Scottish shale Scottish shale

W.B. Marston & Co

Started:
Pre 1868
Finished:
Bankrupt 1892
Registered office:

Not known

The firm of W.B. Marston is listed in the 1868 Slater's trade directory as manufacturers of burning and lubricating oil, based in Padeswood.

The Wrexham Advertiser of 27th July 1870 reports the summons to Mr. William Beale Marston, of the Oil Works, Coed Talon relating to the pollution of the River Alyn by effluent from his oil works.

The 1871 census lists William Beale Marsden of Brook Villa, Mold, proprietor of an oil works employing 50 men, born c.1831 in Leicestershire (place not known). The 1861 census list William Beale Marston, gentleman, living in Brighton, born c.1831 in Leicestershire.

  • Newspaper references
    • W. B. Marston, Esq.,having resolved to abandon the production of Paraffin Oil at his North Wales Refinery, Padeswood, and in future to carry on only the Grease and Lubricating Oil Trade, at his Leeswood Vale Oil Works, Coed Talon, near Mold, has instructed Mr THOMAS DEAN to SELL by AUCTION his. PARAFFIN OIL PLANT, at the above North Wales Oil Refinery, at Padeswood, about two-and-a- half miles from Mold.

      The Wrexham Advertiser, 11th September 1875

      .......

      A FLINTSHIRE OIL MERCHANT IN DIFFICULTIES.
      EXTRAVAGANCE AND BANKRUPTCY.

      On Tuesday at the Chester Bankruptcy Court, before the Registrar (Mr. E. S. Giles), Frank Marston, trading as W. B. Marston and Sons, of Leeswood Vale Oilworks, near Mold, attended for his first public examination in bankruptcy. The debtor's summary shewed his total un-secured liabilities to amount to £598, and, as there were no assets, either in the form of cash, stock-in-trade, machinery, furniture, or life policies, this was also the exact amount of the deficiency.

      The alleged cause of failure was given by the bankrupt in the following words:- " Must be through my having lived above my income." Replying to the Assistant Receiver, Mr. Hugh Roberts, the debtor said he now resided at Bistre Lodge, Leeswood. In 1888. he com- menced business as an oil merchant at Gateshead, near Newcastle-on-Tyne, in partnership with Mr. John Collins, formerly a clerk in the employ of the debtor's father. The partnership did not last long, being dissolved in the same year, when debtor came over to Flintshire, and afterwards took over his father's business at Leeswood Vale Oil-works at his father's death.

      With reference to the Newcastle business, debtor said it was entirely financed by Collins, who also kept the books. The debtor's duties generally were those of agent and traveller, but at the time he went out to travel their stock of oil consisted of only £100 worth. The firm was known by the title of F. Marston and Co., Cymro Oilworks, Gateshead-on-Tyne. Debtor drew on an average £4 per week for his personal expenses, but there were no arrangements as to the proportion the two partners should draw. They opened an account at the National Provincial Bank at Gateshead, and both of them signed cheques, as it was a joint account. Having a disagreement with Mr. Collins, debtor came over to Leeswood. He confessed he now owed a sum of about £84 for boots, clothing, &c.

      The Receiver : Have you not, in your own opinion, been guilty of extravagance in incurring these debts ? —

      Debtor : I certainly think I have been guilty of extravagance. —

      In reply to further questions, he said his furniture had been sold under an execution, and his wife claimed some of the articles. He was still living at Bistre Lodge, and the house was now furnished, but the furniture was not his. He had executed a bill of sale on the furniture in favour of Mr Thos. Parry, merchant. Mold, who had been very good from time to time to him and his family, and Mr. Parry, though not related in any way to them, had settled the furniture on debtor's wife. The tenancy of the house was in his wife's name since September last, because he found himself getting involved. He had paid £100 of his debts during the last few months, and that was one reason he had no assets. During the last 18 months he reckoned that he had received for sales £2,115, and out of that he had paid £1,400, leaving £715 gross assets. Then he found that his travelling expenses, house expenses, cost of labour, cartage, railway carriage, etc, amounted to £885, leaving an adverse balance cf £121. He lived at the rate of considerably over £300 a year, while his profits were about £330 a year and a half.— The examination was adjourned for the debtor to furnish further accounts.

      The Cheshire Observer, 6th August 1892