Mr Charles Osker Hendrickson

Charles Osker Hendrickson¹ was born on 6 June 1883 ² in Northam, Southampton, Hampshire, England. He was the son of Peter John Hendrickson (1833-1908) and Mary Sophia (b. 1844). His father was Swedish and his mother was German. They had at least seven children: William (b. 1878), Jane Sophia (b. 1880) France Otto (b. 1885) Edith (b. 1888), Hannah Sophia (b. 1890) and twins Anne Maria and Charles Osker (b. 1883).

Charles first appears on the 1891 census living with his parents and siblings at 231 Northumberland Road, St Mary, Southampton, his father being described as a labourer. Charles is absent for the 1901 census but his family now reside at 17 Alfred Place, Southampton.

Charles was married in mid-1904 to Ellen Young (b. November 18, 1883 in Southampton) and they had two children: Ralph Victor (b. 1909) and Edith (b. 1911). On the 1911 census Charles and his family are living at 255 Northumberland Road, Nichols Town, Southampton and Charles is described as a Ship's Fireman. 

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 6 April he gave his address as 255 Northumberland Road, Southampton. His previous ship was the Oceanic. As a Leading Fireman he received monthly wages of £6 10s.

On the night of the disaster Hendrickson slept through the impact but was later wakened by another crewman. He was one of twelve people rescued in Emergency Lifeboat 1. After the Titanic sank, Hendrickson asked the people in the lifeboat whether they ought to go back to help the people struggling and dying in the water but his suggestion was vetoed by the passengers in the boat. He was later called to testify at the British Inquiry into the disaster.

Charles Hendrickson continued to work at sea into the 1920s. He and his family later relocated to London and he died in Islington in 1956. His widow died in 1979.

Notes

1. Often named as Charles George Hendrickson.
2. He later gave his date-of-birth as June 6, 1882.

References and Sources

Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259)
United States Senate (62nd Congress), Subcommittee Hearings of the Committee on Commerce, Titanic Disaster, Washington 1912
Wreck Commissioners' Court, Proceedings before the Right Hon. Lord Mersey on a Formal Investigation Ordered by the Board of Trade into the Loss of the S.S. Titanic