Description

The images shown are the pages 'Indenture’ or legal document which sets out the rights of his creditors to take possession signed by Septimus Ledward, Roberts Roberts, John Williams and George Cram in the presence of two solicitor’s clerks, John Smith and James Bancroft, on 7 January 1856.

George Cram has acquired the Sandycroft Ironworks from another ship builder, Mr Rigby, in 1853. The Vessels that Cram built there include the GOLDEN QUEEN, THE MINO, WINIFRED and the partially completed ROYAL CHARTER.

His ongoing financial difficulties came to a head in August 1854 when his creditors would no longer wait and began legal proceeding to take possession of all his business and personal assets. These creditors included his bankers, Williams & Co (Thomas Rees William and John Williams) of Chester; John Williams and Sir Stephen Glynne owners of the land; Septimus Ledward, iron merchant; and Roberts Roberts of Chester, slate merchant.

The documentation associated with the bankruptcy of George Cram, proprietor of the Sandycroft Ironworks, provides an invaluable insight into the facilities, machinery and tools that iron ship builders used in the middle of the 19th century.

Follow these links to the 5 pages of the assets inventory which reveals all the machinery, tools and materials that were repossessed and subsequently sold (along with the partially completed ROYAL CHARTER) to pay George Cram's debts.

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