchants in the town. Tom would not have been blind to the effect of the railway on the canal. In 1847 two railway Acts were passed. The first authorised the East Lincolnshire Railway Company to purchase the existing lease for the collection of tolls of the Louth Navigation. The second Act enabled the Great Northern Railway Company to purchase the East Lincolnshire Railway and Canal. In S.M. SIZERS opinion the G.N.R. took on the lease to prevent the canal from competing with them. He, also, asserts that they would have put the toll charges up to the maximum the Act permitted. Making transportation by rail more attractive, and the transportation of coal more expensive.
On 19 Mar 1860, Toms wife Mary died of old age. Perhaps, because he was lonely in the 1861 census Thomas is living at his son William Michaels Temperance Hotel in Clayton Square, Liverpool.
LAURANCE, William M Head Married M 44 1817 Temperance Hotel Louth, Lincolnshire LAURANCE, Francis Ann Wife Married F 42 1819 Sheffield, Yorkshire
LAURANCE, Emily Daughter Unmarried F 19 1842 Sheffield, Yorkshire
LAURANCE, Fanny Caroline Daughter Unmarried F 5 1856 Scholar Manchester, Lancashire
LAURANCE, Charles M Son Unmarried M 4 1857 Scholar Liverpool, Lancashire LAURANCE, Thomas Father Widower M 79 1782 Gentleman Langton, Lincolnshire EVISON, Rosamond Niece Unmarried F 10 1851 Scholar Louth, Lincolnshire
DAVIES, William Visitor Married M 41 1820 Commercial Traveller Bristol, Gloucestershire
BICKERTON, David Visitor Unmarried M 30 1831 Commercial Traveller Scotland MILLING, Mary Servant Unmarried F 33 1828 Waitress Bentham, Yorkshire
PARSONS, Helen Servant Unmarried F 23 1838 Housemaid Liverpool, Lancashire HALLIDAY, Mary Ann Servant Unmarried F 22 1839 Kitchen Maid Liverpool, Lancashire MEAKIN, Elizabeth Servant Unmarried F 28 1833 Chambermaid Liverpool, Lancashire CARSEN, Jane Servant Unmarried F 47 1814 Cook Scotland
WILLIAMS, William Servant Unmarried M 21 1840 Boots Whitchurch, Shropshire
1861 census, date: Sunday 7 April. Her mother dead and her father father knowing he was having financial difficulties, Rosamond may have been sent as assurance to be employed in Willam Michaels Liverpool Temperance hotel. So we find her described in the 1861 census
LAURANCE, William M Head Married M 44 1817 Temperance Hotel Louth, Lincolnshire LAURANCE, Francis Ann Wife Married F 42 1819 Sheffield, Yorkshire
LAURANCE, Emily Daughter Unmarried F 19 1842 Sheffield, Yorkshire
LAURANCE, Fanny Caroline Daughter Unmarried F 5 1856 Scholar Manchester, Lancashire
LAURANCE, Charles M Son Unmarried M 4 1857 Scholar Liverpool, Lancashire LAURANCE, Thomas Father Widower M 79 1782 Gentleman Langton, Lincolnshire EVISON, Rosamond Niece Unmarried F 10 1851 Scholar Louth, Lincolnshire
DAVIES, William Visitor Married M 41 1820 Commercial Traveller Bristol, Gloucestershire
BICKERTON, David Visitor Unmarried M 30 1831 Commercial Traveller Scotland MILLING, Mary Servant Unmarried F 33 1828 Waitress Bentham, Yorkshire
PARSONS, Helen Servant Unmarried F 23 1838 Housemaid Liverpool, Lancashire HALLIDAY, Mary Ann Servant Unmarried F 22 1839 Kitchen Maid Liverpool, Lancashire MEAKIN, Elizabeth Servant Unmarried F 28 1833 Chambermaid Liverpool, Lancashire CARSEN, Jane Servant Unmarried F 47 1814 Cook Scotland
WILLIAMS, William Servant Unmarried M 21 1840 Boots Whitchurch, Shropshire
As William Michaels father Tom was also there for the census, perhaps he accompanied Rosamond.
Death
Thomas died of bronchitis and old age on 29 October 1868 at Aswell Lane. In attendance was Richard Boyle, watchmaker, who married Toms son Tefts widow. Teft had had watchmaking premises in Aswell Lane for some time.

References
Land Tax research done by Suzanne Mendel.
With kind permission to print pictures and advice from Stuart Sizer and his work ‘People And Boats’ and provide the detail from William Browns 1844 Louth Panorama.
“Alpha” information kindly provided by Goole Maritime Museum