Mr Frank Archibald Robert Mason

Mr Frank Archibald Robert Mason, 32, was born in Southampton on 10th April 1880¹ the son of Southampton dock labourer John Mason (1843-1919) and Elizabeth (nee Dawson, 1842-1903).

At the time of the 1881 census he was living at 5 Birmingham Street, Southampton with his parents and five siblings.  Ten years later the family were at 6 Chandos St, Southampton.  The parents remained at that address for the 1901 census but Frank is not listed.

He was married to Ruth Cooper (1888-1958) in 1910². In the 1911 census they were listed living at 20 Nelson Street, Southampton his occupation was given as Seagoing Fireman - White Star Line.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, Frank Mason gave his address as 30a Waverly Road, (Southampton). He had transferred from the Oruba. As a Fireman he received monthly wages of £6.

Mason survived the sinking.  He is sometimes placed in Collapsible B but it is more likely that he escaped in Lifeboat 3 or 9.

Frank continued to work amongst ships.  When his daughter Gwendolyn Iris Mason (1922 - 2001, later known as Mary) was born on 30th October 1922, he was listed on her birth certificate as a 'Boiler (Ship Yard)".  At the time their home address was 43a Orchard Lane, Southampton.

Frank A. R. Mason died in early 1953 in Southampton. He was 72³.

Notes

1. The CR10 identity card from c.1919 gives his birth date was 10 April 1880.  His birth was registered in Southampton in Jun 1880 (2c/28).  Other sources (public family trees etc.) give a birth date of 28th Feb 1880.
2. The marriage was registered in Southampton in September 1910 (2c/37).
3. His death was registered in Southampton in March 1953 (6b/860)

References and Sources

United States Senate, Washington 1912. n° 806, Crew List
1881-1911 British Census
CR10 identity card (#348742, National Archives)
GRO Register of Births Marriages and Deaths

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