Mr Alfred James Goshawk

Alfred James Goshawk was born in Finsbury, Middlesex, England on 3 September 1871. He was the son of James Goshawk (1845-1894) and Henrietta Evans (1848-1933). His parents, both from London, had been married in 1870 in Stoke Newington and together they had at least four children: Florence Henrietta (b. 1874), Ada Seal (b. 1876), Edith Blanche (b. 1877) and Alfred.

Alfred first appears on the 1881 census, together with his sister Florence, as a boarder at 58 Eleanor Road, Hackney, London, an address belonging to a widow Mrs Georgina James. His father (an accountant) and mother are listed as boarders at 16 Finsbury Park Villas, Green Lanes, London.

On the 1891 census Alfred, his mother and siblings are living at 7 Davenant (?) Road, Islington and Alfred is listed as unmarried and as a commercial traveller. His father is listed as a patient in the Royal National Hospital for Diseases of the Chest in St Lawrence, Isle of Wight and he is described as a shipping clerk. His father would pass away three years later on the Isle of Wight. The remaining family don't appear to be present for the 1901 census. On the 1911 census Alfred's mother and his three unmarried sisters are listed as living at 16 Victoria Road, Stroud Green Road, London where his mother was a boarding house keeper.

Alfred was married in early 1908 to Alexandrina Victoria Smith (b. April 6, 1887 in Eastleigh, Hampshire). On the 1911 census Alfred is absent but his wife is listed as a visitor to her parents' home, 246 High Street, Eastleigh.

When Alfred signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 6 Coventry Road Southampton. As a first class steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s. His last ship had been the Olympic.

Goshawk died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

His widow Alexandrina never remarried. She later relocated to Bournemouth and died there in 1976.

References and Sources

Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259)
Particulars of Engagement (Belfast), Ulster Folk and Transport Museum (TRANS 2A/45 381)