Mr Thomas Francis Myles

Mr Thomas Francis Myles was born in 1850, at Brook Lodge, in Fermoy, Ireland the son of Michael and Margaret Barry Myles. Thomas' father was a successful businessman and landowner.

Thomas Myles studied at St. Coleman's College and on graduation he sailed from Liverpool to India aboard a cargo ship commanded by a cousin, visiting Bombay and Calcutta. Later he travelled to America and sailed the length of the Mississippi. He decided he settle in America and in 1875 he arrived in Boston, with only one pound to his name and no family.

Thomas eventually earned enough to invest in real estate and owned at least ten rental properties by the time of his death.

In 1890 he built a home in Cambridge Mass for his family which he named "Idlewild". He had planned to build a new home in Waban, Mass.

In late 1911, he travelled back to Ireland to settle part of the family estate and oversee custodianship of his mentally retarded brother James, who was the last family member remaining in Ireland. Myles return journey was booked on an earlier White Star liner which was withdrwn from service due to the coal strike. He transferred to the Carpathia but it was filled to capacity so he finally booked second class passage on the Titanic. Myles boarded the Titanic at Queenstown and died in the sinking.

He was survived by his widow Mary Kennah Myles, two sons, Dr Leo Thomas Myles of Cambridge and Frederick Kennah of Indianapolis, Indiana, and four daughters living at home, Gertrude Ellen, Agnes Mary, Elizabeth Kennah and Eileen Lane.

Three weeks after the tragedy a survivor from New York City visited the family to tell them that Myles had been in a lifeboat but stepped out saying "Women and children first". The survivor also told them he saw Myles leading a group in prayer trying to encourage and calm them. They knelt with him on the deck and together they said the rosary and asked god for protection and help in their hour of need. But this was probably Fr Thomas Roussel Byles.

Documents
Hudson Observer, 17 April 1912, Jersey City Man Hears Father and Sister are Safe
Hudson Observer, 18 April 1912, Crazed with Grief by Father's Death
Jersey Journal, 18 April 1912, Son of Titanic Victim is Driven Insane by Grief
Jersey Journal, 19 April 1912, Brother Claims Distracted Son of Wreck Victim

References
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
Titanic Communtator (1997) - Don Lynch's Passenger Manifest
Marriages, births, deaths and injuries that have occurred on board during the voyage (PRO London, BT 100/259-260)

Contributors
Arthur Merchant, USA
Elizabeth Mahan, USA (grandaughter of Thomas Myles)