Encyclopedia Titanica

Frank Painter

Fireman

Frank Painter
Frank Painter

Mr Frank Painter was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 16 May 1883.

He was the youngest son of Edward Henry David Painter (1843-1911), a bricklayer, and Fanny Diaper (1837-1922), Southampton natives who were married in 1869, his older siblings were: Henry David (1870-1940), Amelia (1872-1873), George (1874-1877), Alfred (1976-1876), William James (1877-1943) and twins Thomas John and Edwin Mark (b. 1880).

He first appears on the 1891 census living at 20 Cross Street, St Mary, Southampton and by the time of the 1901 census he and his family are residing at 9 Popes Buildings, Southampton and Frank is described as a general labourer.

His twin brothers Edwin and Thomas were tragically drowned in 1907 when a home-made boat they were sailing, sank on the River Itchen.

Two Brothers Drowned. Thomas and Edwin Painter, twin brothers, went for a sail by moonlight on Saturday night in a punt on the river Itchen, near Southampton. As they did not return, search was made for them, and their lifeless bodies were on Sunday found lying the mud banks. the cause of the mishap is at present a mystery.

He was married to Elizabeth Jane Grant (b. 1881 in Totton) on 16 July 1906, he signed his name on the marriage certificate with a cross. 

Frank and Elizabeth went on to have two children: Elsie Doris (1907-1926)  and Frederick Frank (1909-1974). Although absent from the 1911 census, Frank's wife and children were shown living at 27 Morpeth Terrace, Mortimer Road, Itchen.

When Frank signed on to the Titanic, on 10 April 1912, he gave his address as 10 Bridge Road, Southampton and his previous ship as the Olympic. As with his marriage certificate, his name was filled in by someone else and he marked his signature with a cross.  As a fireman, he could expect to earn monthly wages of £6, 10s.  It is through that he and fellow fireman Charles Painter were loosely related.1

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

PAINTER. — April 15th, on s.s. Titanic, Frank the beloved husband of Elizabeth Painter, of 27 Mortimer-road, Itchen, Southampton, aged 29. Gone, but not forgotten. May his soul rest in peace.

His widow Elizabeth never remarried and remained living in Southampton. In 1926, she lost her daughter Elsie aged just 19. Elizabeth herself died in 1969 aged 88. Her son Frederick died in Crosby, Liverpool in 1974.

Notes

  1. Frank Painter's father Henry David Painter had a sister Ellen Painter.  She married Emmanuel Sheath who, after her death, later remarried to Elizabeth Bagley their daughter was Caroline Sheath mother of Charles Painter (fireman).

Newspaper Articles

Hampshire Advertiser (1 June 1907) Twins Drowned At Southampton
Brothers of Titanic Victim died in 1907 in a home made boat

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 Frank Painter
Age: 28 years 10 months and 30 days (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Married to Elizabeth Jane Grant
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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