William Withell was a shipbuilder and shipwright at Porth in 1859, previously trading at Sunny Corner near Malpas. His insolvency notice records both his materials and financial difficulties.
William Withell was a shipbuilder, shipwright and boatbuilder working at Porth in 1859. His trade also supplied materials including timber, tar, oakum, pitch, iron, paint and varnish. He had previously carried on the business at Sunny Corner on the Truro River near Malpas.
An insolvency notice in the Royal Cornwall Gazette of 21 January 1859 records his petition and an examination scheduled for 14 February at the Town Hall in St Columb Major. It offers a glimpse of a coastal craft business exposed to creditors, without telling us why the debts arose or how the case ended.
This is the Porth trader associated in family research with the William baptised in 1808. He must not be merged with the older William Withell linked to an 1818 shipbuilding claim. No inspected source makes him the builder of Little Jane.
Sources
Royal Cornwall Gazette, 21 January 1859, p.1, column 2: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.com/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000180%2F18590121&page=1&article=002 Whitaker family history, William Withell section: https://www.whitworks.org/margaret/p19.htm
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- Before the Deckchairs: When Porth Was a Working Beach
Ironworking above the beach, shipwrights beside it and a launch with its own brass band. Porth’s holiday view leaves quite a lot out.