Encyclopedia Titanica

Charles Painter

Fireman

Charles Frederick Painter
Charles Frederick Painter

Charles Frederick Painter was born at 27 Compton Walk, Southampton, Hampshire, England on 7 July 1880.

He was the son of Frederick Painter, a seaman (marine stoker), and Caroline Bagley (b. 1861), both Southampton natives who were married in early 1880. His known siblings were: Frederick (b. 1882), William George (b. 1884), Caroline (b. 1886) and Henry (b. 1889).

He first appears on the 1881 census as an infant living with his mother at 3 Golden Grove, Southampton and on the 1891 census at 39 Cumberland Street. His mother died in 1894 and he and his siblings were forced into work at an early age. Charles is absent from the 1901 census, indicating perhaps that he was already at sea by this point.

His father may have died in Australia in 1899.

Charles was married in 1903 to Mary Ann Edith Houghton (b. 1881), also from Southampton, and they had four children: Lillian Edith May (1904-1941, later Mrs Frank Joyce), Charles James (1905-1977), Frederick George  (1908-1911) and Dorothy Alice (1910-1915).  The family appear on the 1911 census living at 60 North East Road, Sholing, Southampton and Charles is described as a ship's fireman. Towards the close of the year, they lost their younger son Frederick, aged just 3.

When Charles signed on to the Titanic, on 10 April 1912, he gave his address as 172 Mortimer Road, Southampton and his previous ship as the Olympic. As a fireman, he could expect to earn monthly wages of £6, 10s.  He and fellow fireman Frank Painter were loosely related.1

Charles Painter was lost in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

His widow was remarried in 1914, becoming Mrs William H. Turner, and she had several more children. Just one year after her remarriage Mary lost her youngest child Dorothy aged 4.  Mary died in Hampshire in 1956.

Notes

  1. Charles Painter's maternal grandmother Elizabeth Bagley was married to Emmanuel Sheath who was the widower of Ellen Painter a sibling of Frank Painter's father Henry David Painter.

Documents and Certificates

Agreement and Account of Crew, National Archives, London; BT100/259
(1912) Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths of Passengers and Seamen at Sea, National Archives, London; BT334/52 & 334/53

Comment and discuss

  1. karen preston

    karen preston

    Now why couldn't I find that on my own! Thank you.
  2. karen preston

    karen preston

    Lockdown!? We're both still working. I'd rather like a lockdown about now!
  3. Steven Christian

    Steven Christian

    Oh! Thought I read where England was in a lockdown. Maybe it was Australia. Serves me right for not questioning the media. Cheers.
  4. karen preston

    karen preston

    Yes Uk in lockdown. It was a dig on my part. Essential worker feeling the strain!!!! I didn't mean to sound rude. x
  5. Steven Christian

    Steven Christian

    No problemo. I didn't take your post as rude. Essential worker...well its good to be needed. Never had that classification before. But I think I would prefer going to work than staying home all the time. It'll get better. Cheers.
  6. Steven Christian

    Steven Christian

    Not that this comment is going to help your search any but I remember reading a long time ago that in Southampton there was a street or streets that ended up with a nickname like "widows walk" or "widows row" or something because every other house had a widow from Titanic from all the crewman that were lost. P.S... Your comment about the National Archives struck a nerve with me. Seems like every time I end up there looking for something they redirect you to a site that... Read full post
  7. karen preston

    karen preston

    Frank is behind his brother William to their right is their parents Fanny and Henry Painter. Photo taken nov 1907. There isn't a photo of him on his entry on this site.
    attachment
  8. Christina Harrison

    Christina Harrison

    Frank was my great grandfather's uncle. My grandfather being Robert painter. Strangely my grandfathers mother Glory maynard's uncle was Issac Maynard - a survivor from the Titanic.
  9. karen preston

    karen preston

    I am going to PM you later today
  10. karen preston

    karen preston

    Link found. But not where I expected it! Caroline Bagley Charles mother's brothers (two of them) married two of Henry David Painter's (Franks father)sisters. I am in touch with Charles great great grand daughter and we hope to do a DNA to see is that shows an blood link. As of yet they have alot of coincidences but look like they could be different Painter families.
  11. karen preston

    karen preston

    Franks father had two sisters who married two brothers who where half brothers to Caroline Bagley,Charles wife. Charles great grand daughter and I have done DNA and there is no blood link but there is a marrage link.
  12. X----- X-------

    X----- X-------

    If the follwing gives more in the way of assistance then let's breed new life into the feedback. Both Painter widows were on the Relief Fund under the wing of the Southampton Committee. If that helps?
  13. karen preston

    karen preston

    Do yu have any idea how I access any information about them from the relief fund? That is if there is any info to be had.
  14. X----- X-------

    X----- X-------

    Karen there's really nothing to have or had as there's no record of Committee Minutes to view depicting the families circumstances. Unless you can provide some further details on the Child Dependents who may well have been offered a chance of serving an apprenticehip. Apprenticeships was a kind of perk of the Fund's application of receiving a better job prospects for the coming future, and the range of apprenticeships valid widely, some becme upholsterers, others became mechanic's, quite a few of the female dependenst opted for a secretarial roll or book keeping. One of the boy dependents became a Doctor where he had to serve his Doctoric at the Royal Navy headquarters at Portsmouth and later became invovled in a Naval battle in 1942, and would later in peacetime operate two dispensaries: one in Britian and the other was based out in Perth Western Australia.

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Titanic Crew Summary

Name: Mr Charles Frederick Painter
Age: 31 years 9 months and 8 days (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Married to Mary Ann Edith Houghton
Occupation: Fireman
Last Ship: Olympic
Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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