Frederick Blainey Shellard

Mr Frederick Blainey Shellard ¹ was born in St Nichols, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England on 3 April 1857 and baptised two years later on 15 May 1859.

He was the son of Stephen Shellard (1820-1886), a pattern maker, and Martha Blainey (1819-1863), both Bristol natives who had married in 1843. 
One of eleven children, his siblings were: Eliza Ann (b. 1843), Maria (b. 1845), Martha (b. 1847), Jane Elizabeth (b. 1849), William (b. 1850), Louisa Mary (b. 1852), Stephen (b. 1854), Annie Elizabeth (b. 1855), Emily Jane (b. 1859) and Walter (b. 1860).

Shellard first appears on the 1861 census living at 8 Oxford Street in Westbury-on-Trym, Gloucestershire; his mother died two years later in 1863 and his father was remarried in 1865 to Bristol-born Sarah Ann Toomer (1829-1917). From that union Frederick gained four half-siblings: Henry (b. 1866), Arthur (b. 1869), Edward Josiah (b. 1871) and Thomas Henry (b. 1875).

By the time of the 1871 census Fredrick was aged 14 and described as a carpenter, still living with his family at 8 Oxford Street. The family were living at 94 Egerton Road, Horfield, Barton Regis, Gloucestershire at the time of the 1881 census and Frederick was described, like his father, as a pattern maker.

Frederick was married in St Paul's, Bristol on 25 December 1882 to Mary Harriet Greenham (b. 1854), a native of Bridport, Dorset and daughter of William and Charlotte Greenham, the latter née Board. 

The couple went on to have five children: Edith Emily (b. 1884, later Mrs Sidney John Jenkins), Gertrude Maud (1886-1969, later Mrs John Michael Dudden), Frederick William (1890-1962), Ernest (1892-1967) and Reginald John (1896-1969).

The family appeared on the 1891 census living at Sherbourne Cottage, Thomas Street, Bristol and Frederick was again described as a carpenter, later becoming a painter. They appeared on the 1901 census living at 22 Nanaway (?) Road, Bristol.

Frederick left Britain aboard the Cymric on 12 April 1907. His wife and children (excluding his daughter Emily) crossed the Atlantic aboard the Philadelphia, leaving Britain on 10 August 1907. The family settled in Troy, Rensselaer, New York.

In December 1911 Shellard returned to Bristol to visit his brothers and sisters. For his return to America he travelled on Titanic which he embarked at Southampton with his friend, Thomas James Everett, also originally of Bristol. The men travelled in third class under ticket number 6212 which cost £15, 2s. Both had been due to travel on the Philadelphia but were transferred because of the coal strikes, although contemporary newspapers suggest they had delayed their journey to travel aboard the maiden voyage, unbeknownst to Shellard's family back in New York.

Frederick Shellard was lost in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

Another Trojan Victim
Frederick W. Shellard of Troy, was among those who lost their lives when the Titanic sank, according to a message received by his wife from officials of the White Star line. Mr Shellard went to England last December to visit relatives and intended sailing for home several weeks ago. Upon learning of the maiden voyage of the Titanic he decided to wait to sail on that ship. He was a painter and decorator. The survivors are his wife, two daughters, and three sons. - Amsterdam Evening Recorder, 29 April 1912

Mrs Shellard did not know that he was to sail on the Titanic, but on Tuesday she received a newspaper from Bristol which listed her husband as among the passengers. Then she wrote to the "White Star line in New York, and has Just received word that Shellard does not appear among the list of saved. He Is survived by his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Sidney Jenkins and Miss Gertrude Shellard; three sons, Frederick, Jr., Ernest and Reginald Shellard, all of this citty; three sisters, Mrs. Samuel Curthoys of Troy, Martha and Emily of Bristol, and two brothers, William and Stephen, also of Bristol. England. - Albany Evening Journal, 28 (26?) April 1912

His family received a payment from American sources of $987.69. 

His widow Harriet never remarried and continued to live in Troy, New York. Ten years later she was killed in an automobile accident on 23 September 1922 and was buried in Elmwood Hill Cemetery, Troy with her husband being commemorated on her headstone. 

His four children who came to America all married and raised families and remained living in New York. They are also buried in Elmwood Hill Cemetery.