Mr David (Abraham Harmer) Livshin

Mr David Livshin, 25, a jeweller from Russia, boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third class passenger. He lived at 36 Strong Street, Lower Broughton, Manchester and had been married recently to a Russian girl named Chyna (20). He had started a watchmaking business at Strangeways, Manchester, but decided to emigrate and send for his wife later. He bought ticket number 374887 for £7 5s in the name of Abraham Harmer.

Mr Harmer died as the result of the sinking.

According to Captain Rostron, Mr Harmer was one of the four people buried from the Carpathia. He may have been the fourth person picked up by lifeboat 14 (if indeed there was a fourth person). Alternatively he may have been 'the lifeless body', referred to by Lightoller, transferred from Collapsible B to lifeboat 12 during the night. Algernon Barkworth also talked about a dead body being transferred.

Following her husband's death, Chyna Livshin, who had by this time given birth to a posthumous child, named after his father, applied to the Liverpool Relief Fund for assistance. She was granted a monthly payment but requested that she be given a reduced monthly sum and an immediate cash payment in order that she might return to Russia to take the child to visit his grandparents. She was still in Russia for the onset of the First World War and was unable to leave. The family endured severe deprivations during this time and it was not until 1920 that she and the child were able to return to Manchester, England. Young David in time became a highly respected member of the medical profession. The family know of no reason why David Livshin was travelling under the name of Abraham Harmer, it is a name unknown to them and can only be assumed that he had bought the ticket from a third party.

References and Sources
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
Marriages, births, deaths and injuries that have occurred on board during the voyage (PRO London, BT 100/259-260)
Peter Boyd-Smith (1994) Titanic, From Rare Historical Reports. Southampton, Steamship Publications.