JILL K. KIRBY
Member
Re: Alfred White
September 27th 2006
Please note that I now have all of the relevant data on Alfred White
His birth name is Alfred Albert White
As follows:
Alfred Albert White was born on March 25th 1880 at 17 Northam Street Southampton, he was the eldest of 7 children. His parents were Alfred Samuel White who was a french polisher and his mother was Charlotte Harriet Light. My Grandmother who was his sister was born on 11th May 1892 her name Kate Ellen White. I have him listed in all of the census records from 1881, 1891 and 1901. In 1891 he was living at 33 Orchard Lane, Southampton with his parents (my father William Harry Kirby who was his nephew was born at the same address on September 5th 1911). In the 1901 census Alfred's family were living still at 33 Orchard Lane, however Alfred was not there; I found the only Alfred matching his identity living as a boarder in Birmingham, Warwickshire aged 20 years and having been born in Southampton. I do know that on September 29th 1902 he married a Florence Ada Watson a widow aged 26 years, he is listed as being 24 years old (in actual fact he was 22 years old). His residence at the time of his marriage was 33 Orchard Lane, Southampton, so I know this to be correct.
On April 6th 1912 he is listed on the Oceanic as being 36 years old (he must have been 32 yrs) he then appears on the Titanic survivor list as being 36 yrs but was 32 years old. Alfred Albert White died on January 7th 1922 he was buried at Southampton Common ,Old Cemetery in grave# 141 246 on January 12th 1922. His widow Florence Ada Watson lived to be 90 years of age and was buried with him on 15th April 1965. The Obituary in the Hampshire Advertiser dated January 14th 1922 says he died on January 6th at Grove Inn Grove Street, Southampton, but his death certificate (which I have) supports what my father always told me, he died on January 7th 1922 at the City and Midland Bank, High Street Southampton. His home at the time was the Grove Inn. My Dad always said that his Uncle Alf died in a bank while making a transaction across the counter. His death certificate says this "he had angine pectoris: in other words he died of a heart attack. He was only 41 years old at the time of his death and I believe that is why so much of his Titanic experience died with him, apart form what is recorded in A night to Remember and Mowbrays Book of Eye witness accounts. Titanic Voices which related storied of people from my home town of Southampton does not even mention him!!! I think his experience and heroic survival deserves being corrected. I do not know where Shaldon, Devon ever came from as far as I know our famliy has no connections there at all and the White family are Sotonian's through and through as I have traced them way back. And yes I do have a photograph of him that I have just recently obtained. I will be happy to forward a recent article I have just written for The British Isles family History Society here in Los Angeles about Alfred White who did indeed survive the Titanic....our family has always known this we just didn't talk much about it until the film came out. I would appreciate comments and additional information.
September 27th 2006
Please note that I now have all of the relevant data on Alfred White
His birth name is Alfred Albert White
As follows:
Alfred Albert White was born on March 25th 1880 at 17 Northam Street Southampton, he was the eldest of 7 children. His parents were Alfred Samuel White who was a french polisher and his mother was Charlotte Harriet Light. My Grandmother who was his sister was born on 11th May 1892 her name Kate Ellen White. I have him listed in all of the census records from 1881, 1891 and 1901. In 1891 he was living at 33 Orchard Lane, Southampton with his parents (my father William Harry Kirby who was his nephew was born at the same address on September 5th 1911). In the 1901 census Alfred's family were living still at 33 Orchard Lane, however Alfred was not there; I found the only Alfred matching his identity living as a boarder in Birmingham, Warwickshire aged 20 years and having been born in Southampton. I do know that on September 29th 1902 he married a Florence Ada Watson a widow aged 26 years, he is listed as being 24 years old (in actual fact he was 22 years old). His residence at the time of his marriage was 33 Orchard Lane, Southampton, so I know this to be correct.
On April 6th 1912 he is listed on the Oceanic as being 36 years old (he must have been 32 yrs) he then appears on the Titanic survivor list as being 36 yrs but was 32 years old. Alfred Albert White died on January 7th 1922 he was buried at Southampton Common ,Old Cemetery in grave# 141 246 on January 12th 1922. His widow Florence Ada Watson lived to be 90 years of age and was buried with him on 15th April 1965. The Obituary in the Hampshire Advertiser dated January 14th 1922 says he died on January 6th at Grove Inn Grove Street, Southampton, but his death certificate (which I have) supports what my father always told me, he died on January 7th 1922 at the City and Midland Bank, High Street Southampton. His home at the time was the Grove Inn. My Dad always said that his Uncle Alf died in a bank while making a transaction across the counter. His death certificate says this "he had angine pectoris: in other words he died of a heart attack. He was only 41 years old at the time of his death and I believe that is why so much of his Titanic experience died with him, apart form what is recorded in A night to Remember and Mowbrays Book of Eye witness accounts. Titanic Voices which related storied of people from my home town of Southampton does not even mention him!!! I think his experience and heroic survival deserves being corrected. I do not know where Shaldon, Devon ever came from as far as I know our famliy has no connections there at all and the White family are Sotonian's through and through as I have traced them way back. And yes I do have a photograph of him that I have just recently obtained. I will be happy to forward a recent article I have just written for The British Isles family History Society here in Los Angeles about Alfred White who did indeed survive the Titanic....our family has always known this we just didn't talk much about it until the film came out. I would appreciate comments and additional information.
