A Visit with Barbara Anderson

Randy Bryan Bigham · Aug 9, 2002

Shelley,

Thanks for this good news. I got your email just now as well and am thrilled. The British Brain Trust is indeed an awesome bunch!

I would be more than happy to contribute to a fund to erect markers at the graves of Mrs. McDermott's mother and brother and am sure others will want to do so as well. Is there a chance of Mrs. McDermott going back to England to visit the graves?

Randy

Shelley Dziedzic · Aug 9, 2002

I think real angels are at work overtime Darren- and Mrs. McD certainly qualifies for wings! Sadly we find the house where she lived is no more, but apparently there was a very active contingent of Quakers in the town- as were the Pybus family- and other landmarks may well exist that Barbara might recall. Soon there will be photos for her, thanks to our British sleuth who uncovered so much information. She is so excited at the prospect of seeing them. Her last trip to the UK was in 1974 when she was 62- am not sure if she would go again- but would not be surprised if she did-not one bit! If there's one thing I have realized this year, thinking back on Walter Lord's last visit- never wait to do things for someone if you can. This is doubly true when age and health are a factor. All our days are numbered and every one must count-do it, show it, say it, today. I remember the sundial at the beginning of Gone With The Wind- Do not squander time- it is the stuff life is made of. Wise words.

Shelley Dziedzic · Aug 9, 2002

The Ellis Island passenger list service has traced Emily Pybus' (Anderson) arrival at Ellis Island on June 28th 1911. She and Roland Anderson were married in Connecticut, Barbara was born about one year later. Emily crossed on the Cunarder Caronia out of Liverpool and lists her age as 22 on the passenger manifest. Such an interesting and rewarding pursuit this is becoming. Don't know if I would have the endurance to trace hundreds as some of our ET historians do, but when one actually knows someone related to the story, the quest takes on a new light- especially when that someone is as excited about the results as I am! I feel as if I have been time traveling these past two days- sometimes coming back to 2002 is hard to do. The Caronia is a lovely ship -built by John Brown in 1905, 19,524 gross tons, 670 feet long, 72 feet wide, twin screws, 1550 passengers, a troop carrier in WWI and scrapped in 1933. I shall put a postcard of her in the little photo album we are making for Barbara.

Shelley Dziedzic · Aug 17, 2002

Another update today from our London ET friend, Cliff. We have learned that baby Frank Roland died of bronchial pneumonia a litle over 5 months after his birth in late Sept. 1915. Barbara's mother who passed away in March of 1917 died of a type of consumption, pleurisy, or inflammation of the lungs. She was in her fifth month of pregnancy aboard Lusitania. Barbara recalled that the family traced this condition to her being in the water after the sinking- and now there may well be some truth to that. Tomorrow Cliff will go to visit her ancestral home of Darlington- hopefully she may recall some of the landmarks there in the photos he will take. We are making a photo album for Barbara of places she knew as a girl of 7. The Quaker Meeting House is still standing. The cost of putting up a grave headstone for Emily and the baby is about 500 pounds- or roughly $750 -I hope to be able to make this a project to pursue this autumn. Thanks for all the inquiries and offers of help. Barbara can't understand why so many people care about her and her family- or why she is special and is touched by the many kindnesses.

Shelley Dziedzic · Sep 17, 2002

The final chapter in this story is furnished by Londoner Cliff Barry. Finally Barbara has the whole story about her mother and little brother, whose birthday is Sept. 30th 1915. The baby was born at home in Darlington. He lived only 5 months. His little unmarked grave is shown below, in a grove of trees. He died of pertussis and bronchial pneumonia March 16th of 1916 at his grandmother's home in Darlington- his grandmother was there to note the sad passing.

Shelley Dziedzic · Sep 17, 2002

The little grove of trees and chapel at the cemetery.

Shelley Dziedzic · Sep 17, 2002

Emily Mary Pybus Anderson, aged 28 died on March 11th, 1917, about one year after her baby- also passing away at home with her mother present at another sad occasion. Her husband Roland who had not sailed on Lusitania was a draughtsman for an ammunitions factory in Bridgeport,CT which may at last explain why he did not accompany his expectant wife- he was needed for the war effort production perhaps. This is Emily's unmarked grave-near little Frank's. A campaign will begin in January to have a stone for her and a small lamb stone often carved for infants in that era, with their dates, placed on May 7th, 2003. The amount of 700 pounds is needed. There will be more details posted in January. Special thanks to Cliff- whose unselfish efforts to help this family are so appreciated by all.

Shelley Dziedzic · Sep 17, 2002

Barbara in 1915 and in 2002 holding a photograph of her mother.

Eric Sauder · Sep 18, 2002

Shelley:

Thank you so much for posting all of this. And a big thanks to Cliff Barry for the work he has done to help Mrs. McDermott.

I think placing markers on the two graves is a wonderful idea. I'll be in touch privately to find out if there is anything I can do to help.

Eric