George James Clench

George James Clench was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England in early 1881. He was the son of Frederick Clench (1856-1882), a general labourer, and Sarah Mullett (1853-?). His father was native to Southampton and his mother to Poole, Dorset and they had married in 1877. George had one brother named Frederick Charles (b. 1878).

On the 1881 census, taken only prior to his birth, George's family were living at 3 China Place, St Mary, Southampton. His father died aged 26 the following year and his mother was remarried in 1884 to William Palmer (b. 1849 in Portsmouth), a coal porter, and he gained four stepsiblings: William Robert (b. 1885), Alice Maud (b. 1887), Ellen Mary (b. 1890) and Walter John (b. 1894). George and his brother Frederick would be referred to colloquially as the Palmer brothers by those who knew them and they appear under this name on all future census reports. 

By the time of the 1891 census George and his family were residing at 10 "Improved Dwellings," Chantry Road, Southampton and he would live at this address for the remainder of his life. George probably went to sea in the 1890s and on the 1901 census he is listed as a seaman, following in the footsteps of his brother Frederick.

When he signed on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, he gave his address as 10 Chantry Road, (Southampton). His previous ship had been the Olympic. As an able seaman he would receive monthly wages of £5. Also serving aboard was his brother Frederick.

George Clench died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The following death notice appeared in an unidentified newspaper:

CLENCH--In ever loving memory of my dear son, George Clench, who was lost at sea on the s.s. Titanic, April 15th, 1912, of 10, Improved Dwellings, Chantry road, Southampton, aged 31. The second son of the later Frederick Clench, deeply mourned by sorrowing mother, brother ....(illegibile).... and his stepfather. Mr and Mrs Palmer.