Catalogue description Records of Barry's ship owners and shipbuilders of Whitby

This collection comprises accounts relating to Barry's shipbuilding activities 1802-1807, the bulk contains copy letters of John Barry covering business subjects 1805-1808; letter book of Robert Barry covering business matters including details of ships built 1815-1829, 1815-1843; cash book relating to Barry's ship owning activities 1818-1835; ledger containing records of accounts with individuals and of particular ships 1832-1839; freighting accounts for Barry ships 1822-1831; pro-forma insurance policies relating to voyages made by Barry ships 1818-1835; logbook of the Hyperion while on government service 1812-1815; notes on shipbuilding apparently kept by Robert Barry while studying shipbuilding at Northfleet c1840.

Barry's ship owners and shipbuilders of Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire

• Barry, Robert, d 1793, shipbuilder of Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire
• Barry, John, 1763-1826, shipbuilder of Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire
• Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire
• Shipbuilding industry

This collection was deposited as the Barry Bequest, per Major H W Smailes, 1950s-1960s. Other items from this bequest are currently in the North Yorkshire County Record Office, Northallerton.

John, Francis and Robert Barry commenced shipbuilding in Whitby in the 1780s. Their shipyard was on the west side of the Esk, being the northern part of the shipyard previously occupied by the Coates and later by Thomas Hutchinson. Robert Barry died in Jan 1793 and the business was continued by his son John, who in turn was succeeded by his own son Robert. The yard was sold to the York and North Midland Railway Company in 1845 and the railway station and approaches to it built on the site.

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