Mr Albert Ernest Witcher

Mr Albert Ernest Witcher 1 was born in 1872/3 2 at Everton, two miles west of Lymington,3 and lived in the area throughout his life. He was the youngest child of a large family which had relatives scattered around the local area. In 1881 Albert was aged 8, living with his father John (a farm labourer), mother Mary A., and older brother Harry (14) in a cottage in Milford parish.4 The exact location was at Everton, near the local public house (Crown Inn), grocer's shop and Harts Farm House.

By 1891 the family had moved closer to Lymington, and lived near Pennington Cross, with his father's occupation described as 'shepherd'. Albert was 18 at the time and working as a gardener and domestic servant.5

Albert was married to Nellie Louise Gilbert at St. Thomas's Church, Lymington on 8 September 1893 at which time he was employed as a ship's steward. His father-in-law (James Gilbert) was a sailor.6

Albert and Nellie moved to 9 Nelson Place, Lymington 7, sometime prior to 1912. This address was where other members of the Witcher family (William - a 'manner' - and his wife Susannah) had lived in 1891.

Albert Witcher signed onto the Titanic on 6 April 1912. He had transferred from the Olympic. As a fireman he received monthly wages of £6.8

Albert Witcher died in the disaster.9 His body, if recovered, was never identified.10

He left his wife Nellie (née Gilbert), two daughters (Marie Louise and Norah May) and his wife's aunt (Norah May Rumsey), who were all his dependants and who received financial aid from the Titanic reflief fund.11

References

1. i. Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259): 'A. Witcher'
   ii. British Census 1881: Ref: 1191 30 14. 'Albert E. Witcher'
2. i. Agreement and Account of Crew op. cit. Note: Witcher gave his age as 36.
   British Census 1881 op. cit. 'aged 8'
   iii. Hampshire Independant, 4 May 1912, p.1. Death Notice. 'Aged 39.'
3. British Census 1881 op. cit.
4. British Census 1881 op. cit.
5. British Census 1891: Ref. MF900 92
6. Lymington Marriage Register, 1893
7. i. Agreement and Account of Crew op. cit.
   ii. Lloyds of London Reprint The Deathless Story of the Titanic
   iii. Southampton Times and Hampshire Express, 20 April 1912, p.9, co. 1. 3.
   iv. Watson, A. & B. (1984) Roster of Valour 7Cs Press, U.S.A.
   Note: The agreement states only '9 Nelson Place'. Witcher's address has been wrongly transcribed in the following publications: The Lloyds Weekly News and Southampton Times 2 state he was resident at 9 Nelson Place, Southampton. Roster of Valour gives his address as 9 Wilson Place, Southampton.
8. Agreement and Account of Crew op. cit.
9. Casualty List, Public Record Office (BT100/259)Casualty List, Public Record Office (BT100/259)
10. 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. Details compiled from records of the "Mackay-Bennett". Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Halifax, N.S., Manuscript Group 100, Vol. 229, No. 3d, Accession 1976-191, c. Friday May 3, dark purple card covers, initial page entitled, Key to accompanying List showing how bodies have been disposed of:, probably printed in Halifax, N.S., 76 pp., unpaged, Body No. 1 to 306 inclusive: annotated in red ink below each body's data with burial permit and cemetery data, and with two extra typed pages added for the Minia, Montmagny and Algerine; Body Nos. 307 to 324 inclusive, Nos. 326 to 329 inclusive and No. 330 respectively. [Not Listed nor subsequently identified]
11. Mansion House Titanic Relief Fund Booklets and Minute Books: Case No. 269. Nellie Witcher received 12s 6d from the fund for herself, 4s 6d for her children and 2s 0d for her aunt Mary Jane Rumsey, who lived apparently with her.

Contributors
Clare Church, UK
Hermann Söldner, Germany
Bill Wormstedt, USA