He established the Firm 'Fleck & Co.' which commissioned the building of the Schooner 'Captain Cook' 158 tons built of Fir & Beach Single Deck with Beams, copper fastened with proved iron cables - 13 feet of draught of water when loaded
Surveyed London classified A 1.
Saved the lives of the crew of the Collier 'Vine' after a collision with the Collier 'Brothers', the ship was sinking, her main sails were hanging over her sides, the crew were on deck calling for help. Captain John Fleck part owner of the Brig 'Captain Cook' brought his alongside the sinking vessel and rescued everyone.
According to Mr A. G. Long, Executive Engineer at Admiralty, 1935 - "John Fleck married twice, had four (4) children by his second wife - Isabella (nee Cropton)"
Intestate: Proxy of Renunciation, confirming his Death,
made and Signed by two of his Children, (Clara and Isabella) on 9th July 1850 at
Sunderland, Durham and Cropton on the 16th July 1850, London.
Article under Deaths, Sunderland Herald 12th October 1836 - read:
"At Monkwearmouth, on the 9th inst. aged 58, Mr. J. Fleck, master mariner, nephew to the late Capt. Cook"
PREVIOUS PRIMARY ADDRESS [saved 01 Oct 2004]
(Known to be current in 1997)
Waterloo Place
Monkwearmouth Shore
COUNTY DURHAM, ENGLAND
PREVIOUS ALTERNATE ADDRESS [saved 29 Oct 2008]
Bridge Inn near Fawcett Street
off Sunderland Street
SUNDERLAND (ACCORDING TO FRED LUMB)
ENGLAND
Cropton John In'ducl
to
Francs Agar
Reg'd 15th Oct'r
1827 at 5 in the
afternoon
A MEMORIA! of Indentions of Lease and Release bearing date respectively the twenty third and twenty fourth days of August one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven the Lease made between John Cropton of Sunderland near the sea in the County of Durham Merchant Robert Cropton of the same place Merchant John Fleck of the same place Master Mariner and Isabella his wife James Parkin of South Shields in the said County of Durham Master Mariner and Clara his wife and Isaac Hornby of Robinhood's Bay in the Parish of Fylingdales in the County of York Cordwainer of the one part and Frances Agar of Fylingdales aforesaid Gentleman of the other part and the release made between the said John Cropton and Mary his wife - Robert Cropton and Dorothy his wife John Fleck and Isabella his wife James Parkin and Clara his wife of the second part the said Isaac Hornby and Sarah his wife of the third part the said Frances Agar of the fourth part and William Nicholson of Whitby in the County of York - Brazier of the fifth part is are shall or may be expected or declared of or concerning the same all that Messuage or Tenement, Barn, Stable, Outhouses and all those two several Closes formerly in one Close of arable meadow or pasture ground containing by estimation four acres or thereabout of the same more or less commonly called or known by the names of Singars Hill Estate lying and being in the Parish of Fylingdales aforesaid heretofore in the occupation of John Cropton deceased late of the Reverend James Harrison and now of the said Frances Agar. Together with the appurtenance which said Indentures of lease and release as to there execution thereof respectively of the said John Cropton - Robert Cropton. John Fleck. Isabella Fleck. Isaac Hornby and Frances Agar are attested by Robert Brickon and John Yeoman both of Whitby aforesaid Attornies and by the said James Parkin and Clara Parkin by Richard Barker and John Lowrey both of North Shields in the County of Northumberland Attornies and by the said Mary Cropton. Dorothy Cropton. Isabella Fleck and Sarah Hornby to the said Indenture of Release by the said Robert Breckon and John Yeoman.
Signed and Sealed
In the presence of
Frances Agar
Rob Breckon sworn by Affidavit
John Yeoman
Collection: England, Durham Diocese, Marriage Bonds & Allegations.
Durham University Reference Number – DDR EJ MLA 1 1819
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
JOHN FLECK & ISABELLA CROPTON
Know all Men, by these Presents, that we John Fleck of the Parish of Monkwearmouth in the County and Diocese of Durham, Master Mariner and Robert Cropton of the same Parish, Sailmaker
Are bound and firmly obliged to the Right Worshipful James Baker, Clerk, Master of Arts
and Official Principal, of the Honourable and Right Reverend Father of God, Shute, by Divine Providence Lord Bishop of Durham, lawfully constituted, in the sum of Two Hundred Pounds, of good and Lawful Monies of Great Britain, to be paid to him the said James Baker, his Executors, Administrators, Successors or Assigns; for the payment whereof were truly to be made, we oblige ourselves, for the whole and the full, our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, firmly by these Presents. Sealed with our Seals. Given the Twenty Eighth day of the month of January in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Nineteen.
