Ernest Owen Abbott

Ernest Owen Abbott was born at 56 Millbank Street, Southampton, Hampshire, England on 19 January 1891. He was the son of John Abbott (1862-1896) and Catherine Louisa Welch (1861-) originally of Southampton and Portsmouth respectively who were married in 1880.

Ernest had five known siblings: Blanche Louisa (b. 1883), Hilda Daisy (1886), Percival Frederick (b. 1888), Florence (b. 1893) and May (b. 1897).

On the 1891 census an infant Ernest is listed with his family at 56 Millbank Street, Northam, Southampton and his father was described as a miller. His father passed away aged 34 in 1896. On the 1901 census he and his family are still at the same address, his widowed mother now listed as a tailoress and taking in lodgers to subsidy their straightened circumstances. His mother was married later in the year in Southampton to Frederick John Brown (b. 1863 in Southampton), a ship's steward.

On the 1911 census Ernest, his mother and stepfather are now living at 98 Northumberland Road, Southampton and he is described as unmarried and as a ship's steward.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, he gave his address as 98 Northumberland Road, Southampton. His last ship had been the Trent. As pantry steward for the first class lounge he received monthly wages of £3 15s. Also serving aboard the Titanic as a steward was his brother-in-law William Revell, husband to his sister Blanche.

Abbott died in the sinking, as did his brother-in-law. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The following death notice appeared in the Hampshire Independent (unknown date):

ABBOTT--April 15th, on the s.s. Titanic, Ernest Owen Abbott, aged 21, of 98 Northumberland road; beloved son. Deeply missed by his sorrowing mother, brother and sisters, and step-father. "Peace, perfect peace".

His mother later returned to her native Portsmouth and died in 1929. His widowed sister later remarried and named a son after him, Ernest Owen Piper (1918-1981).