Robert Horlock inherited a half share of his father's estate in 1799, including at least one sailing barge. In 1836 he was involved in a lawsuitover the delivery of a wet cargo to London. After taking the case from court to court he finally ended up in the High Court. Realising that if he lost this final decision all his property would be forfeited he decided to entail his land to a third party so that he could regain it at some later date. Robert won his case but was unable to recover the land he had given away, leaving him with only the three barges "Wellington", "Hand of Providence" and "Thomas & Mary". As a result of this tragedy Robert and his two sons left Rettendon and moved up the coast, first to Harwich and then , in 1839 to Mistley.
Robert had moved back to Steeple by 1845, perhaps to live with his son and daughter.
The 1841 census shows the following people living at The Street, Steeple
Robert Horlock aged 65, a bargeman
Lucy Horlock, his wife aged 60
Elizabeth Bowsal? a servant aged 15.