Mr Frederick Charles Kinchenten (Greaser) was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 13 September 1875.
He was the son of Edward Charles Kinchenten (b. 1850), a coal yard labourer, and his wife Elizabeth, née Brixey (1853-1888). His father was a native of West End, Southampton and his mother from Netley Marsh and they had married in Southampton in 1873.
He had five known siblings: Kate Elizabeth (b. 1873), Walter George (b. 1877), Sarah Rosina (b. 1879), Henry James (b. 1881) and Selina (b. 1883).
The family are listed on the 1881 census as living at 2 Old Northam, St Mary, Southampton. His mother died in 1888 and by the time of the 1891 census the family were living at Andersons Terrace, St Mary, Southampton with Frederick's father now described as a dock labourer. Frederick was absent, perhaps already at sea. Whilst it is unclear if he ever served permanently in the Royal Navy, it is known that he was part of the Royal Naval Reserve Service.
When Frederick signed on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, he gave his address as 9 Latimer Street, (Southampton), the home of a Mr and Mrs Edward Johnson and his family. His previous ship had been the Kildonan Castle and as a greaser he could expect to earn monthly wages of £6, 10s.
Frederick died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.
His sister Selina (later Mrs James Henry Over), a resident of Essex, later named her bungalow after Titanic which is situated on Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch.
Fred Kenchenten was my great uncle. He was born and bred in Southampton. When he was ten years old both of his parents died. His two infant sisters, my grandmother Charlotte and her sister Gertrude were taken in by their maternal uncle, Frank Brixie. Fred went into the Gordon Boys Home in Surrey.