David Kernaghan

Mr David Kernaghan was born at 28 Rowan Street in Belfast, Ireland on 18 September 1875. Coming from a Church of Ireland family, he was the son of Samuel Kernaghan, a labourer, and Jane Robinson.

Described as a seaman, Kernaghan was married in Trinity Church, Belfast on 6 October 1904 to Robina Liggett¹ (b. circa 1878); both gave addresses in Collyer Street. Their firstborn David arrived in August 1905 whilst residents of 6 Collyer Street and he was followed in April 1909 by Mary Agnes whilst they were living at 20 Lowther Street. Mary died in June 1910 as a result of measles. 

The 1911 census shows the family living at 36 Matilda Street and David was then described as a seaman and his wife as a spreader (in a mill). Another child was welcomed in September 1911, their daughter Eliza Edgar. 

Kernaghan’s ship prior to Titanic had been the Heroic. He joined Titanic at Belfast for the delivery trip to Southampton where he then disembarked.

David Kernaghan’s final address was listed as 69 Collyer Street when he died as a result of tuberculosis in a Belfast sanitorium on 7 November 1913 aged 38.