Mr William Cheevers was born in Ballyloughan, Co Londonderry, Ireland¹ on 15 July 1880. Coming from a Church of Ireland family, he was the son of John Cheevers, a boilermaker, and Letitia Milligan.

Cheevers was married in Trinity Church, Belfast on 21 December 1906 to Elizabeth McWhirter (b. circa 1884). He was described as a stager (in the docks) and his address was given as 1 New Dock Street. A son William was born in February 1908 but died in May 1909 following pneumonia. A daughter Margaret arrived in March 1910. The family appears on the 1911 census as residents of 6 Little Ship Street and Cheevers was described as a shipyard plater’s assistant. Another daughter was welcomed in August 1913 and named Ellen whilst William was described as a ship’s fireman at the time.

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

William Cheevers was still a resident of Little Ship Street (by then number 12) when he died on 7 February 1914 aged 34 as a result of tuberculosis.