Mrs Elizabeth "Eliza" Hocking (née Neads)

Mrs Eliza Hocking, 54, was born Eliza Neads in Tresco, Isles of Scilly on 11 April, 1858, the second daughter of Mr George Neads (General Labourer) and Ann Neads (nee Pender). She was sister to Mary Elizabeth, Henrietta and Ellen (later Ellen Wilkes).

The family moved to live in the village of Madron near Penzance, Cornwall in about 1860. She married Mr William Rowe Hocking (Confectioner and Baker) in Penzance in mid-1880 and initially lived at 27 Leskinnick Terrace, Penzance. They later moved to nearby 38 Adelaide Street. They had 7 children, Sidney, Emily, Ellen (Nellie), William, Thomas, Horace and Richard George Hocking. Her sons Sidney and Richard emigrated to America in the early 1900's and were living at 457 Rhodes Avenue, Akron, Ohio.

After the death of her husband she remarried to a Mr Guy and lived at 26 St Mary's Street, Penzance, after the death of Mr Guy because she had been treated poorly by him she reverted to using her previous married name of Hocking. It was at this time she decided to join her sons in the USA.

Her son George returned to Cornwall to bring her back to Akron with him along with her sister Ellen Wilkes, her two daughters, Nellie Hocking and Emily Richards and Emily's sons George Richards and William Richards. When they left Penzance they had a glorious send-off, her son, George had previously been a member of the YMCA choir and the choir had come along to sing the family out of Penzance.

The family left Cornwall by train and had to change trains at Exeter when Eliza realised she had lost her handbag. Luckily Richard had the tickets in his pocket and some gold sovereigns.

Originally intending to travel on the Oceanic, the family embarked Titanic at Southampton and travelled in second class under ticket number 29105, costing £23 for herself and daughter Ellen. Ellen Wilkes travelled in third class.

After the collision, Mrs Hocking went to her daughter, Emily Richards', cabin and shook her to get her up. 'There is surely danger. Something has gone wrong.'

Elizabeth and her daughters and two grandsons were rescued in lifeboat 4. George Hocking perished.

She was met in New York by her son Sidney Hocking who had travelled from Akron.

She lived in Akron for two years until her death in a streetcar accident on 15 April 1914. She was interred in Glendale Cemetery.

Available Documents
Akron Beacon Journal, April 15, 1914, Obituary
State of Ohio Certificate of Death

References
Cleveland Plain Dealer (Ohio), 21 April 1912
Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio), 19 April 1912
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer At Port Of Arrival (Date: 18th-19th June 1912, Ship: Carpathia) - National Archives, NWCTB 85 T715 Vol 4183

Contributors
Stephen Coombes, UK
Chris Dohany, USA
Jeannette Francis, UK
Phillip Gowan, USA
Homer Thiel, USA
Brian Ticehurst, UK
Geoff Whitfield, UK

Travelling Companions (on same ticket)
Miss Ellen "Nellie" Hocking

Travelling Companions
Mrs Emily Richards