Hello again, John,
Further to my last, I've been trawling the catalogue at Tyne and Wear Archives. Have a look at this mouth-watering entry.
Code: 541
Description: records relating to Newcastle Corporation shipping dues and dumping ballast comprising 1-3, 9-11, ledgers arranged by ship, 1811-59; 4-5, ledgers arranged by owners, 1762-1828; 6-8, ledgers arranged by port, 1715-30; 12-20, shipping books, 1748- 1835; 21-4, dues books, 1801-34; 25-33, ballast and tonnage books, 1771-1829; 34-5, corn books, 1787-1827; 36, quay dues book, 1809-13; 37, cargoes ledger, 1846-55; 38, orders to load and unload on the Tyne other than at Newcastle, 1830-43; 39, register of steam boats, 1839-58
Date: 1715 - 1859
Keywords: levies duties
What do you bet that you would find nuggets about Goodsir and TRANSFER here?
Yes, I know that it says "Newcastle Corporation", but for years and years and years, Newcastle was the only *official* port on the Tyne and controlled all the shipping - a cause for much local dissension and brouhaha. Shields did not officially become a port until 1840's.
Cheers,
Westoe