The condition of this obligation is such, that if the above bounden John Fleck, Widower, and Isabella Cropton, Spinster.
Now licensed to be married together, be neither by Consanguinity or Affinity, the one or the other, within the Degrees prohibited for Marriage: If also there be no Let or Impediment, by reason of any precontract, or any other lawful cause whatofever, but that they be lawfully married together, both of the Laws of God and this Land: moreover if the Persons of Consent is required by law in this behalf, be thereunto agreeing: and lastly, if the said marriage be done and solemnized in such manner, as in the Licence to them Granted, is limited; then this obligation be void, or else to remain in full Force and Virtue.
Sealed and Delivered
J Hampson
Surrogate
John Fleck
Bob Cropton
Prior to the marriage to Isabella Cropton a Pledge in the form of a bond was made between John Fleck, Master Mariner and Robert Cropton (signed Bob), Sailmaker (father of Isabella) stating that he was a Widower and that Isabella Black was his first wife.
John died Intestate on or about the 9th October 1836, the Proxy of Renunciation was executed by James Cook Fleck (eldest son), Master Mariner of Frederick Street, Sunderland, John Ord & Thomas Jones both Yeoman (small Landowners) on the 16th July 1850.
Extract A112-1850, John Fleck, Monkwearmouth, Durham, England
PROXY OR RENUNCIATION
Whereas John Fleck late of
Monkwearmouth in the County and
Diocese of Durham, Master Mariner
departed this Life on or about the ninth
day of October in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and thirty
six, Intestate leaving behind him James
Cook Fleck, Cropton Fleck, Clara Hill
Fleck spinster, now the Wife of Henry
Durham Stevenson, and Isabella Barker
Fleck spinster, now the Wife of John
Gibson his natural and lawful children
and only next of Kin him surviving.
Now known all men by three Parents that we the above named Cropton Fleck, and we the above named Clara Hill Stevenson, and Isabella Barker Gibson by and with the consent, and approbation of our said Husbands testified by their being parties to and executing there presence for dvers good causes and considerations us ---
Hereunto specially moving do hereby renounce our right to Letters of Administration of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said deceased and to the end that this our Proxy of Renunciation may have its due effect in Law we do hereby nominate constitute and appoint John Burrell, Notary Public one of the Procurator General of the Consistorial and Epicopal Court of Durham overture and Lawful Proctor for us in our names to appear before the Right Worshipal James Baker, Clerk Master of Arts Vicar General and Official Principal lawfully constituted of the Right Reverend Father in God, Edward by divine providence Lord Bishop of Durham his surrogate or any other competent Judge in that behalf to exhibit this our Proxy of Renunciation and to pray and procure the same to be received admitted and enacted and generally for us and in our names to do such further and other acts matters and things as shall or may by law be required and necessary to be done in the premises in witnesses here of we have herunto set our hands and seals this nineth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty//
Signed Sealed and Delivered Cropton Fleck
by the above named Clara
Hill Fleck Stevenson, Henry Clara Hill Stevenson
Durham Stevenson, Isabella
Barker Gibson and John Gibson Henry D Stevenson
in the presence of ---------
Isabella B Gibson
John Gibson
David D. Scott
Clerk to Mr. Kidman, Sunderland
William Gibson, Farmer, Sherburn
Signed Sealed and Delivered
by the within named Cropton Fleck
in the presence of ---------
Henry Armstrong, London
John Woodward, London
On the 16th day of July 1850 this Proxy of
Renunciation was exhibited by John Burrell the
Proctor within named and at this Petition admitted.
James Raine
Materials: oil
Measurements: Painting: 546.1 x 444.5 mm
Credit: National Maritime Museum, London
Collection: Oil paintings
Description:
John Fleck, master mariner, nephew of Captain James Cook. His mother, Margaret, was Cook's sister, married a fisherman, James Fleck, from Redcar, a few miles north of Whitby.
John was born there in 1779, the year of his uncle's death in Hawaii, he was baptized on 9 March 1779 at St Germain's Church, Marske.
On 30 January 1819 John married Isabella Cropton at St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth (Sunderland). his address is given as Waterloo Place, Monkwearmouth Shore, Durham with an alternative one, perhaps for communication, The Bridge Inn, near Fawcett Street, off Sunderland Street.
John died on 9 October 1836 and was buried at St Peter's Church on 12 October 1836.
The identity of the painter is not known. It is possible that he may have been a local portrait painter, or a painter based in one of the ports that Captain Fleck traded, London, or possibly a foreign one.
The portrait was bequeathed to the National Maritime Museum by a great-granddaughter.
