Thomas Frederick Pennal (to use his full and correct names) was known as Frederick and because of uncertainty with his surname, for example, he appears on the Titanic Engagement Sheet as F. Pumal (Ref. No 178, 1st Class Victualling Dept.) he has until now proved a little elusive to find.
However, he has been found on the Cornwall 1881 Census and that for 1891 in Devon.
His father was Thomas Pennal, (b. 1850 Gosport, Hampshire) a coastguard by occupation who had married Mary Jane Cohen at Portsea, Hampshire in early 1877 (marriage reg'd March Qtr 1877).
Following the marriage they moved to the far west of Cornwall and briefly settled at Sennen Cove (a few miles to the north of Land's End). It was here that Frederick Pennal was born in 1878. The family then moved and spent a few years in the nearby village of St Just (at Bosorne Terrace) where Ernest (1880), Beatrice (Jan. 1881) and Violet (1882) were born.
The family returned to Sennen Cove where further children were born; Sidney (1885), Lily (1886) and Herbert (1888).
Sometime following Herbert's birth the family moved from Cornwall and settled at the south Devon seaside resort town of Paignton where Frederick's father continued to work as a coastguard. The 1891 census shows their address to be 3 Roundham Terrace.
Quite what happened to the family next is a mystery as none of the family, with the exception of Violet, appear on the 1901 UK census. It can only be assumed that the family were out of the country at the April 1901 census date. As for Violet she was living in Bournemouth, Hampshire and working as a housemaid.
Wherever Frederick had been it is known that by 1912 he was living at 77 Imperial Avenue, Southampton and when he signed on for Titanic as a 1st Class Bath Steward his previous ship had been the Philadelphia.
Signing on for Titanic on 6 April 1912 he was on board by 6am on 10 April, his wages being £3 15 shillings per month.
Frederick was lost in the sinking aged 33.
His name appears on the Millbrook Church Titanic memorial (Southampton) as Thomas Frederick Pennall.
However, he has been found on the Cornwall 1881 Census and that for 1891 in Devon.
His father was Thomas Pennal, (b. 1850 Gosport, Hampshire) a coastguard by occupation who had married Mary Jane Cohen at Portsea, Hampshire in early 1877 (marriage reg'd March Qtr 1877).
Following the marriage they moved to the far west of Cornwall and briefly settled at Sennen Cove (a few miles to the north of Land's End). It was here that Frederick Pennal was born in 1878. The family then moved and spent a few years in the nearby village of St Just (at Bosorne Terrace) where Ernest (1880), Beatrice (Jan. 1881) and Violet (1882) were born.
The family returned to Sennen Cove where further children were born; Sidney (1885), Lily (1886) and Herbert (1888).
Sometime following Herbert's birth the family moved from Cornwall and settled at the south Devon seaside resort town of Paignton where Frederick's father continued to work as a coastguard. The 1891 census shows their address to be 3 Roundham Terrace.
Quite what happened to the family next is a mystery as none of the family, with the exception of Violet, appear on the 1901 UK census. It can only be assumed that the family were out of the country at the April 1901 census date. As for Violet she was living in Bournemouth, Hampshire and working as a housemaid.
Wherever Frederick had been it is known that by 1912 he was living at 77 Imperial Avenue, Southampton and when he signed on for Titanic as a 1st Class Bath Steward his previous ship had been the Philadelphia.
Signing on for Titanic on 6 April 1912 he was on board by 6am on 10 April, his wages being £3 15 shillings per month.
Frederick was lost in the sinking aged 33.
His name appears on the Millbrook Church Titanic memorial (Southampton) as Thomas Frederick Pennall.
