Encyclopedia Titanica

Harry Owen Glendower Jones

Mr Harry Owen Glendower Jones (Roast Cook) was born in Fareham, Hampshire, England on 18 October 1875.

He was the son of John Charles Jones (b. 1842), a commission agent and native of Fareham who was of Welsh ancestry, and Rose Smith (b. 1847), a native of Wickham, Hampshire. The couple had married in 1867, producing five children, with Harry being one of only two surviving.

Harry's known siblings were: David Llewelyn (b. 1869), Percy John (b. 1871) and Edith Mary (b. 1872). His mother died around 1877 and his father apparently never remarried.

Harry, his brother David and sister Edith are shown on the 1881 census as visitors to the home of his widowed paternal grandfather, David Jones (b. 1802), 3 Belle Vue Terrace, Forton Road, Alverstoke. The 1891 census shows Harry and his father residing at the home of Harry's paternal aunt Mary Penny and her family, 486 Grafton Road, Portsea. His father is now described as a merchant and Harry as a grocer's apprentice. 

Harry went to sea on 24 October 1892, joining the Royal Navy in a domestic capacity and first serving aboard Victory on which he served for two voyages. He later served aboard Endymion and the Empress of India before winding up his naval career, his last voyage being aboard the Magnificent after which he was discharged by his own request on 31 January 1897. He was described as standing at 5' 2½" and he had light hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. Conduct-wise his behaviour was excellent.

Harry apparently then joined the merchant service and would be absent from the 1901 and 1911 census records, serving aboard a variety of ships, including the St Paul, Adriatic and Olympic. His father appears on the latter record living as a lodger at 10 Regent Street, Southampton, now describing himself as a widowed sheriff and bailiff. What became of him is not known.

Harry was married at the beginning of 1912 to Florence Kate White (b. 1883), a native of Alresford, Hampshire. The couple made their home in Alresford.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, Jones gave his age as 29 and local address as 10 Regent Street, Southampton. His last ship had been the Olympic and as roast cook he received monthly wages of £6, 10s.

Jones died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

Jones was one of the crew on the Olympic when she was struck by the Hawke. On every subsequent sailing he would tell his friends at home that his ship would "turn turtle."

Jones was in the American Navy during the time of the war with the Spaniards and held the Santiago medal; he also held an award for another naval engagement with the Spaniards. He afterwards entered the service of the White Star Line having held berths on the Adriatic and Olympic as well as the St Paul and others.

Hampshire Observer County And Local Newspaper and General Advertiser, 20 April 1912

Harry's widow Florence had been pregnant at the time of the disaster and gave birth to a son before the close of the year on 5 October, Arthur Owen. Florence never remarried and later settled in Winchester where she died in 1956. His son Arthur later married and raised a family, living in Winchester where he died in 1977.

References and Sources

Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259)

Credits

Gavin Bell, UK
Dr Paul Lee

Comment and discuss

  1. Roo22

    Roo22

    Are you sure this wasn't Alresford in Hampshire?  That's the small town where I live
  2. Roo22

    Roo22

    Are you sure this wasn't Alresford in Hampshire?  That's the small town where I live; it's around 20 miles from Southampton.  Local information suggests that a former resident of Bridge Road, New Alresford, Hampshire, worked in the kitchens on the RMS Titanic - this would therefore be consistent with the information that you have on Mr. Jones here.
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Titanic Crew Summary

Name: Mr Harry Owen Glendower Jones
Age: 36 years 5 months and 28 days (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Married to Florence Kate White
Last Residence: at 10 Regent Street Southampton, Hampshire, England
Occupation: Roast Cook
Last Ship: Olympic
Embarked: Southampton on Thursday 4th April 1912
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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