John Okill
Encyclopedia
John Okill was a pioneering and successful 18th century shipbuilder from Liverpool
, England
. Not much is known about his early life, though by the time he was 50 years old, he was a leading citizen of the town, having undertaken the roles of timber
merchant
and shipbuilder.
His yard was on the south of the Salthouse Dock
, Liverpool, and over the years he would build many coasting brigantine
s and sloop
s in alliance with William Marsh.
By 1739 his reputation an accomplished ship builder got him the first of many commissions by the Royal Navy
to build ships of the line. The first was the "Hastings", a ship of 44 guns and weighing 682 tons. He would build another eight ships between 1740 and 1758 for the navy.
His shipbuilding company saw several other partners over the years: by 1758 the firm was "Okill and Rigg", and in 1768 it became "Okill & Sutton".
In addition to shipbuilding John Okill was also a Liverpool member of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, formed in 1750. Though many of the other merchants traded in African slaves, Okill's was the only firm to take no part in the slave traffic, which instead "traded in wood and teeth (ivory
)".
In 1747 Okill was the donor of the lease for the site upon which the original St. Thomas's Church was built.
In 1773 he started work on a manor home in Woolton
called Lee Hall. He died later that same year, with work on the building completed by his inheriting nephew, James Okill. There were problems associated with the disposal of John Okill's estates, requiring an Act of Parliament in 1784, (24 Geo. [118] III, c. 1) to enable the trustees to dispose of certain of them. James and his inheritors, the Dutton family, helped to plan and layout what would become Gateacre
.
There was a monumental inscription to him at original St. Peter’s Church, Liverpool. Lee Hall was torn down sometime after 1971. His commercial Day Book
for 1752 – 1753, listing the daily transactions relating to his shipbuilding business can be found at the Liverpool Record Office and Local History Service.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Not much is known about his early life, though by the time he was 50 years old, he was a leading citizen of the town, having undertaken the roles of timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
and shipbuilder.
His yard was on the south of the Salthouse Dock
Salthouse Dock
Salthouse Dock is a dock on the River Mersey, England and part of the Port of Liverpool. It is situated in the southern dock system, connected to Canning Dock to the north, Wapping Dock to the south and Albert Dock to the west....
, Liverpool, and over the years he would build many coasting brigantine
Brigantine
In sailing, a brigantine or hermaphrodite brig is a vessel with two masts, only the forward of which is square rigged.-Origins of the term:...
s and sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
s in alliance with William Marsh.
By 1739 his reputation an accomplished ship builder got him the first of many commissions by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
to build ships of the line. The first was the "Hastings", a ship of 44 guns and weighing 682 tons. He would build another eight ships between 1740 and 1758 for the navy.
His shipbuilding company saw several other partners over the years: by 1758 the firm was "Okill and Rigg", and in 1768 it became "Okill & Sutton".
In addition to shipbuilding John Okill was also a Liverpool member of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, formed in 1750. Though many of the other merchants traded in African slaves, Okill's was the only firm to take no part in the slave traffic, which instead "traded in wood and teeth (ivory
Ivory
Ivory is a term for dentine, which constitutes the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals, when used as a material for art or manufacturing. Ivory has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, dominoes, joint tubes, piano keys and...
)".
In 1747 Okill was the donor of the lease for the site upon which the original St. Thomas's Church was built.
In 1773 he started work on a manor home in Woolton
Woolton
Woolton is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward. It is located at the south of the city, bordered by Gateacre, Hunts Cross, Allerton and Halewood. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 14,836.-History:...
called Lee Hall. He died later that same year, with work on the building completed by his inheriting nephew, James Okill. There were problems associated with the disposal of John Okill's estates, requiring an Act of Parliament in 1784, (24 Geo. [118] III, c. 1) to enable the trustees to dispose of certain of them. James and his inheritors, the Dutton family, helped to plan and layout what would become Gateacre
Gateacre
Gateacre is a district of Liverpool, England, located approximately from the city centre. It is bordered by Childwall, Woolton and Belle Vale...
.
There was a monumental inscription to him at original St. Peter’s Church, Liverpool. Lee Hall was torn down sometime after 1971. His commercial Day Book
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
for 1752 – 1753, listing the daily transactions relating to his shipbuilding business can be found at the Liverpool Record Office and Local History Service.
External links
Additional reading
- Liverpolitana, Williams, Peter. Merseyside Civic Society. 1971.