Miss Anna Katherine Kelly

 

Miss Anna Katherine ("Annie Katie") Kelly , 21, was born in early 1891 in Cuilmullagh, Co Mayo, Ireland; the daughter of John Kelly and Ellen Flaherty. She was travelling from Cuilmullagh to Chicago, Illinois to join her cousins, Anna and Mary Garvey, who lived at 303 Eugenie Street. Anna boarded the Titanic at Queenstown as a third class passenger (ticket number 9234, £7 15s). She joined a group of passengers leaving Co Mayo, led by Katherine McGowan.

Kelly said that the stewards did not wake the steerage passengers in time the night of the collision. Those third class passengers who became alarmed and went up on deck were told to go back as there was no danger. Annie was saved in lifeboat 16 after, she claimed, the Bourkes vacated and made room for her to enter. Later, she was haunted by the "wild scenes on the boat just before it went down."

Kelly was hospitalized in New York City and later travelled from New York with fellow survivor Anna McGowan. They had been released from the hospital wearing their nightgowns, old shoes someone had given them, and coats. They were met in Chicago by Dr. Mary O'Brien Porter of the Catholic Woman's league protectorate. Dr. O'Brien Porter appealed to the Mayor of Chicago to give some of the funds raised in the city to the two young women.

After the disaster Anna became a nun, and upon ordination assumed the name of Sister Patrick Joseph Kelly. She did return to Ireland to visit her sister, Mrs Agnes Kelly Flanagan of Gortnaden, Crossmolina, Co Mayo.

Anna resided in Adrian, Michigan until her death in December 1969.

Notes
Ray (1999) gives her address as Athenry, Co Galway.

Articles
Chicago Daily Tribune (Illinois), 25, 26 April 1912

Sources
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
Noel Ray (1999) List of Passengers who Boarded RMS Titanic at Queenstown, April 11, 1912. The Irish Titanic Historical Society

Acknowledgements
Cameron Bell, Northern Ireland
Robert L. Bracken, USA
Michael A. Findlay, USA
Noel Ray, Ireland
Homer Thiel, USA

     

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Summary
Born: Thursday 14th January 1892
Age: 20 years
Marital Status: Single.
Last Residence: in Cuilmullagh Ireland
3rd Class passenger
First Embarked: Queenstown on Thursday 11th April 1912
Ticket No. 9234 , £7 15s
Destination: Chicago Illinois United States
Rescued (boat 16)
Disembarked Carpathia: New York City on Thursday 18th April 1912
Died: Sunday 28th December 1969

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