Mr John Starr March
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| Name: Mr John Starr March
Born: October 1861 Age: 50 years Marital Status: Widowed. Last Residence: in Newark New Jersey United States Occupation: Postal Clerk Victualling crew First Embarked: Southampton Died in the sinking. Body recovered by: Mackay-Bennett (No. 225) Buried: Evergreen Cemetery Hillside New Jersey United States |
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Mr John Starr March, 48, was born in Middleton, New York.
Before entering the merchant marine March had worked as a postal clerk on the railways. He lived in Port Jervis, New York before moving to Newark, New Jersey in 1904 1.
He was married to Elizabeth and they had two daughters. March's wife had died during during surgery in June 1911, John continued to live with his younger daughter, Nettie, at 57 Emmet Street in Newark, New Jersey 2. His elder daughter had married a Mr John A. Corwin.
Contemporary reports recalled that in his eight-year marine career, the ships March worked on had been involved in eight separate emergencies. Among the vessels on which he served were the Olympic and the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse.
His two adult daughters constantly pleaded with him to seek safer work elsewhere within the postal system, especially after Mrs. March died in June, 1911 while John was away at sea. But by 1912, March had grown accustomed to the sea and was unwilling to give up his grand voyages for a less-glamorous postal position. He even assured his daughters that he would never drown at sea.
March was the eldest of the three American postal clerks the Titanic. During the sinking, the five clerks, helped by steward Albert Theissinger and several other crewmen, struggled to bring some 200 sacks of mail up to a higher deck.
His address in Southampton was given as 13 West Park Terrace.
March died in the sinking, his body was later recovered by the MacKay-Bennett (#225).
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NO. 225. — MALE — ESTIMATED AGE, 45. — HAIR, MEDIUM; MOUSTACHE CLOTHING — Dark coat; vest; blue pants; striped shirt. EFFECTS — Gold watch and chain; fountain pen; diamond tie pin; gold ring, letter "M." NAME — JOHN S. MARCH |
The body was forwarded to Newark, New Jersey on 3 May 1912 under the care of the undertaking firm Smith & Smith. March was buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside, New Jersey.
Mr March's descendants still own several of the effects that were recovered from his body, in particular, the gold ring with the letter "M." which assisted in his identification.
Notes
1. March had been a volunteer with the Middletown, New York, fire company and later a member of the Port Jervis (New York) Lodge of the Elks and Odd-Fellows.
2. The house was demolished a few years ago and is now a vacant lot in one of Newark's more deprived areas.
References and Sources
John Eaton & Charles Haas (1992) Titanic: Destination Disaster, Patrick Stevens Ltd. ISBN 1 85260 534 0
Marriages, births, deaths and injuries that have occurred on board during the voyage (PRO London, BT 100/259-260)
White Star Line (1912.) Record of Bodies and Effects (Passengers and Crew S.S. "Titanic") Recovered by Cable Steamer "MacKay Bennett" Including Bodies Buried at Sea and Bodies Delivered at Morgue in Halifax, N.S. Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Halifax, N.S., Manuscript Group 100, Vol. 229, No. 3d, Accession 1976-191, 76 pp., unpaged.
Brian Ticehurst (1996) Titanic's Memorials World wide: Where they are Located. ISBN 1 871733 05 7
Credits
Chris Dohany, USA
Michael A. Findlay, USA
Hermann Söldner, Germany
Related Articles and Documents
Grave of John Starr March
March Headstone
March Memorial Marker
John Starr March headstone, Evergreen Cemetery
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