George Alexander Chisnall

George Alexander Chisnall was born in Greenwich, London, England in the closing months of 1875.

He was the son of English parents, Joseph William Chisnall (b. 1842) and Janet McGregor Chapman (b. 1844), who had married in Cardross, Dunbarton, Scotland on 11 June 1869 before settling in Govan near Glasgow. His father, a native of Essex, was a ship's carpenter and the move to Govan would have been a professional decision, with the shipyards being on their doorstep there.

George had four known siblings: Orlando William (b. 1869), Mary Ann (b. 1871), William (b. 1876) and Annie (b. 1886). With the exception of Mary Ann, who was born in Dunbartonshire, all of George's siblings were born in Govan.

George appears on the 1881 census of Scotland when he and his family are residing at 94 Langlands Road, Govan, later moving to 10 Ingram Street, also in Govan, by the time of the following census when George was described as a fitters boy. He served his apprenticeship with Napier Brothers in Glasgow and upon completion he joined the White Star Line as a boilermaker aboard the Canopic and continued to work at sea for the next year before he went ashore and gained employment with the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company, followed by Caird & Co in Greenock.

His father passed away in 1891 and his mother and younger brother William were recorded on the 1901 census living at 44 Helen Street, Govan. His mother Janet died only a few years later in 1903. George was absent from the 1901 census, likely at sea.

He was married in St Mary the Virgin Church in West Derby, Lancashire in 1904 to Alice Hardy Day (b. 1881 in Hampshire) and the couple had two children: Dorothy Hardy (b. 1905) and William Chapman (b. 1908).

Following a spell of employment with Elder Dempster & Co. in Liverpool George returned to White Star in May 1908 as boilermaker on board the Majestic and moved to Southampton. The family show up on the 1911 census living in Itchen.

When he signed on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, George gave his address as 53 High Street, Itchen. His previous ship had been the Majestic and as a boilermaker he could expect to earn monthly wages of £12.

George died in the sinking. His body was later recovered (#111) and buried at sea.

His family were later assisted by the Titanic Relief Fund.

C 83 Chisnall Mrs. Alice H. Address for cheques: East branch, Prescot Street. Net monthly allowance to widow: £5.19.2d: children 2 - £1.3.0d. Total monthly allowance for widow and children £7.3.0d.

George's widow Alice never remarried and later relocated to Liverpool, living at 2 Croxteth Grove. She passed away on 14 November 1946.

His son William later became an insurance clerk and was married in 1936 to Everild Robena Paten Thomas (1910-1989). What became of him thereafter is uncertain. Likewise, the fate of George's daughter Dorothy is unclear.

George is remembered on the family grave in Toxteth park cemetery, Liverpool, England in section C/E 11, plot 147.