Isaac George Widgery

Mr Isaac George Widgery "James" Widgery¹ was born in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England on 21 March 1875.²

He was the son of William Henry Widgery (1851-1930), a provisions merchant, and his wife Jessie (1854-1937). His father hailed from Willand, Devon and his mother was born in Punjab, India to British parents. They were married in Somerset in 1870 and went on to have four children, of whom Isaac was the eldest.

Isaac's siblings were: Edith Mary (1877-1962, later Mrs Thomas Archibald Norris-Cox), William Henry (1879-1920) and Francis John (b. 1884).
Isaac and his family appear on the 1881 census residing at 1 Stanley Terrace, Bath Road, Bedminster, Bristol and by 1891 they were residing at 127 Coronation Road, Bedminster, a 16-year-old Isaac being described as a scholar. By 1901 Isaac and his father were listed as living at 11 Oakfield Road, Bristol and Isaac was then described as a Hindu clothing manufacturer. 

On 17 September 1906 Widgery arrived in the USA aboard New York and on 8 December 1909 petitioned for US citizenship, declaring his name as James George Widgery; he then stated his then current address as SS New York, Pier 14, New York City and his last permanent residence as Southampton; he was described as a steward and physically stood at 5' 10" and with brown hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion. There is no record he ever became a US citizen, however. 

Whilst he and his family appear to have been relatively financially comfortable³, what compelled Isaac to go to sea is not clear. When not at sea it appears he resided with his younger brother Francis at 25 Rokeby Avenue, Redland, Bristol.

When he signed-on to the Titanic on 4 April 1912 Widgery gave his address as 67 Oxford Street, Southampton, a lodging's address for seaman. His previous ship had been the St Paul and as a bath steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s. He looked after the swimming bath on F-Deck and it is believed his quarters were amidships on E-Deck on "Scotland Road."

On the night of the sinking Widgery stated that he had just completed an inspection and went to bed around 10 o'clock. He was asleep at the time of the impact and was awakened by a grating noise and took the time as 11.35 from the clock hanging by his bunk. Another crewman in his cabin jumped up and opened a porthole to investigate, but with the cold air blowing in Widgery and others asked him to shut it before the group talked for a while.

Widgery settled back down to sleep again but soon received orders to dress, don lifebelts and go up on deck. He did so and descended to F-deck where he found the area deserted save for one bedroom steward. He then headed to the boat deck to join his assigned lifeboat, number 7.

Arriving there he found boat 7 about to be lowered and he and another steward, William Ward, were instructed by the purser Hugh McElroy to go aft and assist with boat 9. He was given biscuits by a storekeeper to place in the bottom of the lifeboat and was then instructed by McElroy to get in the boat to help the boatswain's mate Albert Haines pass women and children in. When the boat was near full, the purser called for anymore women and an elderly lady, who appeared frightened, approached, reaching out a hand to Widgery to help her aboard. As she was about to step aboard the lifeboat she released herself from Widgery's grip and refused to board, receding back into the crowd on deck. Another crewman pursued her but she had apparently retreated back down the stairway, presumably of the second class entrance.

With no more women in sight, four or five men were permitted to enter to lifeboat before lowering. Upon reaching the water, Widgery was the only one among the crew in possession of a knife and he cut loose the oars.

Upon reaching New York, Widgery was later called to give evidence at the US Inquiry and did so on 25 April 1912. Upon his return to England he was detained for examination at the British Inquiry.

Just over a year after the Titanic disaster, on 20 August 1913, Isaac was married in St Paul's Church, Clifton, Bristol. His bride was Annie Elizabeth Callander, née Cooper (b. 21 October 1877), also native of Bristol, who was a young widow whose first marriage in 1903 had been to a Scottish-born timber clerk named William Callander (b. 1879). The fate of Mr Callander is not known.

Isaac and Annie had two daughters, Margaret Elizabeth (1915-2003) and Cynthia Mary (b. 1922, later Mrs Frank M. Tippetts) and the family lived for many years at 31 Linden Road, Redland, Bristol.

Whether Isaac ever returned to working at sea following the Titanic is unknown and he later worked as an accountant and provisions merchant but would be no stranger to sea voyages, making several trips in the 1920s to Las Palmas and Tenerife in the Canary Islands, all aboard ships of the Yeoward Line and always travelling alone, still using the name James. Making his home in Bristol, his last known address being 31 Linden Road, Widgery was a member of the Arrow Bowling Club and a Freemason attached to the St Nicholas Lodge. 

Isaac Widgery died in Bristol on 21 August 1942; he was later cremated and his remains were interred with his parents in St Andrew's Churchyard, Chew Magna, Somerset. His widow Annie passed away on 6 February 1962.