Mr John Henry Chapman
- Biography
| Name: Mr John Henry Chapman
Born: 1875 Age: 36 years Last Residence: in Liskeard Cornwall England Occupation: Farmer 2nd Class passenger First Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912 Ticket No. 29037 , £26 Destination: Spokane Washington United States Died in the sinking. Body recovered by: Mackay-Bennett (No. 17) Buried: Fairview Lawn Cemetery Halifax Nova Scotia Canada on Friday 10th May 1912. |
Mr John Henry Chapman, 37, was likely born at Parsons Park Farm, St Neot, Cornwall in about 1876. He was the son of James Chapman (farmer) and Isabella Chapman. He was brother to Dorcas, William James, Catherine Sarah and Sidonia. At the time of the 1891 census the family had moved to nearby Trethewey Farm also in St Neot.
© Bob Knuckle, Dundas Ontario, Canada
John originally did farming work alongside his father but as this did not work out he emigrated to Canada in 1906 and then in 1910 settled in Spokane, Washington where he obtained employment as a cemetery worker. He returned to Cornwall late in 1911 at which time his father was farming at Carpuan, St Neot. During his visit he married Sarah Elizabeth Lawry (of Tremorkin, St Neot) at the Wesleyan Chapel, Liskeard on 26th December 1911.
Sarah's brother, William, was by then living and working (as a carpenter) in America and the decision was taken to emigrate and move to live near his home in Fitzburn, Wisconsin.
Their journey to Fitzburn was to have been via Chicago. For their trip they chose the maiden voyage of Titanic which they embarked at Southampton, the trip was to have been their belated honeymoon (1).
They travelled 2nd class under ticket number 29034 which had cost £26, purchased from White Star agent George & Co of Liskeard.
During the early part of the journey the couple befriended James Hocking who was travelling from Devonport, Devon to Middletown, Conn. According to Emily Richards, John and Sarah went on deck with the Hocking party from Penzance and the Drew family of Constantine. The Drew's became separated, but the others stayed together. Sarah was behind Emily as she entered lifeboat 4. When Sarah realised that she had to go alone she turned away saying to Emily, 'Goodbye Mrs Richards, if John can't go, I won't go either'
Mr and Mrs Chapman both died in the sinking. The body of John Henry Chapman was subsequently recovered by the Mackay-Bennett and was buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 10, 1912.
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NO. 17. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE, 30-40. HAIR, DARK. CLOTHING - Grey overcoat; brown suit; handkerchief, "J. Chapman." EFFECTS - Lady's hand bag; gold watch, chain and locket; gold watch, chain and badge; £63 10s. in gold; 13s. 7d. in silver and copper; $2 in paper and silver, ect.; letter; baggage receipt; keys; tie clip; pipe; nail cleaner; baggage insurance; marriage certificate. NAME - JOHN H. CHAPMAN. |
There is a memorial to the couple on Sarah's aunt's gravestone in St Neot Churchyard, Cornwall.
Courtesy: Steve Coombes, UK
Travelling Companions (on same ticket)
Mrs Sara Elizabeth Chapman
Notes
The portrayal of newlyweds travelling Second Class in the movie A Night to Remember was modelled after the Chapmans.
References and Sources
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. Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Halifax, N.S., Manuscript Group 100, Vol. 229, No. 3d, Accession 1976-191, 76 pp., unpaged. (#17)
British Census 1881
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
Credits
Steve Coombes, UK
Chris Dohany, USA
Brian Ticehurst, UK
Related Articles and Documents
| PROBATE REPORT | ||
| MEMORIAL STONE | ||
| Unidentified Newspaper (1912) | LOCAL MAN, BRIDE, TITANIC VICTIMS | |
| Western Morning News (1912) | TITANIC DISASTER, WESTCOUNTRY PASSENGERS AND CREW | |
| Western Morning News (1912) | TITANIC DISASTER, WESTCOUNTRY PASSENGERS AND CREW | |
| West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser (1912) | UNKNOWN TITLE | |
| (1913) | MANSION HOUSE TITANIC RELIEF FUND |
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