Mrs Florence Kate Thorneycroft (née Stears)

Mrs Percival Thorneycroft (Florence Kate Stears), 32 1, was born in Hollingbourne, Kent, the daughter of John Stears and his wife Christian 2.

She was married to Percival Thorneycroft on 26th December, 1899.

In 1912 the couple were living in Maidstone, Kent. They boarded the Titanic at Southampton as third class passengers (ticket no. 376564, £16 2s) bound for Clinton, New York. Their ultimate destination was Canada where Percival's brother Albert lived and where they intended to settle.Travelling with them was Robert Guest.

Kate Thorneycroft was rescued from the sinking, possibly in lifeboat 10. Her husband was lost in the disaster. When Kate arrived in New York, her brother in law, Albert, travelled to New York to meet her. She eventually married Albert (thereby remaining a Thorneycroft) but did not settle well in New York and she and Albert eventually returned to South London (Penge) to her family there.

Kate frequently spoke of the events of the sinking and her arrival in New York but in later life was said to have suffered from 'mental problems' though the description suggests she suffered from dementia. Her family believe this arose because of the trauma of the sinking and the loss of her husband. She coined a phrase which is still used by members of the family today - 'I firgit so' - a phrase she used whenever she became confused.

Kate Thorneycroft died in the early 1950's.

Notes
1. "List or Manifest ..." gives her age as 33 and her mother's name as Mrs C. Stears.
2. Christian is the name listed in the 1881 Census.

References
British Census 1881
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
Names and Descriptions of British Passengers Embarked at the Port of Southampton, 10 April 1912 (PRO London, BT 27/780B)

Contributors
Phillip Gowan, USA
Elizabeth Kelso, UK
Hermann Söldner, Germany
Geoff Whitfield, UK

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